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BILLY DECKER WINS $25,000 PLUS IN VICTORIA 200 WIN AT FULTON SPEEDWAY
FULTON, NY - Billy Decker of Unadilla won his first Victoria 200 paying $25,000 to win on Saturday at Fulton Speedway. Decker started fourth and took the lead on lap-106 in the second half of the event, a lead he would never give up. The driver of the Gypsum Wholesalers / Bicknell / No. 91 held off the late race charge of Steve Paine and Gary Tomkins in front of a record crowd.
A usually subdued Billy Decker, after winning so many big races, emerged from his Gypsum Wholesalers car with a spirited roof dance and jubilant victory lane celebration. "We weren’t that good in the first 100. I really didn’t think we had a shot at it. But my crew went to work and made the changes we needed," said Decker. Decker also related how, in his mind, his crew led by Scott Jeffery is the best is the business when it comes to big events.
By virtue of winning their heats and the redraw Ronnie Johnson and Danny Johnson set the pace from the front row in the 42-car starting field. Danny Johnson was able to out-power Ronnie Johnson into turn one to grab the lead in the 200-lap grind.
While the rest of the field was racing side-by-side, battling for positions early on, both Johnsons were able to open some distance and have a race on their own with no lap traffic yet ahead. On lap-6 Decker was able to get by track champion Jimmy Phelps to take over third and set sail for the Johnsons. On lap-7 using the extreme high side of the track, Decker was able to use a power move to get around Ronnie Johnson for the runner-up spot.
By lap-10 Johnson and Decker caught the back of the field. The two would not only have to race each other, but had to navigate through the lapped cars without making a mistake that could cost them. While Johnson and Decker were having a tough time getting around heavy lapped traffic, it allowed Phelps, Ronnie Johnson and Willy Decker to catch the leaders setting up a five car race for the top spot.
The first yellow of the race came on lap-19 for a spinning Marc Johnson, he was able to continue. Johnson, Decker, Phelps, R Johnson and W Decker continued to be the top five. After sorting the field out the green came back out on lap-24. Decker could get a run on Johnson coming off of turn two and down the back straight. About midway down the straight Johnson would move up towards the outside wall causing Decker to get on the brakes losing all the momentum he built up going for the lead.
While the battle up front was going on, the car on the move was the No.20 of Brett Hearn. Hearn, using the top of the speedway, moved from his 23rd starting spot to the top-12. On lap-35 Decker was still pushing Johnson for the lead. A few car lengths back Tim Fuller who started 9th moved to third place and started challenging Phelps for the third spot. Ronnie Johnson and Willy Decker were having their own race for fourth and fifth.
By lap-43 the top three of Johnson, Decker and Fuller once again caught lapped traffic as they ran nose-to-tail. Just when the race set into a steady rhythm the yellow came out on lap-48 for a spin in turn one involving Russ Hefti and Bob Henry. Avoiding the incident by inches was leader Danny Johnson who just squeezed by.
After the restart Danny Johnson was able to open up a ten car length advantage on Decker and Fuller, with Phelps and Ronnie Johnson not far behind. Steve Paine who started 18th was quickly moving his way to the top five and would be a threat for the win.
Once again the lapped traffic came into play. On lap-64 Decker went to the top side trying to bottle up Johnson behind a lapped car. Running up top Decker lost momentum with third place running Jimmy Phelps able to slip by for second. Decker didn’t sit in third long as he was able to get back around Phelps for the runner-up spot. With Danny Johnson setting a steady pace and Decker and Phelps fighting it for second, Ronnie Johnson was able to get by both Decker and Phelps to take over second place on lap-66.
When the race reached the three-quarter mark of the first 100-lap segment Danny Johnson put lapped cars between himself and the rest of the top five. Ronnie Johnson, Decker, Phelps and Fuller battled themselves and lapped traffic not wanting to make a mistake on the tough racing surface.
When the lap counter hit lap-79 Bobby Varin and Matt Hulsizer spun in turn one bringing out another yellow. Varin was able to right his car and get going before going a lap down to the field.
After some laps under yellow to reset the field, the green came back out on lap-84. Danny Johnson maintained the lead with Decker getting under Ronnie Johnson to take back second. Jimmy Phelps followed Decker on the low side pushing Ronnie Johnson back to fourth.
Danny Johnson once again opened a comfortable lead putting lapped cars between himself and the rest of the field. With the white flag waving before the 100-lap mark, Jimmy Phelps was able to muscle under Decker to take over the second spot. As the cars headed to the pits for the 15-minute break, Danny Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Billy Decker, Ronnie Johnson and Steve Paine held the top spots.
At the halfway point 25-cars remained on the lead lap of the 42-car starting field. The main concern throughout the pit area wasn’t the changes to be made to the cars, but it was tire wear. Some teams had little or no tread left; some were worn down to the cords.
When the field was reassembled on the front straight they were put double file because the race doesn’t go single file till the lap-150. The lapped cars Danny Johnson got by in the first 100 were put back in their place, giving Johnson some breathing room between himself and second place Jimmy Phelps.
When the green flew for the second 100, Johnson took off opening a ten car length lead over Jimmy Phelps. With Phelps running second Billy Decker worked his way by a couple lapped cars and took off after Phelps. Running the outside groove Decker was able to power by Phelps on lap-103 and set his sights on Johnson.
Once by Phelps, Decker quickly ran down Danny Johnson. Still running the top, Decker was able to chase down and get around Johnson and grab the lead on lap-103. By lap-110 Decker had already opened a full straightaway lead on Johnson.
With Decker checking out and Danny Johnson comfortably in second, the best battle on the track was between, Jimmy Phelps, Brett Hearn, Ronnie Johnson and Steve Paine. The four raced in and out of lapped traffic with none of them willing to give an inch.
Suddenly on the move and making his presence known was Gary Tomkins who moved into the top five from his 25th starting spot. By lap-125 Tomkins moved into third and found himself right on the back bumper of Danny Johnson for the runner-up spot.
Decker was still on cruise control out front and Tomkins got by Johnson for second with Steve Paine following him through the same opening dropping Johnson back to fourth.
With the lap counter reading 150 Decker opened a half a track lead on everyone but that would all change on lap-152 with Pierre Dagenais spinning out in turn four. This put the lead lap cars on Decker's back bumper with lapped cars lined up to the inside. There was another quick yellow on lap-157 with all cars involved pulling away.
The green flew once again on lap-163 and Decker was again able to open a big lead as Gary Tomkins was having a hard time getting around the lapped car of JR Heffner. While Tomkins tried to get around Heffner, Steve Paine was able to close in on and get by Tomkins on lap 165.
Paine was able to get away from Tomkins and close the distance on Decker down to 10 car lengths. With 20 laps left in the 200-lap distance, Paine and Tomkins caught up to Decker who was having trouble getting by lapped cars.
With everyone including lapped cars running the bottom the top three could couldn’t get any advantage on one another. When the five-lap signal was given by starter Glenn O’Loughlin, you could have thrown a blanket over the top three. Decker made no mistakes picking up his first ever Victoria 200 win. Paine and Tomkins settled for second and third, their best ever finishes in the prestigious event. Jimmy Phelps and Ronnie Johnson rounded out the top five. Willy Decker, Stewart Friesen, Pat O’Brien, Matt Sheppard and Pat Ward rounded out the top ten.
"I finally pulled even with Fuller in these big races, he has won this one and I hadn’t till today," related a smiling Decker about his good friend Tim Fuller. "This sure sets up momentum going into next week (Super DIRT Week)."
PIT NOTES - A record crowd was on hand to witness 83 single car teams trying to make the race. Two cars entered did not show, one was Craig Hanson and the other was 2-time Victoria 200 winner Tommy Kinsella. It took 9-heats and 4-consolations plus the All-Star Last Chance Race to set the 42-car field. Matt Hulsizer was the only Sportsman track regular to make the show, while Utica-Rome Sportsman driver Alan Barker also made the race. Fifteen cars remained on the lead lap at the finish with Mike Ricci the last car on the lead lap. There were no serious incidents in the entire day of racing. Brian Sage had to start the Brian Michels No. 8 car as a broken water pump was found just before the Victoria 200. Only 3 cars that started the event, Brian Sage, Marc Johnson, and Alan Barker did not have sail panels.
FULTON SPEEDWAY 22ND VICTORIA 200 RACE SUMMARY
RACE DATE: SEPTEMBER 29, 2007
Heat Races (10-laps, 3 qualify, winner redraws)
Heat 1 – Jimmy Phelps, Stewart Friesen, A.J. Romano, Roy Bresnahan, Sean Beardsley, Tom Sears Jr., Mike Mahaney, John Ramsey, Garth Tonkin Jr. DNS – Joe Isabell.
Heat 2 – Tim Fuller, Ted Lamb Jr., Mitch Gibbs, Pat Ward, Bill Gill, Jason Potter, Tim Sears, Joe Sheids, John Barker Jr.
Heat 3 – Danny Johnson, Brian Sage, Billy Trexler Jr., Billy Dunn, Wade Decker, Joel Batzel, Chad Phelps, Dave Rauscher. DNS – Brian Weaver.
Heat 4 – Mike Ricci, Pierre Dagenais, Russ Hefti, Billy Shantel Jr., Darwin Greene, Jeff Isabell, Dave Calaman, Scott Conover.
Heat 5 – Dale Planck, Matt Sheppard, Brett Hearn, Ryan Phelps, Gus Schmidt Jr., Bobby Varin, Rich Ricci Jr., Jim Mahaney, Tom Collins Jr., Mark Pullen.
Heat 6 – Ronnie Johnson, Chuck Bower, Bob Henry Jr., Matt Hulsizer, Jeff Isabell Jr., Tim Kerr, Robert King, Brian Michels, Johnny Hill.
Heat 7 – Willy Decker, J.R. Heffner, Gary Tomkins, Brett Tonkin, Alan Barker, Roy Shields, Mike Ward, Ryan Richardson, Jordan Bennett, Rick Rogala.
Heat 8 –Billy Decker, Pat O’Brien, Kevin Bates, Marc Johnson, Jeff Kotary, Scott Flammer, Don Slover, Tom Juhl Jr., Vic Coffey.
Heat 9 – Todd Burley, Steve Paine, J.R. Hurlburt, Alan Johnson, Mike Bowman, Paul Kinney, Alan Fink, Matt Fink, Daniel Morden.
Consi Races (10-Laps, 3 qualify)
Consi 1 – Roy Bresnahan, Ryan Phelps, Alan Johnson, Dave Calaman, John Ramsey, Jeff Kotary, Tim Sears, Roy Shields, Joel Batzel, Robert King, Ryan Richardson, Tom Collins Jr.
Consi 2 – Pat Ward, Gus Schmidt Jr., Matt Hulsizer, Sean Beardsley, Chad Phelps, Mike Ward, Vic Coffey, Matt Fink, Mike Bowman, Jordan Bennett, Darwin Greene, Scott Flammer, Joe Shields.
Consi 3 – Billy Dunn, Brett Tonkin, Paul Kinney, Bill Gill, Bobby Varin, Tom Sears Jr., Tom Juhl Jr., Daniel Morden, Dave Rauscher, Scott Conover, Jeff Isabell Jr., Garth Tonkin Jr., Brian Michels. DNS – Jeff Isabell.
Consi 4 – Marc Johnson, Billy Shantel Jr., Alan Barker, Wade Decker, Rich Ricci Jr., Mike Mahaney, Jason Potter, Alan Fink, Jim Mahaney, John Barker Jr., Tim Kerr, Don Slover, Mark Pullen, Brian Weaver.
All-Star Last Chance Race (8-Laps, 3 Qualify) – Chad Phelps, Bobby Varin, Tom Sears Jr., Vic Coffey, Sean Beardsley, Tim Sears, Mike Bowman.
22nd ANNUAL VICTORIA 200 FEATURE (200-Laps) – BILLY DECKER, Steve Paine, Gary Tomkins, Jimmy Phelps, Ronnie Johnson, Willy Decker, Stewart Friesen, Pat O’Brien, Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward, Brett Hearn, A.J. Romano, Danny Johnson, Kevin Bates, Mike Ricci, Billy Dunn, Tom Sears Jr., Ted Lamb Jr., J.R. Hurlburt, Chad Phelps, Bob Henry Jr., Bob Henry Jr., Billy Trexler Jr., Ryan Phelps, J.R. Heffner, Matt Hulsizer, Todd Burley, Dale Planck, Billy Shantel Jr., Pierre Dagenais, Bobby Varin, Brett Tonkin, Alan Johnson, Tim Fuller, Mitch Gibbs, Roy Bresnahan, Chuck Bower, Marc Johnson, Paul Kinney, Alan Barker, Russ Hefti, Gus Schmidt Jr., Brian Sage.
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