Published: July 03, 2008 10:08 pm         

INSIDE RACING: Ransomville’s Rudolph gears up for Tour

Ransomville Points Leaders

Driver points leaders at Ransomville Speedway, as of today:

Modified

1. Todd Burley St. Catharines 362

2. Jeff McGinnis Ransomville 336

3. Pete Bicknell St. Catharines 326

4. Robbie Krull Lockport 316

5. Scott Kerwin Newfane 308

Sportsman

1. James Friesen St. Catharines 396

2. Don Spatorico Ransomville 374

3. Jipper Ortiz Ransomville 332

4. Ryan Susice Ransomville 330

5. James Henry Niagara Falls 299

Street Stocks

1. Roger Israel Wilson 422

2. Chris Burek Wilson 418

3. Jaren Israel Wilson 388

4. Pat Dell Niagara Falls 386

5. Kenny Washburn Ransomville 380

Firehall Enduro

1. Mark Brown Wilson 170

2. Jim Stone Ransomville 160

3. Dick Wilkinson Lewiston 152

4. Jamie O’Donnell Wilson 150

5. Eric Gunio Olcott 140

6. Tim Durfy Terrys Corners 134



A major objective in 2008 for Lockport’s DeLange Racing team and their talented teenage driver, Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, was to test themselves against the NASCAR Modified Tour teams. They began the season chasing that goal, with a trip to Caraway Speedway in North Carolina, followed by a visit to Thompson Speedway in Connecticut.

They followed that up with two trips to famed Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut and scored their first Modified top-10 finish May 23. After that race, they headed back home as the racing season was ready to open in Western New York.

On July 12, Rudolph and his teammates will try to build on their momentum at the Spencer half-mile oval and rejoin the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for a 100-lap event. Team owner Dave DeLange said he’s anxious to compete against the best Modified racers on a track where they have a measure of experience.

“When we raced against the NASCAR teams in North Carolina and Connecticut, we were the rookies,” DeLange said. “At Spencer Speedway the roles will be somewhat reversed since the NASCAR Modified Tour hasn’t raced there since 199,4 while we have run there five times in the past two years and won in our most recent visit last month. We expect to be competitive and our goal is to make it two in a row at Spencer and also win our first Tour race.”

After the NASCAR Tour race at Spencer, Rudolph and the DeLange team will close out the month with a Race of Champions Modified Tour 100-lapper at Oswego Speedway on July 19 and then rejoin the Whelen Modified Tour at Stafford on Aug. 8.

Big R ‘Streetstock 50’

Tonight, Ransomville Speedway will go green for the “Streetstock 50,” along with a 4/6 Cylinder Enduro, Bobcat of Buffalo Firehall Enduro, Sportsman, $500 to win boat race and fireworks. Ladies pay just $5 admission.

On Saturday, the Big R will host the Niagara Cup Go-Kart Nationals. Gates open at 1 p.m., with racing to begin at 4 p.m. Grandstand tickets are $5.

For more information, contact the Ransomville Speedway office at 791-3602.