June 21 PAT WARD BLITZES MODIFIED FIELD TO TAKE SECOND WIN OF SEASON VERNON, NY- Coming in to the night’s action this past Sunday, June 21, Pat Ward was looking to rekindle the magic from the 2008 season when he scored eight wins. At this point he had only one win, but he would change that on Mirabito Fuel Group and Robbie C’s Car Clinic night as he would dominate to take the $2,000 Modified victory. Starting 14th on the field when the green flag flew in the 30 lap Modified feature, Pat Ward served notice that he was a man on a mission. When the field was red flagged on the first circuit for a vicious three car flip in the front stretch involving the cars of Casey Williams, Dave Rauscher, and Brian Murphy, Ward was already up to the seventh position. When the green flag came out again, Ward was again on the charge and by lap four, he was in command after blasting by early leader Danny Varin. Ward was easily the class of the field as he opened a large margin over the field during the green flag stretches . 11th place starter Ronnie Johnson moved into the runner up spot by lap nine and was looking to track down Ward. With several cautions periods late in the event, Johnson would have chances to get Ward, but Ward was not to be denied on this night as he scored his second win of the season. Ward was chased by Johnson, Stewart Friesen, Willy Decker, and Bobby Varin in the top five spots. Filling out the top ten were Jack Johnson, Jamie Christian, John Ramsey, Alan Barker, and Todd Burley. During the Modified heat races, Ward broke the track record on three separate occasions with the final record ending at a quick 18.104 seconds. The record was only minutes old as Paul Kinney held it momentarily after breaking it in his heat. In Sportsman competition, 10th place starter Steve Way waited until lap 19 of 20 to make the winning pass which ended John DeForest’s bid for his first career win. The leader since lap 6, Deforest would hold on for second with Jason Rood, Mike Button, and Jeff Leslie trailing. Claude Hutchings Jr. led the first six laps until he spun, handing the lead over to DeForest. AJ Digsby charged from his fourth starting spot to the lead on lap two of the 20 lap Pro Stock main event, taking the point from lap one leader Jeff Pastorella. Digsby would lead the rest of the way, holding off Jim Normoyle, Bret Belden, Tom Denton, and Mark Effner to score his first win of the 2009 season. When the green flag dropped in the 15 lap Pure Stock main event, Ron Hawker drove his way from his 10th place starting spot to the lead, passing pole sitter Jim Richmond for the lead on the lap two. Frank Hyatt wasn’t about to let Hawker get away, and for several laps, the duo ran side by side for the win. With two to go, Hyatt slipped up in front of Hawker to score the victory. Hawker, Bill Mason, Chris Carr, and Chris Cunningham chased Hyatt across the finish line. This week at the “Action Track of the East” on June 28, it will be the first of two “Thunder on the Thruway” Dual Track Series events which will pay $5,000 to the winner of the 50 lap Modified special. Also, it will be a $700 to win Sportsman Best of Three Series plus Pro Stocks and Pure Stocks. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 5:30 p.m.