August 2

PHONE: (845) 319-7908 Email bethelmotorspeed@cs.com
Promoters: Dave and Joanne Rocket

$5

August 2, 2009

CURRY CAPTURES SPORTSMAN WIN AT BETHEL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Alcaro Captures Legends Qualifier Win; Barnes, Demarmels, Hilger, VanOrden, Johnson, O’Donnell, and Schmitz Also Victorious

August 2, BETHEL, NY – For the first time in 2009, Jerry Curry visited Victory Lane at Bethel Motor Speedway this past weekend, taking down the win in the 20-lap Sportsman feature. Curry started on the pole, and led every lap of the race en route to his victory.
Greg Morgan started the race alongside Curry on the front row. Curry wasted little time putting his car out front. Morgan settled into second, and Eddie Redner grabbed third on the initial lap. The first caution of the race came on lap five, after Tony Suozzo made contact with the frontstretch wall. Curry and Morgan again restarted on the front row, but two more yellow flags were required before a lap was completed, as Tony Squicciarini had problems on the first attempt at a restart, and then Redner slid through the infield on the second attempt and made contact with Jim Halpin. The field then restarted single file, with Curry leading Morgan and Mike Skelly to the green. Skelly looked to the inside of Morgan for second on lap eight, but it spelled trouble for Skelly, as his car came to a stop due to front end damage, resulting in another caution. Curry took off on the restart, with Morgan and Dan Conklin in tow. Over the long green flag run, Curry began to pull away. At the halfway point of the event, Curry had already established nearly a half straightaway lead. Conklin searched for a way past Morgan, but none was to be found. Curry cruised to the win, while Morgan and Conklin finished second and third, respectively.

The prestigious 50-lap INEX Asphalt Nationals qualifier for the Legends drew in driving talent from five states, but when the checkered flag flew, it was none other than Bethel Legends points leader Mike Alcaro in Victory Lane. It was Alcaro’s seventh win in eight starts at the speedway in 2009, and it secured him a berth in the Nationals to be held in Georgia during the month of October. By virtue of their heat race finishes, Kenny VanWickle and Alcaro – both New Jersey residents who have scored feature wins at Bethel during 2009 – started the race on the front row. Alcaro got out front quickly, leaving VanWickle and Virginia’s Brad Hancock to battle it out for second behind him. Hancock took the spot. Caution waved on the event at lap ten for Connecticut’s Michael Blaskey. The restart pitted Alcaro and Hancock against each other on the front row. Alcaro again took the lead, pacing the field until the caution came out on lap 16 after New Jersey’s Karl Heisler spun and Joe DeGracia and Joe Graf – both also from New Jersey – came to a rest by the wall in turn four. On the next restart, Alcaro put his car out ahead of Hancock, while Connecticut’s Ryan Morgan grabbed third. Pennsylvania’s Jason Simmons spun, but got the car corrected and continued without a caution. The yellow did come out on lap 21, however, as New Jersey’s John Hugate spun. Alcaro continued to show the way on the next restart, and Hancock again settled into second. New York’s John Beatty grabbed third, and the top three ran nose-to-tail. Beatty ended up sideways in turn two, bringing the caution out on lap 29. This put Morgan back into third for the restart, while Alcaro and Hancock sat in the first two positions. The next caution came on lap 32, as Heisler went around in turn four, and another caution came out on the restart as Pennsylvania’s Raven Schrantz came to a stop on the track. Alcaro led once again on the restart, with Hancock and Morgan in tow, and caution waved on lap 34 after New York’s Kevin Nowak and New Jersey’s Matt Maring got together, with both cars sliding into the infield. The top three remained unchanged on the next restart, and Alcaro and Hancock began to pull away until the caution waved again on lap 40 after Pennsylvania’s Keenan Simmons slid into the infield and Heisler went around as well.. Under the caution New Jersey’s Roger Coss – who was running fourth at the time – pulled off of the track with mechanical difficulties. Alcaro and Hancock again paced the field on the restart, but the caution was out on lap 47 for Blaskey, which set the stage for a final three-lap shootout. Alcaro worked on distancing himself from the three-way battle going on behind him between Hancock, Morgan and Beatty, and he drove on to the win. Hancock was second, with Morgan third.

In the Bandoleros, Joseph Graf Jr. grabbed the win over Michael Policastro.

Norm Barnes, who had been leading the BMS Modified feature when it was cut short due to rain last week, claimed his second win of 2009 when the race was completed. The field resumed the race from lap eight, with Barnes on the pole and Skip LaPolt to his outside. Barnes got out front, but LaPolt continued to battle for the spot on the outside until Barnes was able to move solidly out front. John Cote followed Barnes to grab second on lap nine. As the 20-lap event wore on, Barnes pulled away as Cote, LaPolt, and Demarmels ran nose-to-tail behind him. Barnes claimed the win. Cote finished second, followed by LaPolt.

The win in the regular BMS Modified finish was claimed by John Demarmels, just one week after he scored a win in his first-ever race in a Legends car. Demarmels and Dan Wood made up the front row for the start, and Demarmels shot out front. Skip LaPolt came to second, while Norm Barnes used an inside pass to take third. LaPolt looked to the inside of Demarmels, and LaPolt took over the top spot on lap two. Barnes followed underneath to take second. Barnes then set his sights on LaPolt, and went to the outside on lap four. The two ran side-by-side until Barnes spun as a result of contact between the two on lap six, drawing the caution. Demarmels inherited the lead, and restarted with Jim Fugel alongside of him. Fugel briefly grabbed the lead, but made contact with Demarmels and the caution waved again. Demarmels then restarted with Wood on his outside. Demarmels began to pull away from the field as Wood and Barnes fought side-by-side for second behind him. Barnes finally took second with two laps remaining in the 20-lap event. On the final lap, Wood looked to the outside of Barnes to regain second, while LaPolt shot to the inside, resulting in Wood’s car hitting the wall in turn three. Demarmels grabbed the checkers, with Barnes second and Fugel third.

At the conclusion of the 20-lap ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock feature, Jesse Hilger sat in Victory Lane for the fifth time in 2009. Jim Helt and Bobby Policastro started on the front row. At the drop of the green, a three-wide battle ensued between Helt, Policastro, and Hilger for the top spot, but it was cut short as the caution waved for Clarence Palmer. Helt and Policastro returned to the front row, and Policastro took the lead on the restart. Mark Sylvester came to third on lap two. As Helt, Sylvester, and Hilger fought for second, contact between Helt and Sylvester resulted in a caution as Helt went around in front of the rest of the field. Policastro and Hilger restarted the race on the front row, and Hilger was able to wrestle the lead from Policastro. Joe Barnes came to third, and Hilger was able to pull away as Barnes searched for a way past Policastro. At the halfway point of the race, Hilger had a sizeable lead. Barnes got to the inside of Policastro and the two ran side-by-side for several laps, until Barnes used a lapped car to work his way past Policastro for second on lap 16. Barnes did not have enough laps left in the race, however, to catch Hilger. Hilger claimed the win, followed by Barnes and Policastro.

For the ninth time this season, Gary VanOrden took down the win in the holdover Street Stock feature from last week. VanOrden started on the front row, and quickly put his car in front of polesitter Brent Shaddock. Kevin Skelly looked to take third, but spun after contact with Rich Wheeler. Caution waved as Wheeler’s car did not get back up to speed. VanOrden was on the pole for the restart, and he again jumped out front, while Shaddock settled into second and Vinny Stanton Sr. came to third. VanOrden began to distance himself from the field as Stanton Sr. made his way to second. By the halfway point of the event, VanOrden was leading by nearly a full straightaway, a lead that grew to nearly half a track as the laps wound down. Behind him, Stanton Sr. held second, and Shaddock was being pressured by Tommy Johnson for third. VanOrden grabbed the victory. Stanton Sr. finished second, and Shaddock held on to third.

Sixteen-year-old Tommy Johnson scored his first career win as he claimed the victory in the night’s regular 15-lap Street Stock feature. Johnson started on the outside of the front row, with Vinny Stanton Sr. on the pole. Stanton Sr. took the early lead, as Johnson sat in second and VanOrden took third. VanOrden wrestled second from Johnson on lap three, and then looked to the outside of Stanton Sr. for the top spot three laps later.. The two ran side-by-side until VanOrden was forced to drop into second as the duo came up on a lapped car. Stanton Sr. and VanOrden resumed their battle, but contact between the two on lap seven resulted in VanOrden sliding through the infield and drawing the caution. Johnson inherited the lead for the restart, with Kevin Skelly on the outside. Johnson put his car out front, as Skelly took second and Mike Deyo came to third. Deyo went around on lap nine, bringing out the yellow flag. The single-file restart saw Johnson lead Skelly and VanOrden, and Johnson pulled away from the field. Johnson was first to the checkers, followed by Skelly and VanOrden.

For the second week in a row, Larry O’Donnell sat in Victory Lane when the checkered flag flew on the 15-lap 4 Cylinder Senior feature. Paul Curry and Russell Sniffen made up the front row for the start, and Curry quickly got out front, leaving Sniffen and Ed Lindstadt behind him. O’Donnell grabbed third from Lindstadt on lap two, and then looked to the outside of Sniffen. O’Donnell worked his way into the second spot by lap five. Behind him, Sniffen and Woody McGibbon battled for third. Curry appeared to lose the handling in his car, and he was shuffled back through the field, giving O’Donnell the lead on lap nine.. Conatct between Sniffen and McGibbon resulted in a yellow flag when McGibbon’s car slid through the infield. O’Donnell led Lindstadt and Diane Hughson on the single-file restart. Lindstadt applied pressure to O’Donnell in the closing laps, with the two running side-by-side, but O’Donnell was able to hold on for the win. Lindstadt was second, and Hughson finished third.

Another young driver visited Victory Lane when 15-year-old Steven Schmitz took down the win in the 4 Cylinder Junior event. Gary VanOrden Jr. was on the pole for the start, with Schmitz on the outside. As soon as the green flag waved, the cars went three-wide, with VanOrden Jr., Schmitz, and Mike Travis all fighting for the lead. Schmitz was able to grab it, as VanOrden Jr. took second and Jonathan McGibbon moved up to third. McGibbon continued to move forward, and he grabbed second on lap two, as Billy Curry came to third. Amber VanOrden spun on lap four, bringing out the caution. Schmitz and McGibbon restarted on the front row, and Schmitz again got out front. Curry grabbed second, and McGibbon was shuffled back to third. The top three ran nose-to-tail, pulling away from the rest of the field by the halfway point of the event. A. VanOrden spun in a cloud of smoke on lap eight, and a yellow/checker was displayed as the curfew had been reached. Schmitz took home the win, with Curry second and McGibbon third.

Next Saturday, August 8, Bethel Motor Speedway will once again host a busy night of short track racing excitement featuring the Sportsman, BMS Modified, ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock, Street Stock, and 4 Cylinder classes. The INEX-sanctioned Legends and Bandoleros will also be in action, in their final race prior to the prestigious $1,500-to-win LegendStock 2009 event slated for the following weekend. A holdover 4 Cylinder Junior event from July 25th will also be run on August 8. Gates open at 3:30 p.m., with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing slated to begin at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is just $5. More details and a full schedule are available at www.bethelmotorspeedway.com.

Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. Jerry Curry, 2. Greg Morgan, 3. Dan Conklin, 4. Jake Schlagel, 5. Eddie Redner, 6. Scott Matthews, 7. Phil Recchio, 8. Jim Halpin, 9. Jeff Hager, 10. Mike Skelly, 11. Tony Squicciarini, 12. AJ Williams, 13. Tony Suozzo.

Legends Feature Finish (50 laps): 1. Mike Alcaro, 2. Brad Hancock, 3.. Ryan Morgan, 4. John Beatty, 5. Kevin Yeatts, 6. Kenny VanWickle, 7. John Demarmels, 8. Ron Poley, 9. Jason Simmons, 10. Kevin Nowak, 11. Joe Graf, 12. Matt Maring, 13. Karl Heisler, 14. Keenan Simmons, 15. Michael Blaskey, 16. Joe DeGracia, 17. Joe Fresco, 18. John Hugate, 19. Roger Coss, 20. Raven Schrantz. DNS – Mike Carroll.

Bandolero Feature Finish: 1. Joseph Graf Jr., 2. Michael Policastro.

BMS Modified Feature Finish (Holdover, 20 laps): 1. Norm Barnes, 2. John Cote, 3. Skip LaPolt, 4. John Demarmels, 5. Dan Wood, 6. Dick Shaddock.

BMS Modified Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. John Demarmels, 2. Norm Barnes, 3. Jim Fugel, 4. Ken Moulton Jr., 5. Skip LaPolt, 6. Dan Wood. DNS – John Cote.

ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. Jesse Hilger, 2. Joe Barnes, 3. Bobby Policastro, 4. Mark Sylvester, 5. Charlie Howe Jr., 6. Jim Helt, 7. Gene Palmer, 8. Carl Ackerley, 9. Kip Lowitz, 10. John Hager, 11. Clarence Palmer.

Street Stock Feature Finish (Holdover, 15 laps): 1. Gary VanOrden, 2. Vinny Stanton Sr., 3. Brent Shaddock, 4. Tommy Johnson, 5. Kevin Skelly, 6. Rich Wheeler.

Street Stock Feature Finish (15 laps): 1. Tommy Johnson, 2. Kevin Skelly, 3. Gary VanOrden, 4. Vinny Stanton Sr., 5. Brent Shaddock, 6. Mike Deyo, 7. Shawn Maloney, 8. Fred Graf, 9. Kyle Wright, 10. Chris Chirico.

4 Cylinder Senior Feature Finish (15 laps): 1. Larry O’Donnell, 2. Ed Lindstadt, 3. Diane Hughson, 4. Woody McGibbon, 5. Russell Sniffen, 6. Deborah Babriecki, 7. Paul Curry. DNS – Joseph Velders.

4 Cylinder Jr. Feature Finish (8 laps): 1. Steven Schmitz, 2. Billy Curry, 3. Jonathan McGibbon, 4. Vinny Stanton Jr., 5. Mike Travis, 6. Joe Smith, 7. Gary VanOrden Jr., 8. Kyle Elson, 9. Jamie Elliott, 10. Amber McGibbon, 11. Gerry Kingeter, 12. Amber VanOrden.
Lady’s and Gentlemen we can’t make this stuff up....

BETHEL MOTOR SPEEDWAY COMMERCIAL HITS THE AIRWAVES

July 13, Bethel, NY - Viewers in upstate New York can expect to begin seeing commercials on their cable networks for Bethel Motor Speedway, a 1/4-mile asphalt paved race track located on Horseshoe Lake Road in Bethel, just four miles from the site of the original Woodstock Music Festival.

As Woodstock celebrates its 40th anniversary, Bethel is celebrating its Grand Opening season, the first full season of operation under new ownership. The track itself has a rich history, a history that many drivers and fans are determined to turn into a bright future for the facility.

Each week, Bethel hosts the Sportsman, BMS Modified, ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock, Street Stock, and 4 Cylinder classes in competition. INEX-sanctioned Legends and Bandoleros are frequent additions to the schedule. Other classes scheduled to visit the facility during the remainder of the 2009 season include Dirt Vintage Modifieds and the AllStar Race Truck Series (ARTS). Among the upcoming event's on the track's schedule are a 50-lap INEX national qualifier race on August 1st, and LegendStock 2009 on August 15th. The track runs weekly on Saturday nights through the end of September. Unless otherwise noted, the gates open at 3:30 p.m., with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is just $5.

The speedway's commercial is slated to air more than 250 times per week, with slots on such networks as SPEED Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, and others. The commercials will run through September.

More details about the speedway and a full schedule of events can be obtained at www.bethelmotorspeedway.com.