Middletown, NY - October 20, 2007 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Mike Ruggiero raced all summer long and came up one position short in his bid for the elusive Orange County Fair Speedway points championship in 2007. On Saturday night he matched his season-long win total with the biggest victory of his career as he captured the Mr. DIRTcar Series Lee's Quality Tire 50 Championship during the 46th Annual Eastern States Weekend at Orange County.
"We wanted the track championship this year but this is the next best thing," said Ruggiero, after leading all 50 laps in the caution-marred event that closed out the season for DIRTcar Sportsman. "Everytime I thought I had a decent lead, built up a little momentum, the yellow flag came out. It was a long night but it worked out for us in the end."
John Ferrier finished a half-dozen car-lengths back followed by Mike Storms, Gary Labagh and Race Weld Axles Rookie of the Race Kyle Weiss. Joe Williams settled for 13th position to outlast Chris Hile (17th) and collected the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship.
Eastern States Weekend activity continues on Sunday with a full program of DIRTcar Pro Stock action, DIRTcar Big-Block Modified consolation round qualifiers and the 46th running of the Eastern States 200 Modified Championship finale. Pit gates are slated to open at 8 am and grandstands at 9 o'clock followed by the popular Race Against Drugs Pit Party, 9:30-10:30 am.
Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Race #14 – Orange County Fair Speedway, Oct. 20, 2007 Eastern States Lee's Quality Tire 50 Championship Event Summary
FEATURE (50-laps)
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER LAPS
1 1 4r Mike Ruggiero/Walden,NY 50
2 2 220 John Ferrier/Middletown,NY 50
3 7 79 Mike Storms/Wantage,NJ 50
4 4 38 Gary Labagh/Middletown,NY 50
5 11 16x Kyle Weiss / Hamburg,PA 50
6 8 99 Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY 50
7 14 99p Greg Panunte/Port Colborne,ONT 50
8 5 2x Eddie Burgess/Montgomery,NY 50
9 19 2p John Juhl/Auburn,NY 50
10 13 44m Mike Barrett/Danbury,CT 50
11 17 111 Art Liedl/Flemington,NJ 50
12 29 213 Mike VanTassel/Hamburg,NJ 50
13 25 19 Joe Williams/Scotia,NY 50
14 31 777 Tyler McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT 50
15 24 91 Justin Gozzi/Brookfield,CT 50
16 18 08 Mark D'Ilario/Smithville,ONT 49
17 30 5j Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY 49
18 22 5w Rob Wosyluk/Upper Greenwood Lake,NJ 48
19 6 18 Joe Dunay/Vernon,NJ 46
20 28 6j Jeff Isabell Jr./Pennellville,NY 42
21 23 4c Bill Cherry/New Windsor,NY 28
22 3 827 John Harnage/Smithtown,NY 24
23 26 7j Alan Fink/Central Square,NY 23
24 15 424 Jake Schlagel/Wanaque,NJ 15
25 9 22 Doc Young/Middletown,NY 11
26 20 60f Darrell Ford/Westtown,NY 10
27 16 98 Kevin Ward/Hyde Park,NY 3
28 12 22k Kenny Moulton/Rock Hill,NY 3
29 21 19h Chris Higgins/Syracuse,NY 3
30 27 3 Eric Holmgren/Middletown,NY 3
31 10 27 Rich Coons/Middletown,NY 3
LAP LEADER: Ruggiero (1-50).
CAUTIONS: 9 (lap 1, lap 4, lap 10, lap 10, lap 12, lap 17, lap 29, lap 46, lap 47); 1 RED FLAG (lap 4).
MURPHY'S SPEED & CUSTOM HALFWAY LEADER: Mike Ruggiero.
RACE WELD AXLES ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Kyle Weiss.
SHERWOOD RACING WHEELS HARD CHARGER: Mike VanTassel.
GATER RACING NEWS HARD LUCK: Joe Dunay.
HEAT WINNERS: Wight, Young, Coons, Weiss.
CONSI WINNERS: Gozzi, Williams.
DR. RV POLE WINNER: Mike Ruggiero (23.058sec/97.580mph).
DR. RV OUTSIDE-POLE WINNER: John Ferrier (23.220sec/96.899mph).
CARS ENTERED: 54.
