Freshman Sullivan Claims Mid-Season Championship Win at Airborne Park Speedway
Rookie is 9th Modified winner in 10 races; Gordon tops Renegades; Mini-Mods provide excitement
PLATTSBURGH, NY – Airborne Park Speedway’s incredible record of parity continued on Saturday, July 25, as Danny Sullivan became the ninth different main event winner in 10 races by taking down the Parker Chevrolet Mid-Season Championships presented by Island Excavating and Morrisonville Septic. The rookie headlined an exciting night of racing for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere.
Freshman driver Sullivan, of Morrisonville, NY, called his shot earlier in the evening, telling the Plattsburgh Press-Republican that he felt like he would win the double-points 35-lap race for the J&S Steel Modified division. After stating fifth, he made good on his words with a pass of fellow rookie Timex Morgan to take the lead on lap 24 and ran away to his career-first open-wheel Modified victory in the caution-free race. Sullivan had scored a pair of runner-up finishes already during the year.
Morgan, of Plattsburgh, crossed the finish line in second place for his best result of the season, but was disqualified in post-race inspection for an unapproved carburetor spacer. Plattsburgh’s Codie Aubin inherited the position for his fourth runner-up finish of the year. Greg Atkins of Clintonville, NY finished third with teammate Ryan McLean a season-best fourth, and point leader Nick Heywood fifth.
The Key R-D Trailer Sales Renegades saw their seventh different winner in nine events when defending track champion Robert Gordon of Milton, VT won the division’s 25-lap Mid-Season Championship race. Gordon battled with Shawn Duquette of Morrisonville before taking the lead for good on lap 12; the victory was the 22nd of his career, extending his all-time lead in the intermediate class. Duquette settled for second place, while Jimmy Bushey of Mooers Forks took the third position after two post-race adjustments.
Bushey crossed the finish line in fifth place, but moved up to fourth when Richie Turner was given a one-position penalty for rough riding Bushey. Both drivers then advanced in the official finish order on Monday when the car of original third-place finisher Jim McKiernan was disqualified due to an unapproved aluminum drivetrain part. The final rundown has Gordon, Duquette, Bushey, Turner, and Keith O’Neil in order in the top five. Bushey was also the beneficiary of a fundraiser during intermission; the former Street Stock champion recently returned to competition after losing his home and possessions in a fire while he was racing at Airborne on June 13. Drivers and fans raised more than $1,100 on Saturday night to help him rebound.
The Busch Beer Mini-Modified division provided excitement in two events during the evening. The finish of the 15-lap Mid-Season Championship race was thrilling as division dominators Kris Clark and Chris LaVair made contact in the final corner, sending Clark into a slide and out of the lead. LaVair dove low to make the pass, but Dale O’Neil was quicker and passed both cars to steal the win.
Clark advanced with a one-position rough riding penalty to LaVair and was given the runner-up finish, but then inherited his fourth victory of the season when O’Neil’s car failed inspection with too much wheel camber. LaVair was officially scored second, followed by Tim LaFountain, Harold LaVair, and Tyler Irwin.
The event was wrapped up by the first-ever Ernie’s Discount Tools “King of the Hill” Tournament, run in one-on-one, bracket-style match races. It came down to #1 seed Kris Clark and #3 seed Chris LaVair in the best-of-three final round, and LaVair collected the $250 winner-take-all prize in a photo finish.
Airborne Park Speedway is back in action on Friday, August 1 at 7:00 p.m. as Aaron’s Rent of Plattsburgh and Liquor & Wine Warehouse present buy-one-get-one-free admission for adults for just $12.00; kids age 12 and under will be admitted for free as always. The UFirst Federal Credit Union Kids Club hosts the first-ever “Bake a Cake Night” when kids of all ages are encouraged to bake a cake at home to present to their favorite Airborne drivers at intermission. Modifieds, Renegades, and Mini-Mods will be in action.
Airborne Park Speedway is located on Broderick Road in Plattsburgh, NY, one mile south of Exit 36 on the Interstate 87 Northway. Visit www.airborneparkspeedway.com for more information, or call (518) 647-4444. Airborne Park Speedway is on Facebook at Facebook.com/AirborneParkSpeedway and on Twitter at @AirborneSpeed.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Parker Chevrolet Mid-Season Championships presented by Island Excavating Corp. & Morrisonville Septic
Airborne Park Speedway, Plattsburgh, NY
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere
Saturday, July 25, 2015
J&S Steel Modified Feature (35 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
(5) # Danny Sullivan, Morrisonville, NY
(6) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
(7) Greg Atkins, Clintonville, NY
(3) Ryan McLean, Au Sable Forks, NY
(14) Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, NY
(9) Jayson Criss, Plattsburgh, NY
(15) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY
(13) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY
(10) Mike Wells, West Chazy, NY
(11) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
(12) Jamie LaFountain, Keeseville, NY
(4) # Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, NY
(8) Speedy Bresette, Plattsburgh, NY
(19) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, VT
(1) Eric Lauziere, St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, QC
(17) Rico Hernandez, Plattsburgh, NY
(18) # David Bourgeois, Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, QC
(16) Brian McGinley, Plattsburgh, NY
Disqualified: (2) # Timex Morgan, Plattsburgh, NY (carburetor spacer)
Heat Winners: Bucko Branham; Timex Morgan; Jason Durgan
Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Hot Shoe Challenge Award: Danny Sullivan
Ernie’s Discount Tools Rookie of the Race: Danny Sullivan
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Nick Heywood
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Eric Lauziere
Key R-D Trailer Sales Renegade Feature (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
(4) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT
(6) Shawn Duquette, Morrisonville, NY
(7) Jimmy Bushey, Mooers Forks, NY
(12) Richie Turner, Fairfax, VT
(2) Keith O’Neil, Mooers, NY
(9) Zack Daniels, Plattsburgh, NY
(3) Jon Boutin, St. Albans, VT
(10) Josh Terry, Essex, NY
(8) Zach Rabtoy, Fairfax, VT
(13) Jason McClatchie, Plattsburgh, NY
(11) Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, NY
(17) Brent Jarvis, Peru, NY
(1) # Michael Wright, Alburgh, VT
(16) Curt Giventer, Saranac, NY
(15) # Tony Salerno, Mineville, NY
(14) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, VT
Disqualified: (5) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, NY (driveline component)
Heat Winners: Zack Daniels; Josh Terry; Tylor Terry
Semi-Feature Winner: Robert Gordon
Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Hot Shoe Challenge Award: Robert Gordon
Ernie’s Discount Tools Rookie of the Race: Michael Wright
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Richie Turner
Busch Beer Mini-Modified Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
(9) Kris Clark, Keeseville, NY
(10) Chris LaVair, Saranac Lake, NY
(1) Tim LaFountain, Keeseville, NY
(2) Harold LaVair Jr., Gabriels, NY
(7) Tyler Irwin, Peru, NY
(12) Mike Bresette, Keeseville, NY
(11) # Clement Bell Jr., Peru, NY
(5) Robert Foley, Saranac, NY
(3) Pete Blaney, Jay, NY
(6) # Tanner Crary, Saranac Lake, NY
(4) Curtis LaGrave Jr., Plattsburgh, NY
Disqualified: (8) Dale O’Neil, Mooers, NY (wheel camber)
Heat Winners: Kris Clark; Dale O’Neil
Ernie’s Discount Tools Rookie of the Race: Clement Bell Jr.
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Kris Clark
Ernie’s Discount Tools “King of the Hill” Tournament: (3) Chris LaVair def. (1) Kris Clark