Press-Republican

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September 5, 2010

Dupree captures Airborne track title

SOUTH PLATTSBURGH — Patrick Dupree of Saranac Lake dominated the Charlie Trombly Memorial 50-lap main event and became the first two-time champion of the DIRTcar Modified era at Airborne Speedway Saturday.

Dupree started 13th in a 25-car field in the Saranac Country Store No. 24. He was eighth after the first of five cautions on lap six. On the second restart three laps later, Dupree gained five positions in one lap and set sail for leaders George Foley and Vince Quenneville.

"That was the best handling car I've had all year," Dupree said. "I knew George was strong and the 90 (Martin Roy) was back there and coming after me so I just went as fast as I could as long as I could."

Dupree took the lead on lap 17. Foley and Quenneville waged a door-to-door battle for second for the next 20 laps ahead of Andy Heywood and Greg Atkins as Roy advanced car by car to wind up third. Quenneville, Heywood and Atkins took spots 4-6. Todd Stone, Leon Gonyo, Mike Reyell and Chris Cayea were next in line. Foley, Atkins and Heywood won the heats. Roy, the 2009 champion, finished second in the point standings.

Dupree's win was his sixth of the season.

Dave Rabtoy drove to his first win of the season in the Versatile Trailer Sales Renegade feature that saw the point standings tighten even further heading into next Sunday's season finale. Joe Warren was the runner-up, a car-length ahead of Don Franklin. Lance Rabtoy and Chad Provost completed the top five. Kevin Boutin finished sixth, one spot better than point leader Lonnie Rivers. Rivers, the defending champion, unofficially takes a two-point lead into the final race.

Rick Doner of Ausable Forks clinched the NAPA Mini-Modified title by winning both the make-up feature from last week and this week's Freihofer/Adirondack Water Systems trophy dash. Jamie LaFountain, Justin Doner and Jim Collins finished 2-3-4 in the first feature. Justin Doner, Kris Clark and Speedy Bresette were 2-3-4 in feature number two.

Josh Durivage of West Chazy was named the Monster Energy Bomber winner after apparent 1st and 3rd drivers Bill Joyal and Scott Richner failed post-race tech inspection. Ed Pelkey moved up into second. Bill Desotell was third.

Robin Wood took the lead on lap 15 in the Sportsman feature and drove off to his sixth win, tops in the division. Tylor Terry and Buck Branham finished 2nd and 3rd.

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