Weedsport Speedway’s Empire State Challenge Weekend kicked off on Saturday evening with Mike Welch scoring the weekend’s first victory in the Empire Street Stock division. Welch’s win was worth a cool $1,000 as part of the Hall of Fame 100, presented by Ryan Phelps Auto Sales & Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast.
Brandon Sherwood and Welch started the 30-lap main event from the front row, with Welch immediately grabbing the top spot. As Welch began to pull away, it was Marc Minutolo putting himself in position early on. Minutolo, who won the last Street Stock event at Weedsport in September, quickly surged to the second position and appeared poised to battle Welch for the lead toward the midway portion of the event.
However, as the laps wore on, Welch proved to be too strong in his familiar No. 00, as he raced away to the victory. Luke Boom would eventually pour it on late in the event to take the second spot over Minutolo, Sherwood and CJ Guererri in the top five spots.
Bryon Dewitt, John Zimmerman, Mike Fellows, Hanna Guererri-Searles and Todd Koegel would complete the event in the top ten.
The night’s heat races were captured by Sherwood and Minutolo.
Empire Street Stock Feature Finish (30-laps): 1. 00 – MIKE WELCH, 2. bOOm – Luke Boom, 3. 25B – Marc Minutolo, 4. 87 – Brandon Sherwood, 5. CJ1 – CJ Guererri, 6. 34 – Bryon Dewitt, 7. 0 – John Zimmerman, 8. 63 – Mike Fellows, 9. 1 – Hanna Guererri-Searles, 10. 22 – Todd Koegel, 11. 62R – Todd Stives, 12. 00L – Damien Long, 13. 93 – Jared Hill