Race Results: September 9th, 2006

KIRKWOOD, NY - Stewart Friesen used a last lap, turn three dramatic pass to go on and record his fourth Five Mile Point Speedway Modified victory on Saturday night. Eric Palmer collected the Sportsman feature win with Brad Grim earning the point title. Les Gillette was the Street Stock winner with Jerry Tonti being crowned the division champion. Other wins went to Mike Stolaryck, III(IMCA Modifieds), Charlie Gilbert (Pure Stocks), Dave Cronk (99.1 the Whale Figure 8's), Jamie Backus (Lightning Cats) and Casey Vaughn (A League of Their Own).

The thirty lap Modified feature on Saturday served as the final point race of the season. Although Mitch Gibbs had clinched the Track Championship at the rescheduled Labor Day event there was a lot to be determined in the standings. Gary Griffin was the early race leader but James Cornell made that a short lived stay out front as he took command on the sixth circuit. Jim Crawn had the fastest car on the speedway during the early stages as he made his way up to second place on lap seven after starting in eighth. Crawn wasn't wasting any time as he darted past Cornell on lap number eight.

It looked like Crawn could be the guy to beat as he looked impressive out front. Stewart Friesen was making his patented late race charge to the front of the field as he was trying to chase down Crawn for the lead throughout the second half of the race. As the laps wound down the Crawn and Friesen battle intensified while Cornell waited for any error. On the final circuit Friesen dove to the bottom as Cornell made a three wide bid to the outside of Crawn. Entering turn one Cornell clipped the outside wall and his hopes for the win evaporated. The side by side battle for the lead continued down the backstretch as Friesen made the winning pass in turn three. Friesen would edge out Crawn by half a car length at the finish. J.R Crouse took advantage of Cornell's slip up to finish third with Dana Wagner and Cornell completing the top five.

Twenty six Sportsman were scheduled to roll out for the feature event but mechanical problems sidelined Jason Griffiths prior to the start. Entering the evening the point race was the closest in recent memory at the speedway. Brad Grim held a five point advantage in the standings over Butch Klinger entering the event. Defending Track Champion Eric Palmer took command early from his outside front row starting position. Palmer was quick out front but Klinger and Grim were garnering a lot of attention as they raced through the field for the championship. Klinger started in third place with Grim having to tow from the tenth starting position. Klinger moved his way into second place on lap six with Grim knowing he had to keep him within his sights. Knowing this Grim was impressive as he had made his way up to third place by only lap seven. As the laps wound down Klinger tried to make several restart attempts on Palmer but could not do so. Palmer went on for the victory with Klinger, Grim, Shaun Walker and Justin Holland rounding out the top five. By virtue of his third place finish Grim won the Track Championship by only one point over Klinger.

The Street Stock Championship had yet to be decided coming into the evening of racing. Jerry Tonti held a twenty-seven point advantage over Joe Krisovich and a twenty-eight point margin over Les Gillette. Gillette had visions of the point championship early as he moved out front at the drop of the feature green. Gillette had mechanical problems on Laobr Day drop him in the points so a solid finish was a must. Tonti started in seventh place with Krisovich starting in fifth. Only two cautions would slow the race as Gillette proved he was the guy to beat on this night. One of those cautions involved Tonti as it looked like the point lead could change. Gillette would lead the distance to go on and capture his third victory of the season. Carl Heater wound up second with Henry Cook, Jr. coming across in third. Krisovich wound up in fourth place with Doug Polhamus completing the top five. Tonti would rebound for an eighth place finish which was enough to win the 2006 point title

Charlie Gilbert proved why he was the 2006 Pure Stock Track Champion as he dominated the twenty lap affair. Gilbert led from wire to wire to collect his seventh victory of the season. Tom Garren finished second followed by Shane Wolfe, Jeremy Shaw and Mahlon Shoemaker.

Dave Cronk was the winner of the 99.1 the Whale Figure 8 event. He was followed across the line by Steve Matson, Don Lantz Jr., Jim Watson and Steve Dechow.