"View From The Tower"

June 16,2007

By:  Gary Wilcox

     The Adirondack International Speedway's weekly show was once again a crowd pleaser to say the least.  With 62 race teams circling the pit area, the ever growing fan base at AIS settled in for an evening of exciting pavement racing, honoring Fathers' Day.

     There was something different this week at the Speedway - twin 25-lap (ASA) features for the Challenger Late Model Division.   Also, a bounty of $100.00 was placed on the (ASA) # 50 of John Papin.  Papin, from Redwood, New York, has won the last three (ASA) feature events at the Speedway.  Track officials had decided that a $100.00 bounty would spice up the competition, and it sure did.

    A former (ASA) track champion and team that has not been in victory lane since July 2, 2005, finally broke the dry streak and won the first 25-lap segment.  Jerry Dineen # 11 from Little Falls, New York, started on the outside of the front row.  Jerry moved to the first position and put his Ford Late Model in the winner's circle, claiming the first place prize and the extra $100.00 bonus for beating John Papin to the checkered flag.

     Now, to enhance the second (ASA) 25-lap feature, two new sponsors at AIS stepped up to the plate.  Herrington Farms from Troy, New York, and Rifenburg Construction Company put up an additional $1,000.00 prize to the winner of the first 25-lap (ASA) segment.  All the winner had to do to collect this cool grand was to start in the last position in the second (ASA) 25-lap segment and be the first to see the checkered flag.  Dineen re-drew for the 4th position but elected to take the challenge and start in the last position.  At the end of the second 25 lapper, John Papin #50 was the man in victory lane.  The "Little Falls Titan" brought the # 11 back to a nice 5th place finish.   This marked the 18th feature win for Papin and the 14th feature win for Jerry Dineen at the Adirondack International Speedway.

       Fan favorite, Chola Shay 2-s from Matamoras, PA, got shuffled out of the pack and hit the third turn wall a ton on the very first lap of the first 25-lap segment.  Shay was dazed a bit but was checked out by AIS's Safety Safari and was OK.  Chola's race car was another thing.  Heavy front end damage may have side lined this race car from quite some time, if not indefinitely.   As AIS has done in the past, a collection was taken up to help Chola and his team put their damaged race car back together again.  Everyone in the pits and the stands dug deep and a nice chunk of change was presented to Shay and his team for a speedy return to AIS.  The fans and competitors at Adirondack are just like a family.  When someone involved with the Speedway is in need, they always rally around them.  Shay was very appreciative and thanked everyone when interviewed by AIS's infield announcer John Flock.  Good luck, Chola, and get back to AIS, A.S.A.P.

      It's always great to see a first timer to the checkered board square.  In the D&D Powersports Sport Compact Division, it was the case again this week.  Scott Shafer # 67 from Oswego, New York, finally drove into victory lane at AIS.  Shafer has been a fixture at the Speedway in the Sport Compact Division for many seasons.   I can't tell you how many times Scott has been a Brides-Maid but never a Bride in the 4 cylinder features.   This time it was Scott in the clean air, winning his heat event, too, for a clean sweep.  There were good runs this week again from "The Veteran" Al Brigham # 4 and Tommy Dubach #04.

     AIS's ever expanding True Stock Division, sponsored by Got Good Cheese.com, showed Duane Williamson #38 from West Leyden, New York, in victory lane for the second consecutive week at the Speedway.  Williamson was strong all evening and started the contest in position # 4, along with the remaining 15 entries in the 20-lap main event.  From no previous wins, to back-to-back victories at AIS, it's got to be a very exciting time for the Williamson family and race team.  I'd like to welcome some new teams to the True Stock Division that have started to compete in the past few weeks:    Dennis Williamson, piloting Shane Monnat's previously driven # 8 True Stock; Art Newman # 21 from Utica, New York; Steve Burton #10 from Remsen, New York; and Phil Lafave # 9.  Welcome, gentlemen; and good luck in AIS's very competitive True Stock Division.

     From the "Hot Topic" segment this week, it's come to my attention that currently in the works is a big True Stock pay day for a race event on August 4th.  Got Good Cheese.com, (AKA) The Lowville Milk Producers Co-op, is working with AIS officials to set up a big event that could pay $500.00 to the True Stock winner.  That should draw some of the top True Stock teams in New York State to try their hands against the best at AIS.  Boy, I'd love to see some of the top dirt and other pavement True Stocks go up against the likes of the Williamson's, Mooney's, Bancroft's, Newman's, and Typhair's to say the least.  Stay tuned for details as they become available. 

     Twenty three Light Trucks took the green flag in the Westward Painting Co. 20 lap feature go.  At the checkered flag it was still another first timer to the Victory Lane ceremonies, the # 92 of Levi Kirkbride, from Greg, New York.   Kirkbride starting in position # 4, worked the bottom of the race track,  got the lead, and never looked back.  The Light Truck division is a real family affair for the Kirkbrides.  Levi's brother Uriah # 29 and the boy's Dad, Ken Kirkbride # 50 also compete each week at AIS.  Congratulations to the entire Kirkbride Family and teams for this big win in AIS's most popular division at the Speedway.

    This Saturday evening at the Adirondack International Speedway it's a "School's Out " special.  All kids seventeen and under will be admitted to the Speedway absolutely free.  Also, it's "meet-n-greet" all the drivers and teams down front during intermission.   Uncle John Flock will once again play host to a coin and candy toss for all the kids.  If you've never had the opportunity to watch Uncle John Flock with the kids in a coin and candy toss down front it is a true treat.   The real kid in "America's Favorite In-field announcer" always comes to the surface.  Don't miss it.  Gates will open at 4:pm with racing in all four divisions starting promptly at 6:30pm.

    Just a reminder,  Billy Gibson AIS's (GM) and his side-kick Froggy 97's Web-Foot, are still looking for a appropriate name for the North Countries newest radio race show on ESPN's WNER (The Winner) 1410AM every Tuesday evening at 5 to6:PM.  The person that comes up with the best name for this new race radio show will win two tickets to the Edge Hotel-150 Nascar Busch East event on July 28th.   Check out AIS's web site at www.aispeedway.com  for details or call the Speedway office at 315-346-RACE.

    Until next time, please be good to one another,  and thank you for reading this weeks "View".  Make your plans today to bring the entire family to " The Auto Racing Thrill on the Foot of The Tug Hill".  The Adirondack International Speedway this Saturday evening.