Jun 27, 2025 08:47 AM EDT

SOMETIMES ITS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE PREMIER DIVISION

Outlaw Speedway hosted a special Hobby Stock $2,200 to win Freedom 40 Lap Event complete with lap money and the drivers responded.

Over $2800 donated to local veterans.

Story by Kenny Shupp Jr.

(Dundee, NY) When Outlaw Speedway owner/promoter, Tyler Siri put his 2025 schedule of events together it included a Free Military and Police Night at the track on Friday, June 20, 2025.  

From the time the schedule was made public, 2024 NAPA Hobby Stock Track Champion, Jeredd Dennis, who is now in semi-retirement from driving immediately contacted Siri with the two collaborating on making the Freedom 40 Hobby Stock Special, just that something very special not just for the fans and drivers, but also for local retired and active men and women of the US Military.

Dennis, who is an employee of the Addison NAPA Auto Parts Store is also an American Veteran having served in the Marine Corps.

He is a proud American and very enthusiastic about our country and the men and women who have served and are currently serving.

It was his passion that drove him to set up a lap money fund for this unique 40 lap Hobby Stock feature, a first in the ten -year ownership of Siri at the popular Yates County Speedway.

A combination of picture-perfect weather along with Free General Admission to Military and Police found the 68 year old Dundee, NY facility packed to the rafters and with $2,200 on the line to win coupled with lap money it drew the attention not only of the Outlaw Speedway faithful, but drivers came from other venues like Land of Legends, Woodhull and Thunder Mountain Speedways.

Twenty-one machines total including the likes of such heavy weights as many times Outlaw and Land of Legends Track Champion, Marc Minutolo along with his Phelps, NY neighbor Frank Bubba Burnell.

Rich Sharpsteen made the tow from Waverly and current top Woodhull Raceway runner, Scott Brown came from Tioga, Pa.

The brother/sister act of Kaiden and Meadow Dgien of Addison made the call as well as class Rookie of the Year contender, Mike Stone who has a Mini Stock Track Title to his credit.

Burnell’s son, Frank made the tow from nearby Geneva and last season’s Outlaw Speedway Street Stock feature winner, Damon Decker of Afton returned as well only this time in a Hobby Stock.

Jeredd Dennis worked since March putting the lap money package together which included a $500 donation from track owner, Tyler Siri.

Most laps started at $40/ and it went up from there and what made the event unique was that on each lap, a driver and a local Military Veteran split the money for that lap. 

A few of the originally signed in competitors experienced problems in qualifying heats which were won by Decker, Jared Hill and Sharpsteen dropping the feature starting field to nineteen, but a solid field none the less.

At the drop of the opening green, Outlaw regular and track employee, Jered Hill jumped to a comfortable lead which he held through three yellow flags in the first nineteen circuits.

Throughout most of the event Hill was on cruise control and pulling away from the field and looked poised to run the table however, it was on lap twenty that third generation, Gorham speedster, Danny Kerrick moved around to secure the lead which he would never relinquish.

Many drivers including Marc Minutolo who eventually would finish second were concerned going into the event that attrition may be a contributing factor in the outcome, however drivers paced themselves nicely with over half the field taking the double checkered flags at the completion including former Outlaw Hobby Stock runner and now one of the top guns at Land of legends, Frank Budda Burnell who still knows his way around the Fast 4/10 of a Mile.

Only five cautions would slow the pace with the first coming on the opening lap and the last two cautions on laps thirty-seven and thirty-nine which set up plenty of drama between the lead trio of Kerrick, Mr. Smooth Marc Minutolo and Bubba Burnell.

Kerrick has not been at this game long and he was being chased by two of the best in the business with Minutolo and Burnell both having ions of experience, however once out in front Kerrick was not going to be denied the $2,200 payday.

“All week long by brother “Patrick and my dad both kept drilling it into my head that I had to stay patient.  Not to use up my stuff too early, to save the car for the final 20 laps and I did that.  I am sure Marc and Bubba were doing the same thing, but I was able to get out in front of them early in the event and that was the difference.

For the 22-year-old third generation driver, it keeps intact a long tradition of Kerrick Family members sitting in Outlaw Speedways Victory Lane.   

“My grandfather, Clair and my dad Bubby both ran full fendered classes and won back when it was Dundee Raceway or Black Rock. Roger Kerrick, Brad and Steve Ovens also had successes here. Dad moved onto 360 ESS Sprints and now he and my brother take care of getting the car ready for each race night.  Jimmy Grant also plays a huge part in chassis set- up so I am surrounded by an excellent group of guys that are truly knowledgeable.”

Danny Kerrick is focused on running a full season at Outlaw Speedway where he is currently second in the season long point battle just a few markers behind Marc Minutolo.

“We are going to run here each week and do some traveling later on.  We may occasionally change gears and run at Land of Legends.  This Dylan Potter Chassis runs extremely well here at Outlaw Speedway.”

Potter Chassis controlled four of the top five positions including those of Kerrick, Minutolo, Burnell, and the fourth-place machine of Mike Stone.

Overall Kerrick took home a total of $2350 for his efforts.

“I have not been racing all that long, but it was the most money I have ever won for sure, and I cannot thank Tyler Siri and Jeredd Dennis for putting this whole deal together not only for the drivers but also members of the US Military.  I have some family members who were in the Military, so it made it even more special.”

For second place finisher, Marc Minutolo he took everything in stride.  The veteran driver has been at this a long time and as he sat in his famous #25 machine in post tech inspection the man called Mr. Smooth did everything he could to pick up the “W”.

Starting alongside Kerrick in the fourth row, Minutolo paced himself early on, in fact he was passed by Burnell early in the event and was still outside the top five at the halfway mark.

However, during the last 20 laps he put the hammer down, repassed Burnell to take over third and by lap thirty just trailed Kerrick and Hill prior to Hill’s exit from the event on lap thirty-seven ending what would have been a Cinderella story.  

“I was right where I wanted to be, stated Minutolo as he sat in his machine in post-race tech as he spoke to his girlfriend, Jenn Sheppard.

I saved the tires and did not overextend the engine early on.  Danny drove a great race and a couple car lengths there at the end was as close as I could get to him.”

For Mr. Smooth it would mean an end to his 2025 Outlaw Speedway Hobby Stock domination having won all three previous point shows that have been run thus far, but he continues to lead the $2,000 to win point championship which concludes in late August.

“Cannot say enough about what Tyler did to promote this show and Jeredd Dennis did an outstanding job acquiring all the lap money and other donations.  We do not get many chances to have events of this magnitude in front of what was a great turnout of fans.  We got second, making a lot of money.

For third place finisher, Frank Bubba Burnell it was a much better night than a year ago when he opened the 2024 season going end over end down the back straight away.

“I was coming out of turn two and hit the wall and just started flipping about 5-6 times.  It was good to come back this year and have a good run.  The car was awful in hot laps, and I just wanted to load it up and go home, but the guys kept working on it and made it better for the heat and even better for the feature.  Between me and my son we walked out of there with some good money between the two cars, so I am happy with that.  We will have to see how it goes the rest of the season, we may be back, but I am so busy with work it makes it tough on Fridays, so we just mainly stick to Land of Legends.”  That is according to third place finisher Frank Burnell.

“I do not know what Danny had going on, but he had excellent drive coming off the corners.  Danny, Marc and I were all running about the same speed in the same groove, but he was just a little better.”

Like the top two place finishers, Burnell too applauded the efforts of Tyler Siri and Jeredd Dennis in putting the event together.

“Never put a dent in the car, never hurt the tires and went home with purse and lap money.  It was a good night!”

For the record Jeredd Dennis paid out just under $3000 to local Veteran’s with Kerrick claiming $2,200 in purse money for the win.  Minutolo collected $700 plus lap money for second while Burnell took home$400 for third plus lap money.

Heat winners pocketed $50 each, two $100 bills went out to the drivers that towed the furthest.

Jered Hill claimed $250 for leading lap five and he also received the Hard Luck Award.

Wicked Tee’s donated $100 to the Hard Charger along with a handsome trophy.

IMAGEX Graphics presented the Big Check for Veteran’s.

 

It proved that with some effort and passion a big event for entry level divisions is possible.  It is not always about the Modified and other upper tier classes.