Story By: KENNY SHUPP / WOODHULL RACEWAY – WOODHULL, NY – A trio of partners were onboard to sponsor the July 15, 2023 event at the Woodhull Raceway; Hometown Excavation along with AA Construction with both companies based in Addison, NY as well as the CS Tree Service all teamed up to help promote the night of action which saw the return of the Empire Super Sprints after a fifteen-year absence from the historic Steuben County oval.
In the Insinger Performance Modified Division it looked like Ajay Potrzebowski Sr. was well on his way to his first feature win of the season until a miscue in turns one and two with just a few laps remaining handing the win to Joe Dgien who had hounded Potrzebowski throughout most of the twenty-five- lap feature go. Ajay Sr. immediately took control of the twenty-five-lap event from his pole position starting spot with Brady Fultz who lined up along-side keeping pace until mechanical problems forced him pit side. Dgien, who began the event in the fourth position then took up the chase after the Fultz departure as he was working the very top of the banking trying to rundown the high-flying Potrzebowski Sr. It was the exit of turn two with just a handful of laps remaining that was the undoing of Potrzebowski’s great drive as Dgien blasted by on the bottom and would go on to claim the win. For Dgien of nearby Addison, NY it would be his third trip to Pepsi Victory Lane as the 2022 Modified Track Champion continues his solid performance in the division. After Potrzebowski’s slip up he would recover nicely but there was not enough time left to mount a serious challenge to race leader Dgien as he would have to settle for the runner-up spot at the completion of the green to checkered run.
However, for Potrzebowski Sr., it was his best finish of the season as he continues to race weekly against his son, Ajay Potrzebowski Jr. who would finish third on this night as he continues to sit atop the point standings. Russ Morseman and Donnie Lawson would begin the event in the sixth and seventh spots respectively and move forward to claim fourth and fifth at the finish.
The 360 Empire Super Sprints were on the card of events as they made their first appearance at Woodhull in some fifteen years. Drivers and teams representing three states and two Canadian Providences made the trek to Woodhull with a solid field of sixteen cars racing in timed hot laps, heat events, a Dash for Cash as well as a 25 lap A-Main.
Robbie Stillwagon of Delmar, New Jersey picked-up his first ever feature win at Woodhull over former Woodhull Raceway 360 Sprint winner, Shawn Donath and Jordan Porier.
Current high point man and two-time 2023 feature winner, Austin Allen along with Rickie Loucks would bring the twelve car Doug Gross Construction RUSH Crate Late Model field to green with Allen immediately taking control of the twenty-lap affair. Yellow fever was the name of the game as several cautions would slow the pace and keep the field bunched. May 20 feature winner, Jason Knowles rolled out a new chassis that he and car builder, Ed Carley along with several crew members put together during the week and wasted little time in moving into the top position from his outside row two starting spot on the opening grid. Once in front, Knowles had to withstand several additional caution flag slow downs’ but was able to keep Allen at bay and go on for the win. Sophomore drivers Aaron Miller and Brett Marlatt continue to impress with solid efforts in finishing third and fourth with Brian Knowles completing the top five.
Like the RUSH Late Models before them, the NAPA Crate Sportsman also had their share of problems with multiple caution flags keeping the pace slowed and the field tightly bunched. A pair of seasoned veterans who also happen to be first cousins, Tim Guild and Stacy Jackson were the class of the field as they slugged it out for most of the event to see which driver would have the bragging rights for the week. Third generation pilot and recent high school graduate, Cayden Lawson kept the lead duo honest and within striking distance, but at the completion of the twenty-five lap feature it was Tim Guild visiting Woodhull’s Siemen’s Energy/Pepsi Victory Lane for the first time in 2023. Jackson would wind up second just a car length behind with Lawson completing the podium finishers. Josh Nobriga put on another solid drive to nail down fourth with opening night feature winner, Connor Brown rounding the top five.
2023 Southern Tier Customs Street Stock feature winners Mick Seeley and Teddy Morseman Jr. would lead the eleven-car field to the open green flag with Seeley taking control from the drop of the opening green. However, Morseman would pressure Seeley throughout the early going and eventually take over the top spot and once there go on to his second win of the year. However, a late race challenge from Dylan Cecce would keep Morseman on his toes as the top three contenders had distanced themselves from the rest of the field. For Cecce, it was his first appearance at Woodhull in several seasons after relocating out of the area and with just few laps remaining it appeared as though he would overtake Morseman and claim the win. However, on the last lap going into turn three, Cecce and Morseman made contact with Morseman going on for the win and Cecce losing several spots but still managed to cross the line. Seeley was credited for second place at completion of the wild finish as Rookie of the Year contender, Willy Easling piloting the Brett Crawford machine for the night would put on a steady performance to claim third. Jim Buck very quietly went about his business keeping the leaders within sight and drove home for a well deserved fourth place finish. Cecce would recover to round the top five.
In the KMD Excavation Hobby Stock feature event, class sponsor Paul Dgien along with Glenn VanCise would lead the field to green with Dgien immediately showing his muscle and taking control of the twenty-lap event. Caution flags would slow the pace early on, but on every restart, Paul Dgien looked poised to pick-up his first win of the season. Kaiden Dgien, son of the race leader began the feature outside row five and took full advantage of the yellow flags along with some nifty moves in traffic to climb into the second spot by the halfway mark. The father/son duo would continue to set the pace but many of the classes heavy hitters were all climbing into the picture, and it suddenly had become a six-car battle for the lead. Kaiden Dgien would eventually pass his dad and take control, but with a handful of laps remaining it was still uncertain would finish in the top five as they were two and three wide behind the race leader. With the white flag in the air and Kaiden Dgien holding a slim margin the battle was still on for second on back and at the finish Kaiden Dgien had won his first feature event of the season followed by his father, Paul Dgien who claimed the runner-up spot. It was a blanket finish from third on back with two- time 2023 feature winner, Tracy Dunn taking third by less than a car length over Jeredd Dennis who had Joe Birdsall literally pushing him across the finish line in one of the closest finishes of the season in any division that races weekly at the track.
In the combined Big Jim’s Wicked Tee’s Mini Stock/FWD twenty lap feature go Nate Freeland and Jason Warner would bring the field to green. However, it did not take long for Wesley Houghtaling (FWD) and John Hand Jr. (MS) to get to the top spots and from there go on to find victory lane. For Houghtaling it was win eight on the year as he continues his stranglehold on the Wicked Tee’s FWD Class as he was followed across the finish line by Andrew Thomas and Holden Heinemen who looked to have the feature won till a late race encounter with a lap machine sent him spinning into the infield and out of contention. Nate Freeland and Tyler Houghtaling would complete the top five.
For John Hand Jr. his second trip to victory lane in 2023 was a bit easier as his number one nemesis, Ray Hyer was mired in the pack with a last lap incident ending any chance Hyer would have claiming the win. Danielle Thomas continues her season of top five runs as she would go on to claim second behind Hand Jr. with 2022 Track Champion, Jason Warner, Ryan Stone and Hyer completing the top five.
In the Big Jim’s Wicked Tee’s Youth Warrior Division, Russ Morseman IV took command of the ten-lap affair right off the drop of the green flag from his inside row two starting spot and was never challenged in winning his eighth feature of the season and his seventh in a row. Although Morseman was making it look easy a late race yellow put two-time 2023 feature winner, Kayleigh Morseman on his rear bumper but to no avail as Russ IV went on to claim the victory. Kayleigh Morseman was second at the line chased there by Courtney Thomas with Marcus Kerr and Alivia Sullivan completing the top five. Des-A-Rae Miles and Jacob Stone completed the field.
Congratulations to all competitors.
Up next at Woodhull on July 22 it will be the Annual Christmas in July Bicycle Give-Away in addition to a Regular Great 8 Show as well as a special King of the Bull Ring one on one elimination event for the NAPA Crate Sportsman Division.
Nightly event sponsors will include the Addison Eagles as well as all the participating NAPA Auto Parts Stores from across the Twin Tiers.
WOODHULL RACEWAY RESULTS. JULY 15, 2023. UNOFFICIAL
Hometown Excavation, AA Construction and CS Tree Service Night.
The Return of the Empire Super Sprints!
INSINGER PERFORMANCE MODIFIEDS. (16 cars)
25 lap feature. JOE DGIEN (3), Ajay Potrzebowski Sr., Ajay Potrzebowski Jr., Russ Morsman, Donnie Lawson, Brayden Bills, Steve Coots, Brian Doolittle, Aiden Groover, Eric Grice, Dayton Brewer, Brandon Martin, Adam Coots, Brady Fultz, Ryan Tracy, Mike Bills.
EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS. (16 cars)
25 lap feature. ROBBIE STILLWAGON, Shawn Donath, Jordan Porier, Chuck Hebing, Jacob Dykstra, Kyle Drum, Jared Zimbardi, Chase Moran, Trevor Years, Jeff Cook, Jonathan Preston, Logan Crisafulli, Jason Barney, Ryan Stillwagon, Dylan Swiernik, Dalton Rombaugh.
NAPA CRATE SPORTSMAN. (15 cars)
25 lap feature. TIM GUILD, Stacy Jackson, Cayden Lawson, Josh Nobriga, Connor Brown, Tony Harris, Quintin Buchanan, George Schweigart Jr., Blake Lawson, Isabel Barron, Kyle Leach, Kevin Decamp, Chris Clemens, Kenny Peoples Jr., Glenn Trowbridge.
DOUG GROSS CONSTRUCTION RUSH CRATE LATE MODELS. (12 cars)
20 lap feature. JASON KNOWLES (2), Austin Allen, Aaron Miller, Brett Marlatt, Brian Knowles, Joe Layfield, Rickie Loucks, Noah Talada, Dennis Loucks, Garrett Heffner, Marshall O’Brian, Steve LeBarron.
SOUTHERN TIER CUSTOMS STREET STOCKS. (11 cars)
20 lap feature. TEDDY MORSEMAN JR. (2), Mick Seeley, Willy Easling, Jim Buck, Dylan Cecce, Luke Boom, Joseph Gardina, Brett Crawford, Mike Williams, Travis Webster, Jesse Tuthill.
KMD EXCAVATION HOBBY STOCKS. (17 cars)
20 lap feature. KAIDEN DGIEN, Paul Dgien, Tracy Dunn, Jeredd Dennis, Joe Birdsall, Scott Brown, Dale Houghtaling, Brandon Conklin, Glenn VanCise, Meadow Dgien, Brent Williams, Mike Carapella, Adam Leubner, Hunter Williams, Brian Austin, Mike Spencer, Bradly Morseman.
BIG JIM’S WICKED TEE’S MINI STOCKS. (7 cars)
20 lap feature. JOHN HAND JR. (2), Danielle Thomas, Jason Warner, Ryan Stone, Ray Hyer, Josh Stone. DNS, Jaden Stone
BIG JIM’S WICKED TEE’S FWD. (5 cars)
20 lap feature. WES HOUGHTALING (8), Andrew Thomas, Holden Heinemen, Nate Freeland, Tyler Houghtaling.
BIG JIM’S WICKED TEE’S WARRIORS. (7 cars)
10 lap feature. RUSS MORSEMAN IV (8), Kayleigh Morseman, Courtney Thomas, Marcus Kerr, Alivia Sullivan, Des-A-Rae Miles. DNS. Jacob Stone