His season’s first DIRTcar 358-Modified Series win propels Rudolph to championship circle
Brockville, Ontario – Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 – Martin Bélanger, DIRTcar Correspondant– Erick Rudolph, of Ransomville, N. Y., claimed the DIRTcar 358-Modifed Series Championship with a thrilling victory in the tour’s 100-lap final round of the during day 2 of the 1000 Island RV DIRTcar Northeast Falls Nationals. Rudolph claimed the lead in lap 67 of the feature race Saturday, Oct. 19, and didn’t let up until the checkered flag waved.
Last Sunday’s Syracuse 200 winner at Syracuse Billy Dunn and local runner Lee Gill shared the top row for the start of the 100-lap event. Dunn took the early lead with DIRTcar 358-Modified Series point leader Erick Rudolph following in second. An early caution slowed racers in lap 6 as Lee Ladouceur stopped in turn 4.
The top two leaders remained the same off the restart, with Brian McDonald powering ahead to claim third. Gill and Danny O’Brien followed. Dunn joined slower traffic at the backend of the field, where cars running side-by-side slowed his progress.
Running in fourth spot, Lee Gill went off turn 3 and the yellow lights were lit with 23 laps down. A lap 32 restart saw Dunn still in the lead.
Brian McDonald by cracked the top 5, but he stepped out of turn 2 and the yellow got out as the feature neared its midpoint.
The halfwas point was reached under caution, with Dunn, Rudolph, Danny Johnson, Danny O’Brien and Dale Planck making up the top 5.
Planck was able to pass Danny O’Brien just before another yellow was thrown with Dave Austin having issues with his mount.
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series contender Mat Williamson made his way in the top 5 as Billy Dunn slipped off the track, losing valuable spots and giving the lead to Erick Rudolph on lap 67.
With 25 laps to go, Rudolph,Johnson, Planck, Williamson and Danny O’Brien composed the first five.
Both Johnson and Danny O’Brien had issues with their cars, losing their top 4 positions in lap 81.
On the restart, Rudolph remained the leader. Pat O’Brien lost his fifth spot in lap 90 with a flat right rear tire, giving his spot to Dunn who made his way back with the leaders. Williams also succumbed to a flat tire late in the race, losing his third-place position with one lap to go.
Rudolph managed to lead the last two laps in the green-white-checkered finish, winning his first event of the season and securing his first-ever DIRTcar 358-Modified Series title. Dale Planck, Billy Dunn, Alain Boisvert and Carey Terrance completed the top 5.
Rudolph was ecstatic in winner`s circle: “Wow! I can’t believe it, winning the race and getting the championship, I am really happy!” Rudolph was thankful for his team: ‘’I would like to thank everyone for a great year in the Snyder Industries Car’’.
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Race #12 – Event Summary
1000 Island RV Falls Nationals 100
Brockville Ontario Speedway
October 19th, 2013
Feature Results:
Erick Rudolph, Dale Planck, Billy Dunn, Alain Boisvert, Carey Terrance, Alan Johnson, Matt Sheppard, David Hebert, Ryan Arbuthnot, Stephane Lafrance, Michel Chicoine, Brian McDonald, Mario Clair, Dany Bilodeau, Jeff Sykes, Pierre Dagenais, Mat Williamson, Tim O’Brien, Pat O’Brien, Steve Bernard, Danny O’Brien, John Mulder, Danny Johnson, Lee Gill, Lee Ladouceur, Dave Austin, Kyle Wilson, Jason Riddell, Adam Moore, Kyle Dingwall
LAP LEADERS:
Dunn (1-66)
Rudolph (67- 101)
Heat Races (8 laps, top 3 to redraw, top 5 qualify)
H1: Dale Planck, Pat O’Brien, David Hebert, Stephane Lafrance, Tim O’Brien, Alan Johnson, Michel Chicoine, Joel Doiron, Yan Bussiere, Joe Banks
H2: Steve Bernard, Lee Gill, Brian McDonald, Carey Terrance, Matt Sheppard, Alain Boisvert, Kyle Wilson, Jeff Sykes, Kevin Hamel, Jordan McCreadie
H3: Mat Williamson, Danny Johnson, Danny O’Brien, Kyle Dingwall, Mario Clair, Jason Riddell, Lee Ladouceur, John Mulder, Pierre Dagenais, Roger Levesque
H4: Erick Rudolph, Dany Bilodeau, Billy Dunn, Dave Austin, Adam Moore, Gilles Godard, Jean Boissonneault, Ryan Arbuthnot, Steve Bilow, David Papineau
Consolation Races:
C1: Alan Johnson, Alain Boisvert, Kyle Wilson, Jeff Sykes, Michel Chicoine, Jordan McCreadie, Yan Bussiere, Kevin Hamel, Joe Banks (DNS), joel Doiron (DNS)
C2: Jason Riddell, Lee Ladouceur, John Mulder, Ryan Arbuthnot, Pierre Dagenais, Steve Bilow, Gilles Godard, Jean Boissonneault, Roger Levesque, David Papineau (DNS)
Brockville Ontario Speedway DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Race #12 Roster (41)
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2013 DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Schedule
Mon. May 20, Merrittville Speedway, Thorold, Ont. – Matt Sheppard
Mon. July 1st, Cornwall Motor Speedway, Cornwall, Ont. – Matt Sheppard
Wed. July 3, Ransomville Speedway, Ransomville, N. Y. – Chad Brachmann
Sun. Sept. 1, Cornwall Motor Speedway, Cornwall, Ont. – Steve Bernard
Fri. Sept. 6, Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, Que. – David Hebert
Fri. Sept. 13, Mohawk International Raceway, Akwesasne, N. Y. – Matt Sheppard
Fri. Sept. 20, Le RPM Speedway, St-Marcel De Richelieu, Que. – Mario Clair
Sat. Sept. 21, Brighton Speedway, Brighton, Ont. – 100 laps – Inclement Weather
Wed. Oct. 9, Weedsport Speedway, Weedsport, N. Y. – 75 laps – Matt Sheppard
Thurs. Oct. 10, Brewerton Speedway, Brewerton N. Y. – 75 laps – Danny Johnson
Sat. Oct. 12, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N. Y. – 150 laps – Brett Hearn
Sat. Oct. 19, Brockville Ontario Speedway, Brockville, Ont. – 100 laps – Erick Rudolph
