Published: October 14, 2008 10:32 pm            

AUTO RACING: Rudolph wins at state fairgrounds

SYRACUSE — Putting an exclamation point on an already remarkable season behind the wheel, Ransomville’s Erick Rudolph drove past the field last weekend to win the Super DIRT Week XXXVII at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Rudolph, 16, a junior at Wilson High School who only recently obtained his motor vehicle driver’s license, took on his latest challenge with determination and once again proved more than equal to the test.

Driving a DIRTsportsman owned and maintained by veteran Ransomville racer and flagman Jipp Ortiz for the first time and driving in his first-ever race on the tricky one-mile Syracuse dirt oval, Rudolph dominated the event and won by a comfortable margin.

In a coming of age season in 2008, Rudolph has also conquered Dun Tire Raceway Park — the former Lancaster Speedway. This past season, Rudolph, the son of legendary driver Charlie Rudolph, won twin track championships at Dunn Tire Raceway.

This weekend, he concludes his rookie season on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, in perhaps his most notable feat to date.

The World Series of Speedway Racing at Thompson International Speedway will close out the asphalt racing season in the Northeast. This three-day event, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, features 14 divisions. The highlight is the NASCAR Modified Tour finale, a 150-lap race on Sunday afternoon that will decide the Tour Championship.

Rudolph and Lockport’s DeLange Racing Team have compiled an outstanding list of accomplishments while racing against the best drivers in the NASCAR Modified division.

In eight Whelen Tour starts, the talented teenager has been named the Sunoco “Rookie of the Race” five times. He has recorded four top-ten finishes, including his last three Tour races, topped off by a career-best sixth place finish at Chemung Speedrome on Oct. 4.

Team owner Dave DeLange recently acknowledged his team’s record of achievement met all his expectations while preparing them for future success.

“We knew heading into the 2008 season we had a lot to learn as a team in order to be competitive on such a high level,” DeLange said.

“We gained experience at each Tour race and our history of success reflects our growth. We accomplished our goals for the year and have developed to the point where we can be capable of winning races in the future.”

        

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