{"id":3484,"date":"2009-10-24T09:55:16","date_gmt":"2009-10-24T14:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/100.24.212.105\/?p=3484"},"modified":"2010-11-10T09:57:54","modified_gmt":"2010-11-10T15:57:54","slug":"lawson-tops-black-rock-feature-battle-raabe-wins-sportsman-points-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/dirtcar-ne\/sportsman-modifieds\/lawson-tops-black-rock-feature-battle-raabe-wins-sportsman-points-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawson Tops Black Rock Feature Battle, Raabe Wins Sportsman Points War"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Donnie Lawson - Rick Young Photo<\/p><\/div>\n
Dundee, NY<\/strong> \u2014 October 24, 2009 \u2013 By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director \n<\/strong> \nThe 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship came to an end Saturday night at Black Rock Speedway and it was Donnie Lawson doing what he had done all season long to win the Owasco Beverage Labatt 30 Championship while Chris Raabe did all that he needed to capture a second straight overall season title.<\/p>\n
As Lawson dueled with \u201909 Black Rock DIRTcar track champion Todd Henderson to collect the $1,000 top-prize, Raabe kept series runner-up Ryan Susice in sight throughout the event to earn an even bigger honor when he sits at the head table during DIRTcar Racing Northeast\u2019s \u2018Night of Champions\u2019 awards banquet in November.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d have to say this is the biggest win of my career,\u201d declared second-generation driver Lawson from Woodhull, N.Y. following his sixth DIRTcar victory of the season at the Yates County oval. \u201cEven though we\u2019ve won some 358 (Small-Block Modified) races, this has to rank right at the top being a tour show.\u201d<\/p>\n
Competing for just the third time ever at Black Rock, Raabe was content to escape with a 16th-place finish which was good enough to outlast Susice in the final points chase with only 45 marker separating the talented twosome after 17 extra-distance tour stops.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of trouble here at Black Rock, flat tires and stuff, so going home in one piece and with another championship is still okay in the big picture,\u201d figured Raabe, 18, after joining Steve Hall (1996 & \u201998) and Russ Hefti as the only repeat Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman champions in 20 years, with Hefti (2005-06) the first driver to claim back-to-back titles. \u201cIt kinda stinks sometimes racing for points, you can\u2019t take chances anywhere. When you get under a guy you gotta back out of it, so just finishing actually becomes more important than where you finish when its all over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Canadian invader Luke Carleton jumped out to an early advantage from his pole-position start and held off an early bid by third-place starter Lawson aboard his Morgan’s Auto Repair no. 11 Bath Chiropractic Associates\/TEO mount. Western New York traveler Mark Chiddy got upside to bring out a rare red flag on lap 4 and on the ensuing restart it was Lawson ducking under Carleton to take the top spot exiting turn two.<\/p>\n
Unable to qualify through his heat and the consolation round, Raabe had filled out the final row of the 30-car starting grid then watched as Susice pitted after the stoppage to replace a soft tire and rejoin the rear of the field. Going into the event, Susice needed a victory to stand any chance of stealing away the overall Mr. DIRTcar points crown, while 20th or better for Raabe would lock up the title outright for the \u2018Teenage Tornado\u2019 from Napanee, Ont. aboard owner Gary McColman\u2019s no. 01 Scott\u2019s Industrial Services-TyRoute Communication\/TEO entry.<\/p>\n
Back under green with Lawson moving to the point, Carleton was quickly shadowed by Henderson, Steve Gray and Black Rock regular Loren Lincoln. Susice and Raabe were mired near the back of the pack in their own battle when the lone female qualifier, Katelyn Kane, was tapped from behind in turn four by Chris Silvers to require the only caution of the race on lap seven.<\/p>\n
Henderson closed in on leader Lawson a third of the way through and when the halfway mark was reached had moved the HR3 no. 18H Valvoline\/Bicknell machine out front in pursuit of his second checkered flag of the season. Henderson used the lapped car of Jeff Hand as a moving pick, sweeping high out of the fourth corner with Lawson sandwiched in between to nose ahead as the threesome crossed the stripe to complete lap 14. Lincoln, Carleton and Gray were scored next when the scoreboard flashed 15 with radar once again showing rain in the distance.<\/p>\n
Traffic remained thick as the leaders navigated through the open lanes. This time it was Lawson blasting high out of turn four using the lapped car of Silvers to forge the final lead change as Henderson dropped to second with 19 laps complete.<\/p>\n
With Lawson and Henderson running uncontested in the top two slots, Gray overtook Carleton for fourth on lap 22 and set his sights on third-place Lincoln in the closing stages. Not only did Gray complete his climb up to the show position on the final circuit, Justin Wright mirrored the move as he slipped past Carleton with 17 cars finishing the distance in the 25-minute main.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought (Todd) had me, I\u2019m not good in lapped traffic and he knows it,\u201d remarked Lawson, following his 12th victory of the season in Dundee. \u201cI was just able to get it back this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew there was a guy up high, so for him to get a shot up there would\u2019ve been hard because there was a guy blocking the top lane. I Knew if I could just ride behind —think it was the #65 car (Boyd MacTavish)— I would be alright. Still wasn\u2019t comfortable about it, saying I was would be a lie. You just hope it\u2019s the right choice, and I\u2019ve made the wrong decision in lapped traffic a lot of times in my life so far,\u201d Lawson admitted.<\/p>\n
Winner of a tour-best five Mr. DIRTcar Championship trail races this season, Raabe chose to ride it out once the feature got underway as a Top-20 finish was all he needed to claim the overall title.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll in all it was a great season, 20 wins, a couple track titles and a 2nd consecutive Mr. DIRT Championship, that\u2019s pretty neat,\u201d said Raabe, who last year became the youngest overall champion in DIRTcar\u2019s 34-year history, and this time around is now the youngest ever to garner consecutive crowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year we had about the same number but this season we won more bigger races. We also won out West where Ryan was probably the favorite. Going in we were really looking to match what we accomplished last year so our success this season just reinforces what we did and shows it wasn\u2019t a fluke,\u201d added Raabe, who already plans to be back in 2010 trying to \u2018threepeat\u2019 unless additional sponsorship support during the off-season allows otherwise.<\/p>\n
Finishing behind Raabe (1651) and Susice (1606) in the final 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championship point standings are Jipp Ortiz (1494), Justin Wright (1074), Dan Wiesner (1316), B.J. Willard (1282), Adam Turner (1249), Greg Panunte (1243), Mark Chiddy (1156) and Sammy Reakes IV (1096), who won the \u201909 opener at Black Rock in April.<\/p>\n
Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Race #17 \u2013 Black Rock Speedway, Oct. 24, 2009 \u201cOwasco Beverage Labatt 30 Championship\u201d Event Summary <\/strong> \nFIN STR CAR# DRIVER \n1 3 11 Donnie Lawson\/Woodhull,NY($1,000) \n2 8 18h Todd Henderson\/Canandaigua,NY \n3 5 29g Steve Gray\/Middlesex,NY \n4 10 2 Loren Lincoln\/South Bristol,NY \n5 4 19w Justin Wright\/Piffard,NY \n6 1 26h Luke Carleton\/Port Colborne,ONT \n7 7 70 Brady Fultz\/Dundee,NY \n8 14 66 Dan Wiesner\/Geneva,NY \n9 16 85h Rob Humphreys\/Elbridge,NY \n10 20 k38 Ryan Susice\/Ransomville,NY \n11 11 77jr. B.J. Willard\/St.Catharines,ONT \n12 15 0 Jipp Ortiz\/Ransomville,NY \n13 21 11j Alan Fink\/Pennellville,NY \n14 2 58L Jim LaRock\/Seneca Falls,NY \n15 9 14s Craig Gardner\/Watkins Glen,NY \n16 30 01 Chris Raabe\/Napanee,ONT \n17 18 65 Boyd MacTavish\/Ransomville,NY \n18 12 44 Gary Hotelling\/Middlesex,NY \n19 26 ff3 Rod Mullen\/Rexville,NY \n20 27 92 Adam Turner\/Picton,ONT \n21 17 24b Brett Buono\/Dundee,NY \n22 25 7 Chris Silvers\/Elmira,NY \n23 23 8 Gus Hurlburt\/Canandaigua,NY \n24 28 24 Rick Willsey\/Elmira Heights,NY \n25 24 2k Katelyn Kane\/Syracuse,NY \n26 29 25 Jeff Hand\/Penn Yan,NY \n27 6 28w Sandy Pembleton\/Lewiston,NY \n28 13 32 Greg Crooker\/Savona,NY \n29 22 m1 David Marcuccilli\/Cayuga,NY \n30 19 54 Mark Chiddy\/Boston,NY \nLAP LEADERS: Carleton (1-3), Lawson (4-13), Henderson (14-18), Lawson (19-30). \nCAUTIONS: 1 (lap 7); 1 RED FLAG (lap 4). \nHEAT WINNERS: Willard, Gardner, Henderson, Carleton. \nCONSI WINNER: Fink. \nCARS ENTERED: 36. \nDID NOT QUALIFY(6) \n16-Brandon Butler\/Horseheads,NY \n23-Tim Povoski\/Elmira,NY \n29-Greg Birosh\/Horseheads,NY \n30-Damon Walker\/Penn Yan,NY \n40-Josh Butler\/Horseheads,NY \n64-Bob Buono\/Dundee,NY<\/p>\n
Mr. DIRTcar Series Sportsman Entries <\/strong>\u2013 October 24 (36) \nCar# Driver\/Hometown Team (Sponsor \/ Chassis) \n0 Jipp Ortiz\/Ransomville,NY Pizza Logs-Lee Heil-Ed’s Garage\/Bicknell \n01 Chris Raabe\/Napanee,ONT Scott Industrial Services-Kingston RV Centre-Tyroute Communications\/TEO \nm1 David Marcuccilli\/Cayuga,NY Barbay&Son Const-Crew Boyz Racing-Stormin\/Bicknell \n2 Loren Lincoln\/South Bristol,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Lincoln Fabrication\/TEO \n2k Katelyn Kane\/Syracuse,NY Ernie Kreis & Sons Heating Co.-Leaf Racewear-CME Enterprises\/Bicknell \nff3 Rod Mullen\/Rexville,NY Farm Family Insurance-Steuben Vet Clinic\/Bicknell \n7 Chris Silvers\/Elmira,NY Silvers Auto Sales-Turk’s Auto Sales\/TEO \n8 Gus Hurlburt\/Canandaigua,NY Lupini Construction-Dusk to Dawn Trucking\/Bicknell \n11 Donnie Lawson\/Woodhull,NY Morgan’s Auto Repair-Bath Chiropractic Associates\/TEO \n11j Alan Fink\/Pennellville,NY JIR Motorsports-Oneidaview Pile Driving\/Troyer \n14s Craig Gardner\/Watkins Glen,NY Swarthout Mobile Document Destruction\/TEO \n16 Brandon Butler\/Horseheads,NY Precision Automotive-Market St.Brewing Co.\/Bicknell \n18h Todd Henderson\/Canandaigua,NY HR3-Valvoline\/Bicknell \n19w Justin Wright\/Piffard,NY Mercer Milling Company-Yager Bros. Trucking\/Bicknell \n23 Tim Povoski\/Elmira,NY Weese Precision Machine\/Bicknell \n24 Rick Willsey\/Elmira Heights,NY Precision Automotive-Sammy’s Swap Shop\/Olsen \n24b Brett Buono\/Dundee,NY Buono Racing\/Olsen \n25 Jeff Hand\/Penn Yan,NY Marhrt’s Garage-Gleason & Sons Flooring\/Troyer \n26h Luke Carleton\/Port Colborne,ONT Carleton Racing\/Bicknell \n28w Sandy Pembleton\/Lewiston,NY Smokin’ Joe’s-Seneca Racing\/Bicknell \n29 Greg Birosh\/Horseheads,NY McMichael Electrical Contractors-Irwin Industrial Tools\/Birosh \n29g Steve Gray\/Middlesex,NY Fox’s Auto-Dar’s Auto-JSB Graphics-Beck’s Recycling\/Bicknell \n30 Damon Walker\/Penn Yan,NY Allen Auto Sales\/TEO \n32 Greg Crooker\/Savona,NY Crooker Racing\/Speed Palace \nk38 Ryan Susice\/Ransomville,NY Investor’s Service Company-Philpac Packaging\/Bicknell \n40 Josh Butler\/Horseheads,NY Precision Automotive\/Bicknell \n44 Gary Hotelling\/Middlesex,NY Proctor Roofing-Gorham Market\/TEO \n54 Mark Chiddy\/Boston,NY D&B Motorsports-Mullen Industrial Handling\/Bicknell \n58L Jim Larock\/Seneca Falls,NY P&T Fabrication-Auto Value\/Bicknell \n64 Bob Buono\/Dundee,NY Harris Logging-Buono Racing\/Bicknell \n65 Boyd MacTavish\/Ransomville,NY Cosco Excavating\/Bicknell \n66 Dan Wiesner\/Geneva,NY Monroe Wheelchair-Safety Awareness Solutions\/Troyer \n70 Brady Fultz\/Dundee,NY Suzuki-Paine Motorsports\/Troyer \n77jr. B.J. Willard\/St.Catharines,ONT CAA Niagara Battery Assist-Speck Trucking\/Bicknell \n85h Rob Humphreys\/Elbridge,NY M&W Aluminum Products-Humphrey’s Garage\/Bicknell \n92 Adam Turner\/Picton,ONT Paul Turner Auto Repair\/Bicknell<\/p>\n
Pot Holes<\/strong>: Early morning rain then a 2-hour shower from 9:45-11:45am forced officials to scrap the customary time trials, although the top-12 heat race qualifiers still re-drew to determine the front six rows for the 50-lap finale\u2026Track promoter Dean Hoag prevailed with his \u2018make-or-break\u2019 attitude as the untimely precipitation kept cars off the track until 3pm, nearly six hours past the original schedule that called for the first practice session to go green at 9:30am\u2026It was certainly a challenging day from morning until night for the series front-runners as a flat tire late in the consi forced points leader Chris Raabe to take advantage of his guaranteed starter status (began 30th) while a late-race crash in his qualifying heat afforded Ryan Susice the fifth and final spot which put him 20th on the feature race grid\u2026Despite the Ransomville, N.Y. racer required to wear a glove on his right hand after suffering burns last weekend at Brockville, Susice was the phantom \u2018hard charger\u2019 after restarting from the rear and cracking the top-10 in the near caution-free 30-lap headliner.<\/p>\n
UPCOMING EVENTS <\/strong> \nThe 34th annual DIRTcar Racing Northeast \u2018Night of Champions\u2019 Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, November 14 at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York. The banquet will honor the 2009 series champions in the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions while track promoters and operators will convene on Friday, November 13 for the annual DIRTcar track meetings.<\/p>\n
2009 Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Schedule <\/strong> \nDAY-DATE LAPS TRACK LOCATION\/WINNER \nSat-Apr 5 75 Black Rock Speedway Sammy Reakes IV \nFri-Apr 17 30 Can-Am Motorsports Park Chris Raabe \nThr-Jul 2 25 Rolling Wheels Raceway Park rain-cancelled \nFri-Jul 3 30 Brewerton Speedway Tim Sears Jr. \nSun-Jul 5 50 Cornwall Motor Speedway Chris Raabe \nSat-Jul 18 30 Cayuga County Fair Speedway Justin Wright \nMon-Sep 7 25 Rolling Wheels Raceway Park Jipp Ortiz \nFri-Sep 11 50 Ransomville Speedway Don Spatorico \nSat-Sep 12 50 Merrittville Speedway B.J. Willard \nSun-Sep 13 50 Humberstone Speedway Chris Raabe \nFri-Sep 18 33 Canandaigua Speedway Jipp Ortiz \nFri-Sep 18 33 Canandaigua Speedway Ryan Susice \nSat-Sep 19 30 Genesee Speedway Chris Raabe \nSun-Oct 4 30 Fulton Speedway Ryan Susice \nWed-Oct 7 30 Can-Am Motorsports Park rain-cancelled \nFri-Oct 9 30 Rolling Wheels Raceway Park rain-cancelled \nSat-Oct 10 30 New York State Fairgrounds Matt Billings \nSat-Oct 10 30 Rolling Wheels Raceway Park Ryan Susice \nSat-Oct 17 50 Brockville Ontario Speedway Chris Raabe \nSat-Oct 24 30 Black Rock Speedway Donnie Lawson \n@Driver’s (2) worst finishes dropped through September; last (5) events count. \n<\/em> \nDIRTcar 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\u2019s 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.superdirtweekonline.com anytime.<\/p>\n
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 and VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation www.riteaid.com, Dig Safely New York www.digsafelynewyork.com and the University of Northwestern Ohio www.unoh.com and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks www.barsproducts.com, Bert Transmission www.berttransmission.com, Bicknell Racing Products www.bicknellracingproducts.com, Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com, Brodix Cylinder Heads www.brodix.com, Ferris Industries www.ferrisindustries.com, Integra Shocks www.integrashocksandsprings.com, Intercomp www.intercomp-racing.com, KSE Racing Products www.kse-racing.com, Motorsports Safety Systems www.motorsportssafetysystems.com, Penske Shocks, www.penskeshocks.com, Racing Electronics www.racingelectronics.com, Rislone Oil Stabilizer www.barsproducts.com and Wrisco Industries www.wrisco.com. www.kse-racing.com<\/a>, <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"