Published: October 15, 2008 12:55 am      

BONESKY: Rudolph stuns dirt racing world

SYRACUSE — Ransomville’s Erick Rudolph stunned the dirt racing world and those in attendance at the New York State Fair Grounds this weekend as he captured the win in the Town Mechanical Sportsman Championship.

Rudolph, a Wilson High School honor student in his senior year and a third generation driver, was piloting a car owned by neighbor Jip Ortiz with backing from Original Pizza Logs. The win for the teenage driving sensation was made more astonishing by the fact that it was only the third time he had sat in the car and that it was first time racing on the Moody Mile at the New York State Fairgrounds.

“This is just awesome,” Rudolph said after he finished dancing on the roof of his car in victory lane in front of the thousands of fans in attendance. “We put this deal together to drive Jip’s car and the crew and everyone else has been working very hard over the past week or two to be ready for this race.”

Rudolph, who had been very fast in practice, adapted very well to the tricky one mile dirt oval and during qualifications timed his car into the third starting spot. During the race Rudolph made quick work of Fulton’s Sammy Reakes, a seasoned driver who had won the event last year, and then quickly disposed of race leader Matt Hulsizer. The young driver was so quick behind the wheel he was pulling a second ahead of the balance of the field as the lap counter clicked each lap down. Rudolph never relinquished the race lead and when the checkers fell he had a half mile lead over his nearest challenger.

Following the event, Rudolph was also awarded Rookie of the Race honors as well as the Hard Charger award. The win adds to the impressive teenagers 2008 racing resume as he also won the Dunn Tire Raceway Park SST Sportsman championship as well as the tracks Modified championship. Other area drivers that made their presence felt in Central New York included North Tonawanda’s Pete Stefanski.

Stefanski, driving in the full fender Pro Stock class, captured the pole for the Pro Stock feature by setting fast time. Stefanski tried in vain to hold onto the point, but was unable to do so.

At the checkers, Stefanski was able to finish in forth. The strong finish for the long time Pro Stock competitor helped him lock up the season point’s title for that class. Sanborn’s Tim Jones was making his first attempt at the mile in a 358 Small Block Modified and was able to qualify his Global Warranty backed entry into the race and start from the 26th position. Jones had worked his way into the top 20 before and engine failure relegated him to a 39th place finish.

Wheatfield’s Chad Brachman finished 15th in the Salute to the Troops 150 and had two great top five runs at both Rolling Wheels Raceway Park and Cayuga County Fair Speedway. Sanborn’s Richie Vinson had a solid 12th place run at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park. Niagara Falls’ Rich Richner finished 44th in the Salute to the Troops 150 after falling from the event with mechanical woes.

More big winners from Super Dirt Week included Frank Cozze from Wind Gap, Pa., who took the win in the Rite Aid 200 Sunday. Franklin’s Billy Decker won the Salute to the Troops 150 on Saturday.