AFTON – Friday night, the racers at Afton Motorsports Park were greeted by a table top smooth racing surface and it produced the best racing of the year on ZMK Construction Night.

Steve Babicek used his upfront starting spot to full advantage along with his smooth track liking 2010 Teo Pro car to win the ZMK Construction Modified feature 30 lap feature over JR Hurlburt, Brett Tonkin, Mitch Gibbs, and 14th place starting Nick Nye.

The 30 lap Modified feature had Steve Babicek and Kenny Titus bring the field to green with Babicek taking the early lead over Brett Tonkin, JR Hurlburt, Darwin R. Greene and Titus.

However, the smooth racing surface led to plenty of passing early in the race with Mitch Gibbs moving into fifth on lap three.

With the help of a lap seven restart, Hurlburt was able to get under Tonkin to take over second position. He then applied the heavy pressure on Babicek for the lead while Gibbs got by Tonkin one lap following the restart, moving into third.

At the halfway point, three different racing battles kept everyone’s attention. Babicek and Hurlburt raced for the lead while Gibbs and Tonkin were competing hard for third and Titus, Andy Bachetti and Nick Nye – 14th place starter – all duked it out for fifth.

On the lap 18 restart, Bachetti was able to move into fifth. In front of the pack, Babicek opened up a small lead as it seemed the tires on the Hurlburt machine sealed over.

What once was many different contests for positions now became a five car race for the lead as Babicek was leading Hurlburt, Gibbs, Tonkin, and Bachetti with ten laps to go.

Tonkin passed Gibbs for third on lap 22 and immediately tested Hurlburt for second. Meanwhile, Gibbs was left to fend-off Bachetti for fifth, who had Nye all over him.

The frustrating season for Bachetti at Afton Motorsports Park cropped up once again as his engine expired with five laps to go, his car coming to a rolling stop in turn four.

Babicek led the last five laps unchallenged in his unsponsored car to claim the win over Hurlburt, Tonkin, Gibbs, and Nye.

The Chambers & O’Hara Open Sportsman 20 lap feature saw tight racing taking place until Bill Deckleman took the lead. Once in front, Deckleman pulled away for the win over Claude Hutchings, Jr., Craig Pope, Brandon Kuhn, and Don Hart, Jr.

The 20 lap Open Sportsman feature started with Craig Pope and Brandon Kuhn out in front. Pope jumped out to the lead over Kuhn, Dennis Clapperton, Tyler Hart and Bill Deckleman.

The racers showed off what they can do on a smooth race track as passing was plentiful throughout the early portions of the event. Clapperton took second from Kuhn on lap two, but Kuhn returned the favor just two laps later.

Deckleman moved into third by lap five with Claude Hutchings, Jr. moving into fifth on this lap.

The top four cars of Pope, Kuhn, Deckleman, and Hutchings were pulling away while Clapperton, Tyler Hart and Don Hart, Jr. all scrambled for fifth. The hard pursuit for fifth saw Clapperton and Tyler Hart come together on lap eight, bringing out the caution.

On the restart, Pope pulled out to a small lead while Deckleman slipped under Kuhn to take second, and Don Hart, Jr. moved into fifth.

Deckleman was glued to the bottom part of the smooth surface, helping home take the lead at the halfway point. It was on a Sunday afternoon drive on a Friday night for Deckleman as he opened up a huge gap within a lap of getting the lead.

Hutchings passed Kuhn for third on lap 12 and set sail after Pope, who was running second.

After several laps of trying and just two laps remaining, Hutchings was able to grab second from Pope. Eying the leader, Hutchings – the defending track champion – ran out of laps as Deckleman came in for the checkered flag

Butler Auto Sales Crate Sportsman 20 lap feature saw Corey Cormier race through the field, taking the win over Duane Knapp, Aaron Shelton, Gary Smith, and Blaine Klinger.

The 20 lap Crate Sportsman feature had Duane Knapp and Fred Christ battling for the lead early but Knapp was able to get out in front of Christ, Rob Loucks, Blaine Klinger, and AJ Digsby.

The moves were happening early and often in the race with Loucks moving into second by lap two as Corey Cormier moved into fourth at the same time.

Cormier was a driver on a mission, taking the third position in lap three. He then turned his attention to Loucks for second.

A lap eight restart allowed Cormier to motor into the lead over Knapp, Christ, Digsby, and Klinger. Once in front, Cormier meant business as he opened up a full straightaway lead in a matter of two laps.

Shelton was able to race into third by lap 12 with Christ, Klinger, Bobby Flood, and Smith all in tow.

The final yellow of the of the race came out on lap 15, setting up a five lap shootout.

Cormier was up to the task, easily captured the win over Knapp, Shelton, Smith, and Klinger.

For the fourth straight week, the Trophy Guy IMCA Modified feature belonged to James Cornell, winning the 20 lap feature over Gary Roberts, Jake Maynard, Beau Ballard, and Tyler Stoddard.

Roberts picked up the early lead over Maynard, Stoddard, Cornell, and Ballard.

However, Cornell wasted no time in showing just how hooked up his car is on the smooth Afton Motorsports Park track. Sliding into third on lap two, Cornell continued moving up the field. Taking only one lap to move into second, he turned his focus onto the leader. By lap six, Cornell powered around Roberts in turns three and four, grabbing the lead.