Rudolph caps off busy weekend

Erik Rudolph kept his hot streak and won the 50-lap main event and $3,065at the Jan Corcoran Memorial.

VERNON, N.Y. » For the first time in 2019, the Big Block Modifieds were part of the action in a special Big Block/Small Block Challenge for the ninth annual Jan Corcoran Memorial, which saw Erick Rudolph keep his hot streak going by claiming the $3,064 win the in the 50-lap main event.

Other winners included Matt Janczuk in the Broedel Energy Fuel Group Sportsman while Nick Stone was victorious in the Ted’s Body Shop Pro Stocks. Rich Christman also won as he took the Bernie’s Extreme Performance Parts Rookie Sportsman win on Northeast Racing Products and Power Seal night.

Pat Ward and Claude Hutchings Jr. led the starting field to the green flag to begin the 50lap Jan Corcoran Memorial Big Block/Small Block Challenge, with third place starter Danny Varin bolting to the lead by the field got into turn one. Varin easily controlled the pace through the first handful of laps as the field tried to keep pace, while 10th place starter Erick Rudolph knifed his way to the front.

By lap seven, Rudolph slipped by Ward to grab second and set off after Varin. By lap 12, Rudolph had caught Varin and began to pressure him for the lead. Over the next dozen laps, Rudolph made repeated attempts to pass Varin, with every advance being repelled by Varin.

On lap 23, Rudolph was finally able to get around Varin

to gain control of the race. Just two circuits later, Varin slowed on the front stretch to bring out the first caution of the night. He went pit side and was able to rejoin the tail end of the field. On the restart, Rudolph pulled away from the field with Billy Dunn, Matt Sheppard, Ward, and Dave Marcuccilli giving chase.

Lap 36 saw second place running Dunn slip off the top of turns one and two, handing the runner-up spot to Sheppard with Ward and Gary Tomkins also getting by before Dunn regained control. The final yellow of the event came out a lap later for a disable car in turn two, setting up a 13 lap shootout for the $ 3,064 top prize.

When the green lights came back on, Rudolph easily pulled away from the field with Sheppard unable to keep pace. The battle for the final podium spot was a heated one with Ward and Tomkins bat tling side by side unti l the checkered f lag f lew. Rudolph would score the victory with Sheppard coming home in second. Tomkins nipped Ward at the line for third with Dunn rounding the top f ive. David Schi l ling, Lance Willix, Marcuccilli, Adam Roberts, and Hutchings filled out the remaining top 10 spots.

Third place starter Kyle Inman immediately took the lead in the Broedel Energy Fuel Group Sportsman 20- lap main event, with pole sitter Addison Bowman and Tyler Corcoran in tow. Fifth place starter Matt Janczuk was able to grab second on the by lap four, setting his sights on the leader Inman. After several laps and attempts to get by Inman, Janczuk was able to go around him to the lead on lap nine.

Inman wasn’t going away easy however, as he was able to get back by Janczuk on lap 14, only to have an untimely yellow nullify the pass before the lap was completed. The restart saw Janczuk retain the lead and hold off any of Inman’s challenge to the end of the event. Inman came across the l ine in second with Chris Mackey, Tyler Corcoran, and Alan Fink chasing.

Nick Stone took the initial lead on the 20lap Ted’s Body Shop Pro Stock feature event, coming from his fourth starting spot to the lead by the completion of the opening lap. Stone would survive nearly race long pressure f rom point leader Josh Coonradt to take the victory with Pete Stefanski following the duo to the checkered f lag in a close third place finish. Shane Henderson and Mike Welch rounded out the top five positions.

Rich Christman led all 15 laps of the Bernie’s Extreme Per formance Parts Rookie Sportsman non- stop main to grab the victory, with Mike Grover and Ernie Staelens grabbing the f inal two podium spots.

This coming Sunday, Aug. 11, A-Verdi Storage Container s and Park’s Truck and Paving presents the annual Bobby Page Foundation Backpack Give- AAway and popular Autograph. Admission to the weekly event featuring the DirtTrackDigest. com 358-Modifieds, Broedel Energy Fuel Group Sportsman, Ted’s Body Shop Pro Stocks, and Bernie’s Extreme Performance Parts Rookie Sportsman will be just $20 a carload.

For more information and details, visit www. uticaromespeedway.com or on Facebook and Twitter. The track office can be contacted by calling (315) 829- 4557.

NORTHEAST RACING PRODUCTS/ POWER SEAL JAN CORCORAN MEMORIAL RACE SUMMARY

the game, Happ addressed his teammates with a message to keep moving forward regardless of all the injuries.

“This whole team is tough. Everyone’s tough. We know what we’ve been through, so I think that motivates a lot of us,” Judge said. “We know how hard it is. We know how beat up everybody is. We’ve got to stay in there and keep fighting.”

The start was delayed 69 minutes due to a threat of rain, though it remained almost completely dry throughout.

Happ sailed through four innings before Christian Vázquez and rookie Michael Chavis hit backto-back homers in the fifth. With two outs in the sixth, Andrew Benintendi chased they introduced me, which I thought was very special. Then something happened, one of the greatest moments of my career: The fans began yelling for me.”

While Gonzalez, now a broadcaster, delivered a smooth speech until his eyes welled up when addressing his mother, Bailey, Reed and Law’s voices frequently broke during theirs.

Law spoke of his family’s support, and his hometown, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, which also produced his uncle, Tony Dorsett, and Mike Ditka — both Hall of Famers.

“I know there ain’t no crying in football,” Law joked.

“We are a community built on love, strength, struggle, and that Quiptown pride,” he said. “We did it, Aliquippa. We are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Law became the first inductee from New England’s standout defense that won three Super Bowls in the early 2000s. One of the most versatile and physical cornerbacks the NFL has seen, Law was selected for five Pro Bowl teams and was a two-time All-Pro. He finished with 53 career inHappwith a two-run single that shaved it to 7-4.

Luis Cessa struck out Chavis with two on and worked 2 1/3 hitless innings. Chad Green got three outs for his third major league save and second this season.

Judge sent a no-doubt solo drive into the elevated bleachers in rightcenter in the first. It was his first home run in 58 atbats since July 19.

Judge walked in the third and Urshela, batting cleanup, launched a tworun homer off the backwall of Boston’s bullpen in leftcenter. That was the first of six straight two-out hits — four for extra bases — and then a walk that ended Price’s night.

Brett Gardner and Cameron Maybin hit consecutive doubles. Mike Ford, a 27-year- old undrafted rookie out of Princeton wearing No. 74, had an RBI single. Third-string terceptions, twice leading the NFL in that category, had more than 800 tackles, 169 passes defensed, five sacks, and scored seven times.

Perhaps Law’s most noteworthy game came in the 2002 Super Bowl, when his hard-hitting style upset Rams receivers and threw off the “Greatest Show on Turf. That was emblematic of his attacking style — and soon after led to rules changes limiting how physical defenders could be against receivers.

Reed was just as big a playmaker for Baltimore, a safety who fellow enshrinee Ray Lewis called “a gift” to the Ravens and himself. He was elected in his first year of eligibility, just as Lewis was last year, and called for unity in America, setting a standard like a team’s — each pushing one another toward an achievement.

“Help each other, encourage each other, lift each other up,” Reed said. “Encourage those around you. Encourage yourself.”

Reed, a five-time AllPro safety and member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, was the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year and made nine Pro Bowls. He had 64 career interceptions, seventh overall; led the NFL in picks three times; and his 1,590 yards on interception returns is catcher Kyle Higashioka laced his second double off Price, and No. 9 batter Mike Tauchman added a two-run single in a half-inning that took 28 minutes.

“It just snowballed,” Cora said.

Price stood behind the mound, head lowered with his back to home plate, as he waited to be pulled after throwing 75 pitches in only 2 2/3 innings. The lefthander gave up a seasonhigh seven runs and nine hits before walking slowly to the dugout. He is 0-3 with a 10.59 ERA in just 17 innings over his last four outings.

Price also fell to 1-7 with a 9.61 ERA in eight starts at Yankee Stadium since signing a $217 million, seven-year contract to join the Red Sox before the 2016 season. The lone win came on June 2 this year.

“I’ve faced them a lot. Just got to find something different,” Price said. a league mark. His 13 nonoffense TDs rank fifth all time.

In 2013, in his hometown of New Orleans, the Ravens won the Super Bowl.

Bailey played for Washington and Denver in his 15-year career, and was a force in each of those seasons. He intercepted 54 passes, including one against New England he returned for 100 yards in the 2005 divisional playoffs.

A 12-time Pro Bowler, a record for the position, and three-time All-Prowho made the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s, Bailey was the seventh overall draft pick by the Redskins in 1999. He was dealt to Denver in 2004 for running back Clinton Portis in a steal for the Broncos.

Bailey credited Hall of Fame cornerbacks Darrell Green and Deion Sanders, mentors with the Redskins, for setting his foundation in the pros. Yet he noted he was “consumed by the game” that “gives a person discipline and perseverance,” but it doesn’t prepare you for “real life.”

Referring to his fellow African Americans, Bailey asked that everyone listen “when we tell you about our fears. ... When we tell you there are many challenges we face because of the color our skin, please listen. And please do not get caught up in how the message is delivered.

“If we start listening, there is no limit to the progress we can make.”

Inducted earlier were Kevin Mawae , Pat Bowlen, Johnny Robinson and Gil Brandt .

Mawae never betrayed the lessons he learned when he first began playing football — flag football, no less.

“I learned to love the preparation, the plays and the puzzle,” Mawae said. “I loved putting on my uniform and cleats. I learned to never step on the field without being ready to work.”

Mawae was an outstanding center for three NFL teams, and a key union force during the 2011 lockout of players. His leadership, along with his talent and determination, made him a three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler with the Seahawks, Jets and Titans, and the center on the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

Offensive lineman rarely should be judged by statistics, but consider that Mawae blocked for a 1,000yard rusher in 13 of his 16 seasons — by five different running backs, capped by the NFL’s sixth 2,000-yard rushing performance, by Tennessee’s Chris Johnson in 2009, Mawae’s final season.