August 22

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

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Speedway News
August 22, BETHEL, NY - In spite of the optimism of many and relatively few clouds overhead for much of the afternoon, Mother Nature continued to wreak havoc on the plans of racers in the Northeast this past weekend, as she has done numerous times this season. Bethel Motor Speedway was among those tracks that again fell victim to heavy rains that moved across the area, forcing the cancellation of the night's racing events.   The speedway's gates will next swing open for racing action on Saturday, August 29th, and will feature the AllStar Race Truck Series (ARTS) trucks in addition to the Sportsman, BMS Modified, ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock, Street Stock, and 4 Cylinder classes. Gates will 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 complete schedule can be obtained at www.bethelmotorspeedway.com.
The Reaper Descends on Bethel Motor Speedway

By TRACY CHIRICO

BETHEL, NY - Two weeks ago, Bethel Motor Speedway BMS Modified driver Dan Wood was having one of his best runs in the 2009 season, but an unfortunate turn of events saw the personable competitor involved in a wreck on the last lap of the event, leaving him with a car that was damaged beyond repair. Rather than give up hope, Wood went out and purchased another car - albeit one that needed some work - so that he would be able to complete the season at the track where he has competed weekly.

Wood is a former dirt competitor who made the switch to asphalt. He ran his BMS Modifed at Bethel during the 2008 season after the speedway was reopened under new ownership and management, and he has been a regular there this year. After investing considerable time and effort into working with and adjusting his car with help from others in the BMS Modified division, including current points leader John Cote, Wood was undoubtedly upset with the outcome of his last race, but he would not let that dampen his spirit.

It took Wood under a week to locate and purchase another car, one that needed some attention and TLC. "Over the course of eight days, this car was pulled from the weeds and completely rebuilt to finish out the season after destroying the other car," Wood stated. By his own account, those eight days were long ones - some even registering as long as 15 hours - in preparation for competition.

"The crew and I have affectionately deemed this car 'The Reaper'," he explained. Wood even had those words lettered on to his car.

This past Saturday, Wood was looking forward to the opportunity to test out "The Reaper" on the 1/4 mile oval at Bethel. Weather forecasts were questionable, but the competitor drove more than two hours from his home near Albany to White Lake, where realtively few clouds passed overhead.

While Wood had plans of competing behind the wheel of his new car, Mother Nature had other ideas. A storm moved in quickly and dumped rain on the speedway, forcing promoters Dave and Joanne Rocket to cancel the night's events.

"We will have to wait until next week, I guess," Wood commented. "There isn't much any of us can do about the weather."

Next Saturday, August 29th, Bethel Motor Speedway will host a visit from the AllStar Race Track Series (ARTS) trucks. They will be joined on the schedule by the Sportsman, BMS Modified, ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock, Street Stock, and 4 Cylinder classes. Gates open at 3:30 p.m., with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing slated to begin at 7 p.m.

ALCARO SCORES SWEEP ON OFF WEEKEND FROM BETHEL. THE CAPTAIN IS NO ONE TRACK WONDER....

August 24, 2009 – Current Bethel Motor Speedway Legends points leader Mike Alcaro took advantage of an “off” weekend from his home track to do some traveling, and brought home not one – but two – trophies, as the driver scored wins at both tracks that he visited.

On Saturday, in spite of less-than-favorable weather forecasts in the Northeast, Alcaro visited Wall Stadium (NJ), a track located a short distance from his New Jersey home. Alcaro started the feature from the eighth position, and had to pass several tough competitors on his march to the front. Alcaro took the lead from Wall regular Mark Tischler late in the race, and he went on to score his first career win at the challenging ¼-mile high-banked oval. Tischler was second, and 2008 Sundance Vacations Speedway Legends champion Roger Coss finished third..

Then on Sunday, Alcaro loaded up his equipment for the long ride to Chemung Speedrome (NY). Alcaro started a bit deeper in the field in Sunday’s event, as he came to the grid in 11th. He wasted no time moving through the field, and grabbed the top spot on lap six. Alcaro went on to record his third victory of 2009 on the 3/8-mile oval, followed by Matt Priscott and Art Priscott.

“I can’t say enough about my team and my sponsors,” Alcaro stated. “My team gives me top-notch equipment week after week, and with companies like Silkolene Oil standing behind me, I can concentrate on what I am out there to do – drive and win races.”

It was Alcaro’s second weekend sweep in 2009. The first came on the weekend of July 18th and 19th, when he scored wins at Bethel and Chemung. Alcaro has recorded a total of eight wins at Bethel this season, including the speedway’s August 1st 50-lap INEX Asphalt Nationals qualifier race. He currently sits in the top ten in INEX Pro Asphalt points.. Last year, Alcaro was the Asphalt Semi-Pro champion for the state of New Jersey, but he is competing in the Pro class this year.

INEX-sanctioned Legends and Bandoleros will return to the schedule at Bethel on Saturday, September 5th. They will finish out their 2009 season with races on September 12, 19, 26 and 27th. More information about Bethel can be obtained at www.bethelmotorspeedway.com.

Hemric, Palmer, and Brockhouse Rock Bethel Motor Speedway’s Legendstock 2009 by JeffBank and RACEceiver

tracy.chirico@bethelmotorspeedway.com

HOLLAND AND HEMRIC TAKE HOME BIG PAYDAYS AT BETHEL

BETHEL, NY – Eighteen-year-old Daniel Hemric made the trip from North Carolina to Bethel looking to bring home the $1,500 check and three-foot tall guitar trophy that accompanied the LegendStock 2009 win, and he did just that. “The track is unique,” Hemric commented. “It isn’t like anything we have down in North Carolina.”

Hemric turned in a flawless performance for the day, as he had the fastest time in practice, set fast time, won his heat race, and then took home the feature win.

Minnesota’s Tim Brockhouse was on the pole for the feature, with Dusty Summers on the outside pole. Hemric started the feature eighth.

Brockhouse was dominant for the majority of the event. Summers, Roger Coss, and Jason Palmer swapped positions behind him several times, but Hemric had broken into the top three just after the halfway point of the event.

A caution late in the race set up a three-lap shootout for the win. Brockhouse had his hands full trying to hold off Hemric, who had worked his way to second on the restart; and Palmer.

Hemric shot past Brockhouse on the inside to take the lead, and Palmer followed for second. Hemric took down the win, with Palmer second. Brockhouse held on for third.

Several of the Legends returned to Bethel on Sunday to take part in a regular feature event, and this time, Mike Alcaro was back in his familiar place in Victory Lane, a spot he has visited nine times this season.
Alcaro started the 20-lap feature from sixth. Joe Graf took the lead early from his outside pole starting spot, but Alcaro quickly made his way through the field and grabbed the top spot on lap three.

Tim Brockhouse made his way from eighth to second by lap five, but Alcaro had already built a comfortable lead. The race was caution-free, and Alcaro was able to negotiate lapped traffic easily, putting cars between himself and Brockhouse.

Alcaro grabbed the win, with Brockhouse second and George Cushman third.

Andrew Bickford visited Victory Lane at Bethel twice over the weekend, capturing the Bandolero win on both Saturday and Sunday.
In Saturday’s feature, Bickford started on the outside pole and led every lap en route to victory. Joseph Graf Jr. held second early, but was passed by AJ Hamilton. On Sunday, Bickford again led every lap, scoring the win over Graf Jr.

SportsmanStock 2009
“The car was really fast, and I knew we had to win the heat to start up front,” Justin Holland commented in Victory Lane at Bethel Motor Speedway this past weekend, after claiming the $1,000 payday in the 50-lap SportsmanStock 2009 event.
The race drew in dirt Sportsman drivers from across the area looking to try their talent on the asphalt, but in the end the local resident who lives just a few short miles from the speedway collected his second win in as many attempts at Bethel this season.

Several times during the event, it appeared that lapped traffic would come into play, and Holland had a sizeable lead erased on a few occasions as the caution waved. “I really didn’t want to deal with lapped traffic,” Holland commented. “But you don’t know where the second place car is. You’ve got no mirrors so you run as hard as you can.”

Holland started the race on the pole after winning in his heat, and he was joined on the front row by Jake Schlagel. At the drop of the green, Holland bolted out front. Bethel regular Eddie Redner made his way to third on the initial lap, while 16-year-old Tyler Boniface came to third..

The first 12 laps of the event were caution-free, and Holland worked on increasing his lead while Redner was busy holding off Boniface’s challenges. The first caution came after contact between Schlagel and Danny Creeden resulted in Creeden going around.

Holland restarted the race on the inside of Redner, but Boniface was able to grab second. The caution waved again on lap 19 when John Aumick ended up in the wall. The race hit the halfway mark under caution, and only green flag laps would be counted for the remainder of the event.

On the single-file restart, Holland was dominant, and he had built more than a half-straightaway lead by lap 30. He extended this lead to nearly a full straightaway before the caution flew on lap 38 for Dom Roselli.

Holland went right back to work on regaining the large advantage he had on the field, but caution waved four laps later when Boniface lost a left rear tire.

On the restart, Holland was out front, with Schlagel and Redner in tow. Greg Morgan, who had made his way up to fourth, made contact with the back of Redner’s car, resulting in the field getting bunched up behind them, and the caution was out again.

Holland continued to lead, as several quick cautions in the final laps kept the field close. A late-race caution waved after Schlagel’s car ended up in the wall, setting up a green-white-checkered finish, with Holland leading Dan Conklin and Redner to the line.

Holland was the winner, with Conklin second and Redner third. Roselli and Morgan rounded out the top five.

The ECS Auto Stores Pro Stocks took to the speedway on Saturday, and Bobby Policastro was in Victory Lane for the first time in 2009 when the checkered flag waved. Policastro started on the outside pole and immediately put himself out in front of polesitter Jim Helt.

Helt held second until he was passed by multi-time feature winner Joe Barnes on lap eight. Barnes then set his sights on Policastro.

As the laps wound down and the event remained caution-free, Barnes was unable to muscle his way past Policastro. Policastro got the win, with Barnes second and last week’s winner Clarence Palmer third.

Street Stock

Sunday’s Street Stock feature ended with Kevin Skelly in Victory Lane for the first time in the 2009 season. Multi-time feature winner Vinny Stanton Sr. started on the pole, and got out to the early lead.

Skelly held on to the second spot until just prior to the halfway mark of the event, when Gary VanOrden worked his way past. VanOrden then searched for a way around Stanton Sr. As the two ran side-by-side, they made contact that resulted in both cars coming to a rest against the wall, bringing out the caution.

Skelly inherited the lead, and took off on the restart with Charlie Houghtaling and Jim Mahr in tow. VanOrden worked his way back up to third by lap 14, but was unable to make any further progress on the final lap as Houghtaling challenged Skelly for the lead.

Skelly was the first to cross the finish line, with Houghtaling second and VanOrden third.

Four Cylinder Senior

Paul Curry took off from his pole starting spot to lead the first ten laps of the 4 Cylinder Senior feature event on Saturday, before a flat tire forced him to the pits, handing the lead to Ed Lindstadt, who went on to claim yet another win.

Lindstadt started the race fourth, and ran third until lap seven, when he worked his way past Patty Falkena for the second spot. When Curry suffered the flat, Lindstadt moved into the lead, with Falkena second and Russell Sniffen third.

Lindstadt drove on to the win, while Sniffen was able to make a last-lap pass of Falkena. Sniffen finished second, with Falkena third.

In the 4 Cylinder Junior feature, Billy Curry led only two laps, but one of them was the most important one – the last. Rookie driver Jamie Elliott took off from the pole to lead the first six laps of the event, before being passed by Gerry Kingeter for the spot on lap seven.

Curry, who started the event eighth, grabbed second from Elliott one lap later. There was plenty of late-race excitement, with Vinny Stanton Sr. taking third on lap 13. On lap 14, several front positions swapped hands, as Curry took the lead, Steven Schmitz came to second, and Kingeter took third from Stanton Jr.

When the checkered flag flew, Curry was the winner, with Schmitz second. Stanton Sr. wrestled his way back to third.

SportsmanStock 2009 Feature Finish (50 laps): 1. Justin Holland, 2. Dan Conklin, 3. Eddie Redner, 4. Dom Roselli, 5. Greg Morgan, 6. Jake Schlagel, 7. Tyler Boniface, 8. Mike Skelly, 9. Scott Matthews, 10. Charlie Hendrickson Jr., 11. John Aumick, 12. Danny Creeden, 13. Jim Halpin, 14. Kenneth Boniface. DNS – Phil Collins.

LegendStock Feature Finish (35 laps): 1. Daniel Hemric, 2. Jason Palmer, 3. Tim Brockhouse, 4. Michael Gervais, 5. Dusty Summers, 6. Mike Alcaro, 7. Roger Coss, 8. Joey Mattis, 9. John Beatty, 10. Ron Poley, 11. Matt Maring, 12. Anthony Cacioppo, 13. Joe Fresco, 14. Shaun Buffington, 15. Kevin Nowak, 16. Malcolm Campbell, 17. Russ Bailey, 18. Johnnie Gloor IV, 19. Joe DeGracia, 20. Michael Blaskey, 21. Mike Carroll, 22. Justin Grim, 23. Joe Graf. DQ – Tom Rogers.
Sunday Legends Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. Mike Alcaro, 2. Tim Brockhouse, 3. George Cushman, 4. Joe Graf, 5. John Demarmels, 6. John Hugate, 7. Raven Schrantz, 8. Joe Fresco, 9. Barry Schrantz. DNS – Fred Graf.

Saturday Bandolero Feature Finish (10 laps): 1. Andrew Bickford, 2. AJ Hamilton, 3. Joseph Graf Jr., 4. Mikey Policastro.
Sunday Bandolero Feature Finish (10 laps): 1. Andrew Bickford, 2. Joseph Graf Jr.

ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock Feature Finish (25 laps): 1. Bobby Policastro, 2. Joe Barnes, 3. Clarence Palmer, 4. Norm Barnes, 5. Jim Helt, 6. Gene Palmer, 7. John Hager, 8. Glenn Aumick, 9. Gene Morton, 10. Mark Sylvester, 11. Charlie Howe Jr.

Street Stock Feature Finish (15 laps): 1. Kevin Skelly, 2. Charlie Houghtaling, 3. Gary VanOrden, 4. Jim Mahr, 5. Shawn Maloney, 6. Vinny Stanton Sr. DNS – Mike Deyo.
4 Cylinder Senior Feature Finish (15 laps): 1. Ed Lindstadt, 2. Russell Sniffen, 3. Patty Falkena, 4. Larry O’Donnell, 5. Woody McGibbon, 6. Paul Curry.
4 Cylinder Junior Feature Finish (15 laps): 1. Billy Curry, 2. Steven Schmitz, 3. Vinny Stanton Jr., 4. Gary VanOrden Jr., 5. Donald Kuhn, 6. Kyle Elson, 7. Jamie Elliott, 8.. Gerry Kingeter, 9. Amber VanOrden, 10. Jonathan McGibbon, 11. Amber McGibbon.