Brockville, ONT — October 17, 2010 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director
Just needing to start the feature race to clinch the overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship on Sunday afternoon at Brockville Ontario Speedway, Tim Sears Jr. closed out a storybook season with his sixth series victory of the 2010 campaign in the headline ‘Global Warranty DIRTcar NE Fall Nationals BOB FM Radio 50’ finale.
The second-generation driver from Clay, N.Y. fell one victory shy of tying the single-season tour win mark yet 10 top-3 finishes in 12 extra-distance events provided more than enough to claim the coveted crown in convincing fashion.
“Going for the Mr. DIRTcar title just kind of fell into place for us this season,” remarked, Sears, 18, who ended the season with 16 checkered flags, only one series win short of matching Joe Williams count of seven established in 2007. “We just put ourselves in good positions and it all worked out really nice.”
“Never would’ve believed winning six series races. My dad and uncle Tom (Sears) worked to give me a great car and my grandparents helped me a lot pitching in with some money. We don’t have any sponsors so we’re doing it all on our own. That’s probably what makes this whole deal so special,” said Sears, following his first full season chasing the division’s biggest prize aboard the family-owned no. 83x Total Site Development/Bicknell..
Last Saturday’s Syracuse Super DIRT Week Sportsman winner Ryan Susice settled for second after charging from 20th, while Justin Wright finished third ahead of Ontario favorites Shane Pecore and Chris Herbison.
Two-time defending Mr. DIRTcar titlist and last year’s inaugural Fall Nationals winner Chris Raabe set fast time yet grabbed number six in the customary pre-race draw to leave the door open for a possible successor. Recently crowned Brockville points champion Dylan Evoy was just the man as he selected the pole-position and was the early leader of the 50-lap shootout.
Tour regular Christine Martin took advantage of her guaranteed starter status to fill out the 30-car field although she incurred the initial caution period on lap four after looping her pink no. 81 SUNY Canton-American Traditions/Troyer entry low in turn one. Mark Dixon bolted by Evoy on the ensuing restart yet could not keep it from Raabe as he forged ahead high around Dixon on lap 12.
In pursuit of a record-shattering 32nd feature win on the DIRTcar Sportsman circuit in 2010, Raabe appeared to be in control despite numerous yellow flags keeping the race pace slow and the top spot anything but protected. With the ‘Teenage Tornado’ from Napanee, Ont. holding on to the lead up front, Wright moved in to challenge with 15 laps scored while third-place Dixon and sixth running Sears sandwiched Brandon Sweet and Steve Barber during the early stages.
While Raabe held off the early advances of Wright and Sears, Susice continued to mount a charge and by lap 18 had already cracked the Top-10 and was looking for more. Contact between Frenchman Guy Ouellette and Dixon on the back stretch forced Ouellette into the pits with a cut tire, leaving Susice in fourth position and looking for more.
The lap 22 restart after Ouellette’s misfortune turned into shot of good luck for Sears as he slid under Raabe for the final lead exchange while Susice followed him through the hole. And that’s the way the pair stayed the remainder of the way with Sears opening up a three car-length at the stripe.
“Didn’t really learn too much in practice out there, only got a few laps and the track was mostly greasy and wet,” noted Sears, who started third come feature time yet fell out of the top-five before making his move toward the front a third of the way through. “Once the rubber started getting laid down we were able to work our way back toward the front as the track got faster.”
“After that everybody else seemed to get tighter and tighter, but we stayed the same the whole race. As the race went on guys were going into the turns hard but couldn’t stay low and pushed up, then I could get beside them on the straightaways and beat them into the corners,” Sears said.
Susice was just as dominant as Sears yet ran out of time as the final laps clicked off, finishing second in the race to also wind up second in the overall Mr. DIRTcar standings for a second successive season.
“This was probably our last race in a Sportsman car so it was good to go out with a solid finish,” said Susice, another second-generation pilot who hails from Ransomville, N.Y. who was behind the wheel of the CBR Fabrication no. 38 Investor’s Service Company-Philpac Packaging/Bicknell entry.
“We’ve had a good run, won four track championships the last couple years and winning Syracuse was a dream come true — its our ‘Super Bowl’ of racing every year. It’s nice to finish second two years in a row, hey things could be a lot worse,” Susice figured.
While Susice finished in fifth-place last October at Brockville, Wright took runner-up honors before falling back one position this time around.
“We kept the car straight and out of trouble so third is a good finish today, especially behind Tim and Ryan,” said Wright, who logged laps in a Modified over the summer teamed with two-time Syracuse 200 winner Vic Coffey. “They’re both class acts and been among the best all year.”
“Tim’s been on a roll, any time he shows up at track he’s never seen before he ends up winning. We gave it a shot but just fell a little short. Lapped cars weren’t much of a problem out there, when you showed your nose they pretty much moved out of the way. I’m happy to drive all the way up here and finish third, it was definitely worth it,” added Wright, recognized once more buckled into the Mercer Milling Company no. 19w Yager Bros. Trucking/Bicknell machine.
Finishing behind Sears (2100) and Susice (1996) in the final 2010 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championship point standings are Raabe (1947), Wright (1814), Western New York traveler Jesse Cotriss (1727), pre-season favorite to wear the crown Steve Gray (1680), Shane Pecore (1678), Mark Chiddy (1630), Mark Dixon (1578) and Christine Martin (1466).
Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Race #12 – Brockville Ontario Speedway, Oct. 17, 2010 ‘Global Warranty DIRTcar NE Fall Nationals BOB FM Radio 50’ Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVE/HOMETOWN
1 3 83x Tim Sears Jr./Clay,NY ($1,000)
2 20 38 Ryan Susice/Ransomville,NY
3 10 19w Justin Wright/Piffard,NY
4 14 15 Shane Pecore/Cornwall,ONT
5 4 63 Chris Herbison/Brockville,ONT
6 11 6 Mike Mainse/Kingston,ONT
7 8 27 Sheldon Hoogwerf/Prescott,ONT
8 12 1m Mathieu Desjardins/Sorel,QUE
9 2 140 Mark Dixon/Durham,ONT
10 25 3b Steve Billings/Smiths Falls,ONT
11 5 24 Brandon Sweet/Watertown,NY
12 7 80 Steve Barber/Lansdowne,ONT
13 16 88x Michel Primeau/Summerstown,ONT
14 6 01 Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
15 23 7 Kenny Polite/Spencerville,ONT
16 27 03 Josh Jock/Akwesasne,NY
17 9 17j Jamie Platt/Watertown,NY®
18 21 55c Jesse Cotriss/Akron,NY
19 18 52 Jessica Power/Kingston,ONT
20 26 44 Todd Ferguson/Prescott,ONT
21 15 07 Guy Ouellette/Valcourt,QUE
22 17 25 Steve Bernier/St-Hyacinthe,QUE
23 28 66 Tabatha Murphy/Prescott,ONT
24 13 20 Randy Earl/Brockville,ONT
25 24 30 Brent Kelsey/Plantagenet,ONT®
26 22 92 Adam Turner/Picton,ONT
27 19 8a Dana Aikins/Wellesley Island,NY
28 30 81 Christine Martin/Wellesley Island,NY
29 1 83 Dylan Evoy/Brockville,ONT
DNS 29 30t Thunder Anderson/Hogansburg,NY
LAP LEADERS: Evoy (1-3), Dixon (4-11), Raabe (12-21), Sears (22-50).
CAUTIONS: 11 (lap 4, lap 13, lap 15, lap 18, lap 19, lap 22, lap 26, lap 27, lap 30, lap 30, lap 38).
HEAT WINNERS: Sears, Raabe, Mainse, Platt.
CONSI WINNERS: Susice, Cotriss.
FAST TIME TRIALER: Chris Raabe (15.866sec/85.088mph).
CARS ENTERED: 40.
DID NOT QUALIFY(10)
08-Kevin Bennett/Richmond,ONT
2-Jenna David/Akwesasne,QUE®
5-Ronnie Tyo/Cornwall,ONT
5w-Dave Wilgosh/Brockville,ONT
6v-Roger Varacalli/Brockville,ONT
11k-Dillon Sallows/Wolfe Island,ONT
11x-Brian Copp/North Gower,ONT
20x-Josh Kane/Mallorytown,ONT
32-Doug O’Blenis/Shannonville,ONT
80eh-Ryan Buzzell/Renfrew,ONT
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 15.866 85.088 01 Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
2 15.874 85.045 19w Justin Wright/Piffard,NY
3 15.914 84.831 38 Ryan Susice/Ransomville,NY
4 15.916 84.820 83x Tim Sears Jr./Clay,NY
5 15.943 84.677 83 Dylan Evoy/Brockville,ONT
6 16.013 84.307 63 Chris Herbison/Brockville,ONT
7 16.074 83.987 24 Brandon Sweet/Watertown,NY
8 16.141 83.638 25 Steve Bernier/St-Hyacinthe,QUE
9 16.153 83.576 1m Mathieu Desjardins/Sorel,QUE
10 16.164 83.519 20x Josh Kane/Mallorytown,ONT
11 16.170 83.488 20 Randy Earl/Brockville,ONT
12 16.259 83.031 15 Shane Pecore/Cornwall,ONT
13 16.275 82.949 80 Steve Barber/Lansdowne,ONT
14 16.305 82.797 6 Mike Mainse/Kingston,ONT
15 16.313 82.756 92 Adam Turner/Picton,ONT
16 16.380 82.418 44 Todd Ferguson/Prescott,ONT
17 16.409 82.272 140 Mark Dixon/Durham,ONT
18 16.480 81.917 17j Jamie Platt/Watertown,NY®
19 16.519 81.724 11x Brian Copp/North Gower,ONT
20 16.551 81.566 52 Jessica Power/Kingston,ONT
21 16.562 81.512 11k Dillon Sallows/Wolfe Island,ONT
22 16.583 81.409 30 Brent Kelsey/Plantagenet,ONT®
23 16.598 81.335 6v Roger Varacalli/Brockville,ONT
24 16.679 80.940 32 Doug O’Blenis/Shannonville,ONT
25 16.692 80.877 7 Kenny Polite/Spencerville,ONT
26 16.731 80.689 07 Guy Ouellette/Valcour,QUE
16.731 80.689 3b Steve Billings/Smiths Falls,ONT
28 16.753 80.583 66 Tabatha Murphy/Prescott,ONT
29 16.774 80.482 55c Jesse Cotriss/Akron,NY
30 16.821 80.257 8a Dana Aikins/Wellesley Island,NY
31 16.934 79.721 03 Josh Jock/Akwesasne,NY
32 16.950 79.646 5w Dave Wilgosh/Brockville,ONT
33 16.959 79.604 88 Michel Primeau/Summerstown,ONT
34 17.133 78.795 81 Christine Martin/Wellesley Island,NY
35 17.483 77.218 30t Thunder Anderson/Hogansburg,NY
36 17.620 76.617 80eh Ryan Buzzell/Renfrew,ONT
37 42.882 31.482 2 Jenna David/Akwesasne,QUE®
38 -NT- —– 08 Kevin Bennett/Richmond,ONT
39 -NT- —– 5 Ronnie Tyo/Cornwall,ONT
40 -NT- —– 27 Sheldon Hoogwerf/Prescott,ONT
Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 re-drew)
#1: Sears, Wright, Evoy, Earl, Bernier, Susice, Varacalli, Ferguson, Kane, Sallows.
#2: Raabe, Herbison, Desjardins, Pecore, Power, Turner, Tyo, Kelsey, Copp, Murphy.
#3: Mainse, Dixon, Barber, Ouellette, Aikins, Polite, Jock, Martin, Bennett, O’Blenis.
#4: Platt, Sweet, Hoogwerf, Primeau, Anderson, Cotriss, David, Wilgosh, Buzzell, Billings (DSQ).
Consolation Round (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Susice, Turner, Kelsey, Ferguson, Murphy, Kane, Sallows, Varacalli, Tyo (DNS), Copp (DNS).
#2 (8 laps): Cotriss, Polite, Billings, Jock, Anderson, Bennett, O’Blenis, Buzzell, David, Martin.[
Guaranteed Starters: Martin.
Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Point Standings (FINAL)
Rank No Driver Total Series Bonus Diff Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts
1 83 Tim Sears Jr. 2,100 1,115 985 0 6 10 10 12
2 38s Ryan Susice 1,996 996 1000 -104 1 7 12 12
3 01 Chris Raabe 1,947 947 1000 -153 2 7 7 12
4 19w Justin Wright 1,814 839 975 -286 0 5 7 12
5 55c Jesse Cotriss 1,727 772 955 -373 0 3 8 12
6 29g Steve Gray 1,680 680 1000 -420 1 3 6 10
7 15 Shane Pecore 1,678 703 975 -422 0 2 2 12
8 54 Mark Chiddy 1,630 665 965 -470 0 1 5 10
9 140 Mark Dixon 1,578 638 940 -522 0 0 2 12
10 81 Christine Martin 1,466 542 924 -634 0 0 0 11
11 m1 Dave Marcuccilli 1,391 426 965 -709 2 2 2 6
12 67 Eric Giguere 1,379 379 1000 -721 0 1 4 5
13 17J Jamie Platt® 1,322 387 935 -778 0 0 0 6
14 55 Matt Hulsizer 1,293 293 1000 -807 0 1 3 4
15 0 Jipp Ortiz 1,276 348 928 -824 0 1 4 5
16 63 Chris Herbison 1,260 275 985 -840 0 2 2 3
17 30 Brent Kelsey® 1,235 260 975 -865 0 0 0 3
18 99p Greg Panunte 1,222 222 1000 -878 0 2 3 3
19 66 Dan Wiesner 1,208 243 965 -892 0 0 2 4
20 1 Travis Back® 1,195 240 955 -905 0 0 2 2
21 7 Cody McPherson 1,191 216 975 -909 0 1 2 3
22 18r Brad Rouse 1,187 222 965 -913 0 0 1 4
23 2 Jenna David® 1,169 224 945 -931 0 0 0 2
24 10 Josh VanBrocklin 1,169 184 985 -931 0 0 0 2
25 6 Brandon Easey 1,160 175 985 -940 0 2 2 2
26 5 Don Spatorico 1,159 174 985 -941 0 0 1 3
27 77JR BJ Willard 1,159 184 975 -941 0 0 2 3
28 1 Jim Spano 1,154 214 940 -946 0 0 0 3
29 80 Steve Barber 1,152 224 928 -948 0 0 1 3
30 9 Paul Gaboury 1,149 217 932 -951 0 1 2 3
31 67 James Henry 1,147 207 940 -953 0 0 2 3
32 21JJ Jim Johnstone 1,135 200 935 -965 0 0 0 4
33 83 Dylan Evoy 1,130 130 1000 -970 0 1 1 2
34 6r Nate Reynolds 1,130 195 935 -970 0 1 1 2
35 2 Loren Lincoln 1,129 197 932 -971 0 0 1 4
36 3a Adam Hilton® 1,128 196 932 -972 0 0 0 4
37 4 Daryl Hilkert 1,127 172 955 -973 0 0 1 3
38 9 Kristian Smoke® 1,118 178 940 -982 0 0 1 1
39 14 Jeremy Pitcher 1,111 111 1000 -989 0 0 1 2
40 27 Sheldon Hoogwerf 1,109 174 935 -991 0 0 1 3
41 92 Brad Winters 1,109 144 965 -991 0 0 0 1
42 2P John Juhl 1,104 174 930 -996 0 0 0 4
43 17k Sam Reakes IV 1,085 140 945 -1015 0 0 0 2
44 7 Tom Benedict 1,076 141 935 -1024 0 0 0 2
45 10 Brett Martin 1,074 144 930 -1026 0 0 0 1
46 20k Dave Dykstra 1,074 152 922 -1026 0 0 1 3
47 11 Ben Wheeler 1,072 146 926 -1028 0 0 0 3
48 2K Rob Knapp 1,070 146 924 -1030 0 1 1 2
49 11n Ricky Newton 1,069 124 945 -1031 0 0 0 3
50 85 Rob Humphreys 1,068 146 922 -1032 0 0 0 3
51 16 Earl Rudy 1,063 135 928 -1037 0 0 0 3
52 99c Nick Cupolo 1,063 118 945 -1037 0 0 1 2
53 20X Kevin Ridley 1,062 140 922 -1038 0 0 0 1
54 6m Mike Mainse 1,061 76 985 -1039 0 0 1 1
55 18H Justin Henderson 1,058 113 945 -1042 0 0 1 2
56 25 Steve Bernier 1,057 122 935 -1043 0 1 1 2
57 99 Bill Clark 1,057 127 930 -1043 0 1 1 2
58 20 Randy Earl 1,055 80 975 -1045 0 0 0 2
59 03 Joshua Jock® 1,048 118 930 -1052 0 0 0 2
60 11k Dillon Sallows 1,046 101 945 -1054 0 0 0 2
Mr. DIRTcar Series Sportsman Entries – Oct. 17 (40)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis)
01 Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT C&B Enterprises-Sunrise Racing-Genesis Shocks/TEO
03 Josh Jock/Akwesasne,NY Booth 3 Racing/TEO
07 Guy Ouellette/Valcour,QUE R Tuning-J.Anctil Rona-Lafontaine Renovation/TEO
08 Kevin Bennett/Richmond,ONT J&W Trucking/Bicknell
1m Mathieu Desjardins/Sorel,QUE St. Martin Motorsports/Bicknell
2 Jenna David/Akwesasne,QUE® Warrior Racing-Sweet Dreams/TEO
3b Steve Billings/Smiths Falls,ONT Hank’s Tire-Baldachin Inn/TEO
5 Ronnie Tyo/Cornwall,ONT Mark’s General Maintenance-Peace Pipe Tobacco/TEO
5w Dave Wilgosh/Brockville,ONT Executive Taxi-Larry’s Auto Works/Bicknell
6 Mike Mainse/Kingston,ONT Larson Construction-Corcoran Speed & Performance/Bicknell
6v Roger Varacalli/Brockville,ONT Prescott Canadian Tire-Red Stallion Quality Auto Products/Bicknell
7 Kenny Polite/Spencerville,ONT Polite Sand & Gravel-Spalsh Well Drilling/Bicknell
8a Dana Aikins/Wellesley Island,NY Glen A. Gould Estate Construction-GYMO Architecture/Bicknell
11k Dillon Sallows/Wolfe Island,ONT Shorthall’s Sand & Gravel-Alltech Pavement Maintenance/Bicknell
11x Brian Copp/North Gower,ONT Price Paving-Matthew’s Collision Repair/Bicknell
15 Shane Pecore/Cornwall,ONT ESP Auto Parts-St.Andrews Service Center/TEO
17j Jamie Platt/Watertown,NY® Clarence Center Coach-Husky Property Management/Troyer
19w Justin Wright/Piffard,NY Mercer Milling Company-Yager Bros. Trucking/Bicknell
20 Randy Earl/Brockville,ONT Burnside Window Sales-Herbison Tree Service/Bicknell
20x Josh Kane/Mallorytown,ONT Kane’s Towing-Sersa Total Track/Bicknell
24 Brandon Sweet/Watertown,NY Jreck Subs-Clarence Henry Coach-FRE Race Parts/Troyer
25 Steve Bernier/St-Hyacinthe,QUE R.Poirier Transport-Bernier Excavation/Bicknell
27 Sheldon Hoogwerf/Prescott,ONT King Edmond Auto Parts-Mr. Mozzarella/Bicknell
30 Brent Kelsey/Plantagenet,ONT® Rockland Ford-Castrol-A&W Restaurant Rockland/Bicknell
30t Thunder Anderson/Hogansburg,NY Dairy Queen-Anderson Racing/Bicknell
32 Doug O’Blenis/Shannonville,ONT John’s Car Care-O’Blenis Welding & Fabrication/Bicknell
38 Ryan Susice/Ransomville,NY CBR Fabrication-Investor’s Service Company-Philpac Packaging/Bicknell
44 Todd Ferguson/Prescott,ONT Splash Well Drilling-Polite Sand & Gravel/Bicknell
52 Jessica Power/Kingston,ONT Stover Bus Lines-Jackson Landscaping-Speedy Auto Services/Bicknell
55c Jesse Cotriss/Akron,NY Sigma Motor Inc.-Fearby Auto-Jay’s Auto Sales & Service/Bicknell
63 Chris Herbison/Brockville,ONT D’s Collision Center-Stewart’s Racing/Bicknell
66 Tabatha Murphy/Prescott,ONT King Edward Auto Parts/TEO
80 Steve Barber/Lansdowne,ONT Payload Transportation-Unique Towing/Bicknell
80eh Ryan Buzzell/Renfrew,ONT Milwaukee Tools-Valley Sales & Equipment/Troyer
81 Christine Martin/Wellesley Island,NY SUNY Canton-American Traditions-Creative Optical/Troyer
83 Dylan Evoy/Brockville,ONT Ogilvie’s Auto & Fleet Service-Unity Savings/Bicknell
83x Tim Sears Jr./Clay,NY Total Site Development/Bicknell
88 Michel Primeau/Summerstown,ONT Primeau’s Marine-Flaro Developments/TEO
92 Adam Turner/Picton,ONT Paul Turner Auto Repair-Hotch’s & Sons Auto Parts/Bicknell
140 Mark Dixon/Durham,ONT Markdale Tractor/Bicknell
UPCOMING EVENTS
The 35th annual DIRTcar Racing Northeast ‘Night of Champions’ Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, November 20 at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York. The banquet will honor the 2010 series champions in the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions while track promoters and operators will convene earlier in the day for the annual DIRTcar meetings.
2010 Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Schedule .
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/LOCATION
Sat-Apr 10 Black Rock Speedway Steve Gray
Sun-Jun 13 Cornwall Motor Speedway Tim Sears Jr.
Sat-Jul 17 Cayuga County Fair Speedway Dave Marcuccilli
Fri-Sep 10 Ransomville Speedway Tim Sears Jr.
Sat-Sep 11 Merrittville Speedway Tim Sears Jr.
Sun-Sep 12 Humberstone Speedway Chris Raabe
Fri-Sep 17 Mohawk International Raceway Tim Sears Jr.
Sat-Sep 25 Rolling Wheels Raceway Park Tim Sears Jr.
Fri-Oct 1 Fulton Speedway Dave Marcuccilli
Wed-Oct 6 Can-Am Motorsports Park -cancelled-
Fri-Oct 8 Rolling Wheels Raceway Park Chris Raabe
Sat-Oct 9 New York State Fairgrounds Ryan Susice
Sun-Oct 17 Brockville Ontario Speedway Tim Sears Jr.
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds, home of DIRTcar All-Star Weekend in July. DIRTcar Northeast’s crown jewel event —Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse runs annually in October featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Ticket and schedule information is available by contacting the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during the day or logging into www.allstar100weekend.com and www.superdirtweekonline.com anytime.
The Big-Block Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire www.hoosiertire.com, VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com and GM Performance Parts www.gmperformanceparts.com. Promotional partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio www.unoh.com and Chizmark & Larson Insurance www.chizmarklarson.com, and contingency sponsors are Bicknell Racing Products www.bicknellracingproducts.com, Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com, KSE Racing Products www.kse-racing.com, Motorsports Safety Systems www.motorsportssafetysystems.com, MSD Ignition www.msdignition.com, Penske Shocks, www.penskeshocks.com, Racing Electronics www.racingelectronics.com, Vicci Racing Apparel www.vicci.com and Wrisco Industries www.wrisco.com.