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FULTON, NY (June 2) - With the Modifieds having the night to race in the Five Star Modified Mini-Series at another track and the Sportsman also having the night off, it was the support divisions that took center stage Saturday night at Fulton Speedway. Pete Stefanski made the long tow from Western, NY pay off winning the controversial 20 lap Pro Stock feature. Other winners on the night were Ron Hawker in the UMP Street Stocks, Kevan Cook in the IMCA Modifieds, Dan Williams in the ESDCA Mod Lites, Brad Godshalk in the Gypsum Express Crates, and Jon Shumway in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.
First feature event of the night was the DIRTcar Pro Stocks. Rusty Marsden took off from his front row starting position to take the lead before yellow flag fever set in, in the early stages of the 20 lap grind. On a lap seven restart the whole complexion of the race changed. With the front of the field rolling slow to the green flag some cars had too much momentum built up and had to get on the brakes. Pete Stefanski took advantage swinging to the high side and grabbing the lead going into turn one.
At the halfway point with Stefanski opening a comfortable lead, track point-leader Jason Parkhurst was able to squeeze by second place runner Rusty Marsden and set his sights on Stefanski. On restarts Parkhurst was able to run nose-to-tail with the leader, but wasn't able to able to find enough speed to get by. With four laps to go Parkhurst was able to make one last run for the win. Parkhurst was able to get under Stefanski entering and exiting the corners, but each time Stefanski would slam the door on Parkhurst with a lot of contact by the two drivers. Stefanski took the win by a narrow margin. Jim Evans, Jack Terrell and Dion Oakes completed the top five.
In victory lane Stefanski said he loves coming to Fulton speedway because the track is fast and has a lot of room to race. He also showed his displeasure with Jason Parkhurst. "That has to be the worst I have ever been bumped and banged around by somebody. He's been running good here. We drove around him clean, there was no reason for him to drive me the way he did," said Stefanski about the contact the two of them had over the last four laps.
Steve Woodworth grabbed the lead on lap 2 from Dan Hoffman, Jr. and set the pace for the 25 lap UMP Street Stock main dubbed the June Jam. Through yellow flags and restarts Woodworth drove a steady and consistent line on the bottom of the speedway and looked to be heading to victory number one for the season. Ron Hawker who started in 11th was steadily working his way to the front. On lap 20 the final yellow of the race flew when Dan Hoffman, Jr. looped his number 17.
This set up a five lap dash to the finish between Woodworth and Hawker. Hawker who seemed to be the only car on the track to be able to use the top side of the speedway without the rear tires breaking loose pounced on the opportunity. With two to go Hawker was able to swing around Woodowrth and pick up the win. Quentin Burton came home 3rd with Jim Wallace and Nick Rizzo rounding out the top five.
"I don't know what it is about this car," said a smiling Ron Hawker in victory lane. "We're building a new car to replace this one, but this car still runs so well it's hard to park it," finished up Hawker about his
battle-tested No. 14 Camaro.
Ageless Veteran Larry Bezner who used to dominate the Late Model ranks at the Fulton oval in the 80's, jumped ahead in the early going of the IMCA Modified feature. Kevan Cook in his black, No.3 wasn't going to be denied on this night. After a few runner up's and a third place finish Friday night at Brewerton speedway Cook left no doubt who was the fastest car on Saturday night. Using the extreme outside the three wheeling Cook got by Bezner for the lead on lap five and never looked back. Bezner, on restarts was able to get a run on Cook but couldn't get enough speed to get by.
After his win Cook related, "The car was really fast tonight but I was worried about oil pressure. I kept looking at the gauge and it kept dropping. I was concerned if we'd have enough engine left to run tomorrow night."
In the Mod Lite 20 lap feature there is only one name you need to say in the 2007 season, Dan Williams. Tim Devendorf grabbed the lead on lap two from his 7th starting position. Coming quick from the 15th place was Williams. A yellow on lap 5 put Devendorf and Williams side by side for the restart. Once again Williams grabbed the lead and went basically unchallenged the rest of the feature. On restarts Devendorf was able to mount a challenge for a lap before Williams would stretch out his lead.
"Nine out of ten," was what Williams kept repeating in victory lane with a smile. Williams has only been defeated once in 2007, that was by his brother at Cayuga County Fair Speedway.
Brad Godshalk has been consistent all season long in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, that first has eluded him till tonight. Godshalk took advantage of a spin by early leader Sean McCarthy to grab his first ever win. Last week's winner Timmy Sears, Jr. came home second followed by Laslow Howiefeld, Mike Fowler and Katelyn Kane.
After his win Godshalk said the biggest difference between Karts last year and a Sportsman car is brakes, "I have learned you have to use your brakes a lot more in these cars. It just takes so much more to slow these bigger and heavier cars down."
The last event of the night was the 20 lap 4-Cylinder Enduro. Jon Shumway won a late side-by-side battle over Charles DeGroff. Jerry Herbert, Mark Johnston and Kevin Hendrix completed the top five.
Coming up this Saturday night June 9 is the 10th Annual Showdown at Sundown presented by Ferris Industries featuring the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRTcar Series in a 100-lap spectacular. Also in attendance will be the DIRTcar Sportsman, UMP Street Stocks, Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, and 4-Cylinder Enduros. Race time is set for 7pm. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 593-6531, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.
RACE NOTES - Jimmy Phelps was in attendance shaking down a brand new H&H Motorsports, Troyer house car in preparation for next week's Showdown at Sundown, Advance Auto Parts, Modified DIRTcar series race. The long haul award went to far north county racers PJ Peters and Dion Oakes and Pete
Stefanski from western NY. After the Pro Stock feature Peters was DQ'd after a rules infraction.
FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY – June 2, 2007
DIRTcar Pro Stocks (20 LAPS) - PETE STEFANSKI, Jason Parkhurst, Jim Evans, Jack Terrell, Dion Oakes, Pat Hobbs, Jerry Button, Dale Guernsey, Jim Donaldson, Rusty Marsden, Mike Vaughn, Bill Clark Jr., Todd Streiff, Dave Briggs, Dick Parkhurst, Adam Hunt, Rob Seavey, PJ Peters.
UMP Street Stocks JUNE JAM (25 LAPS) - RON HAWKER, Steve Woodworth, Quentin Burton, Jim Wallace, Nick Rizzo, Josh Blackwell, Gary Barton, Dan Hoffman Jr., Chuck Cushman, Dan Hoffman Sr., Jay McGillicuddy, Steve Crouse, Joe Briere, Matt Henderson, Ethan Parkhurst, Joe Buske.
ESDCA Mod Lite (20 LAPS) - DAN WILLIAMS, Tim Devendorf, Ken Gamlen, Rocco Leone, Jeff Barker, Joe Gwilt, Lowell Zehr, Jeff Williams, Mike Mullen, Andrew Schartner, Mike Virginia, Tod Simons, Rich Rainville , Matt Rainville, Tommy Felicia, Jeff Hays, Barry Virts, Keith Hotchkiss, Ryan Blackburn, Larry Casbohm, Justin Crisafulli, Mike Rainville, Jamie King.
IMCA Modifieds (15 LAPS) - KEVAN COOK, Larry Bezner, Pete Anderson, Bill Anderson, Larry Robbins, George Valenti, Coleen Finch, Tony Finch, Ricky Orton, Steve Coit, Shawn Gillespie, Lyle Smith, Joe Reeves.
Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman (15 Laps) - BRAD GODSHALK, Timmy Sears Jr., Laslow Howiefeld, Mike Fowler, Katelyn Kane, Jake Reilley, Sean McCarthy, Earl Rudy.
4 Cylinder Enduro (20 LAPS) - JON SHUMWAY, Charles DeGroff, Jerry Herbert, Mark Johnston, Kevin Hendrix.
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