Big blocks battle in Port
One remarkable run continued and another one ended when New Humberstone Speedway closed out the month of August with an expanded program.
Highlighting Sunday night’s show, and an addition to the regular five-division lineup, was the second annual Pete Cosco Memorial, a 75-lap race pitting modified 358s against big blocks.
The show-stopper paid tribute to Cosco, a hall of fame driver and car owner who returned dirt track racing to Port Colborne after a one-year absence when he bought the former Gasport Speedway. He died at age 60 of a brain aneurysm in August 2014.
There was still plenty of racing remaining in the battle of the big blocks when Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y., overtook Mat Williamson of St. Catharines on Lap 55. But the third-generation driver, no stranger to Humberstone’s 3/8mile clay oval, used that track knowledge to his advantage as he held on for his second Pete Cosco Memorial win in as many starts.
“Humberstone is one of my favourite places to race. The track fits my driving style and I love it here,” Rudolph said in his postrace comments in victory lane.
He led a top five of Williamson, Chris Steele, Gary Lindberg and Ryan Susice to the checkered flag. All but Williamson were racing modified 358s.
Rick Richner, Williamson and Susice won the qualifiers.
Unlike Rudolph, Dave Bailey wasn’t able to return to victory lane on his latest visit to Humberstone. Instead of winning his sixth in a row, and eighth in nine starts, the street stock driver from Hagersville had to settle for a second-place finish behind Bill Bleich Jr. of Port Robinson.
Bleich overtook co-pole sitter Derek VanMil two laps into the feature and set the pace the rest of the way for his third win of 2016 at Humberstone.
Rob Murray, defending track champion Jason Fontaine and Bryce Richardson rounded out the top five. Bleich and Murray were the heat winners.
In late models, Dennis Lunger Jr. of Albion, Pa., near Erie, the current points leader and reigning division champion, raced to his seventh victory of the season and the 19th of his two-year career at the Port Colborne track.
Lunger took over the lead 11 laps in, just as the field was beginning to hit lap traffic. Also finishing in the top five were Jeff Dayman, Tim Gillespie, Sam Pennacchio, the lone heat winner; and Rob Pietz.
Brad Rouse, who came into Sunday night’s program leading fellow St. Catharines driver Cody McPherson 818-814 in the sportsman points race at Humberstone, maintained his frontrunning position with his sixth win of the year.
Pole-sitter Joey Mastroianni set the pace until Lap 14 when Rouse, using the top of the track, took over the lead. He held off McPherson, who moved into second on Lap 18, and Chad Chevalier for the victory.
Dylan Davidson and Jeff Armstrong rounded out top five, while Luke Carleton, Rouse and Leslie won their qualifiers.
Dylan Llord of St. Catharines continued his dominance in pro 4 trucks, almost going flag to flag for win No. 10 of the season after setting the pace in the lone heat.
Taylor Vanderzanden, Jaime Ayers, Kyle Tomaski and Emily Puchalski were the top also-rans in the truck feature.
In the mini stocks main, Jason Coutu held off Kyle Haynes, who came into the night as the points leader, for the win, the second of the Humberstone season for the St. Catharines driver.
Nick Sarantakos, Garnet Wilson and Jay Moulton also posted topfive finishes, with victories in the heats going to Sarantakos, Haynes and Coutu.
Vintage cars will be added to the regular lineup of sportsman, late models, street stocks, mini stocks and 4-4-cylinder trucks when racing returns next Sunday.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and start time for the first qualifier is 6:30 p.m.
Prize purse for the night totalled $17,073, including lap sponsorship for the modified feature.