STEFANSKI MAKES IT 3 FOR 4 IN MR. DIRT PRO STOCK SERIES 'VIC 30' AT FULTON

 

Fulton, NY – September 29, 2006 – By Jim Fremouw, DIRT Pro Stock Series Reporter

 

Pete Stefanski

Wheatfield, NY’s Pete Stefanski moved one step closer to finally earning the title that has eluded him many times, the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship. Three out of the last five seasons (2001, 2003 & 2005) Stefanski has taken runner-up honors in the final points tally but this year is leaving little doubt that he wants the coveted title as he claimed his third series victory of the season in the 30-lap Leaf Racewear Pro Stock Championship Event at Fulton Speedway as part of the 21^st Annual Victoria 200 Weekend.  Only one other driver, Denis Gauvreau at Rolling Wheels on September 23, has been able to crack victory circle in this year’s abbreviated five-race series for the full-fender warriors with Stefanski claiming the other two stops (Genesee-September 9 and Ransomville-September 16). Only the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse during Super DIRT Week XXXV for the season finale on October 8 remaining with the running of the 25-lap Pro Stock Championship.

 

“I love this speedway! This facility are track are always so well prepared and it seems to fit my driving style perfectly,” Stefanski explained in victory lane after winning the event he had captured on two other occasions (2001 & 2005).  “I can’t give enough thanks to my crew.  Without the work and dedication they put into this program, I wouldn’t be finding the success I’m having this season!”

 

A season-high total of 43 DIRT Pro Stock teams signed into the pit area on a cold, crisp autumn night to attempt to qualify for the 30-car starting grid in stop #4 of the Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship series.  Four heats were contested with five drivers qualifying from each with the top-three finishers going to a re-draw.  Cornwall Island, Ontario, Canada’s Clayton Benedict and Rome, NY’s Chris Mackey made up the front row of the starting field following the evening’s re-draw.

 

Benedict raced to the early lead winning the drag race to the first turn at the drop of Matt Burdick’s green flag.  The field raced in close quarters on the ultra-fast 3/8ths-mile high banks with Mackey continuing to pressure Benedict for the point through the first three laps with Norwich, NY’s Harold Humphrey and Fulton, NY’s Billy Clark, the 2006 Fulton Speedway track champion, dueling it out for the third and fourth spot. Stefanski, who had started 10^th at the drop of the green quickly made his way into the top-five before Humphrey spun in turn two on lap three drawing the first caution of the contest.

 

Olcott, NY’s Steve Miller, fourth in series points entering the evening’s contest found himself an early departure from the event as mechanical woes forced him to be pushed pit-side under this caution with mechanical problems ending his evening.  Benedict continued to show the way as the green re-emerged but all eyes were now on the charge by Stefanski who continued to charge towards the front and was in third by lap four when the second caution slowed the action for Alexander, Ontario Canada’s Roch Aubin who had lost the handle on his ride and pushed two of the large infield tires onto the back-stretch.  As the field roared back to racing action, Stefanski picked up another spot sliding by Mackey for second with Clark and Massena, NY’s Allen Peters filling out the top-five.

 

Akwesasne, NY’s Louie Jackson forced the events next caution on lap six as he limped around turns three and four with a right rear flat tire.  Jackson, third in series points entering the 30-lap contest raced to the aid of his pit crew who replaced the tire and sent him back on his way without losing a lap. Stefanski began to apply heavy pressure on Benedict once racing resumed and on lap seven finally raced side by side with the early race leader and put the nose of his car out front to be scored as the new leader on lap eight.  Benedict stubbornly continued to pressure Stefanski to re-take the point never trailing by more than a car length behind the leader as the contest continued.  Gatineau, Quebec Canada’s Denis Gauvreau, winner of the previous series event at Rolling Wheels Raceway, brought out the caution flag on lap 13 when he looped his car on the back-stretch.

 

Stefanski continued to cling onto the top spot with Benedict right in his tire tracks with Clark and Allen Peters battling for the next two positions and Mackey right behind to round out the top five before the fifth caution on lap 16 for Memphis, NY’s Jim Evans who slowed on the speedway with a flat tire.  On the restart, Allen Peters finally found the horse-power he needed driving by Clark to take over the third spot in the running order.  Clark raced hard to drive back by Peters, but found his efforts result in his potent ride spinning on lap 18 relegating him to have to restart at the tail of the pack.  Wayne, NY’s Bob Buono, a multi-time feature winner in 2006 at the speedway now was safely in the top five as he moved by Mackey on the restart to take fourth.  The final caution flew on lap 26 for a two-car incident in turn four between Humphrey and Mexico, NY’s Ron Marsden. 

 

Stefanski and Benedict continued their battle for the lead, but each time Stefanski was up to the task and raced in for the checkers behind the wheel of his Sunrise Bakery-San Ter Sewing-Mar Jon School of Beauty-PJ NFB Trailer Sales #2 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro chassis for his 11^th career Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship series victory.  Benedict in his Quality Concrete-#9 Fuels-Atlas Rentals #12 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro chassis raced in for the second spot with Allen Peters in his Sunrise Bakery-Legends Spirits, Tavern & Pizzeria-Jacob's Excavation #88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro chassis, Buono in his Buono's Auto Sales-Lincoln Fabrication-LOE Trailers #64 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger chassis and Mackey aboard his Westwind Automotive-Cherry Valley Motorsports-Bob's Garage #3m Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Slowiak chassis rounding out the top-five.

 

Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Series Race #4–Fulton Speedway, Sept. 29, 2006

21st Annual Victoria 200 Leaf Racewear Pro Stock Championship Event Summary

FEATURE (30-laps): PETE STEFANSKI, Clayton Benedict, Allen Peters, Bob Buono, Chris Mackey, Rob Seavy, Mitchell Jock, P.J. Peters, Dick Parkhurst, Dave Bissonnette, Louie Jackson, Steve Lewis, Jack Terrell, Jody Swamp, Stephane Lebrun, Billy Clark Jr., Don Barnes, Steve Johnston, Roch Aubin, Freddy Dennis, Ron Marsden, Adam Hunt, Mike Williams, Denis Gauvreau, Harold Humphrey, Chris Stull, Jim Evans, Chris Cunningham, Jason Parkhurst, Steve Miller.

Lap Leaders: Benedict (1-7), Stefanski (8-30).

Syracuse Qualifier: Clayton Benedict.

 

Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)

#1: S. Miller, Aubin, Buono, Williams, Cunningham, P.J. Peters, J. Parkhurst, Seymoure, Guernsey, Prevo, Johnston (DNS).

#2: A. Peters, Gauvreau, Clark, Seavy, Marsden, Lewis, Vaughn, Lebrun, D. Parkhurst, Kocher.

#3: Benedict, Humphrey, Stull, Terrell, Evans, Thompson, Hunt, Dennis, Briggs, Gorhan, Oakes.

#4: Stefanski, Mackey, Bissonnette, Jackson, Jock, Barnes, Gribbon, Swamp, Ezard, Papineau, Beeles.

Consolation Races (8 laps, top 5 will qualify)

#1: P.J. Peters, Lewis, Lebrun, Hunt, Johnston, Seymoure, Kocher, Guernsey, Papineau, Vaughn.

#2: Barnes, J. Parkhurst, D. Parkhurst, Dennis, Swamp, Gorhan, Thompson, Oakes, Gribbon, Briggs, Ezard.

 

Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Series Point Standings (through Sept. 29, 2006)

Rank     No        Driver                Points   Home    Track    Bonus   Wins     Top 5    Top 10  Starts

1          2          Pete Stefanski   1,290    Ransomville       1000     2          3          3          3

1          2          Pete Stefanski   1,390    Ransomville       1000     3          4          4          4

2          12         Clayton Benedict1,360   Edel/Cornwall    1000     0          4          4          4

3          18         Louis Jackson   1,286    Cornwall            970       0          2          3          4

4          99s       Steve Miller       1,255    Ransomville       970       0          2          3          4

5          88         Allen Peters      1,241    Frogtown           970       0          1          3          4

6          64         Bob Buono        1,229    Fulton               980       0          1          2          4

7          6m        Mike Williams    1,222    Genesee           1000     0          0          2          4

8          73         P.J. Peters        1,218    Frogtown           1000     0          1          2          3

9          11s       Steve Lewis       1,208    Ransomville       960       0          0          2          4

10         92         Joey Ladouceur 1,188    Cornwall            980       0          1          2          3

11         28         Don Barnes       1,182    Ransomville       938       0          0          2          4

12         67         Dave Schultz     1,149    Ransomville       934       0          2          2          3

13         98t        Jack Terrell        1,146    Fulton               950       0          0          0          4

14         4          Rock Aubin       1,126    Cornwall            938       0          0          0          4

15         48         Dion Oakes [R]  1,124    Frogtown           960       0          0          0          3

16         9J         Dave Williams    1,112    Ransomville       930       0          0          1          3

17         69         Jody Swamp      1,092    Frogtown           930       0          0          0          3

18         u02       Ricky Thompson 1,085   Frogtown           950       0          0          0          3

19         72         Denis Gauvreau 1,082    Edelweiss         942       1          1          1          2

20         11         Mike Vaughn [R] 1,067   Fulton               930       0          0          0          3

21         6          Butch Zimmerman 1,066 Genesee           960       0          0          0          2

22         ba98     Steve Johnston  1,064    Cornwall            924       0          0          0          3

23         3          Bill Pascual       1,064    Orange County  1000     0          0          0          1

24         12g       Eric Greenlief     1,058    Genesee           970       0          0          0          2

25         14         Mitchell Jock     1,054    Frogtown           934       0          0          1          2

26         99         Billy Clark,Jr.     1,050    Fulton               1000     0          0          0          1

27         47         Dave Bissonne 1,042      Frogtown/Edel   980       0          0          1          1

28         93         Dick Parkhurst   1,039    Fulton               928       0          0          1          2

29         99         Mike Martin       1,036    Genesee           946       0          0          0          2

30         0          John Zimmerman 1,032 Genesee            934       0          0          0          2

31         6          Stéphane Lebrun 1,022   Edelweiss         970       0          0          0          1

32         05         Brian Kotarski    1,020    Genesee           980       0          0          0          1

33         711       Ron Marsden     1,013    Fulton               970       0          0          0          1

34         22         Dan Shoop        1,012    Ransomville       950       0          0          1          1

35         40         Derek Boyle      1,003    Genesee           916       0          0          0          2

36         38         Jason Parkhurst 1,000    Fulton               960       0          0          0          1

37         03         Rick Gorhan      996       Ransomville       946       0          0          0          1

38         71         Scott Gribben    993       Ransomville       942       0          0          0          1

39         3J         John Gagner      988       Genesee           926       0          0          1          1

40         99x       Rob Seavy         984       Fulton               908       0          0          1          1

41         74x       Jim Evans         982       Fulton               942       0          0          0          1

42         8          Sean Corr          980       Orange County  980       0          0          0          0

43         93b       Tom Baker        978       Genesee           938       0          0          0          1

44         45         T.J. Newton       971       Genesee           930       0          0          0          1

45         33         Don Williams     970       Orange County  970       0          0          0          0

46         49         Greg Ezard        966       Frogtown           946       0          0          0          0

47         10         Brett Martin       964       Ransomville       924       0          0          0          1

48         2d         Fred Dennis       962       Fulton               918       0          0          0          1

49         55         George Renaud  960       Cornwall            960       0          0          0          0

50         8J         John Odendahl   960       Orange County  960       0          0          0          0

 

Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship Series Driver Roster                     

Through Fulton Speedway Event (September 29, 2006)                                 

CAR#    DRIVER            TEAM (Sponsor / Make Model / Chassis)

u02       Ricky Thompson/Snye,QUE       Seven Nations Tobacco-Phatty Cat Bar & Grill-MoMoney Pawn Shop/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

0          John Zimmerman/Burt,NY           K & S Motor Shop/Pontiac Grand Prix/Zimmerman

03         Rick Gorhan/Ransomville,NY      No Blanket Smoke Shop-Troyer Farms Snacks-D & T Graphics/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/B & B

05         Brian Kotarski/Alabama,NY        B.D.K. Construction/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/LoLine

2          Pete Stefanski/Wheatfield,NY     Sunrise Racing-San Ter Sewing-PJ NFB Trailer Sales/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

2d         Fred Dennis/Port Byron,NY         F.W. Dennis Steeplejacks-Wright's Truck & Auto-Teddy's Tavern/Pontiac Grand Prix/Shaw

3          Adam Hunt/Freeville, NY Hunt Racing/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Predator

3          Bill Pascual/Crompond,NY          Turner Construction-Turner Interiors-EMS Race Cars/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/EMS

3j          John Gagner/Mt. Morris,NY         Underground Technologies-Dio's Auto Specialties-Moffat Farms/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Tuff Toys

3m        Chris Mackey/Rome, NY            Westwind Automotive-Cherry Valley Motorsports-Bob's Garage/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Slowiak

4          Roch Aubin/Alexandria,ONT        Home Hardware-Go Glass/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CRT

5          Don Newton/Batavia,NY  49 Xpress-Superior Home Improvement-Carryville Inn-O'Ryans Tree Svc./Pontiac Grand Prix/Newton-Bieber

6          Stephane Lebrun/Gatineau,QUE  Patio Vidal-Station Service Potvin/Pontiac Grand Prix/Wild Thing

6          Butch Zimmerman/Burt,NY         Able's Auto Wrecking-Carney's Landscaping/Pontiac Grand Prix/Zimmerman

6m        Mike Williams/Tuscarora Nation,NY         Mighty Taco-Gray Furnace-Rhino Linings-Able Insurance Agency/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger

jr7         Harvey Arquette/Hogansburg,NY Seven Nations Tobacco-Phatty Cat Bar & Grill-MoMoney Pawn Shop/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

9j          Dave Williams/Tuscarora Nation,NY         Mighty Taco-Niagara's Lazy Lakes Camp Resort/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger-Fish

10         Brett Martin/Lockport,NY            Stedman Old Farm Nurseries-Performance Manufacturing/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CSC

11         Mike Vaughn/Jordan,NY Fulton Auto Salvage-East Syracuse Chevrolet-John Vaughn Trucking/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/J & M

11s       Steve Lewis/Ransomville,NY       ME Engineering-Telco Construction/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Lewis

12         Clayton Benedict/Cornwall Island,ONT     Quality Concrete-#9 Fuels-Atlas Rentals/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

12g       Eric Greenlief/Gasport,NY           Greenlief's Restaurant-Scott Perry & Co. Auctioneers-Drum Oil & Propane/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Schulz

14         Mitchell Jock/Akwesasne,NY      Sweet Dreams-King Enterprises/Pontiac Grand Prix/White Lightning

14x       Greg Ezard/Cornwall,ONT           Sweet Dreams-King Enterprises/Pontiac Grand Prix/White Lightning

f18        Perry Francis/Cornwall Island, ONT         Brass Horse Grille-Rangatangs Steakhouse & Pub/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

18         Louie Jackson/Akwesasne,NY    Brass Horse Grille-Rangatangs Steakhouse & Pub/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

18         Louie Jackson/Akwesasne,NY    Brass Horse Grille-Rangatangs Steakhouse & Pub/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger

19         Chris Stull/Cortland,NY   Ron's Body & Paint-Quality Hardwood/Pontiac Grand Prix/Stull

22         Dan Shoop/Lockport,NY J&T Auto Salvage/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Shoop

27x       Dale Seymoure/Akwesasne,NY   Hilltop Roofing-Mow Master Lawn Service/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

28         Don Barnes/Gasport,NY Original Pizza Logs-A. Superior Concrete-Ed's Garage/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Schulz

38         Jason Parkhurst/Fulton,NY         Jay's Welding & Chassis Fabrication-Crouse Racing Engines/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Sears

40         Derek Boyle/Middleport,NY         Greenlief's Restaurant-Scott Perry & Co. Auctioneers-Drum Oil & Propane/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Fish

45         T.J. Newton/Batavia,NY  Reisdorf Oil-Johnson Automotive-Pfalzer's Garage/Pontiac Grand Prix/Mullan

47         Dave Bissonnette/Apple Hill,ONT B & L Metals-D & A Tractor Sales/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

48         Dion Oakes/Akwesasne,NY        Jacob's Excavation-NativePoker.Com-Orca Power Boats/Pontiac Grand Prix/Cannizzaro

50         Chris Cunningham/Cazenovia,NY            Roto Rooter-Auto Tech Auctions-Cunningham Auto Supply/Pontiac Trans Am/Predator

50x       Scott Kocher/Waddington,NY     Mort Backus & Sons-Morgan's Auto Gas Service/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/B&S Pro Stocks

61         Scott Beeles/Hastings,NY          The Auto Repair Center-Bullet Performance Engines/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Troyer

64         Bob Buono/Wayne,NY   Buono's Auto Sales-Lincoln Fabrication-LOE Trailers/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger

66g       Dale Guernsey/Fulton,NY           C & R Signs and Designs-Dead End Bar-Winning Edge/Chevrolet Camaro/Race Ready

67         Dave Schulz/Somerset,NY          Mark Cerrone Construction-NMCC-Norampac/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger

69         Dave Briggs/Frankfort,NY            Rig All Inc.-Dr. Doug Thayer Chiropractor/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

69         Jody Swamp/Akwesasne,NY      Swamp's Performance-Keegan's Tobacco/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Raptor

71         Scott Gribben/Royalton,NY         Gerry's Service-Top Shop Collision/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger

72         Denis Gauvreau/Gatineau,QUE.  Gauvreau Topsoil-Entreprises Beaudoin/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CRT

73         P.J. Peters/Akwesasne,QUE      Sunrise Bakery-Mo' Money Pawn Shop-Jacob's Excavation/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

74x       Jim Evans/Memphis,NY  TMI-Around Town Plumbing-Tom Carr Racing Engines/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Predator

78h       Harold Humphrey/Norwich,NY     Humphrey's Ctry Auto-Pine Valley Auto-Steere Race Engines/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/RSR

79g       Guy Steffen/Albion,NY    Moyer's Auto Parts-Mathes Farms-TRC/Pontiac Grand Prix/Steffen

88         Allen Peters/Massena,NY           Sunrise Bakery-Legends Spirits, Tavern & Pizzeria-Jacob's Excavation/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro

92         Joey Ladouceur/Alexandria,ONT  Mini Max Transportation-Leisure Days RV Center-CRT Race Cars & Parts/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CRT

93         Dick Parkhurst/Oswego,NY        Rumetco-Marshall Painting-Syracuse Haulers/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/GRT

93b       Tom Baker/Alabama,NY Johnson Automotive-Red Jet Daycare/Ford Taurus/Johnson

ba98     Steve Johnston/Ingelside,ONT     Bub's Auto-03 Racing/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger

98t        Jack Terrell/Jamesville,NY          H&R Block-Labatts Beer-Terrell's Chips-Bachman Snacks/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Slowiak

99         Bill Clark Jr./Fulton,NY   Pip's Stump Grinding-J.T.S. Remodeling-Port City Collision/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Predator

99         Mike Martin/Lockport,NY            Pippard Automotive-Burcolo Cold Storage-Able Auto Insurance/Chevrolet Monte Carl/Cannizzaro

99s       Steve Miller/Olcott,NY    Colton RV-Stedman's Nursery-Blue Moon Potatoes-Highway Motorsports/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger

99x       Rob Seavy/Floyd,NY      Snowbelt Insulation-Upstate Inspections-Cushman's Automotive/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Christian

111       Russ Marsden/Mexico,NY          Raymond's Car Care/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Art A Fab

111       Curt Prevo/Clay,NY        Raymond's Car Care/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Art A Fab

188       David Papineau/Akwesasne,NY   Skidder's Garage-Team Papi/Pontiac Grand Prix/Stinger

315       Jon Routhier/Canaan,CT Canaan Auto Supply-King's Stone/Pontiac Grand Prix/Spraker

711       Ron Marsden/Mexico,NY            Marsden Construction-New Haven Building Supply/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Predator

 

UPCOMING EVENT
The 2006 season finale of the Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship series takes place at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse during Super DIRT Week XXXV on October 8 with the running of the 25-lap Pro Stock Championship when the 2006 Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Champion will be crowned.

 

2006 MR. DIRT PRO STOCK SERIES SCHEDULE (6)
Day-Date       Track (Laps)                                                           Location/Winner

Sun-Sept. 3    Cornwall Motor Speedway (50)………………..RAIN

Sat-Sept. 9    Genesee Speedway (40)……………………….PETE STEFANSKI

Sat-Sept.16   Ransomville Speedway (100)….………………PETE STEFANSKI 

Sat-Sept.23       Rolling Wheels Raceway (30)…………....…DENIS GAUVREAU

Fri-Sept.29    Fulton Speedway (30)…………………………..PETE STEFANSKI

Sun-Oct. 8      New York State Fairgrounds (25)……………...Syracuse, NY

 

MR. DIRT PRO STOCK SERIES SPONSORS
The DIRT MotorSports™ Pro Stock Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., DealMaker Auto Group and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DART Machinery, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.