FULTONVILLE – The month of April was good to Stewart Friesen as he posted victories at The Ridge, Fonda Speedway and Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
Friday night, he kicked off the first racing weekend of May by picking up the victory in the 35-lap modified feature at The Ridge.
Also scoring victories were Rob VanAernam (street stock), Rocky Warner (sportsman), Kerrie Hollenbeck (cruiser) and Mike Jackson (rookie sportsman).
Bob Vedder made the most of his front row starting spot to gain control of the modified feature at the drop of the green.
Vedder held off Jeremy Wilder for the first five circuits before Wilder got past on the outside exiting turn four to lead lap six.
Friesen had already picked his way into third with JaMike Sowle and Erik Nelson completing the top five when the caution flew on lap eight after Danny Varin and Jim Becker came together in turn four.
Friesen wasted little time as he bolted from third to the lead on lap nine. Bobby Varin took advantage of the restart to move into contention, settling into third behind Wilder on lap 10.
Varin picked his spot as the front runners encountered lapped traffic, getting under Wilder on lap 21, leaving Wilder to battle with Jackie Brown for third.
By the time Varin broke free, Friesen had built a half-track lead. Brown drove into third, but could not shake Wilder and Sowle. The trio raced in tight quarters until the final lap when contact forced Brown high in turn four, allowing Wilder and Sowle to get by, and cross under the checkers in third and fourth well behind Friesen, who was closing in on the group when the checkers fell.
Varin finished second and after a post-race review, Brown was awarded third, with Wilder fourth and Sowle fifth. Craig Hanson, Nelson, Jim Becker, Justin Boehler and Richie Price completed the top 10.
Curtis Hohensheldt and Chris Schaffer brought the sportsman feature to the green with Hohensheldt holding off Schaffer to lead lap one.
Schaffer took over the point on the second circuit and was in front when a multi-car pile-up ensued when Fred Muhlberger and Tony Farone made contact in a three-wide situation with Warner on the outside in turn four while battling for third.
When the track was cleared three of the 10 cars involved, Farone, Greg and Brian Pessolano, went pitside.
Warner bolted into the lead on the restart, pulling Chad Edwards and Adam McAuliffe with him.
Edwards was able to get to Warner’s rear quarter panel but could not take advantage of the traffic before the caution flew with five laps remaining.
With a clear track in front of him, Warner was able to break away from Edwards to collect his second straight feature win. Edwards was second, followed by McAuliffe and Schaffer.
