VERNON, NY- Willy Decker, from Vernon, passed Todd Burley on the final lap of the Modified feature event to score hi s first win of the season in exciting fashion to score the popular $2,000 victory on New York Central Mutual night. Utica-Rome Speedway regular Jeff Leslie would dominate the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Sportsman Series win, while Tom Denton would survive a last lap charge to score the Pro Stock win. Ron Hawker took the Pure Stock main event in convincing fashion.

At the drop of Matt Burdick’s green flag, Ted Lamb would grab the early from his third starting spot, a lead he would on to for the first nine circuits. Charging from his eighth starting spot, Todd Burley moved into the top spot as the first third of the event was being completed. While Burley was pacing the field, the battle for position was being waged in the middle portion of the field between Bobby Varin, Pat Ward, Ronnie Johnson, Stewart Friesen, and Mitch Gibbs.

Ninth place starter Willy Decker was on the move during the long green flag period, moving into second by lap 13 and setting after Burley. At the halfway point, it was Burley, Decker, Lamb, Bob Henry Jr., and Bobby Varin out front. Burley survived several restarts just past the halfway mark to continue setting the pace with Decker in hot pursuit. The final caution period of the 30 lap event would slow the field on lap 26; allowing Decker to close up on Burley’s back bumper.

The restart saw Decker remain glued to the leader’s rear deck lid looking for his chance to get by. When the white flag flew, Decker executed a perfect slide job in turns one and two to grab the lead from Burley exiting turn two. As the pair raced into turns three and four, Burley tried to return the favor with a slide job of his own but he couldn’t clear the rim riding Decker. Decker would race off to his first win of the 2009 season with Burley, Friesen, Vari n, and Ronnie Johnson in pursuit. Ward, Brian Weaver, Danny Varin, Paul Kinney, and Henry rounded out the top ten.

Dirt modified racer Jimmy Anderson pulled down his first rookie feature win.

On behalf of Budd Olsen we would like to congratulate Jimmy and the crew on their first win at Bridgeport!

Corey Anderson slipped by Michael Cogdill at the start and went on to wire the field in the 15-Lap GM Sportsman event. Eric Kormann finished in second place after starting the feature in the seventh position. Tom Moore, Jr., Kyle Borror and Bob Burgess completed the top five. GM Sportsman qualifying events were won by Moore, Jr. and Corey Anderson.

In the 358 Sportsman feature, Jesse Hill took the lead from Sean Gunther on lap 13 and stormed off to his second win of the year. Starting in the sixteenth spot, Hill steadily climbed through the field and reached the second spot on lap 7 trailing only Gunther. Gunther finished in second place with fourteenth place tarter Jack Swain coming home in third place. Chuck Hopkins wound up fourth place after starting the feature in eighteenth place. Fifth place went to Randy Yaple. Swain, Jarrad Miller, and Gunther each won a 358 Sportsman heat race.

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (5/30/08) – Defending Big Block Modified Champion, Jamie Mills of Milford, Del. looks to be an early season favorite to defend his point championship. In Saturday night’s 25-Lap R.C. Holloway feature, Mills quickly worked his way from his tenth starting spot to take the lead from Norman Short on lap six. From that point on the only challenge he would receive was from his nephew, Joseph Watson.

Short started on the pole and led lap one. The yellow was out before the second circuit was completed when Chad Clark came to a stop. Donnie Radd chased Short on the restart. Joseph Watson grabbed the second position on lap three with Mills following into third.

Mills moved by Watson on lap six and quickly went to work on Short. It took only one lap for Mills to move to the point. At the halfway sign the top five were Mills, Joseph Watson, Matt Jester, Radd and H.J. Bunting who had charged from the rear after bringing out the yellow before the first lap was complete when he slowed with a flat tire.

The opening feature, a 20 lapper for late models sponsored by Whelen, saw Wayne Pfeil set the early pace with young Mike Kellner getting the top spot on the 5th circuit. Once in front the Lansdale, PA racer was able to hold off challenges from Pfeil and Kyle Merkel to grab his first win of the season. Second spot went to Merkel (Gilbertsville) followed by Pfeil (Mohnton), Bill Henning (Lansdale) and Danny Snyder (Green Lane).

Front row starter, John Kelly, led the opening 10 laps of the 20-Lap feature for the 358 Sportsman. Back in the pack of cars, Chuck Hopkins had already reached third place on lap 6 after starting the main event in the eleventh position. Kelly had a sizeable lead over Tom Solderich by lap 8 when he began to lap the field. As the second half of the race began, Hopkins continued his charge to the front and became the leader on lap 12. Travis Hill got by Solderich on lap 13 for the third spot. The yellow flag waved for the first time on lap 14 when the 358 Sportsman of Bob Lineman, Jr. showed smoke. On the single file restart, Hopkins kept his lead but Travis Hill jumped past Kelly for second and Jesse Hill grabbed third place from Solderich. John Cavallaro brought out the final caution on lap 18. On the single file restart with two laps to go, Hopkins outgunned the Hill Brothers and went onto claim his sixth career win. Second place went to Travis Hill with Jesse Hill taking third. Kelly and Jack Swain completed the top five. 358 Sportsman heat race winners were Kelly, Don Bogey, and Travis Hill. Sean Gunther won the consolation event.

Tom Solderich with Travis Hill in tow took over the lead from Jason Duppel as the 358 Sportsman feature from May 23rd resumed with 15 laps remaining. Just after completing one lap, Solderich and Travis Hill tangled briefly in front of the field causing the yellow flag to be displayed. With the top two runners now displaced, Jack Swain ascended to the top spot. When action resumed, the red flag was shown when Duppel’s spin on the backstretch caused the field to scatter and block the track. When the green flag waved again, Swain and Larry Lippincott battled side by side for the lead for six consecutive laps. After two more cautions and restarts, the top two runners were joined by third place runner Jesse Hill and fourth place runner Chuck Hopkins in a four-way for the lead. On lap 16, Jesse Hill hopped up to the second position and swept by Swain for the lead on lap 18. The elder Hill went on to capture his eleventh career win in the opening leg of the Racing World Magazine 358 Sportsman Bonus series. Swain held onto second place and Lippincott took the third position. Hopkins and Frank Dorry, Jr. rounded out the top five.