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FULTON,NY (By Dave Medler)- The long awaited 2009 Season Opener and 12th Annual Showdown at Sundown is now in the record books at Fulton Speedway. Billy Decker made a late race charge passing Alan Johnson with 7-laps to go to collect the $3,000 payday on Ferris Industries night in the headline DIRTcar Modified division 50-lap event.
Other winners on the successful opening night that kicked off the Wight family ownership of the historic track were John Pietrowicz in the DIRTcar Sportsman, Ron Ingison in the E&V Energy Novice Sportsman event, Steve Crouse in the DIRTcar Street Stocks, Justin Crisafulli in the Mod Lites, and Les Baker picked the win in the 4-Cylinder Enduro.
Pat Ward and Vinnie Vitale brought the field down for the first Big Block Modified main of 2009, with Ward grabbing the early advantage.
By lap-5 Ward still led with Alan Johnson moving into the runner up spot and setting his sights on Ward. Vitale, Tim Sears and Dale Planck showed in the top-five.
At the halfway point Ward still showed the way with Johnson, Planck, Billy Decker and Jim Witko still in the hunt for the $3,000 top prize.
Just when it looked like Ward might be heading for the win he suddenly slowed in turn-two on lap-32, he then headed pit-side ending his night with a broken rear end on his Modified.
With Johnson now in the lead and Decker giving chase, Johnson appeared to be losing his tires as his car got real loose. Decker took advantage blasting by Johnson with 7-laps to go. From there Decker cruised to the win. Johnson, Witko, Planck and Ryan Phelps rounded out the top-five.
"It looked like his (Johnson) car started to go away at the end," Said Decker about his pass for the win. " We just guessed right tonight being a new track surface and all, not knowing what it was going to do."
John Pietrowicz took advantage of his up front starting spot as he led all 20-laps of the DIRTcar Sportsman Feature. Sears, Jason Parkhurst, Billy Clark Jr. and Dave Marcuccilli chased the winner across the line.
"It helps starting up front for sure," Pietrowicz said after exiting his Gypsum Express No.85 car in Victory Lane. "This track has so much bite in it, we just put the gear right to it, it was good all night."
Ron Ingison started deep in the pack in the 15-lap E&V Energy Novice Sportsman main. Ingison drove steadily towards the front grabbing the lead with two to go from race long leader Joe Kline for his first win of the year. Gary Hoppins Jr., Matthew Parkhurst, Mark Johnston and Kline completed the top-five.
When Doug Williams is leading late in the going in the Mod Lite 20-lap feature most times you can write the winner's check in his name. Justin Crisafulli had other ideas as he took the lead on the last lap for his first Mod Lite win. Williams, Clayton Brewer III, Rocco Leone and Dale Caswell chased the winner across the line.
Steve Crouse picked up the win in the 15-lap DIRTcar Street Stock Feature. Dave Bruno, Steve Woodworth, Dan Hofmann Sr. And Dan Hofmann Jr finished in the top-five.
Les Baker was the first under the checkers in the 4-Cylinder Enduro. Bruce Unger, Keith M Zirbel, Josh Zirbel and Ben Becker completed the top-finishers.
Next Saturday, May 30 at the Fulton Speedway it will be Little League/Softball Night. All players in uniform or jersey will be admitted free to the main grandstand. On the card will be the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, E&V Energy Novice Sportsman, UMP Street Stocks, 4-Cylinder Enduro plus One-On-One Spectator racing. Gates open at 5:00 with racing getting underway at 7:00. For more information call the speedway office at (315) 593-6531 or (315) 668-RACE you can also visit www.fultonspeedway.com.
(DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds Showdown At Sundown 50-laps) - Billy Decker, Alan Johnson, Jim Witko, Dale Planck, Ryan Phelps, Tommy Sears Jr., Mike Mahaney, Jimmy Phelps, Michael Storms, Larry Wight, Chad Phelps, Pete Taylor, Eric Fisher, Matt Fink , Billy Dunn, Willy Decker, Pat Ward, Vinnie Vitale, Brian Murphy, Tim Sears, Mike Bowman, Jeff Rudalavage, Dave Reilley, Shawn Donath, DNQ - Sean Beardsley, Tim Harris, Roy Sheilds, Randy Brokaw, Tony Steiner, Mike Ward, Mike Johnson.
(DIRTcar Sportsman 20-laps) - John Pietrowicz, Timmy Sears Jr., Jason Parkhurst, Billy Clark Jr., Dave Marcuccilli, Dick Parkhurst, Jon Tesoriero, Gregg Carner, Jeremy Pitcher, Alan Fink, Jim Spano, Ben Wheeler, Rob Humphreys, Jason Occhino, Daniel Sellen, Stewart Garrison, Mike Fowler, Greg Kimball, Claude Hutchings Jr., Jim Evans, Sean McCarthy, Katelyn Kane, Jordan Bennett, AJ Kingsley.
(E&V Energy Novice Sportsman 15-laps) - Ron Ingison, Gary Hoppins Jr., Matthew Parkhurst, Mark Johnston, Joe Kline, Jon Shumway, Dan Hill, Chris Mangiarelli, Scott Kline, Paul Fountaine, Andrew Ferguson.
(DIRTcar Street Stocks 15-laps) - Steve Crouse, Dave Bruno, Steve Woodworth, Dan Hofmann Sr., Dan Hofmann Jr., Matt Henderson, Steve Woodworth II, Billy Flask, Scott Springer, Pete Kowaleski, DNS Quentin Burton.
(Mod Lites 20-laps) - Justin Crisafulli, Doug Williams, Clayton Brewer III, Rocco Leone, Dale Caswell, Terry Lapham, Mike Mullen, Ron DeGroff, Jamie King, Matt Rainville, Jim Tuttle, Kelly Skinner, Lowell Zehr, Rich Rainville, Gary Jeffries, Sam Usborne.
(4-Cylinder Enduro) - Les Baker, Bruce Unger, Keith M Zirbel, Josh Zirbel, Ben Becker.
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