Jun 5, 2015 07:50 AM EDT
Van Pelt Wins $5,140 In ‘Rumble at The Rock’ Victory
DUNDEE, N.Y. — For Immediate Release – June 5th, 2015 –
Former Black Rock Speedway track champion Billy Van Pelt collected $5,000 for the victory in Tuesday night’s ‘Rumble at The Rock’ sponsored by S.P. Wilson, Inc and collected $140 additionally in lap money. Not only did he take home that cash, he also selected a guaranteed starting spot for the Sunday June 28th running of ‘Lightning On The Mountain’ at Thunder Mountain Speedway courtesy of Brett Deyo’s Short Track Super Series.
The Westfield, Pennsylvania driver took the lead from Erick Rudolph on lap 13 and would never relinquish it. ‘The Doctor’ Danny Johnson would charge from starting spot number twelve to battle Van Pelt at the end but would fall half a car length short at the double checkers.
Van Pelt was using the bottom lane to work through slower traffic while Johnson was hugging the cushion around the ‘Fast Four-Tenths-Mile’. Seven-time Black Rock Speedway track champion Steve Paine would run second behind Van Pelt but would fall to third while Johnson made his late race charge.
Gary Tomkins in the Coar-owned #84 was the hard charger of the race after finishing fourth from starting spot #21. Superior Crushing and Tyler Siri sponsored a $100 hard charger award that Tomkins collected.
Erick Rudolph was strong early in the Chrysler #21R, leading laps 1 through 12. Rudolph would fall to a top five finish late in the going after drawing the Pole in the Top 12 Redraw.
Van Pelt was ecstatic in Champion Power Equipment Victory Lane- even doing a roof dance on top of the Grant Hilfiger-owned #78.
“I tell you what, I am so excited about winning this race,” said Van Pelt.
“When you can come out and beat the likes of Danny Johnson, Steve Paine and Gary Tomkins- I’m on top of the world!”
Van Pelt was quick to thank his car owner for the stout equipment he drives and the confidence that Hilfiger puts into the driver and the race team to get the job done.
“You really have to thank Grant for putting up a great outfit for me here. I had my doubts as we had a lot of choices to make (on tires) and it seems that we made the right choice tonight.”
Van Pelt would claim the Thunder Mountain guaranteed starting spot for the Short Track Super Series North Region. Johnson would take the Crazy 8s Special starting spot for I-88 Speedway in July. Paine would be left with the Woodhull Raceway ‘Hustlin’ the Highbanks 51’ starting spot which will go to great use. Paine put a checkmark in the ‘W’ column last season at ‘New York’s Toughest Bullring’.
Lap Money awarded at the ‘Rumble at The Rock’:
Van Pelt- $140, Johnson- $80, Paine- $120, Tomkins- $100 + $100 Hard Charger, Rudolph- $120, Donnie Lawson- $180, Alan Johnson- $60, Nick Nye- $80, Brady Fultz- $60, Joe Dgien- $20, Vic Coffey- $40
In other racing action at ‘The Rumble’ Ken Buck collected his first M&M Auto Sales and Service IMCA Modified victory of the 2015 campaign. He would have to holf off the fierce charges of Logan Terry in the 14L, but Buck was up to the challenge.
Buck is no stranger to Black Rock Speedway as he started racing in the street stock division a number of years ago. Terry would hold on for second, Harry Ely came home third, Jason Benjamin fourth and point leader Keith Lamphere rounded out the top five.
In the MRC Street Stocks LaVerne Knickerbocker finally got the monkey off his back in the 187 ride. Knickerbocker has had a lightning fast car but just hadn’t put an entire race together with lady luck to grace Super Gen Products Victory Lane. The Corning, NY driver dominated the 20-lap feature, which left an intense battle for second.
Nate Daggett started on the front row and led many laps before being passed by Knickerbocker. Once falling to second Daggett had to contend with Chuck Winslow, Kurt Stebbins and Jared Hill. These four put on a show for the great crowd in attendance with the rest of the top five being Daggett, Winslow, Stebbins and Hill at the finish.
The NAPA Know How 4 Cylinders had a barn-burner of their own with Penn Yan, NY pilot Jayson Smart securing his first victory of 2015. Smart, driving the Speedway Performance #8 took over second position on lap 13 and set his sights on leader Rick Horton.
Smart would work slower traffic to perfection and would get by Horton for the lead on lap 18 and go on to the win. Horton had a great run but would finish in the bridesmaid position yet again this season. Backyard Motorsports entries Rich Sharpsteen and Jeremy Track finished third and fourth while Woodhull Raceway regular Brian Grant filled out the top five.
Coming up this week at Black Rock Speedway will be a full weekly racing program complete with Modifieds, Crate Sportsman, MRC Street Stocks, M&M Auto Sales & Service IMCA Modifieds, NAPA Know How 4 Cylinders and Creekside Entertainment Bandits.
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