Andrews Captures Craig Norton Late Model Reunion at Woodhull
(Woodhull, NY) The Northern Tier Inc. United Late Model Series invaded the high bank 1/3 mile oval of Woodhull Raceway for the 17th annual Craig Norton Late Model Reunion Memorial. It had been over five years since Todd Andrews last raced at Woodhull,but the ULMS point leader remembered the fast way around Vern Wasson’s joint to capture the $2400 first place prize and $5400 total for the weekend in a pair of ULMS wins.
The top two Northern Tier Inc. ULMS point cars of Andrews and Bump Hedman paced the field for the 30 lap 17th annual Craig Norton Late Model Reunion Memorial presented by R&R Motorsports by virtue of their Andrews Auto Salvage Dash victories.
Hedman would get the initial jump on Andrews but the black#42 Rayburn chassis machine of Andrews would charge out of turn two into the lead. The yellow lights would come on as lap one was completed for Matt Cochran’s spin in turn 3. Andrews again shot into the lead over Hedman on the restart. Hedman would get real loose and would get drop kicked to fifth as Jeff Hoffman, Jason Dupont and Bob Close would all get by Hedman. Hedman would keep sliding backwards as Milton, PA driver, Bobby Stokes moved into the fifth position and Brent Rhebergan sent Hedman back to seventh a lap later. Close the four time defending Woodhull Late Model winner and defending two-time ULMS champion started to move to the front as he got by Dupont on lap seven as they came out of turn two. Andrews had opened up a three quarter straightaway lead over Hoffman as the black #42 was already in lap traffic. Lap eleven would see the #07Rof Rhebergan got to the top of the track to get by a pair of lap cars and the fifth place car of Stokes.
Andrews still had a comfortable lead as Hoffman, Close,Dupont were duke-ing it out for second and they had no idea that Rhebergan was on the charge on the top side of the track as the halfway point clicked off the board. Lap seventeen would see the second caution of the event as second place running Jeff Hoffman came to a stop on the backstretch with a apparent blown motor ending his fine run he had going. With the event past the halfway mark, the field restarted single file and again Andrews put his right foot down as his fellow Eldred, PA competitor, Close was on his bumper running the low line with Dupont and Rhebergan running the top behind the Eldred drivers. With ten to go, Rhebergan took his 07R Rocket chassis to the extreme top of the track to get around Dupont for third and set his eyes on Andrews and Close. The very next lap, Rhebergan swooped around Close and took second as the fans had taken notice of the fast charging Clymer, NY driver. Andrews had a half of a straight-away lead over Rhebergan with eight to go as Rhebergan continued to run the extreme high groove against the cushion and began reeling in the leader. With four to go, Rhebergan closed within three car lengths but over charged the first corner as Andrews opened his lead up to ten car lengths. It appeared it was over, but Rhebergan was determined to keep the fans interest and again he used the extreme top groove to close back in on Andrews as the white flag waved he was three car lengths behind Andrews. With Andrews running the extreme bottom and Rhebergan on the extreme top the duo charged down the back stretch and the lead was down to two car lengths as Andrews shot out of turn four, Rhebergan rocketed out of the corner as well to bring the fans to their feet only to get nipped by five feet. Close saw his four straight Woodhull wins treak snapped but came home a solid third behind Andrews and Rhebergan. Dupont was fourth followed by Bobby Stokes,Hedman, Nick Loffredo, Al Brewer, Chad Hollenbeck and Harry Miller rounded out the top ten.
In victory lane, Andrews thanked his crew for their fine work as they changed cars after hot laps. The thought process was the winning machine would be a better suited for the track conditions after the rain shower that hit the track around 6PM. Obviously it was right decision as Todd Andrews went home with $2400 in his pocket and a total $5400 in the two ULMS events over the weekend. With the Woodhull event being a double points event on the ULMS schedule, Andrews has a very comfortable lead heading into the final three events of the year.
Jeff Hoffman won the four lap Maple City Dodge Race of Champions Dash for the past winners of this annual event. The four car dash saw Bob Close, Al Brewer,Andrews and Hoffman starting the event in that order. Hoffman won the RoC Dash over Andrews, Close and Brewer.
The Northern Tier Inc. ULMS late models will be off till September 26-27 when they return to McKean County Raceway for the $12,000 Fall Classic weekend before ending the year at Mercer Raceway Park the following weekend.
CRAIG NORTON Late Model REUNION MEMORIAL:
TODD ANDREWS, Brent Rhebergan, Bob Close, Jason Dupont,Bobby Stokes, Bump Hedman, Nick Loffredo, Al Brewer, Chad Hollenbeck, Harry Miller, Matt Cochran, Eric Matthews, Jeff Hoffman, George Fultz, Jake Shady, Rick Leonard, Jeremy Randall and Luke Hoffner (DNS)
NORTHERN TIER Incorporated Heat #1:
Jake Shady, Al Brewer, Bobby Stokes, Chad Hollenbeck, Rick Leonard, Eric Matthews
CLOSE RACING SUPPLY – GRT Race Cars #2:
Luke Hoffner, Brent Rhebergan, Todd Andrews, Bump Hedman, Nick Loffredo, Matt Cochran
COUSINS DESIGNS Heat #3:
Jeff Hoffman, Harry Miller, Bob Close, Jason Dupont, GeorgeFultz, Jeremy Randall.
ANDREWS AUTO SALVAGE Dash#1:
Todd Andrews, Jason Dupont, Brent Rhebergan, Bob Close, ChadHollenbeck, Bobby Stokes
ANDREWS AUTO SALVAGE Dash#2
Bump Hedman, Jeff Hoffman, Harry Miller, Al Brewer, Jake Shady, Luke Hoffner
American Racer Tire – Lias Tire Award: Todd Andrews