By Michael Benjamin
AFTON, N.Y. (May 13, 2023) – Eddie Sites had another race to remember on a night Friesen Performance IMCA Modified drivers remembered one of their own.
Sites took the lead early in Saturday’s Billy Ward Memorial at Afton Motorsports Park and never looked back, motoring to the $1,504 checkers in the inaugural NY-Penn Series event for the late long-time IMCA competitor.
Rick Watt and Jeff Cardinale started on the front row in the second race of the third annual tour, with Cardinale dropping to the back while dealing with an ill car and moving Shawn Bruce up to the outside pole.
All chaos broke loose with the field nearing the end of the first lap, with the first caution flying for an incident collecting Jake Maynard, heat two and dash for cash winner Brad Sites, newcomer J.T. Roe, Tyler Belcher and Lance Conley.
Watt and Bruce brought the field to the green for the restart. The 5s of Eddie Sites and the 17x of Rich Michael Jr. started on the second row and made quick work of the front two cars.
Sites took the lead and didn’t look back. Even with a few cautions throughout the event after the lap one melee, Sites held off every charge made by Michael as he tried to find any way possible around the leader.
Already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, Sites took the checkered flag and scored the $1,504 payday ahead of Michael. Brad Sites bounced back after that lap one accident to finish third. Tyler Stoddard and Jacob McConnell rounded out the top 5 five.
Ward’s son William scored the Force Flow Pressure Services hard charger award in his no. 4 machine, finishing sixth.
The tour win was Eddie Sites’ career seventh. He’d won six times, at four different venues, last year.
Next up for the NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series is the Saturday, May 20 show at Woodhull Raceway.
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