Story By: KENNY SHUPP / WOODHULL RACEWAY – WOODHULL, NY – Ajay Potrzebowski Jr has become somewhat of a journeyman racer thus far in 2024. The young 2023 Woodhull Raceway Modified Track Champion along with his father, Ajay Sr. have hop scotched their way across the northeast picking and choosing their fights between Fridays at Outlaw Speedway and Woodhull on Saturday, however they are not afraid to travel hitting as many STSS Events as time permits.
In the Insinger Performance twenty-five lap feature and by the luck of the re-draw, Ajay Jr. pulled pill number eight, wasted little time getting to the point and went on to his first win of 2024 on the High Banked one-third of a mile clay oval.
A pair of young hot shoes in Aiden Grover and Russ Morseman IV would bring the twenty-car field to the opening green, but it was Ajay Jr. blasting into the lead from his outside row four starting position and from there it was cruise control to victory lane.
For the second consecutive week, Dundee, NY native, Brady Fultz would put on a solid effort in the Herbie Wright owned machine as he would begin the grind inside row two and advance to second at the double checkered flags.
Like Fultz, Donnie Lawson also took full advantage of an upfront starting position moving from fourth into the final podium spot.
However, the story of the event was Dayton Brewer who did not have a good qualifying heat, missed the re-draw and had to line up fifteenth on the opening grid.
The second -generation Jasper, NY driver methodically worked his way through a stout field to wind up fourth at the finish as he was followed across the line by May 18, 2024, Modified feature winner, Stacy Jackson who began the twenty-five-lap affair in ninth.
It was a huge night for Addison, NY speedster, Kenny Peoples Jr. as the Hometown Excavation Crate Sportsman driver had perhaps the biggest night of his career.
Because of a partially rained out show on May 5, the Sportsman had a make-up feature early in the evening which Peoples Jr. won handedly over 2023 Woodhull Track Champion, Isabel Barron who finished second. Cayden Lawson, Tony Harris and Kevin DeCamp would go on to complete the top five finishers.
In the night cap, Peoples would begin the regularly scheduled twenty-five lap feature inside row two and waste little time in flexing his muscle to take over the top spot from the Brown brothers, Collin and Connor who brought the eighteen-car field to green.
Once out in front, Peoples just had to keep his nose clean and withstand a trio of yellow flag slow downs in route to his third win on the 2024 campaign. For Peoples Jr. it was a huge night as he swept both the make-up and the regular show.
Connor Brown would hang with Peoples throughout, but at the end of the day he had to settle for a well-earned runner-up finishing spot with Blake Lawson completing the top three.
A pair of veteran Sportsman drivers in Tim Guild and Tony Harris would go on to complete the top five with Harris advancing from tenth to cap off two great runs.
In the Empire Crushing LLC RUSH Crate Late Model twenty lap feature, Pat Parker and sophomore competitor, Marshall O’Brian would lead the charge of nine car field to green with O’Brian getting the jump, however his night would end early.
With the re-draw now in effect, Brett Marlatt pulled pill eight placing him right alongside Brian Knowles who was to his inside. The pair diced their way through traffic and in no time had cleared race leader, Steve LeBarron to take command with Marlatt leading and Knowles in tow.
Try as he might, Knowles made every attempt to overtake Marlatt, but it would not come to fruition as the second generation, Canisteo driver would go on to his second win in a row and second overall on the season.
Knowles had to settle for another disappointing runner-up finish with Rickie Loucks having one of his best runs of the season, finishing third after starting fifth.
LeBarron would wind up fourth chased across the line by Elmira competitor, Tony Kelly who finished fifth.
Three caution flags onlaps one, two and five would keep the field bunched, but Marlatt was not going to be denied on this night.
In the Southern Tier Customs Street Stock twenty-lap feature go, Mike Williams and Teddy Morseman Jr. brought the ten-car field to green with 2024 feature winners, Mike Spencer and Clayton McClean following.
For most of the season, multiple time Woodhull Raceway Street Stock Champion, Glen Whritenour has done a disappearing act putting his own driving career on hold to support his young son, Drew in his Hobby Stock Rookie Season.
But on this night GW dug Old Betsy out of the shop and made the four-mile haul to compete and the effort paid off as he lined up sixth on the opening start and took no prisoners in route to his second victory of 2024 after winning on opening night.
Last years class Track Champ, Teddy Morseman Jr. had nothing for the high -flying Whritenour and had to settle for second with May 25 winner, Mike Spencer completing the podium.
Fourth was claimed by two-time 2024 winner, Clayton McClean with pole starter, Mike Williams drifting to complete the top five.
The highlight of the night was Sawyer’s RV and Camper Repair Hobby Stock Division as the popular class ran not only a regular twenty lap A Main, but it was also time for their traditional King of the Ring, one-on one-elimination event.
After successful seasons in the class, Kaiden Dgien has not been a regular at Woodhull thus far in “24”.
However, the second gen pilot showed up loaded for bear and like Peoples Jr., Dgien also got out the broom and swept the program winning both the King of the Ring along with the twenty-lap feature.
Hunter Williams and Brandon Conklin would bring the field to green with Williams getting the early jump before Conklin would move by and assume control on lap two.
Three caution flags would keep the pace slowed and the field bunched up as Conklin continued to set the early pace.
Dgien, who began the event in fourth put the cross hairs on Conklin and took over the top position on lap eight and from there go on to victory lane.
Greg Young, making a rare appearance in the Williams Family-owned number forty-two would put on a masterful performance lining up seventh and moving forward to nail third at the finish.
Kaiden Dgien’s sister, Meadow began the feature alongside Young and followed him the entire distance in claiming fourth with veteran Tioga, Pa veteran, Scott Brown rounding the top five.
In Big Jim’s Wicked Tee’s Quad C twenty lapper, it appeared as though three-time 2024 winner, Wes Houghtaling had finally met his match as Travis Southard gave him fits the first dozen laps as the pair swapped the lead on less than four occasions before Houghtaling hit the go baby go button and cruised to win four on the year. Southard had to settle for second, but walked way knowing he has the talent and equipment to compete with Houghtaling who has become a household name in FWD Mini Stock circles.
Third went to Jeffrey Lafler who began the feature outside pole position.
Fourth was claimed by Danielle Thomas who is the significant other of Travis Southard.
Thomas and Houghtaling are the only drivers in the class to enter Woodhull’s Victory Lane. Houghtaling four and Thomas two wins.
Joseph Gillespie would begin the twenty-lap feature in seventh and advance a couple positions to complete the top five.
Prior to intermission, the Big Jim’s Wicked Tee’s Youth Warrior Division staged for their ten- lap feature.
Until 2024, Markus Kerr had never won a race in the Warrior division, now he cannot seem to lose and for the fourth consecutive week he planted his potent machine in victory lane in quick fashion.
Chasing Kerr across the line by Izzabella Morseman who put on another rock-solid effort.
April 20 and May 4 class winner, Kayliegh Morseman rounded out the top three as she was followed by Cadin Thomas and Courtney Thomas.
The NYPENN IMCA Modified Series was also on the aggressive card of events making it their first of two appearances at Woodhull in 2024.
In their twenty-four car A Main, it was Randall Paxton taking home the $750 check.
For a more concise look at the entire NYPENN IMCA MODIFIED SERIES show at Woodhull simply go to Facebook.
Congratulations to all competitors.
Up next at Woodhull it will be a Regular Super 5 Show featuring all the weekly classes. In addition, Sawyer’s RV and Camper Repair Hobby Stocks will compete in the first ever North/South Shootout pitting cars from Bradford Speedway against the Woodhull faithful.
It will be the first of four events with each track hosting two races each.
The night or competition sponsored by S & W Pools of Avoca, NY along with Twin Tier Detailing of Corning.
WOODHULL RACEWAY RESULTS. June 8, 2024. UNOFFICIAL
Leland Harris and Sawyer’s Camper and RV Service and Repair Night.
NYPENN IMCA MODIFIED SPECIAL.
INSINGER PERFORMANCE MODIFIEDS. (20 cars) 25 lap feature.
AJAY POTRZEBOWSKI JR., Brady Fultz, Donnie Lawson, Dayton Brewer, Stacy Jackson, Aiden Grover, Joe Dgien, Brian Doolittle, Chris Ostrowski, Russ Morseman, Adam Coots, Andrew Dgien. DNF, Carter Crooker, Steve Coots, Russ Morseman IV, Bob Silvernail, Josh Keesey, Ryan Tracy, Larry Keegan. DQ, Jake Dgien.
HOMETOWN EXCAVATION CRATE SPORTSMAN. (18 cars) 25 lap feature.
KENNY PEOPLES JR., (3) Connor Brown, Blake Lawson, Tim Guild, Tony Harris, Todd Titus, Adam Taft, Isabel Barron, Quintin Buchanan, Kevin DeCamp, Cayden Lawson, Braylon Lawson, Chris Clemens, Glenn Trowbridge. DNF, Greg Crooker, Jacob Trowbridge. DNS Collin Brown, Braden Buchanan.
Make up from May 5. (14 cars) 25 laps.
KENNY PEOPLES JR. (2), Isabel Barron, Cayden Lawson, Tony Harris, Kevin DeCamp, Blake Lawson, Quintin Buchanan, Ethan Decker, Brayden Buchanan, Glenn Trowbridge, Jacob Trowbridge, Braylon Lawson, Tim Guild. DNS, Kyle Leach, Colton Herrington.
EMPIRE CRUSHING LLC RUSH CRATE LATE MODELS. (9 cars). 20 lap feature.
BRETT MARLATT (2), Brian Knowles, Rickie Loucks, Steve LeBarron, Tony Kelly, Dennis Loucks, Joe Layfield. DNF, Marshall O’Brian, Rich McNeal.
SOUTHERN TIER CUSTOMS STREET STOCKS. (10 cars) 20 lap feature.
GLEN WHRITENOUR (2), Teddy Morseman, Mike Spencer, Clayton McClean, Mike Williams, Like Boom, Jim Buck, Bradly Morseman, Mick Seeley. DNF, Mike Wilbur Jr.
SAWYER’S CAMPER AND RV SERVICE AND REPAIR HOBBY STOCKS. (18 cars) 20 lap feature.
KAIDEN DGIEN, Brandon Conklin, Greg Young, Meadow Dgien, Scott Brown, Mike Carapella, Jeredd Dennis, Scooter Brown, Dillon Philip, Joe Birdsall, Drew Whritenour, Jason Ketrow, Jason Warner, Hunter Williams, Cannon Palme. DNF Paul Bell, Dale Houghtaling, Brian Austin.
King of the Ring. KAIDEN DGIEN.
BIG JIM’S WICKED TEE’S QUAD C. (8 cars) 20 lap feature.
WES HOUHTALING (4), Travis Southard, Jeffrey Lafler, Danielle Thomas, Joseph Gillespie, Ryan Stone, Zach Bruce. DNF, Rickie Vanzile.
BIG JIM’S WICKED TEE’S YOUTH WARRIORS. (5 cars) 10 lap feature.
MARKUS KERR (4), Izzabella Morseman, Kayleigh Morseman, Cadin Thomas, Courtney Thomas,
NYPENN IMCA MODIFIEDS. 24 cars.
RANDALL PAXTON. The remainder of the finishing order can be found on the NY PENN IMCA Facebook once they are posted.