BREWERTON, N.Y. – Chris Hile came into Friday night with a two-point lead over Larry Wight in the final race to decide the Brewerton Speedway Modified Track Championship.
In the 35-lap Tracey Road DIRTcar Big Block Modified feature, the Oswego, N.Y. racer drove most of the race with a broken front end and still managed a fifth-place finish and with it, Chris Hile’s first ever track championship at the ‘D-Shaped Dirt Demon.’
The Small Block Modifieds would lead the way in the 35-Lap Modified feature, with Jeff Taylor leading the opening six laps before Andrew Ferguson would blast into the lead on lap-seven.
With ten laps showing on the scoring tower, Ferguson would lead by ten car lengths over Taylor, Sean Beardsley, Jeff Prentice with Max McLaughlin the first Big Block Modified in the top-five.
The yellow would wave on lap eleven when Tim Sears Jr. suddenly slowed with a mechanical issue leaving Larry Wight nowhere to go, making contact. Both cars would go to the pits. What was thought as just a right rear flat on Wight’s car ended his night and a chance at the title with a broken rear end.
Taylor would retake the lead after a lap twelve caution and restart.
The whole complexion of the race would change on lap-eighteen when leader Taylor spun in front of the whole field in turn four. Second place Jimmy Phelps and third place McLaughlin both made contact with Taylor. Phelps was able to keep running and would be the leader on restart. McLaughlin would head to the pits.
With ten laps to go, Phelps was in total command of the race with Tom Sears Jr., Chad Phelps, Max Hill, and Chris Hile racing for second through fifth.
Over the final laps and no yellows, Jimmy Phelps would cruise to the win, followed Tom Sears Jr., Chad Phelps, Tyler Trump, and Chris Hile.
Victory lane got loud with cheers from the crowd for two of the fan favorites at the speedway, for Phelps on his victory and Chris Hile on his first Tracey Road DIRTcar Big Block Modified Championship.
Other winners on the night were Ryan Dolbear (Sportsman) Kyle Demo (Mod Lites) Danny Varin (Empire Super Sprints).