AFTON, N.Y. (Aug. 30) – Tour point leader Eddie Sites made his first trip to the I-88 Speedway a memorable one as he dominated round five of the World Products Empire State Series Tuesday night at Afton.
Sites grabbed the lead at the initial green and never looked back as he scored his second straight IMCA Modified series victory, earning $500 for his efforts in the Thunder On The Thruway fea*ture event.
Gary Roberts and Brad Weaver stayed game to the checkers but neither could catch Sites and finished second and third, respectively. Kurt Decker was fourth in his first-ever IMCA start and Jerry Lobdell Jr. was fifth.
Weaver and Sites drew front row starts for the 25-lapper event and although the race was slowed by a few early cautions, it was all Sites to the finish.
Weaver and Roberts hooked up in a spirited battle for second as they raced side-by-side much of the way before Roberts gained the spot for good. Track wins leader Gary Smith looked to be a factor early but a spin out of turn four on lap six and then mechanical woes sent him to the pits.
Decker picked up the North Country Custom Rookie of the race award. Lobdell won the MR Graphix Random draw award with a solid fifth place finish. The MR Graphix hard charger award went to Mike Wilmot, who started last after problems in his heat and came through the pack to finish seventh.
Tuesday’s event was the first in series history at Afton and will be the last this year at which IMCA national, ButlerBuilt Eastern Region, Allstar Performance State and local track points will be awarded.
The next event on the series schedule is Friday, Sept. 30 at Fulton Speedway.
Feature results – 1. Eddie Sites; 2. Gary Roberts; 3. Brad Weaver; 4. Kurt Decker; 5. Jerry Lobdell Jr.; 6. Kevan Cook; 7. Mike Wilmot, 8. Rich Karlnoski; 9. Brandon Carvey; 10. Patti Simpson; 11. Mike Van Dyke; 12. Tyler Stoddard; 13. Mike Smith; 14. Chris Fleming; 15. Robbie Compton; 16. Gary Smith; 17. Lee Smiedy; 18. Danny Burman; 19. Jamie Hurlburt.
Heat winners were Roberts, Lobdell and Weaver.
Sites grabbed the lead at the initial green and never looked back as he scored his second straight IMCA Modified series victory, earning $500 for his efforts in the Thunder On The Thruway fea*ture event.
Gary Roberts and Brad Weaver stayed game to the checkers but neither could catch Sites and finished second and third, respectively. Kurt Decker was fourth in his first-ever IMCA start and Jerry Lobdell Jr. was fifth.
Weaver and Sites drew front row starts for the 25-lapper event and although the race was slowed by a few early cautions, it was all Sites to the finish.
Weaver and Roberts hooked up in a spirited battle for second as they raced side-by-side much of the way before Roberts gained the spot for good. Track wins leader Gary Smith looked to be a factor early but a spin out of turn four on lap six and then mechanical woes sent him to the pits.
Decker picked up the North Country Custom Rookie of the race award. Lobdell won the MR Graphix Random draw award with a solid fifth place finish. The MR Graphix hard charger award went to Mike Wilmot, who started last after problems in his heat and came through the pack to finish seventh.
Tuesday’s event was the first in series history at Afton and will be the last this year at which IMCA national, ButlerBuilt Eastern Region, Allstar Performance State and local track points will be awarded.
The next event on the series schedule is Friday, Sept. 30 at Fulton Speedway.
Feature results – 1. Eddie Sites; 2. Gary Roberts; 3. Brad Weaver; 4. Kurt Decker; 5. Jerry Lobdell Jr.; 6. Kevan Cook; 7. Mike Wilmot, 8. Rich Karlnoski; 9. Brandon Carvey; 10. Patti Simpson; 11. Mike Van Dyke; 12. Tyler Stoddard; 13. Mike Smith; 14. Chris Fleming; 15. Robbie Compton; 16. Gary Smith; 17. Lee Smiedy; 18. Danny Burman; 19. Jamie Hurlburt.
Heat winners were Roberts, Lobdell and Weaver.
