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Fulton, NY- Dave Medler/ Rich Vleck (April 30th) - Last Saturday night cars were rolling into Fulton speedway at 5pm when the gates were set to open for the first race of the 2008 season when the skies opened up and put an end to the season opener.
"When we looked at the radar and other tracks already cancelling we knew it was the right thing to do," said track promoter Art Halliday. "With the price of gas now we didn't want our racers and fans have to come to the track for no reason."
This Saturday night, May 3rd the season will kick off in big fashion as the ASCS - Patriot Sprints will kick off their 2008 season. Also on the card will be the DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds and the popular Street Stocks.
In last year's season opener, Chuck Hebing survived a major scare in the closing laps, catching the inside berm and at one point having all four wheels clear off the ground, to win his second-straight season opener.
This race might be of larger significance as the winner of the first ASCS Patriot race of the season has gone on to win the series championship each of the last three years. Drivers like Hebing, Howland, Jared Zimbardi, Don Adamczyk and more hope to set themselves up to become the fourth this weekend.
This will also be the first race with the all-new race format; taking the top eight cars in passing points and having them redraw for the feature. The six cars behind them in passing points will now have the opportunity to run the Riverside Bar and Grill Four Laps of Fame Race, which will help them get ready to charge forward in the first 25-lap feature of the year.
The ASCS Patriots have the best rookie class assembled in recent memory as no fewer than five drivers will vie for the Insinger Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Title. Robbie Shuttleworth and Jimmy Broderick move up from mini and micro sprint ranks this year while Brewerton residents Joe August Jr. and Tim Devendorf have short travel to run their first sprint races. Rounding out the known class of 2008 is T.J. Newton, who will split time between his own 360 Late Model and the Eric and Eileen Smith No. 57 Sprint this year.
This will also be the first race of the A-Verdi Storage Containers King of Central New York Series, which began and ended at the 3/8-mile Oswego County clay oval last season. The brand new ASI Racewear t-shirts highlighting that series, along with hoodies, hats, magnets and more will help to fill the Ohsweken Speedway sponsored merchandise trailer that will be on hand.
Early indications are for one of the most impressive car counts of the season, with drivers from both Southern and Northern Ontario, Western New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut already confirmed for this superstar event.
The Sportsman Modifieds look to have a banner year going by car counts at area speedways in the first year of crate only engines. Defending track champion Jeremy Pitcher in the MDV Construction, No.14 looks to defend his title.
The UMP Street Stocks will also thrill the fans with Ron Hawker 2007 track champion looking to hold off all competition. Last season most of their races came down to the last lap to have a winner.
Saturday night general admission is $14 for adults, kids 10 to 14 years of age $7 and 9 years old and under as free. Gates open at 5pm with the first green flag at 7pm. |
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