Lebanon Valley Eve of Destruction Release from 6-22-04

EVE OF DESTRUCTION WOWS FANS WITH MOTORIZED MADNESS AT LEBANON VALLEY


June 24, 2004

West Lebanon, NY- A huge crowd was on hand to see the annual night of mechanized, motorized mayhem known as the Eve of Destruction last Tuesday night. A variety of novelty events were held along with Hot Rod the Clown and the daredevil stunt team of Crash Moreau and the Thrillmasters. The night saw a world record jump in a garbage truck. The Green Mamba Jet Car melted down a passenger car to nothing with its jet engine. The pure stocks were also on hand and ran a fifteen-lap feature that was won by Pete DeFiglio in amazing fashion. A special thanks to CARQUEST and HEAVY HAULER for making the Eve of Destruction a reality. 

The first event to hit the track was the pure stock feature, which was only an exhibition race, not a point race. Pete DeFiglio started the race deep in the pack but by lap three was already up to third position. DeFiglio took the lead going down the frontstretch as the lap counter read lap six. He was promptly spun out as the cars reached the first turn and showed some serious sheet metal damage to his racer. DeFiglio had to pit twice to get the sheet metal cleared away and restarted back in 15th. It looked like DeFiglio's chances of a victory were long gone, or were they? DeFiglio quietly worked his way back into the top five with two laps remaining. DeFiglio made his move with two laps to go as the front runners drifted high in turn four. That was all he needed as he passed three cars in turn four to take the lead. He was able to hold on for the final lap and cruised home for his fifth victory of the season.

"It was dangerous for us to come out here tonight, with no points and all. We didn't want to risk hurting the car for Saturday night, but there was money on the line and we wanted to win it for the American Heart Association." Many fans may not know but the DeFiglio-Barlow team is raising money for the AHA this season. Any money won at the track is donated to the AHA. Plus the crewmembers, sponsor's and friends all donate money every time DeFiglio goes to victory lane. So far this fundraising effort is one of the highest in the Capital District for the Association. CHOICE HEATING & COOLING, CARQUEST OF VALATIE, COVER YOUR ASSESTS BOOKKEEPING, OK FOOD PRODUCTS, BERKSHIRE PAINT, THOMA TIRE, MVP MOTORS, HEIMS FUEL, OK KENNY'S EXPRESS FOOD, NARZYNSKIS TOWING, LDM SALES & SERVICE and SPENCER TOWN COUNTRY HOUSE B&B all help DeFiglio with sponsorship. It is great to see a team doing something for a great cause. 

There were two 15-lap enduros on Tuesday night. The first was one by Bill McKann. The four-cylinder cars comprised the second enduro and Todd Goldstein won that race. The school bus race is definitely one of the highlights of the event. Todd Goldstein nearly rolled his bus on the opening lap. But came from dead last to win the 10-lap race for the second year in a row. Pro Stock regular Rob Yetman finished third despite the fact that his outer right rear team had shredded. Modified ace and 2004 feature winner, Wayne Jelley was also in the race with the "new" 2005 PMC chassis, but finished back in the pack. 

The rollover contest has one requirement and that is that you are completely nuts. You must take a car and see how many times you can roll it over on purpose? Ed Hatch was the winner of this event. 

The world record attempt for jumping a garbage truck was the most anticipated event of the night. "Wild" Al from the Thrillmasters stunt team strapped into the big rig and flew into history as he jumped over seventy-five feet in the truck. That shattered the previous mark of forty-two feet. 

A heavy rain shower came into the valley just as the trailer race was taking to the track. They will be rescheduled for a regular Saturday night show.

The demolition derby did conclude the night's activities and the winner of that event was Craig Westerfield.

Plans are already in place for next year's event. Stay tuned for details. There is plenty of great racing action every Saturday night at Lebanon Valley Speedway. We are located twenty minutes east of Albany, NY on US RT 20 in West Lebanon, NY. Check out or web site at www.lebanonvalley.com for schedule information or call the speedway at (518) 794-9606 or (518) 794-9965 for info