If there was a hard luck award so far in the 2009 season in the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds it could have gone to Vinnie Vitale.

Vitale all season long at the Brewerton Speedway has been fast and up front till mechanical gremlins always seemed to end his night.

All that changed Friday night.

Vitale took advantage of leader Alan Johnson blowing a motor on lap 30 to reassume the lead and cruise to his first 35-lap DIRTcar Big Block Modified win. With Vitale’s win, he became the eighth different winner in 10 Big Block Modifed events run this season.

Other winners on the night were Rob Keller in the 20-lap Xtreme Auto Recovery IMCA Modifieds, Tim Devendorf in the 20-lap Beaver River Distribution ESDCA Mod Lites, Claude Hutchings Jr. in the 15-lap Tired Iron Repair 4-Cylinder Super Stocks, and Bruce Unger took another win in the Gladiators.

Mike Mahaney got the jump on the field to lead the opening lap of the 35-lap Big Block Modified Feature. Mahaney’s lead was short lived as one lap later, Vinnie Vitale blasted by Mahaney to take command of the race.

With five laps in the books, Vitale still led; Mahaney and Kevin Bates were having a tight battle for second as Chuck Bower and Tom Sears Jr. showed in the top five.

On lap eight, Chuck Bower would loop his No.99b in turn one bringing out the yellow. Also involved would be Jimmy Phelps, Larry Wight and Sears. Wight and Sears would be towed to the pits ending their night.

By lap 12, Vitale was still being shown as the leader, Alan Johnson moved into second and set his sights on the Vitale.

On lap 16. Johnson was able to move in on Vitale, then find the speed to drive by to be the new leader. Bates, Jim Witko, and Pat Ward occupied top-five positions behind the top two. With 20 laps in the books. Johnson held a comfortable lead. Vitale, Bates, Witko and Ward still remained in the top five.

When starter Dave Farney gave the 10 to go signal, Johnson was on rails leading by a straightaway. Vitale ran alone in second, Bates, Witko and Ward still were having a battle at in the top-five.

On lap 30 and seemingly headed to victory lane, Johnson started showing smoke and slowing as his engine erupted into a momentary fireball. Johnson would pull in the pits, ending his run which would have given him his second straight victory at Brewerton.

Vitale took advantage on the restart and was able to be the first under the checkers giving him his first Brewerton Big Block Modified win. Pat Ward, Kevin Bates, Jim Witko Jr and Billy Decker completed the top five.

“This is my type of track, I like it nice and tacky,” Vitale said. “We have had a very bad year starting out. The last five laps I was getting really nervous. My foot was shaking and I was trying to hold it. I knew there was still good guys behind me, we did it. I only race two nights a week and when you beat the best, you feel real good. I’m definitely going to celebrate.”

Brian Evenden got the jump on the field to lead the opening laps of the 20-lap Xtreme Auto Recovery IMCA Modified Feature. Rob Keller Jr. who started seventh, grabbed the lead on lap seven.

From there, not even yellows to bunch the field up was going to deny Keller. At the checkers, Keller took the win by almost a half a track over Jerry Lobdell Jr. Calvin Painter, Jerry Beck and Chris Fleming finished third through fifth.
Mike Bruce grabbed the early lead in the Beaver River Distribution ESDCA Mod Lite 20-lap main. John Behron went from third to the lead on lap four then tried to open some distance between him and the rest of the field. Tim Devendorf who started 10th, steadily moved his was to the front.
On lap 13, Devendorf was able to drive by Behron and into the top spot. Over the last seven laps, Devendorf was able to put distance between him and the rest of the field to take the win. Behron, Andrew Schartner, Joe Garafolo and Mike Mullen completed the top-five. It was Devendorf’s fourth win of the 2009 season. He now holds a slim one point lead over Doug Williams in the season long points battle.

In the 15-lap Tired Iron Repair 4-Cylinder Super Stocks, Jessica Herbert led the first 12 laps. A late yellow and restart was all Claude Hutchings Jr. needed.

Hutchings was able to drive by Herbert to get his seventh win of the year. Jessica Herbert, Chuck Powelczyk, Stephen Denton and Randy Knight completed the top-five.

Bruce Unger was able to once again put his No.711 in victory lane in the Gladiator Feature. Josh Herbert, Ben Rabin, Art Dupra and Jerry Herbert completed the top five. Going into next week’s race Bruce Unger and Josh Herbert find themselves tied atop the point standings.

Friday, June 26, Colosse Cheese will present Student Night, featuring DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, IMCA Modifieds, ESDCA Mod Lites, 4 Cylinder Stocks plus Gladiators. Brewerton Speedway gates will open at 5:30 with the first heat race set to go at 7:30 p.m.

Race summary

DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds—Vinnie Vitale, Pat Ward, Kevin Bates, Jim Witko Jr., Billy Decker, Matt Sheppard, Chad Phelps, Mike Mahaney, Kyle Lewis, Del Rougeux Jr., Mike Bowman, Ryan Phelps, Chuck Bower, Tony Steiner, Alan Johnson, Peter Britten, Johnny Hill, Tom Sears Jr., Larry Wight, Rob Hile, Shawn Donath.

Xtreme Auto Recovery IMCA Modifieds—Rob Keller Jr., Jerry Lobdell Jr., Calvin Painter, Jerry Beck, Chris Fleming, Mike Wilbur, Brian Evenden, Kevan Cook, Bill Anderson, Jim Walsh, Les Hubbard, Jason Amidon, Pete Anderson, Coleen Finch, Jeff Amidon, JJ Courcy, Mike Jones, Tony Finch, Brandon Carvey, Dave Talbot, Ryan Scott, Howard Jones, Becca Eastman, Tony Buffa Jr., Gary Roberts.

Beaver River Distribution ESDCA Mod Lites—Tim Devendorf, John Behron, Andrew Schartner, Joe Garafolo, Mike Mullen, Doug Williams, Justin Crisafulli, Terry Lapham, Jason Broedel, Gary Jeffries, Mike Bruce, Rocco Leone, Lowell Zehr, Jeff Blackburn, Nick Graziano, Jim Tuttle, Bruce Ackley, Kelly Skinner, Sam Usborne, Clayton Brewer III, Lisa Thomas, Ricky Donovan, Ricky Yelle, Frank Sobotka.

Tired Iron Repair 4-Cylinder Super Stocks—Claude Hutchings Jr., Jessica Herbert, Chuck Powelczyk, Stephen Denton, Randy Knight, Matt Wetterer, Lorraine Powelczyk, Aron Backus, Sam Carista, Sam Curcie, Jerry Curcie Jr., Wendall Washington, Ethan Halsey.

Gladiators—Bruce Unger, Josh Herbert, Ben Rabin, Art Dupra, Jerry Herbert.