Rockefeller (Big-Block Mods) & Krause (358-Mods) Lead List Of DIRTcar ‘Futures’ Race Winners Friday At NAPA Super DIRT Week
Quick, Maresca & Wescott Also Score Victories In Special Events For Syracuse Mile Upstarts
By Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing P.R.
SYRACUSE, NY – Oct. 11, 2013 – Jeff Rockefeller (big-block Modifieds), Andrew Krause (358-Modifieds), Ricky Quick (Sportsman), Mike Maresca (Sportsman) and Byron Wescott (Pro Stocks) were victorious in Friday’s series of DIRTcar ‘Futures’ feature events during NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds.
The big headline-grabber of the special races for Syracuse Mile upstarts was Rockefeller, a 37-year-old from Scotia, N.Y., who captured the 15-lap ‘Futures’ big-block Modified event one day after shocking the establishment by locking himself into Sunday’s Syracuse 200 with the fourth-fastest lap in time trials.
Rockefeller was flawless in the big-block race, grabbing the lead at the initial green flag and never relinquishing it. He held off Carey Terrance of Hogansburg, N.Y., to triumph by a slight 0.386 of a second.
A newcomer to the DIRTcar Modified ranks who campaigns a small-block-powered car at the Capital District’s Fonda and Glen Ridge speedways, Rockefeller was overjoyed when he climbed out of his Bicknell machine in Victory Lane and was presented the $750 first-place check. The only previous win of his short dirt career came earlier this season at Glen Ridge.
Adding a Syracuse victory to his unexpectedly strong performance in Thursday’s big-block time trials was almost too much for Rockefeller to grasp.
“This is crazy,” said Rockefeller, who is racing both a big-block and 358-Modified this year at Syracuse after failing to qualify for last year’s small-block event in his first visit. “This is incredible. I just can’t believe this is happening.
“A month ago this (car) was just a chassis sitting in the garage. Now all this….it’s unbelievable.”
Krause, 23, of Holmdel, N.J., scored a flag-to-flag triumph in the 12-lap 358-Modified ‘Futures’ event, beating Kevin Albert of Lebanon, Pa., to the finish line by 0.867 of a second.
An asphalt Modified competitor for five years before shifting his focus to dirt racing last year, Krause is competing in his second straight NAPA Super DIRT Week. He struggled last year but has tuned up his effort this season with help from such experienced hands as Pennsylvania Modified veteran Rick Laubach.
“It was awesome to be out there and pull off a win here,” said Krause, whose father and car owner, Cliff, promotes the paved Wall Township (N.J.) Speedway. “I’m real excited.”
Quick, 29, of Scotia, N.Y., completely dominated the first of two 12-lap Sportsman ‘Futures’ features, rocketing away from the pack to defeat Michael Sabia of Easton, Conn., by a resounding 14.069 seconds.
“I didn’t even know how far ahead I was,” said Quick, a Fonda regular whose only previous appearance at Syracuse was in 2008 when his week ended early with a hard crash into the inside wall in turn four. “The car was just working so well.”
The 18-year-old Maresca, meanwhile, inherited the $600 winner’s prize for the second 12-lap Sportsman ‘Futures’ event after apparent victor Adam McAuliffe was disqualified because his car weighed in light at the scales.
Hogansburg, N.Y.’s Maresca, who competes regularly at Mohawk International Raceway, happily accepted the checkered flag after initially crossing the finish line 0.803 seconds behind McAuliffe.
Matt Janiak of Pine Island, N.Y., was elevated to the runner-up spot in the official rundown due to McAuliffe’s disqualification.
Burnt Hills, N.Y.’s Wescott emerged victorious in the 12-lap Pro Stock race, beating Ghislain Valade of North Lancaster, Ont., by a scant 0.310 of a second. The regular at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, N.Y., was the third driver from New York’s Capital District to win a ‘Futures’ event.
For more information on NAPA Super DIRT Week, visit www.SuperDIRTWeekOnline.com.
DIRTcar Big-Block Modified ‘Futures’ Feature Finish (15 laps): 1. Jeff Rockefeller, 2. Carey Terrance, 3. Matt Billings, 4. Rex King Jr., 5. Kevin Albert, 6. Dominic Buffalino, 7. Bob Sarkisian, 8. Brandon Sweet, 9. Marcus Dinkins, 10. Jasmin Leveillee, 11. JaMike Sowle, 12. Dave Allen, 13. Chad Jeseo, 14. Aaron Jacobs, 15. Gary Wagner, 16. Andrew Krause, 17. Willy Decker, 18. John Lutes Jr., 19. Henry Maier, 20. Darwin Greene
DIRTcar 358-Modified ‘Futures’ Feature Finish (12 laps): 1. Andrew Krause, 2. Kevin Albert, 3. Darwin Greene, 4. Chad Jeseo, 5. Jeff Rockefeller, 6. John McClelland, 7. Henry Maier, 8. Dave Flannigan Jr., 9. Aaron Jacobs, 10. Olden Dwyer, 11. Gary Wagner, 12. Ryan Arbuthnot
First DIRTcar Sportsman ‘Futures’ Feature Finish (12 laps): 1. Ricky Quick, 2. Michael Sabia, 3. Justin House, 4. Steve Hicks, 5. Kevin Ward, 6. Robert Delormier, 7. Corey Winters, 8. Rob Reis, 9. Ryan Stabler, 10. Taylor Lamb, 11. Chris Hulsizer, 12. Troy VanAllen
Second DIRTcar Sportsman ‘Futures’ Feature Finish (12 laps): 1. Mike Maresca, 2. Matt Janiak, 3. Chris Daugherty, 4. Steve Bernier, 5. Jon Miller, 6. Ryan Darcy, 7. Louie Jackson Jr., 8. Bruce Batzel, 9. John Aumick, 10. Troy Arnold, 11. Dave Constantino, 12. Joey Ladouceur (DNS) Chris Thurston (DQ – light) Adam McAuliffe
DIRTcar Pro Stock ‘Futures’ Feature Finish (12 laps): 1. Byron Wescott, 2. Ghislain Valade, 3. Dave Rogers, 4. Ronnie Tyo, 5. Gus Hollner, 6. Mike White, 7. Dan Older, 8. Marc Lalonde, 9. Sid Harner Jr., 10. Paul Engwer
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, and Safety-Kleen. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries. Super DIRT Week sponsors include: Beyea Headers, Draco Springs, Fast Shafts, Fluidampr, FK Rod Ends, Fox Shocks, Pro Fabrication and Turbostart. Lighting for Super DIRT Week is brought to you by Musco Lighting.
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