|
FULTON, NY - Jimmy Phelps out of Baldwinsville used a power move coming out of turn four on the last lap to get by Alan Johnson to win Saturday night's 35-lap DIRTcar, Modified feature at Fulton Speedway on Syracuse.com Night. The first win of the 2007 season for Phelps, who charged from the seventeenth starting position, was worth $1,500. Other winners were Sammy Reakes, IV DIRTcar Sportsman, Billy Clark, DIRTcar Pro Stocks, Gary Barton UMP Street Stocks, Tim Sears, Jr. Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman and Mark Johnston Four Cylinder Enduro.
Rookie Mike Bowman led the Modified feature down to the starters green to take the lead in the 35 lap sprint. Immediately the improving rookie was able to open up a big advantage over 2nd place runner Jeremy Smith as the pair rapidly caught the back of the field and lapped traffic. Smith tried to use the lapped traffic to his advantage and reel in Bowman, but he showed the poise of a veteran and maintained the lead.
The yellow flew on lap 17 for a slowing Chad Phelps who went to the pits and was able to return on the lead lap. The last double file restart put Jeremy Smith side by side with Bowman for his best shot to get by for the lead. Once again Bowman was able to grab the lead as the field reached the halfway point. As everyone was watching the race for the lead, Alan Johnson who started 16th was making his charge to the front. On lap 19 Johnson moved into 2nd place and took off after the leader. Johnson, using his familiar bottom groove, was able to get by Bowman on lap 22 and looked to be heading to his second win on the weekend.
While everyone thought Johnson was heading for a certain victory, Jimmy Phelps had his car on rails. With the final laps clicking off Phelps tried every trick in the books to get by Johnson. As the two came down for the last lap the pair went into turn one almost even. Going down the back straight and into turn three Johnson held a slim lead running the bottom of the speedway. With the checkers in sight, Phelps ran his car as hard as he could to the top side of the track pulling even with Johnson. As the two exited turn four Phelps was able to power around Johnson and grab the win.
Phelps parked his family owned, J&B INSTALLATIONS, Troyer, No.99j in victory lane with apparent overheating and water coming out of the car. "Early in the race the car just didn't work, it didn't want to turn," said Phelps about early in the race. He also related as the race went on the track came to him and he was able to move to the front. "I had to use every inch of the track tonight to get to the front and catch Alan." Phelps finished up by saying about his last lap pass for the win, "Coming down the back stretch I saw where Alan made a commitment to go. I drove it in as hard as I could to the top side and hoped it stuck, and it did."
Alan Johnson held on for second, followed by Roy Bresnahan, Tom Sears, Jr. and Kevin Bates. Thirteen cars finished on the lead lap.
In the 20 lap Sportsman feature Dave Reilley and Sammy Reakes IV had an early battle running side by side before Reakes grabbed the lead and began to pull away. Reilley was able to maintain second with last week’s winner Shawn Donath moving to the front from his eleventh starting spot to make a threat for the win. Despite the yellow flag periods and restarts each time Reakes was able to pull away and score the win in convincing fashion. " Usually our car doesn’t like tracks like tonight," Tacky, " The crew gave me a great setup and the car worked no matter where I put it," said Reakes about his win. It was win number two on the year for the Whittaker Trophy Auto Sales No. 17k. Shawn Donath, Chris Hile, and Jeremy Pitcher completed the top five.
As it has been seen so far in 2007 Billy Clark and Jason Parkhurst found themselves battling for the win. On this night Clark gave himself a birthday present by out running Parkhust and grabbing the win. It was Clark’s second win of the season in the DIRTcar Pro Stocks. Jason Parkhurst now leads Clark by two points in the standings. Third was Rob Seavy, followed by Dave Briggs and Jim Evans.
History was made tonight in UMP Street Stocks. After many years of trying and numerous top five finishes Gary Barton was able to bring home his very first win. The win was anything but easy for Barton, he held of repeated challenges from Joe Briere and Ron Hawker throughout the entire 20 lap distance. “Man this was a longtime coming after a bunch of second, third, fourth and fifth place finishes over the years," said a relieved Barton. Hawker was second, followed by Briere, Dan Hofmann Sr, and Nick Rizzo.
In the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman class for beginners Timmy Sears Jr. had a 15-lap race long fight with Laslow Howefeld to grab his first ever career win. The class keeps improving and so do the car counts as 10 cars took the green in the feature only event. Brad Godshalk, Chris Knight, Early Rudy, and Katelyn Kate completed the top five.
Mark Johnston won his second consecutive 25-lap 4-Cylinder Enduro feature over Kevin Hendrix, Josh Herbert, Jerry Herbert, and Eric Zirbel.
Coming up this Saturday June 2nd at Fulton Speedway is the IMCA Modifieds, ESDCA Mod Lites, DIRT Pro Stocks, Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, Street Stock June Jam, and a 4-Cylinder Enduro. Race time is set for 7pm. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 593-6531 or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.
PIT NOTES - Car counts kept improving in the Modifieds, tonight 32 cars signed in with 26 Sportsman, 16 Pro Stocks, 20 Street Stocks and 10 Rookie Crates. The two most serious incidents of the night were single car roll overs. Jeff Isabell had a front end break sending him on his roof. Jim Spano caught an implement tire coming off of turn two damaging his two week old TEO Pro Car. Both drivers were uninjured. There were three DQ’s on the night. Alan Fink in the Sportsman, plus Laslow Howiefeld and Jeff Isabell Jr. In the Crate class.
FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
SYRACUSE.COM FAMILY AUTOGRAPH NIGHT
RACE DATE: MAY 26, 2007
DIRTcar Modifieds (35-Laps) - JIMMY PHELPS, Alan Johnson, Roy Bresnahan, Tom Sears Jr., Kevin Bates, Jim Witko Jr., Vinnie Vitale, Mike Bowman, Tim Sears, Kenny Stafford, Chad Phelps, Brett Tonkin, Brian Weaver, Tommy Sheetz Jr., Kyle Lewis, Matt Fink, Dan Vauter, Jeremy Smith, Sean Beardsley, Jamie Christian, Scott Prentice, Dale Planck, John Barker Jr., John Ramsey. DNQ – Johnny Hill, Tommy Sheetz Sr., Mike Defreitas, Robbie Vormwald, Darwin Greene, Terry Knoblock, Jeff Isabell, Wallace Stacy.
Gypsum Express Crate Dirt Sportsman (15-Laps) – TIMMY SEARS JR., Brad Godshalk, Chris Knight, Earl Rudy, Katelyn Kane, Sean McCarthy, Brandon Planck, Mike Fowler, Jeff Isabell Jr., Laslow Howiefeld.
DIRTcar Sportsman (20-Laps) – SAMMY REAKES, IV, Dave Reilley, Shawn Donath, Chris Hile, Jeremy Pitcher, John Pietrowicz, Rob Hile, Mark Davison, Matt Hulsizer, Tony Steiner, A.J. Kingsley, Curt Prevo, Stewart Garrison, John Behron, Jon Tesoriero, Doug Shattell, Beth Schneider, Gregg Carner, Brad Townsend, Lee Babcock, Jason Occhino, Jim Spano, Alan Fink. DNS – Morris Mathews, Joe August Jr.
DIRTcar Pro Stocks (20-Laps) – BILLY CLARK, JR., Jason Parkhurst, Rob Seavy, Dave Briggs, Jim Evans, Freddy Dennis, Dale Guernsey, Jack Terrell, Adam Hunt, Jerry Button, Jim Donaldson, Todd Streiff, Rusty Marsden, Mike Vaughn, Dick Parkhurst, Pat Hobbs.
UMP Street Stocks (20-Laps) - GARY BARTON, Ron Hawker, Joe Briere, Dan Hofmann Sr., Nick Rizzo, Jim Wallace, Quentin Burton, Adam Guilds, Jay McGillicuddy, Matt Henderson, Dan Hofmannn Jr., Steve Woodworth, Josh Blackwell, Chuck Thomas, Ethan Parkhurst, Paul Fountaine, Joe Buske, Steve Crouse, Kevin Clawson. DNS – Bill Thomas.
4-Cylinder Enduro (25-Laps) – MARK JOHNSTON, Kevin Hendrix, Josh Herbert, Jerry Herbert, Eric Zirbel.
|
|
