|
JUSTIN BELFIORE
TAKES HIS
FIRST ALL-STAR CLASSIC
& THIRD CAREER ISMA WIN |
Epping, NH – Ipswich, Mass. driver Justin Belfiore took a
dominating win of the All-Star Classic Saturday night – a race
he'd always dreamed of winning. He led the way after the first
segment of the race, reformatted this year into two 75-lap
segments. He then went on to dominate the second portion,
especially after ISMA point leader Chris Perley had been
eliminated late in the first race in a hard crash off the first
turn. Justin acquired his third career ISMA-Wirtgen race by
taking the prestigious Classic win and he also was able to give
his young son Justin, a sweet birthday present to remember.
"I can't believe it," said Belfiore in victory lane. "The lap
traffic was kind of tough. I've been doing this for a long time.
I had a perfect car. My luck finally held out. I ran lean in
practice and the team made it just right. I thought Chris was
going to be tough there as the race went on. He and I were kind
of swapping spots a couple times but then he got in that
accident. I didn't know if I had anyone to race with. He was the
only one that was passing cars the way I was.
"First of all I'd like to wish my son a happy birthday. It's his
birthday. He was born on the Star Classic like five years ago.
This is pretty cool. And, D&G Modular Homes, without them I
wouldn't even be racing. I've been through a lot of bad luck the
past few weeks and I'll tell you I would be here without him. My
father – what can I say? He gave me a perfect racecar. He's
heart and soul with this car. He's out in the garage every
single night. I don't know how he puts up with me. I don't even
know what to say. I'm at a loss for words."
After a rearranging of the order after a scoring check, Jeff
Holbrook, driving the Brian Allegresso built 35, was determined
the second place finisher. Jeff was a tired, but ecstatic guy in
the post-race interview back in the pits. "I started 19th and
finished 2nd. The longer the car ran, the better it got and the
more tired I got. I'm ready to run some twin 35's somewhere
instead of 75. Seriously, the season has been disappointing for
Brian and those guys. I was just glad that I could get my head
together and do a good job today. It's my best finish ever with
a wing on. I'm sorry Bobby and Dave didn't have better luck.
This is a tough track. I don't think I ran the right line until
the last 25 laps. Brian was working with me all weekend to get
me to drive the right groove. I finally got it at the end there.
The highlight of my race was passing Russ Wood because I look up
to Russell after him driving my cars before. That was fun
chasing him down and passing him. And, passing Bentley, too.
They are two of the greats."
The third place finisher was none other than five-time Classic
winner Russ Wood. Wood had been thought to be a lap down, as had
been Holbrook, but the recheck said no. Driving the Martel
Motorsports 14, Russ had come to life in the second half, ala
Classics of old. Car owner Scotty Martel said it best. "Russell
Wood was driving like the Russell Wood of old. The changes we
made after the first 75 obviously worked. He drove his butt off.
He gave us a 100% just like we knew he would."
Russ was elated with a top five, wherever it might be and it was
third. "We're really happy with a top five. The guys worked
really hard all day on the car and they got it in good shape. We
lasted the whole thing. Everyone had to deal with the two 75's,
which was kind of cool. It changed the whole strategy of the
race. I did get into Jon McKennedy there. I made a mistake and I
feel bad about that. I hit him in the left rear and spun him
around. It was a racing thing. All in all we're happy to be here
in one piece. I liked the two segments. It allowed the guys who
were hurting to change things and come back in the second part.
It might have made it a little more interesting or Justin might
have lapped the whole field."
The first half of the 150 lapper started with Mark Sammut into
the wall, but able to restart. Bob Magner, from the pole quickly
took the point with Kyle Carpenter, in the Roundy 76, right
behind. While this young duo maintained the front spots, the
cars behind were playing out their strategy as Jon McKennedy, in
the Dunigan Motorsports 79, Robbie Summers and Lou Cicconi third
through fifth.
A yellow slowed the race on lap 20 with Scotty Martel going off
the first turn in sparks. On the restart of this lap, Jeff
Holbrook spun around but regained his car and went to the rear
to start his trek forward.
Magner, Carpenter, McKennedy, Cicconi and Summers awaited the
onslaught as Joe Petro, Mike Lichty, and Jamie Timmons tried to
hold off Chris Perley and Justin Belfiore who looked to be the
fast men. Jeffrey Abold in his first-ever visit to All-Star and
Mike Ordway Jr. were running wheel to wheel next in line.
Lap 34 saw Robbie Summers making contact with the Cicconi 75 and
both went pit side.
A couple more quick cautions fell between 35 and 37, one a
precautionary for Perley, who bobbled and then kept going. The
second was for Mike Lichty who was having car problems.
With twenty-two laps to go in segment one and Magner well out
front, yellow flew for John Payne who had spun in turn three.
Unfortunately, a slowing Kyle Carpenter in front of Chris Perley,
who had just moved into third, caught the 11 up and sent him
hard into the wall off turn one. His quest for a third Classic
win was over before halfway.
One more yellow on lap 54 came before the first 75 was checkered
when Dave Trytek and John Payne came together. Both restarted.
Justin Belfiore, who had moved methodically forward was now
third behind Magner and Carpenter. After the restart, he was
second. On lap 57, Justin swung the Belfiore-built 8 around
leader Magner and off he went.
Justin Belfiore quickly built to his huge lead. Bob Magner,
Carpenter, McKennedy, Petro, Jamie Timmons, Abold, Ordway Jr.,
Wood and Bentley Warren were the unofficial top ten at the
break.
Due to the lateness of the hour after rain had put a delay on
the day's activities earlier, only a short time elapsed before
the start of the next 75, which would never be completed.
Belfiore had a couple lap cars in line behind him on the
straight up restart and off he went, leaving second Carpenter,
having lost power steering, McKennedy and Abold were waging one
great battle behind.
On lap 22 Abold and McKennedy brushed sending Abold out of his
first Classic. A few more yellows affected Jamie Timmons, Mike
Lichty and Magner with Timmons the only returner here. On lap 28
Russ Wood slid into McKennedy to send him out. The top ten
runners were being eliminated rapidly.
Justin was well in command as the race resumed. Wood, Petro,
Holbrook, Haynes, Ordway Jr. and Timmons were about the only
lead lap cars remaining as Justin charged around his hometown
track. Unfortunately, while the laps wound down, so did the
time, which was mandated the race end at midnight.
Haynes, who had finished top ten in the Oswego Classic the
previous weekend, saw his second top ten fail with a smoking car
and a black flag on lap 56.
Jamie Timmons, running fifth, was about to befall the Belfiore
charge when yellow flew on lap 65. Time was up for the race at
that point and the checkered was thrown shortly thereafter. The
clock tolled midnight and end of the race. Justin Belfiore was
the certain winner, dominating much of the race while Joe Petro
and Jamie Timmons was called to the podium. Unfortunately they
were moved back a few spots after the recheck.
Petro said briefly not quite accepting a second place in victory
lane, "At the beginning of the race my car was really good and
at the end it was super loose. It was pushing. We didn't know
what to do at the break there so we just left it. We haven't run
the entire season this year and this is great."
Timmons wasn't really sure where he was either. "I'm not really
sure how I made it. We made some changes after the first yellow.
We put a different right rear on and tightened up the stagger.
Tonight wherever I finished – it's a good run. I have to thank
everyone who helped me out and everybody who's stayed with me
through the years. And my sponsors Red's Speed Shop, Woody's
Auto and Kinglsey Automotive. It's good to come back to the home
track where I used to run the small block and have a great run
in the Classic."
SUMMARY
ALL-STAR CLASSIC 150
Time Trials: Fastest time Chris
Perley 11.696.
Top twelve time trials inverted for start with next four in
line.
Perley, Lichty, Abold, Ordway Jr., Summers, Cicconi, Martel,
Timmons, McKennedy, Petro, Carpenter, Magner, Belfiore, Wood,
Lewis and McKnight, top 16.
Consi 1 (4 qualify): Mark Sammut,
Jeff Holbrook, John Payne, Bob Haynes Jr., Brandon Bellinger,
Billy Buyck, Kelly Miller
Consi 2 (3 qualify): Dave Trytek,
Vern Romanoski, Bentley Warren, RD Timmons, Larry Lehnert, Eric
Emhoff (dns) Timmons Jr. and Sanborn eliminated in warm-ups.
All-Star Classic 150 (shortened):
1. Justin Belfiore (8), 2. Jeff Holbrook (35),
3. Russ Wood (14), 4. Joe Petro (33), 5. Jamie Timmons (27),
6. Mike Ordway Jr. (10), 7. Vern Romanoski (5), 8. Dave Trytek
(70),
9, Bob Magner (40), 10. Bob Haynes Jr. (44), 11. Mark Sammut
(78),
12. Jon McKennedy (79), 13. Bentley Warren (71), 14. Robbie
Summers (97),
15. Jeff Abold (95), 16. Kyle Carpenter (76), 17. Mike Lichty
(84),
18. John Payne (67), 19. Chris Perley (11), 20. Dave McKnight
(94),
21. Lou Cicconi (75), 22. Scott Martel (88), 23. Larry Lehnert
(92),
24. Eric Lewis (28) |
