Chuck Hebing Claims Woodhull For Third Straight ASCS Patriot Opener

Rich Vleck, WOODHULL, NY (May 24, 2008)- Chuck Hebing spun and dropped a cylinder over the course of a wacky night at Woodhull, but for the second year in a row, “Cobra” put his potent ride in Victory Lane at the Highbanks.

Hebing moved around Bryan Howland on a lap seven restart and then held off the field in the closing laps with an aching motor to win the ASCS Patriot Season Opener for the third year in a row.

“I was just lucky to hang on, because with five laps to go I dropped a cylinder,” said the Ontario, NY driver.  “The restarts at the end sure made it interesting.

Hebing has been synonymous for winning both the dash and the feature on the same night, but under the new ASCS Patriot Format, doing both is now highly unlikely.  The defending series champion won the “Four Laps of Fame”, but that only meant he would start the first 25-lap A-Main of the season in ninth.  By the second lap he was up in to sixth and by the next lap he was up to fourth.  It appeared, as it was only a matter of time.

“Cobra” moved up so easily due in large part to the fact the he was the only competitor in the 22-car field that wanted to run the very top of the racetrack in the early stages.  After he had passed Howland for the lead, drivers realized it was time to move up the track, but the No. 45 was already well ahead.

When asked in Victory Lane how he was able to run the tricky topside, which spun many competitors throughout the night on the paperclip 1/3-mile, his response was simple, “I’m not scared.”

Hebing’s night started out precariously in his heat when he spun in turn three while slowing down for a caution.  He would restart ninth and race back up to third, keeping his chances alive.

He maintained a 1.5 second lead for the midsection of the feature, but things began to change when his motor went sour.

After a caution on lap 22 for National Parts Peddler Heat 1 Winner Bobby Breen spinning out of fifth place in turn two, Bryan Howland had one more crack at his arch nemesis.  Howland would reel in Hebing, who was down on pour, pulling even coming out of turn four back to the Checkered Flag, but would fall just one car length short of his first win in two years.  Howland won NPP Heat 2 from the sixth starting spot.

Jeff VanDusen had a quiet but solid performance, battling with Jeff Cook for a majority of the feature, outlasting him for third.  Cook, who won the final NPP Heat after starting in the third row, came home in fourth.

Justin Barger folded up his front end in the “Four Laps of Fame”, slating him 14^th in the feature.  He would end up with the KSE Hard Charger though, as he would move up to round out the top five.

Tim Kelly was consistent through the feature, starting sixth and finishing there as well.  Lance Yonge came home in seventh with Jared Zimbardi, Blake Breen and Dave Wickham completing the top-10.  Hebing left just 11 cars on the lead lap at the completion of the 25-lap feature.

A total of 27 cars were in competition at the high-banked Woodhull Raceway.  This event was a rain date for the postponed event a week earlier.  Nine new competitors were on hand, including four of the top-10 finishers.

For more information visit www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.

ASCS Patriots Results: 5/24/08, Woodhull Raceway, Woodhull, NY.

A-Main (25 Laps)- 1. Chuck Hebing (45), 2. Bryan Howland (51), 3. Jeff VanDusen (56), 4. Jeff Cook (10), 5. Justin Barger (32), 6. Tim Kelly (12), 7. Lance Yonge (17J), 8. Jared Zimbardi (35), 9. Blake Breen (8), 10. Dave Wickham (80), 11. Bobby Breen (9), 12. Mike Stelter (36), 13. George Suprick (87), 14. Jimmy Broderick (5), 15. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 16. Daniel Lampron (52L), 17. Gary Troutman (44), 18. Ray Preston (22), 19. Howard Singer (26), 20. Don Adamczyk (21), 21. Chris Weiss (29), 22. Derek Jonathan (81).

Lap Leaders- Howland 1-6, Hebing 7-25

Woodhull Raceway Four Laps of Fame Dash (4 Laps)- 1. Chuck Hebing (45), 2. Lance Yonge (17J), 3. Jared Zimbardi (35), 4. Chris Weiss (29), 5. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 6. Justin Barger (32).

National Parts Peddler Heats (8 Laps Each)-

Race 1: 1. Bobby Breen (9), 2. Blake Breen (8), 3. Chuck Hebing (45), 4. Lance Yonge (17J), 5. Jared Zimbardi (35), 6. George Suprick (87), 7. Daniel Lampron (52L), 8. Joe August Jr. (44a), 9. T.J. Newton (57).

Race 2: 1. Bryan Howland (51), 2. Jeff VanDusen (56), 3. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 4. Derek Jonathan (81), 5. Chris Weiss (29), 6. Mike Stelter (36), 7. Robbie Shuttleworth (11), 8. Gary Troutman (44), 9. Don Adamczyk (21).

Race 3: 1. Ray Preston (22), 2. Dave Wickham (10), 3. Tim Kelly (12), 4. Justin Barger (32), 5. Howard Singer (26), 6. Jimmy Broderick (5), 7. Jeremy Barnard (86), 8. Ray Preston (22), 9. Bruce Dewick (22d).

Contingency Awards-

Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing Sealing the Deal Award- Hebing.

Saldana Racing Products Half Way Leader- Hebing

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger of the Night- Barger (+9)

Engler Machine and Tool Pole Award- Wickham

Keizer Aluminum Wheels Passing Points Award- Howland

Kinser Air Filters Hard Luck Award- Jonathan

ISC Racer’s Tape Keeping Things Rolling Award- Dewick, Jonathan, Broderick

DMI Rear End Award- Barnard

VMAC Fast Lap Award- Suprick (14.06)

Randy’s Racing Filters Filter Through the Pack Award- Lampron

The Brake Man Tough Brake Award- Bo. Breen

M&W Aluminum Products Top-5 Award-  Cook

Ultra-Shield Race Products Top-10 Award- Zimbardi

Rod End Supply 20^th Anniversary Award- Singer