FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEE GILL LEADS WIRE-TO-WIRE AT ADIRONDACK; RAMOS, DUNN, AND BEYER PICK UP SUPPORT VICTORIES
By AIS Public Relations
Contact: admin@adirondackspeedway.com
May 24th, 2008
New Bremen (NY) – For the second time in 2008, the Adirondack International Speedway opened up their gates for a four-division racecard. As the event sponsored by Otis Gun Technology and AmeriCU, the night was devoted to “Military Appreciation”. A slew of soldiers and active military made it out to the Speedway as they were admitted free and with that received a night of racing entertainment at the ASA-sanctioned race track.
Lee Gill of LaFargeville lit up the night, taking his first win of the season in the Lyndaker Excavating & Trucking ASA Challenger Late Models. After struggling on Opening night, Gill started on the outside pole of the event and led wire-to-wire, surviving all oncoming bids for the lead to take his sixth career victory at the Speedway.
Coming down to the green flag, Shane Monnat sat on the pole with Gill to his outside. While Gill made the quick jump, racing quickly became heated within the top-five. Just while lap four of 50 began to be scored, Monnat was spun from behind sparking a seven car melee in turn four. The red flag was flown as three cars sat disabled on the front stretch. Former champion Jerry Dineen received the majority of the damage including Stillwater’s Carl Guilefuss. As both front runners were done for the night, rookie driver Brandon Kidd also was forced to retire from the event early. With the mess cleaned up and everyone coming out unscathed, the race restarted on lap five. Racing stayed green through the halfway point with Gill maintaining the lead followed by John Papin, Tommy Cloce, Bryant Trim, and Chris Ross. The top-five remained until the ten to go sign when Cloce and Trim began to battle in lap traffic while Papin looked to chase down Gill. Papin, able to pull within five car lengths on several occasions couldn’t stir up the momentum to close the gap anymore. With three laps to go Trim would make a move on the high side of Cloce to take the third position. As the two banged wheels down the frontstretch they maintained their positions to race down to the checkers. Gill raced on to the finish without contest while Papin picked up his second, second place finish in as many weeks. Trim finished third while Cloce and Ross rounded out the top-five.
In the GotGoodCheese.com True Stocks, Mike Ramos picked up the lead on lap-five and remained out front for the remainder of the 20-lap event. Ramos, who picked up the win last week after the initial winner was disqualified, was the class of the field, running away from 2007 Track Champion JR Mooney. Mooney, who had started eighth threw everything at Ramos, before coming up just short in the end. Ramos would win while Mooney, Rick Mooney, Tom Markham, and rookie driver Gregg Roes rounded out the top-five.
Tim Dunn of Watertown snagged the victory in the D&D Powersports Sport Compact division. Dunn started on the pole position and maintained his lead throughout the 15-lap event. At the checkers, Lowville’s Tom Dubach finished second followed by last weeks winner Scott Shafer, Nate Plantz and Ryan Roberts.
Perhaps the most exciting feature race of the night, the Westward Painting Company Light Trucks rolled 21 trucks down to the green flag for a 20-lap shootout. Glenfield’s Keith Delles took the lead on the first circuit and led through lap five when Uriah Kirkbride took the lead. Kirkbride’s ride at the front was short lived however, as 10th place starter Dave Keefer took the lead on lap eight. Keefer led through the halfway point before Steve Ellis stole the lead on lap 13. Soon after, the race for the lead became a three-way battle. Keefer, stealing the lead back on 15, was surprised to see last weeks winner Cooter Beyer enter himself into the mix with Ellis. With the two-to-go sign ready to be released a yellow flag was flown for a spin on the backstretch. Setting up for a green-white-checker finish the top-five sat Keefer out front with Beyer, Ellis, Chuck Snyder, and Levi Kirbride. With smoke beginning to bellow from the Keefer machine the green was flown and Keefer’s good run had began to come to an end. Keefer’s ride began to lose power as Beyer motored by to take the lead. With Ellis in tow, Beyer looked to keep everyone at bay as the white flag would fly. Appearing to have something for the frontrunner, Ellis began to reel in Beyer however he would run out of time as the laps ticked off. With the checkers in the air, Beyer was declared the winner while Ellis, Snyder, Levi Kirkbride and Gregg Roes rounded out the top-five.
The event, having started at 6:30pm was over and down with at 9:20pm. Members of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum (NY) came out with their military vehicle as well as a color guard group headed by SFC Freeman. The color guard began the nights main events with a performance down on the track prior to the playing of the Canadian and American National Anthems. Furthermore, several active military soldiers took part to help a number of Late Model teams down in the pit area. The event was a dynamic success in all efforts to show appreciation to the active military while at the same time celebrating Memorial Day.
Next week at the track is CDL Truckers Night. Gilco Trucking is sponsoring the event that will be highlighted with a visit from the “American Thunder Jet Truck”. A live car burn will take place during intermission as the 10-Wheel Tractor Jet Truck will melt a street car to the ground with its two jet engines. Owner and operator Mike Charleton is ready for his first visit to Adirondack. Also showcased this coming Saturday is the Westward Painting Company 25-lap $300-to-win event for the Light Trucks. All other divisions, including the ASA Challenger Late Models will be back at it. Grandstand gates will open at 4pm and racing is set to begin at 6:30. For more information you can contact the Speedway at (315) 346-RACE or visit the Speedway website at www.adirondackspeedway.com.