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FULTON, NY – It took a little bit of time, but Pat Ward finally has a reason to smile.
The veteran driver of Genoa, N.Y. reached victory lane for the first time in 2007 on Tuesday night after he conquered the opening round of the Victoria 200 Rules Mini-Series at the Fulton Speedway.
Ward took the lead just before the halfway point of the caution free 35-lap race and pocketed the $2,000 winner’s prize.
“That was a lot fun,” said Ward with a grin after the event. “That was a fun race to drive and it’s great to see both Gypsum cars running strong tonight.”
“I’ve had a really fast car all year I’ve just come up short a few times. Tonight I almost didn’t have enough but I got a little luck for a change.”
Matt Sheppard, of Waterloo, N.Y., took the race lead from his pole-starting position at the drop of the green and pulled away from the field early.
On lap 5, Ward moved into the runner-up position after starting third. He then began to chase down Sheppard who had amassed a half-straightaway advantage.
With Sheppard in lapped traffic by lap 8, Ward was able to close in and stalk the race leader as the pair dueled in and out of slower traffic at the tail of the field.
Ward made several attempts to get by but it wasn’t until lap 17 when he was able to accomplish the pass for the top spot. Ward got excellent traction on the inside of turn four and drove by Sheppard as he struggled to find enough bite on the topside to hold him off.
“I was really good down low,” stated Ward. “He (Sheppard) got caught up on the outside and my car drove really well off the corner.”
Once the leader, Ward opened up a huge advantage over his teammate, Billy Decker. Decker secured the runner-up position on lap 21 and tried to close the half track advantage Ward had secured.
With ten laps remaining, Ward began having problems aboard his Enders powered Bicknell. Ward lost the brakes allowing Decker to close in rapidly and make a challenge for the lead on the last lap.
As the pair raced into the final turn, Ward’s car pushed up the speedway while Decker dove to the inside. When they got to the line it was Ward by .059 seconds over his teammate.
“When I lost the brakes I knew I was in trouble,” said Ward. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to hang on. Every time I went into the corner I just threw the car sideways as hard as I could and hit the gas. That was all I could do to get the car to turn.”
Decker came up one spot short to his teammate Ward but was satisfied with run after not having the luxury of a caution to close the gap.
“I just couldn’t get to him (Ward) in time,” said Decker. “If he doesn’t have problems I’m not going to get to him.
“He had a fast car and my car didn’t start to get good until about lap ten into the race.”
Decker, of Sidney, N.Y., made it interesting on the final lap as he attempted to get Ward. He dove low and almost snuck by for the win.
“I knew he was going to the outside,” commented Decker. “I went into the middle and was trying to get enough of a run to get him off of four. I just didn’t have enough time.”
After leading early in the event, Sheppard was forced to settle for a third place finish with his Randy Ross owned ride.
“We went with the wrong tires,” stated Sheppard, who opted for the American Racer tires. “The car was good for about six laps and then I knew I was in trouble.”
Alan Johnson of Phelps, N.Y., finished in fourth and Baldwinsville, N.Y. driver, Jimmy Phelps, completed the top five.
In other action, Dan Williams continued his dominance in the ESDCA Mod-Lite division with a win in the 20-lap feature; Dan Williams Jr. won the 15-lap UMP Street Stock feature; Mark Johnston won the 4-Cylinder Enduro.
Fulton Facts
Heat races for the 27 cars in attendance were won by Sheppard, Bobby Varin and Ward while Jeremy Smith won the consolation event.
Varin was running inside the top ten when a motor let go in his no. 93.
Everyone inside the top five utilized Hoosier DIRT Soft tires except for Sheppard.
VICTORIA MINI-SERIES MODIFIEDS (35 LAPS) - PAT WARD, Billy Decker, Matt Sheppard, Alan Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Danny Johnson, Kevin Bates, Ryan Phelps, Mitch Gibbs, Steve Hulsizer, Robert King, Scott Prentice, Sean Beardsley, Tim Sears, Tom Sears, Jr., Jeremy Smith, John Ramsey, Chad Phelps, Bob Henry, Jr., Kyle Lewis, Billy Shantel, Jr., Bobby Varin, Wade Decker, Mike Bowman, Darwin Greene, Jim Mahaney.
UMP STREET STOCKS ( 20 LAPS) - DAN HOFFMAN SR., Ron Hawker, Joe Briere, Kurt Decker, Nathan Peckham, Steve Woodworth, Gary Barton, Dan Hoffman, Jr., Jim Wallace, Mike Watkins, Joe Buske, Josh Blackwell, Matt Henderson, Darl Ellis, Adam Guilds, Chuck Cushman, Jr., Dave Marcuccilli, Dave Emmons, Doug Smith, Jay McGillicuddy (DQ)
ESDCA MOD LITES (20 LAPS) - DAN WILLIAMS, Doug Williams, Lowell Zehr, Ken Gamlen, Rich Rainville, Mike Isabell, Dave Trytek, Jeff Barker, Luke Lonergan, Rocco Leone, Justin Crisafulli, Mike Virginia, Chuck DeMott, Matt Rainville, Tim Devendorf, Jeff Williams, Tod Simons, Kelly Skinner, Brenda Rice, Keith Hotchkiss, Sam Morse, Lisa Thomas, Jeff Blackburn, Joe Gwilt, Jamie King, John Byrnes, Lorrie Herbert, Mike Mullen, Kevin Doll.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO (25 LAPS, Top 5 Listed) - MARK JOHNSTON, Josh Herbert, Charles DeGroff, Jerry Herbert, Marjorie Wallace.
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