MITCH GIBBS ROMPS TO FIVE MILE POINT SEASON OPENING WIN; SPOOR, STODDARD,

McCLENON AND DECHOW ALSO VICTORIOUS

KIRKWOOD, NY: Mitch Gibbs went wire to wire to claim the 358 Modified feature win on opening night Saturday at Five Mile Point Speedway. Brett Spoor, Mike Stoddard, Walt McClenon and Steve Dechow also took home wins at the quarter mile oval.

The heads up start found J.R. Crouse and Gibbs on the front row in the Modified feature. Gibbs bolted to the lead at the outset with Crouse settling in behind him. Gibbs ran the middle on the smooth, tacky new clay surface while Crouse chose the bottom of the three groove track. Crouse challenged Gibbs on several occasions before Gibbs moved to the top of the track. He was then able to pull away by half a straightaway. Crouse then found himself in a side by side battle with Alan Rudalavage over the middle portion of the 30 lap feature. While those cars were battling up front, Don Hart, Jr. was on the move from his 15th starting spot. With five laps to go fifth running Butch Klinger and sixth place runner Harry Marvin got together. That moved Hart into the top five to challenge Dana Wagner. The fourth and final caution of the race flew with two laps to go giving Crouse one last shot at Gibbs. Gibbs was up to the challenge and cruised to the opening night win. Crouse was second ahead of Rudalavage, Wagner and Hart. Positions six through ten went to Dave Locke, Jim Allen, Billy Thornton, Glenn Knapp and Marvin.

After a three lap side by side battle with rookie Ralph Shoemaker, Brett Spoor pulled away to win the Street Stock feature. Spoor was never seriously challenged enroute to the win. Newcomer Mike Mills raced past Shoemaker on lap second and settled in for a second place finish. Shoemaker was an impressive third ahead of Don Russell and Ken Sparks, Jr. Sixth through tenth went to Dan Podwika, Randy Rolison, Jerry Liford, Guy Park and Byron Pitcher.

Mike Stoddard went wire to wire to capture the Grand American Modified feature win. Gordy Isham came from the back of the pack to challenge Stoddard for the lead but Stoddard had the horses to win the 20 lap feature. Isham was second ahead of Joe Price, Jr., Bob Chapman and Kevin Cole. Rounding out the top ten were Pete Hoover, Jeff Cleveland, Bill Hawkins, Jason Makosky and Joe Cole.

Harry Marvin III jumped out to the early lead in the 15 lap Pure Stock feature. The youngster held the top spot until Walt McClenon worked his way past him on lap four. Marvin stayed close but McClenon powered to his first win since the 2000 racing season. Marvin was second followed by Randy Percival, Mahlon Shoemaker and Mark Aldrich. Finishing in spots six through ten were Ted Baker, Harry Cook, Jr., Toby Sparks, John Zedanovich and Jim Ortiz. Steve Dechow took home top honors in the Figure 8 feature. He was followed by Brian Garvey and Stewart Padasso.

This Saturday is Student Night featuring a full show of 358 Modifieds, Street Stocks, Grand American Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Figure 8’s. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and race time is 6:30 p.m.

Five Mile Point Speedway is located at the intersection of routes 17 and 81 in Kirkwood, New York. For further information call the speedway office at 607-775-5555 or log onto www.fivemilepointspeedway.net.

COUNTER POINTS. The new clay surface had the drivers and fans raving. It stayed smooth, fast and dust free with no tire wear whatsoever and three wide racing all over the place. Rudalavage just missed the track record by 4/100ths of a second in his heat race. The full night of racing was completed by 9:35 p.m.

358 MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: MITCH GIBBS, J.R. Crouse, Alan Rudalavage, Dana Wagner, Don Hart, Jr., Dave Locke, Jim Allen, Billy Thornton, Glenn Knapp, Harry Marvin, Jr., Jim Potts, Chuck Kennison, Butch Klinger, Dan Hineline, Ed Harris, Bob Lane, Tom Rose, Dennis Dietrich, Rich Keehle,

Dave Calaman, Ray Menard.

STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH: BRETT SPOOR, Mike Mills, Ralph Shoemaker, Jr., Don Russell, Ken Sparks, Jr., Dan Podwika, Randy Rolison, Jerry Liford, Guy Park, Byron Pitcher, Jay Conroy, Jason Bartsch.

GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: MIKE STODDARD, Gordy Isham, Joe Price, Jr., Bob Chapman, Kevin Cole, Pete Hoover, Jeff Cleveland, Bill Hawkins, Jason Makosky, Joe Cole, Charlie Gilbert.

PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH: WALT McCLENON, Harry Marvin, III, Randy Percival, Mahlon Shoemaker, Mark Aldrich, Ted Baker, Harry Cook, Jr., Toby Sparks, John Zedanovich, Jim Ortiz, Joe Plouse, Bryan Lindsey, Jerry Whitmarsh, Jeremy Shaw, Jack Champion, Harold Goodell, John Terrell.

FIGURE 8 FEATURE FINISH: STEVE DECHOW, Brian Garvey, Stewart Padasso.