MOM at OVRP

Cottone and Morrison claim M.O.M. 2008 Finale
8/23/08

Cuddebackville, NY - Saturday, August 23rd the Modified Outlaw Micro Stocks (M.O.M.) closed out their 2008 points season at The Dirt Oval at Oakland Valley Raceway Park. The group had competed at Oakland Valley once earlier this season with Tom’s River NJ driver “Uncle” Nick Cottone dominating the day to win on his 71st birthday. Cottone was the favorite to win again and he didn’t disappoint, winning both heat races to put his self owned #5 on the pole for the start of the feature. Flanking Cottone for the start was Andy Hiddemen, who was having his best night of the 2008 season.

At the start Hiddemen got a nose out ahead of Cottone, and the duo ran that way for two laps with Hiddemen scored as the leader. Cottone used the inside groove to eventually claim the lead, followed by Hiddemen and Brian Braddock. The action slowed briefly for a lap six caution, but all cars were able to continue. Tom Ervin, who had started in tenth position re-started in fourth and took advantage of the opportunity by moving into 2nd behind Cottone. Braddock also used the re-start to get by Hiddemen for third, and the top four began to pull away from the rest of the field.

At the half-way mark Cottone had trouble with lapped traffic, opening the door for Ervin to take the lead. On three laps later Cottone managed to get the nose of his #5 under Ervin and the two raced side-by-side into turn three. Both cars drifted up the track in the middle of the turn, and Cottone re-took the lead from Ervin with Braddock following him through to claim second. The very next lap Harry Ladlee Sr. took fifth position from Jim VanDine. Cottone stretched out the lead to the checkers for his second win of the 2008 season, followed by Braddock, Ervin, Hiddemen, and Ladlee. Terri Morrison crossed the line in 10th position overall in her first visit to the track but was awarded the Controll ed Sto ck win as the highest finisher running a Controlled Stock engine against the Modifieds.

Finishing order – Cottone, Braddock, Ervin, A. Hiddemen, Ladlee, VanDine, Dennis Hiddemen, Walt Morrison, Jean Hiddemen, Terri Morrison, Richie Price

This ended the 2008 points season for the Modified Outlaw Micro Stocks. The unofficial results have Tom Ervin first in points with 4 feature wins, Brian Braddock in second with 1 feature event win, and Dennis Hiddemen in third.

While the regular season is over for the 2008 season, M.O.M. participants plan to compete in the annual “Money Race” at Snydersville Speedway on September 12th.

Race Report prepared by
Tom Ervin
M.O.M. Publicist
“I write ‘em no matter who wins!”