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FULTON, NY - Sammy Reakes IV made a daring move in lapped traffic to grab the lead on lap-20 of the 40- lap DIRTcar Sportsman feature on Saturday at Fulton Speedway. From there the Palermo, NY driver never looked back, taking the $650 win. Other winners on Dunkin Donuts $5 admission night were Pete Stefanski in the UMP Pro Stocks, Kevan Cook in the IMCA Modifieds, Mike Fowler in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, and Mark Johnston in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.
Jeff Isabell, Jr. grabbed the initial lead at the start of the 40-lap DIRTcar Sportsman feature as he out-raced pole sitter Stewart Garrison to turn one to lead the early going. Isabell Jr. would opening up a comfortable lead, but would see that evaporate in the early going as yellow flags would bunch up the field. That let fellow JIR Motorsports teammate Alan Fink in the No.6j to close the gap from his 7th starting position grabbing 2nd place. Isabell Jr. and Fink would have a heated battle for the top spot, soon the complexion of the race was about to change.
While the top two raced not only each other, but lapped traffic, that let Sammy Reakes IV, who started 8th, to close in on the leaders. As the trio exited turn four at the halfway point in heavy traffic, Reakes drove down low almost in the infield, around a lap car and the top two grabbing the lead.
>From there Reakes put the car on cruise control to lead the rest of the way and land in victory lane. Jeremy Pitcher was able to move into second place late in the going, but ran out of laps to seriously challenge for the win. Shawn Donath who had an early race tangle came from the back of the field to
finish third. Alan Fink and consi-car Larry Wight completed the top five.
After Sammy Reakes IV parked his Whittaker’s Trophy Auto Sales, No.17k in victory lane he talked about how he almost didn't make it past the first lap. "I don't know what happened out there. I think a car was leaking oil and I got into it. All of a sudden the car took off, I thought I broke something. I just tried to be patient and not run hard knowing the race was 40-laps not the usual 20-laps." About the winning pass getting around lapped cars and the leaders, Reakes said, "That was kind of scary. I thought for sure I was going to spin out in the mud in the infield." The win was Reakes' third of the 2007 season.
In the UMP Pro Stocks Pete Stefanski made the long tow from western New York pay off as he grabbed his second win in as many appearances on the season from the tenth starting position. Scott Conover led from the drop of the green and looked to be heading for his first victory. Conover, while getting heavy pressure from second place runner Bill Clark, Jr. got out of shape coming out of turn four at the halfway point of the 20-lap feature. With Conover getting out of shape and second place car Clark Jr. having to get on the brakes to avoid Conover, that allowed Stefanski to get by and grab the lead. From there Stefanski wasn't challenged the rest of the way. Billy Clark Jr., Dick Parkhurst, Scott Conover and Jason Parkhurst rounded out the top five.
"I just love this place," said an excited Stefanski. "Every time we come here the track is smooth and you can race two-, three-wide. That was key tonight to getting this win." Stefanski related that he wanted to make Fulton speedway his home in 2007, but the jump in gas prices made him rethink those plans and race elsewhere.
Kevan Cook remains undefeated and won his fourth IMCA Modified feature at the speedway of 2007, it was his sixth overall win on the season. Cook said the win meant a lot because it's the most feature wins he has gotten in one season. Behind Cook at the checkers it was a close Lyle Smith, followed by Pete Anderson, Rich Riggs, and Rich Townsend. Mike Fowler won his second feature ever in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman division over Timmy Sears Jr, Jake Reilley, Ron Ingison, and Sean McCarthy. Mark Johnston grabbed yet another first place trophy in the 4-Cylinder Enduros, this time beating out Charles DeGroff, Jerry Herbert, Tom Cook, and Les Baker.
Coming up this Saturday July 28 at Fulton Speedway is Total Site Development Night featuring the DIRTcar Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, UMP Pro Stocks, ESDCA Mod Lites, Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, and 4-Cylinder Enduros. Racing will begin at 7pm sharp. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 593-6531, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.
FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
DUNKIN’ DONUTS NIGHT
RACE DATE: JULY 21, 2007
DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (40-Laps) – SAMMY REAKES IV, Jeremy Pitcher, Shawn Donath, Alan Fink, Larry Wight, Laslow Hollyfeld, John Behron, Beth Schneider, Dave Reilley, Matt Hulsizer, Anthony Steiner, John Pietrowicz, Jeff Isabell Jr., Lee Babcock, Jon Tesoriero, Ron Schadt, Brad Townsend, Shane Donath, Stewart Garrison, Chris Hile, Keith Hotchkiss, Gregg Carner, Don Ogden, A.J. Kingsley. DNS – Rob Hile, Eddie Grant, Morris Mathews, Doug Shattell.
IMCA MODIFIEDS (15-Laps) – KEVAN COOK, Lyle Smith, Pete Anderson, Rich Riggs, Rich Townsend, George Valenti, Bill Anderson Jr., Brian Evenden, Coleen Finch, Bob Ridgeway, Bill Anderson, Ken Rogers, Dave Talbot, Larry Bezner, Tony Finch.
UMP PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – PETE STEFANSKI, Billy Clark Jr, Dick Parkhurst, Scott Conover, Jason Parkhurst, Rusty Marsden, Jim Evans, Dale Guernsey, Pat Hobbs, Jim Donaldson, Jack Terrell, Dave Briggs, Rob Seavy, Adam Hunt.
GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – MIKE FOWLER, Timmy Sears Jr, Jake Reilley, Ron Ingison, Sean McCarthy, Joey Delacruz, Brad Godshalk, Dan Hill.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO (25-Laps, Top Five Listed) – MARK JOHNSTON, Charles DeGroff, Jerry Herbert, Tom Cook, Les Baker.
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