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TOM SEARS JR. HOLDS OFF PHELPS FOR FIRST EVER FULTON SPEEDWAY MODIFIED WIN
FULTON, NY (August 25) – On Avon Products of Oswego, Maple View Garage night last Saturday at Fulton Speedway, Tommy Sears held off a fast closing Jimmy Phelps in the closing laps to win his first ever 35-lap DIRTcar Modified feature at the track. Shawn Donath won in a photo finish over Alan Fink to take yet another victory in the 20-lap DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds. Jim Wallace was another first time winner taking the checkers in the UMP Street Stocks. Other winners were Pete Stefanski in the UMP Pro Stocks, Timmy Sears, Jr. in the Gypsum Express Crates, and Mark Johnston took top honors in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.
Brett Tonkin jumped out to the early lead of the 35-lap Modified feature running the top side. Tonkin immediately opened up a ten car length lead over the rest of the field. A caution on lap-8 took away the lead Tonkin had and set a battle between Tonkin in the Grimm Construction No.13 and Tommy Sears in the Mullen Industrial No.62. The pair would swap the lead back and forth till Sears took over the lead on lap-12. While Sears was out front, Modified rookie Roy Bresnahan in the No.02 took over second and tried to chase down Sears for the lead. Bresnahan on many laps would be able to get under Sears but could never carry enough speed out of the corners to grab the top spot.
While the battle up front was going on, track point leader Jimmy Phelps and Alan Johnson were waging their own battle for third place and within striking distance of the two leaders. With three laps to go Phelps was able to work his way by Bresnahan and set his sites on the Sears machine. Sears running the bottom and Phelps the extreme outside, the pair thrilled the crowd with a side-by-side battle. Sears held a steady line and wasn't rattled by Phelps picking up the narrow victory. Phelps, Bresnahan, Johnson and Dale Planck were the top five. Billy Decker, Pat Ward, Tim Sears, Vinnie Vitale and Brian Weaver completed the top ten.
After exiting his Mullen Industrial car, Sears spoke about his first ever Fulton Modified win and his first win in the No.62r. "This was a long time coming it feels great. This is my first year in this car, we have had our problems, but things are finally starting to come around," finished up Sears.
In the 20-lap Sportsman Modified feature early yellows slowed down the pace of the race including a 45-minute rain delay. Once things settled down the crowd was treated to the race of the night. Rookie Billy Coleman in the Clearview Windows, No.46 took command of the race. As the race wore on Alan Fink would close in on Coleman trying every trick in the book to get by the rookie. Finally on lap-13 Fink in the JIR-Motorsports, No.6 he was able to get by for the lead. The race was far from over as four-time feature winner Shawn Donath was running his usual high line on the speedway. The two would run side-by-side with the race in doubt till they came out of turn four heading for the checkers. Donath and Fink would touch coming down to the checkers with Donath grabbing the win by inches. Fink, Sammy Reakes IV, Jeremy Pitcher and early leader Coleman were the top five.
"I didn't think I crowded him," related Donath about the contact between him and Fink racing for the win. "I just can't thank this Daniels-Maryfield team enough for the car they give me every week. The track surface was great. I have to thank Jeremy Corcoran for that." The win was Donath's fifth of the
2007 season.
Pete Stefanski once again made his long haul from western New York pay off as he won the 20-lap, UMP Pro Stock feature going away. In four trips to the Fulton oval Stefanski has three victories. Jason Parkhurst, Bill Clark, Quebec runner Denis Gauvreau and Pat Hobbs were the top five.
"The 38 (Parkhurst) and the (99) Clark, the top two point guys here ran me clean. It's a lot of fun to race here," said Stefanski. "I just love coming here. There is always a lot of room to race on this surface," finished up Stefanski.
In other action on Saturday, Jim Wallace fought a car with tires going away in the late stages and Steve Crouse to pick up his first ever 20-lap UMP Street Stock victory. Timmy Sears grabbed win number-6 in the Gypsum Express Crates and birthday driver Mark Johnston picked up the victory in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.
Coming up this Saturday September 1 is the final regular point show of the 2007 season on Poster Night with a gigantic fireworks display after the races. In race action will be the DIRTcar Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, UMP Pro Stocks, UMP Street Stocks, 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
AVON PRODUCTS / MAPLE VIEW GARAGE NIGHT
RACE DATE: AUGUST 25, 2007
DIRTcar MODIFIEDS (35-Laps) – TOM SEARS JR., Jimmy Phelps, Roy Bresnahan, Alan Johnson, Dale Planck, Billy Decker, Pat Ward, Tim Sears, Vinnie Vitale, Brian Weaver, Kevin Bates, Brett Tonkin, Matt Fink, Johnny Hill, Jeremy Smith, Chad Phelps, Jim Witko Jr., Willy Decker, Sean Beardsley, Dan Vauter, John Ramsey.
DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (20-Laps) – SHAWN DONATH, Alan Fink, Sammy Reakes IV., Jeremy Pitcher, Billy Coleman, John Behron, Larry Wight, Anthony Steiner, Matt Hulsizer, Gregg Carner, Jon Tesoriero, A.J. Kingsley, Danny Varin, Curt Prevo, Jeff Isabell Jr., Dave Reilley, Jim Spano, Doug Shattell, Roger West, Beth Schneider, Lee Babcock, John Pietrowicz, Chris HIle, Stephen Planck, Rob Hile.
UMP PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – PETE STEFANSKI, Jason Parkhurst, Billy Clark Jr., Denis Gauvreau, Pat Hobbs, Jack Terrell, Jerry Button, Dale Guernsey, Frank Guererri Jr., Mike Vaughn, Rob Seavy, Scott Conover, Adam Hunt, Jim Evans, Mike Martin, Rusty Marsden.
UMP STREET STOCKS (20-Laps) – JIM WALLACE, Steve Crouse, Ron Hawker, Chuck Cushman Jr., Steve Woodworth, Bruno Richard, Nick Rizzo, Gary Barton, Matt Henderson, Adam Guilds, Bill Thomas, Quentin Burton, Dan Hofmann Sr., Dan Hofmann Jr., Josh Blackwell, Chuck Thomas, Keith Stevenson.
GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – TIMMY SEARS JR., Katelyn Kane, Ron Ingison, Mike Fowler, Sean McCarthy, Jake Reilley, Dan Hill, Jim Romano, Derek Spellan, Shannon Jones. DNS – Brandon Planck.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO (25-Laps, Top Five Listed) – MARK JOHNSTON, Les Baker, Joe Buske Jr., Eric M. Zirbel, Keith Zirbel.
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