JOHNSON CLAIMS FEATURE WIN ON WAYNE REGIONAL ORTHOPAEDICS NIGHT AND ALSO 2002 DIRT 358 MODIFIED TRACK TITLE AT FULTON SPEEDWAY
FULTON, NY...Alan Johnson claimed the 35-lap DIRT 358 Modified feature win at Fulton Speedway last Saturday on Wayne Regional Orthopaedics Night. Johnson also earned the 2002 Fulton Speedway DIRT 358 Modified Track Championship. It was the eighth win of the season for Johnson at the Home of the Victoria 200. The win for the driver of the Maroney Motorsports car was worth $1,500.
Dave Rauscher raced out to the early lead at the start of the Wayne Regional Orthopaedics DIRT 358 Modified feature from the pole starting position. The second year driver was turning in a solid performance and after five circuits he was being followed in the top five by Don Spatorico, Roy Shields, Dale Planck and Tim Burnett. Rauscher led the opening six laps.
Spatorico took the top spot away from Rauscher on lap seven. Spatorico quickly opened his lead, while Tim Fuller and Alan Johnson worked towards the front of the field. Fuller took the top spot away from Spatorico on lap 17. A great three car battle soon developed between Fuller, Spatorico and Johnson.
Spatorico had his strong drive end on lap 21 when his right rear tire came flying off. On the restart Johnson took the top spot away from Fuller. The duo battled for several laps before Johnson opened up a slight lead. Johnson returned to the winners circle and claimed his second-ever season title at Fulton Speedway.
The hard charger of the race was clearly Matt Sheppard. Sheppard was penalized to the rear for an early race incident, but he came charging back. Sheppard edged Fuller in a photo finish for the second position. Justin Haers and Jeff Rudalavage completed the top five feature finishers in the 25-car starting field.
Bill Shantel Jr. won his career first DIRT Sportsman feature at Fulton Speedway last Saturday in convincing fashion. Shantel earned the win over brothers' Eric and Ryan Richardson. Tim Clemons and Jeremy Pitcher completed the top five feature finishers. Shantel passed Eric Richardson on the final circuit and held off Ryan in a thrilling three car battle. Mike Button earned the season long DIRT Sportsman track title.
Jeremy Clark won his eighth DIRT Pro Stock feature race of the season last Saturday night. The victory gave Clark the 2002 Fulton Speedway Pro Stock track title. T.J. Fitzgibbons, Paul Stoneburg, Lee Burnett and Jason Rood completed the top five feature finishers behind Clark. Clark took the lead away from Stoneburg on lap eight and led the rest of the way in the 15-lap affair.
Phil Marsden returned to the winners circle at the conclusion of the 15-lap Pro Stock main event. Jim Cronin, Bruce Stanton, Chris Cunningham and Dave Marcuccilli completed the top five feature finishers behind Marsden. With his fourth place feature finish, Chris Cunningham earned the 2002 Pure Stock track title.
Jerry Herbert was the race winner in the 40-car Four Cylinder Enduro. Ray Wilson, Mitch Pietrowicz, Terry Engerbretsen and Mike Northrup completed the top five feature finishers behind Herbert.
Doug Norrie claimed the 20-lap win in the Central New York Mini-Sprint main event.
Racing will continue this Saturday at Fulton Speedway with the DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinder Enduro racers all in action. Victoria 200 Weekend Qualifiers will be contested in every division. The 358 Modifieds will battle for an All Star spot. One on One Spectator racesm will also be staged. Race time is set for 7 p.m. For more information please call (315) 593-6531 or go on line to www.fultonspeedway.com.
WAYNE REGIONAL ORTHOPAEDICS NIGHT SUMMARY
DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE----Alan Johnson, Matt Sheppard, Tim Fuller, Justin Haers, Jeff Rudalavage, Gordy Button, Dave Rauscher, Jeff Trombley, John Barker, Roy Shields, Tom Sears Jr., Joe Slawiak, Ted Lamb, Jimmy Phelps, Tim Burnett, Jim Mahaney, Paul Kinney, Ken Johnson, Ty Hunt, John Ramsey, Jeremy Smith, Pete Taylor, Don Spatorico, Dale Planck, John Knapp.
DIRT 358 MODIFIED TRACK CHAMPION---Alan Johnson.
DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Bill Shantel Jr., Eric Richardson, Ryan Richardson, Tim Clemons, Jeremy Pitcher, Ron Loveless, Daryl Hagen, Walt McArdell, Steve Way, Jim Kite, Tim Sears, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Jim Livingston, Mike Bowman, Mark Yorker, Dan Vail, Scott Binns, Mike Button, Shawn Donath, Rich Keller, Sam Reakes IV, Greg Doust, Jim Bowman, John Juhl.
DIRT SPORTSMAN TRACK CHAMPION---Mike Button.
DIRT PRO STOCK FEATURE---Jeremy Clark, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Paul Stoneburg, Lee Burnett, Jason Rood, Ray Maloney, Ricky Breed, Mike Watkins, Dave Fox, Keith Butler, Dan Winks, Steve Marshall, Anna Elkema, Jack Terrell.
DIRT PRO STOCK TRACK CHAMPION---Jeremy Clark.
PURE STOCK FEATURE---Phil Marsden, Jim Cronin, Bruce Stanton, Chris Cunningham, Dave Marcuccilli, Curt Prevo, Mark Davison, Ken Conners, Eric Chapman, Darren Kelso, John Phillips, Bill Flask, Jerry Button, Chuck Lacey, Irving Castler, Mike Barney, Bob Whipple, Joe Buske, Ricky Degroff, Mark Denny, Don Stevenson, Ricky Trexler, Kevin Giangarra, Jamie Glimpse, John Pietrowicz, Steve Woodworth.
PURE STOCK TRACK CHAMPION---Chris Cunningham.
FOUR CYLINDER ENDURO TOP FIVE---Jerry Herbert, Ray Wilson, Mitch Pietrowicz, Terry Engerbretsen, Mike Northrup.
CENTRAL NEW YORK MINI-SPRINT FEATURE WINNER---Doug Norrie. Please see CNYMS result story for complete results.