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Tomkins & Newton Earn DIRT Wins, Marvel Rallies For USAC Sprint A-Main Canandaigua, NY – May 6, 2006 – By Gary M. Spaid, Canandaigua PR Gary Tomkins from Clifton Springs took home his second straight Canandaigua DIRT Modified feature win on Saturday while Ricky Newton became the third different feature winner in as many outings in DIRT Sportsman racing. The traveling USAC National Sprint series was on hand for their first ever appearance at the “Land of Legends.” Indiana’s Justin Marvel started 12th yet rallied to take the lead on the final lap of the 30-lap A-Main from Bud Kaeding and post his first career USAC Sprint Car victory. (Complete event results can be found elsewhere in this publication). Following a tribute on the front stretch in honor of former Canandaigua Sportsman and Modified driver Troy Griffin, who passed away on Friday following a long battle with Lou Gehrig Disease, a special car was run during this race numbered in Griffin’s familiar 114 numerals and piloted by long-time friend and supporter Darryl Ruggles. Once the green flag flew to begin the feature it was pole-sitter Dave Rauscher who bolted to the front and built up a comfortable advantage over a pack of cars which included Chad Homan, Chad Brachmann and Vic Coffey. Once Coffey broke free and took second on lap six he began to close the three-second advantage Rauscher had built. Also using the high line around the speedway, Matt Sheppard was able to take third some 1.5 second behind Coffey. On lap 14, Coffey ducked to the low side and completed his pass for the lead. He then began to build his own lead over Rauscher. Five laps later Rauscher lost second to Sheppard, with Gary Tomkins running fourth following a side-by-side duel with Brachmann and Charlie Donk. Coffey entered lapped traffic and looked to have the race won. That is until lap 32 when Donk’s car fell to mechanical woes and stopped at the exit of the second turn to bring out the first yellow flag of the race. On the restart another yellow flew when Ruggles’s “Tribute Car” billowed a puff of smoke and slowed to a stop at the pit exit in the fourth turn. Before the yellow flew Sheppard had been able to take the lead from Coffey. This set up a two-lap dash to the checkers. As the field came out of turn four to start the final lap Tomkins, running third, drove high around Coffey and then ducked to the middle of the track to inch by Sheppard for the lead and score the dramatic win. Following Tomkins across the finish line were Sheppard, Coffey, Todd Burley and Randy Chrysler. An elated Tomkins ran a special victory lap toting the checkered flag around the track. “The track crew did a great job tonight making for a multi grove track,” commented Tomkins. “Yes it was somewhat dusty, but you could go high or low, the track and our set-up just worked well together.” The 25-lap Sportsman main opened with a massive six-car pile up in the fourth turn on the first lap. Frank Wadsworth, running in the top-five, looped in between the third and fourth turns, leaving a number of cars with no place to go to add to the accident scene. Back up front, Scott Just led the way followed by Ricky Newton, Phil LaVare and rookie Tim Currier. The yellow flew for a second time on lap seven when Todd Henderson spun around in the fourth turn. Newton took advantage of the restart and was able to out-drag Just for the lead. Dan Wiesner was now on the move, running in third. He passed Just for second on lap 15 with a high line move through the fourth turn. Once Wiesner was in position he started to close in on Newton. With just three laps remaining Wiesner made contact with the back of Newton’s car, causing him to lose momentum and allowing Just to retake second. It was Just’s turn to make a run at Newton, but using a low groove exiting the second turn caused his car to get loose on the final lap, allowing Newton to take the win. “I want to thank my mom and dad for all of their help and support,” commented 16 year-old Newton. “Each day after school I go home and work on the car.” This Saturday, May 13, will see a full Four Star program of DIRT Modifieds, Sportsman, Novice and Expert Street Stock racing go to the line starting at 7 p.m. Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. sharp. The adult general admission ticket price is $10. Further schedule information is available throughout the season by logging into canandaiguaspeedway.com or by contacting the DIRT MotorSports NE office at 315/834-6606. FERRIS INDUSTRIES/PEARL TECHNOLOGIES NIGHT SUMMARY |