Afton, NY – Joey Colsten out-ran a star-studded field of Sportsman drivers to capture the Don’s Automotive Mall/Gary’s U-Pull-It Sportsman 20/20 Shootout Saturday at Afton Speedway.

Jim Howard and Greg Doust led the field to the green flag in first segment of the Don’s Automotive Mall/Gary’s U-Pull-It 20/20 Sportsman Shootout, with Howard in command early. On lap 4 Rodney Hart showed why he is among Afton’s winningest drivers, making the outside pass on Howard for the lead. Shawn Walker challenged Hart inside and out for the lead as the pair worked through lapped traffic, with Walker taking the lead until a lapped car slowed his momentum, and at the white flag of segment 1 the pair were side by side. The leaders made contact in turn 1, with Hart spinning and both cars restarting at the rear and Hart Logging teammate Don Hart, Jr in the lead. Don Hart, Jr Hart held the lead for the final lap, which was the lap 20 competition caution, earning him the lion’s share of the Hart Logging Halfway Challenge bonus. At the halfway point the top 6 were Don Hart, Jr, Jim Howard, Joey Colsten, Brad Alger, Jim Rockwell, and Nick Rachinski.

The unique 20/20 format found Gary’s U-Pull-It representative Ralph Jennings trackside, rolling a huge dice to decide how many positions would be inverted for the lap 20 restart. A big 6 came up, moving 6^th place runner Rachinski to the pole position for the restart.

Rachinski and Rothwell led the field to the green flag for the final segment, but Colsten struck like lightning on lap 21, charging under the two leaders and emerging on top. Brad Alger and Denny Smith both staged late-race charges, and when the final checkers flew it was the Don’s Recycler #151 of Colsten in Victory Lane followed by Alger, Rachinski, Rothwell, and Smith. Ladd Yeomens, Howard, Jeff Leslie, Michael Lartz, and Rodney Hart completed the top 10.

Harold Humphrey and Steven Deinhardt led the field to the green flag in the 30 lap MaineSource Food & Party Warehouse Pure Stock Showdown, with Deinhardt grabbing the lead in turn 1. That would be the pass for the lead as Deinhardt showed the speed and skill that earned him the 2007 championship at Thunder Mountain. Behind the leader the field battled 2 and 3 wide for position, and a lap 16 caution voided Deinhardt’s dominant lead and brought Earl Zimmer to his rear bumper. Deinhardt would never relinquish the lead and the final restart on lap 28 gave Zimmer his last change for the $500 payday, but when Sammy Rogers waved the checkers it was Deinhardt followed by Zimmer, Rob Loukes, Russ Marsden, Harold Humphrey and Tommy Eicklor.

David Smith led the Afton Speedy Pups to Sammy Rogers green flag and held the lead until a flat tire on lap 2 forced him to surrender the top spot to the side by side battle betwennBrian Bachus and Joel Austin.  Bachus held a slight edge over Austin with Nick Griest on their bumpers looking for daylight.  Austin soon edged ahead of Bachus for the lead while Bachus had his hands full with Greist’s challenge. At the checkers it was Austin capturing the win by just inches over Greist, with Dustin Wilbur, Bachus, and Josh Wilder completing the top 5. In Victory Lane an emotional Joel Austin dedicated his win to his late aunt, who suffered a fatal brain aneurism at the 2006 Afton SuperNationals, Austin’s first win at Afton Speedway.

The final race of the day found the #33K winning the Afton Big Dogs feature event followed by Mark Andrus, with Andrus declared the winner when it was learned that the #33K was a front wheel drive car.

Sportsman heat winners: Jim Howard, Greg Doust, Rodney Hart

Gary’s Used 4-Wheelers Dash for Cash winner: Rodney Hart

Gary’s Auto Service/Sherwood Racing Wheels Hard Charger: Nick Rachinski (16^th to 3^rd)

Sherwood Racing Wheels Hard Luck award: # 2T

Pure Stock heats winners: Denny Decker, Steven Deinhardt, Harold Humphrey

Xtremedirtracin.com Pure Stock Dash for Cash winner: Steven Deinhardt

Big Dog heat winner: Mark Andrus

Speedy Pup heat winners: David Smith, Joel Austin

Wyalusing Valley Speedway Youngest feature winner award ($25.00): Steven Deinhardt

Cool 100 FM Cool Move of the Race award: Joey Colsten

Ron Hills would like to thank Pat & Janet Jordan and Wally Smith for making the Spooktacular possible, along with special thanks to Sue Goodwin for raising more than $1200 in lap sponsorship money. Stay glued to Gater Racing News for an announcement regarding the 2008 racing season at Afton Speedway.