"View From The Tower"

June 23, 2007

By:  Gary Wilcox

      At the Adirondack International Speedway on Saturday evening it was a celebration.  The premiere American Speed Association (ASA)  motor plant, located on the foot of the Tug Hill, provided free admission to all students 17 years old and younger to the Speedway for a big "School's Out" celebration.  A great crowd and sixty-three race teams were in attendance to witness another stellar evening of pavement racing under the lights.

     One of AIS's shooting stars, Bryant Trim # 59 from Morrisonville, New York, was strong and in clean air for most of the (ASA) Challenger Late Model 50-lap feature event.  Trim, in his early 20's, has one of the finest race cars and teams at the Speedway.   Backed up by two fine sponsors, LTS Homes and the Edge Hotel, Bryant and his team have always been very competitive at AIS and are really on a roll in 2007 at the Speedway.  Trim was tied for 3rd place in points with "The Flying Farmer"  Jason Herrington  # 37 from Troy, New York, going into the (ASA) sanctioned main event. This will put the # 59 team in third place and very close to the second place # 7 race team of Lee Gill from LaFargeville, New York.  This (ASA) win marked Bryant Trim's second feature win at AIS. Trim took his first checkered flag in May of 2006.

     AIS's three support divisions did an exceptional job for the fans again this week.  Great car and truck counts added to the excitement.  Scott Schafer # 67 from Oswego, New York, had gone totally dry in feature wins at AIS until last weekend.  Scott won his first feature and backed that win up with his second win on Saturday evening in the D & D Powersports compact division at AIS.   In a Victory Lane interview with John Flock, Shafer said to the fans that he would try for the Three-Pete this coming Saturday evening at AIS.  I think Scotty really likes talking to Flock in Victory circle.

    Twenty-four Light Trucks in the Westward Painting Co.'s  sponsored Light Truck division was the most exciting main event of the night.  What better race truck and team to win the event than the Westward Painting Co.'s sponsored race truck of Jim Trombley # 8.  The first to see the checkered flag in the 20-lap main was the # 77 of Bill Aganier Jr.  A post race inspection of Aganier's truck showed it to not meet rule requirements, and the # 77 was disqualified.  There were good runs this week for Steve Ellis # 4,  Zack Arthur # 67, Keith Delles # 3, and Tom McIntyre # 26.

     AIS's newest sponsor for the True Stock division in 2007 is Got Good Cheese.com, which is the Lowville Milk Producers Co-op.   It gives this reporter great pride and pleasure to announce that the True Stock division was 17 race teams strong this week.  At the checkered flag in the 20-lap True Stock feature it was once again a first timer to Victory Lane.  Bobby Newman # 77 from Durhamville, New York, finally made the most prestigious trip there is at AIS, and that's down front on the checkered board square.  Newman, who is the son of Doug Newman, was visibly very excited when interviewed by John Flock.

Bobby performed some very nice burn outs for the AIS fans before and after his victory lane ceremonies.  The 2007 season at the Speedway has produced many first time feature winners.   I think that is great, and I sincerely hope it will continue.

     In the current events column this week, Chris Typhair # 29 tested in his new Late model this past week at AIS that is owned by Charlie Price Motorsports from Kemptville, Ontario, Canada.   Chris told me in the pit area on Saturday night that he was turning some high 16, low 17-second laps until the Charlie Price Special lost a crate motor and was on the trailer.  Chris hopes to see the new family car back at AIS in a couple of weeks.  I wasn't able to get a straight answer from Typhair on who will drive the # 29 True Stock.  Will there be a new Sheriff in town for the # 29 or will Chris be doing double duty?  Chris' Dad, Pete Typhair, jokingly said to me that he just might strap in the #29 True Stock.  I've known Pete for years, and I wouldn't put anything past him.  Time will tell.

     Everything is set for the August 4th True Stock 30-lap main event.  This will have a $500.00 payday; and Got Good Cheese.com, along with a number of local sponsors, have put up this super prize money.  Everyone at AIS is very excited about this big True Stock event, and we are all hoping for a number of invaders to challenge the seasoned veterans at AIS.  Good luck to everyone involved, and may the best race team take home the prize.

     I'd like to welcome some new race teams to AIS again this week:  In the (ASA) Late Model division, John Ventura # 7-11 from Ontario, New York, and Joe Schneider # 26 from Owego, New York;  In the Light Trucks, it's Larry Williams # 14 from Lyons Falls piloting Mike Ramos's former Ford Ranger Truck;  John Sullivan Sr. # 13, Dave Fetterly # 21-D, and Josh Dunn # 27 in the True Stocks;  The return of the "Polish Prince" Chuck Powelczyk # 17 from Monroe, New York, along with Zack Petrie # 13-z from Pulaski, New York, and Tim Ingersoil's brother, Terry driving the # 7 in the sport compacts.

     Just a reminder to get your votes in for AIS's new radio show on ESPN's WNER 1410Am (The Winner) on Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.  AIS's GM Billy Gibson, along with Froggy 97's Web Foote, have narrowed it down to four possible choices:  Hot Laps, The Racers Edge, The WNER's (The Winners) circle, or The Racing show.  You can vote on www.aispeedway.com  or e-mail Billy direct  at aispeedway@gmail.com.  The winner will receive two free passes to the Edge Hotel 150 Nascar Busch East race on July 28th.

    This Saturday evening, June the 30th, AIS will present a big (ASA) "Spirit of 76" lap main event for the Late Models sponsored by TJ Toyota of Canton, New York.  Also, it's bike night at the Speedway.  Anyone driving to AIS on a motorcycle will be admitted to the races for $5-bucks. Once again this year, AIS will host the Bike-4-Kids benefit that helps support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.  A parade of bikes during intermission is also planned, so get your two wheeler shined up.  The evening will conclude with a huge fireworks display behind turn one and turn two of the almost mile. 

     Well, that's going to do it for this week's effort.  Thanks for reading my thoughts and views from the tower.  Until next week, please be good to one another.  E-mails with comments or suggestions are always appreciated.  You can reach me at gears@twcny.rr.com.