ADDERLEY, BARKER WIN MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS SPONSORED BY OLD FORGE POWERSPORTS AT THE ADIRONDACK INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

New Bremen, N.Y. – It is a rarity to come into the Adirondack International Speedway for the first time and leave a winner. For two gentleman racing in a couple of divisions that rarely see AIS, they now have the leisure to say they did it. Presented by Old Forge Powersports of Old Forge, NY the Dirt 358 Modifieds made their return to the Adirondack International Speedway with the Northeast Organized Racers Association (NORA) Small Block Supermodifieds. While neither division has seen the semi-circular half-mile in over two years the short two-division show provided something different for the fans of AIS while capping a fantastic show off in a short two-hour manner.

            With $2,000 on the line for the Dirt/Asphalt 358 Modifieds, Mike Adderley of Watertown started on the outside of row number one and at the drop of the green flag fell to the third position. Quickly on the move was Adirondack’s all-time winningest driver, Willy Decker chasing Lance Willix of Theresa. As Decker took the lead on lap six it was Adderley as the fastest car on the track firing from his third position in the running order. By lap nine Adderley gained the second position from Willix and quickly set his sights on that of Decker. On lap 12 Adderley took a dive to the top of turn three and motored around Decker taking the top spot with 18 laps to go. At this point the racing was being shown at the back of the top-five as Willix, Francis McNeil and Matt Woodruff diced for the third position. Back out front Adderley coasted around the bottom of the circular oval while Decker laid it all out on the line looking to chase down the leader. Down to the final lap Decker looking to reel in Adderley was shown slowing in turn three with a shredded right rear tire. Adderley drove on for the win while Decker limped across the line barely taking second. Willix, Mark Bruno and McNeil completed the top-five positions in the 30-lap event. Winning the Dirt Sportsman $250 Bonus was Kevin Phillips.

            For the NORA Small Block Supermodifieds, their visit marked the first event for the series on their 2007 schedule. The favorites coming into the days event, consisting of Russ Brown and Dave Gruel as well as Tim Barbeau stayed the favorites heading into the 40-lap feature event. That is until sophomore sensation Alan Barker came calling in his Pike Bros. Racing #60 snagging the lead from Brown in lap traffic and holding off a late race charge by Barbeau in the final two circuits. From the start it looked to be Brown charging home with a win and Barker holding on to the second spot but with 37 of 40 laps in the bank, the plot thickened and the race turned into a short dash. Dicing through lap traffic Barker nosed ahead of Brown out of turn four being scored the leader on lap 38. Shortly thereafter Barbeau came into the fight. Barker, able to free himself from lap traffic with one to go, rolled on for the win with Barbeau, Brown, Lou Levea and Larry Muroski completing the top-five positions. “I was ready to settle for second when the lap traffic came in to it and it all changed. The car was good, and things fell our way today,” quoted Barker whom doubles his racing schedule on dirt as well. The talented wheelman out of Norwich (NY) originally planned to compete in the Dirt 358 Modified event as well but last minute hurdles through a wrench into his double duty plans.

            Notes: The legendary Dick May was in attendance; taking in the action at AIS for his first time. May, a former NASCAR champion and a former long-time resident of Watertown was blown away by the facility and spent a prolonged period of time talking with track owner Paul Lyndaker reminiscing about May’s time behind the wheel of a racecar. Lyndaker spent most of his day sitting alongside May in the general admission grandstands.

Old Forge Powersports Race Summary

Dirt/Asphalt 358 Modifieds (30-Laps): MIKE ADDERLEY, Willy Decker, Lance Willix, Mike Bruno, Francis McNeil, Matt Woodruff, Todd Stewart, Jeff Kotary, Freddie Amann, Neil Provost, Kevin Phillips, Andy Powell, George Foley, Terry Ingersoll.

NORA Small Block Supermodifieds (40-Laps): ALAN BARKER, Tim Barbeau, Russ Brown, Lou Levea, Larry Muroski, David Cliff, Kevin Knopp, David Gruel, #90, Rob Pullen, Dave Danzer, Ken Pierce, Shawn Walker, Rick Ziegler, Jason Simmons.