Greg Belyea Battles to a Pair of Top Ten Finishes During Mohawk Nationals Weekend at Mohawk Raceway; Brighton Speedway Finale up Next

After back to back second place finishes for Greg Belyea and the Excel Tower Racing team at Brighton Speedway, including last week’s Great Crate Race, the team looked forward to a weekend on the road, as they traveled to Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, New York for the Mohawk Nationals Weekend. Friday night consisted of a non-points, 30 lap, $1000 to win event for the Go Nuclear Late Models, while Saturday’s program featured a 40 lap, $1500 to win, Richard Tenace Memorial event, also part of the Go Nuclear Late Model Series.

It was a slow start to the night on Friday, as Belyea finished his qualifier in the seventh position, and would start the 30 lap main event from the 20th starting position. After making steady progress throughout the race, Greg was up to 10th place as the hit lap 20 on the scoreboard. Over the final 10 laps, he gained two more positions to move to 8th place at the finish.

Saturday was a long day at the track for everyone as rain took over for most of the day. Mohawk Raceway track officials were determined to get the program in, and once the rain finally stopped they went to work getting the track back into shape. It was well after 10pm on Saturday night and the cars were finally on the track. Much like the previous night, Belyea had a bad draw at the gate, placing him fifth to start the heat race qualifier and an off track excursion caused Belyea to finish the race in eighth. In the 40 lap main event, Belyea would have to start from 22nd place, Belyea moved forward in the race quickly, and was inside the top 10 before the race reached the halfway point. Just 10 laps later, Belyea succeeded in his challenge for a top five position, and would continue to move forward taking over the third position as the race hit lap 36. Belyea went on to finish the race in third place.

Modified driver Brian “Slim” McDonald also drove an Excel Tower Racing Late Model on both nights of the Mohawk Nationals Weekend. Brian learned quickly about Late Model racing and although he didn’t get the finish he wanted on Friday night, he proved he was fast. On Saturday night, McDonald had a great run, placing 9th in the 40 lap main event.

This coming weekend Greg Belyea will be back at Brighton Speedway as they conclude their 2014 season. Belyea will continue on with the Go Nuclear Late Model Series on October 3rd at Fulton Speedway, October 17th at Brockville Speedway and October 26th at Yates County Speedway.

For more information on Greg Belyea and the Excel Tower Racing Team, please visit our website, www.exceltowerracing.com. You will find updated news, results, schedule and information on Greg Belyea and his Late Model.

Greg Belyea Scores Second Place Finish in Great Crate Race at Brighton Speedway on Saturday Night

Going into this past weekend’s Great Crate Race at Brighton Speedway, Greg Belyea had just come off a second place finish the previous week, and he also finished second in the Great Crate Race the previous year. He was looking to finish one spot higher in 2014 as the biggest Crate Late Model event of the season returned to his home track.

The night started with a second place finish in the qualifier, placing him in the redraw for a top 12 starting spot in the 65 lap Great Crate Race main event. Belyea selected position number seven in the random draw, and fired from inside row four. Patience was the key early in the race, as Belyea held his position amongst the top ten with 25 lap on the board. A few laps later, Belyea found some magic on the top side of the track and after just a couple laps he was inside the top five and looking faster as the race progressed. A lap 48 caution slowed the field once again, and Belyea was riding in fifth place. The Delaware style restarts had Belyea starting on the outside lane, and when the race resumed after a couple quick caution periods, Belyea was now up to second and charging hard for the lead. With under 10 laps remaining he was able to power to the outside lane of the track and briefly grabbed the top spot. Lapped traffic played a role over the final few laps, as Belyea went on to record another second place finish in the Great Crate Race.

“The lapped car did nothing wrong, he was holding his line, and it just happened to be the line that I was running”, says Belyea afterwards. I wanted to win this race real bad, but that is part of racing, sometimes it works out, and other times not so much. We tried hard, came home with a car that wasn’t wrecked, we had fun and we got a second place finish to one of the best teams in our division. It was a good day”.

This coming weekend, Greg Belyea and the Excel Tower Racing team will hit the road to Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, New York. Belyea will race on Friday night in the 30 lap, $1000 to win race, and again on Saturday for the 40 lap, $1500 to win Richard Tenace Memorial. Modified competitor Brian “Slim” McDonald will also be behind the wheel of an Excel Tower Service Late Model for both nights.

For more information on Greg Belyea and the Excel Tower Racing Team, please visit our website, www.exceltowerracing.com. You will find updated news, results, schedule and information on Greg Belyea and his Late Model.

The 2014 season has been a trying one for Greg Belyea and the Excel Tower Racing team. They have had some good finishes, but they have had some frustrating moments along the way. Although one race won’t cure all, Greg Belyea and his team have been working hard, and are anxious for their biggest test of the season with the Great Crate Race IV taking place at Brighton Speedway this weekend.

Belyea came close to winning at Brighton Speedway this past weekend, with an untimely caution on the final lap of the race setting up a change of position once the race restarted. With a little momentum gained, Belyea hopes to carry that over to this weekend’s big event, which will be one of the richest paying Crate Late Model events in North America.

In the past three Great Crate Race events at Brighton Speedway, Belyea has had some taste of success, posting a second place finish in the inaugural event back in 2011. In 2012, it was a bit of struggle, but his 2nd car driven by Chuck Meyers went on to win the race. Last season, Belyea returned with another solid performance, placing second in the 3rd annual event. He will be looking to finish one spot higher in this Saturday’s 65 lap main event.

“This is a great weekend for our little track here in Brighton, and great for the Crate Late Model division”, says Belyea. “Hopefully we can get some great weather, and have a solid turnout of competitors in the pits and fans in the grandstands”.

Once the Great Crate Race is over, Belyea will move on to Mohawk International Raceway the following weekend with a pair of weekend events during the annual Mohawk Nationals. He will return to Brighton Speedway on Saturday, September 20th as they close out their 2014 season during Applefest Weekend.

For more information on Greg Belyea and the Excel Tower Racing Team, please visit our website, www.exceltowerracing.com. You will find updated news, results, schedule and information on Greg Belyea and his Late Model.