BURLEY CLAIMS WIN IN CARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP ICE BREAKER 40 IN FRONT OF LARGE OPENING NIGHT CROWD AT FULTON SPEEDWAY
FULTON, NY...Todd Burley claimed the win in the wild Carson Automotive Group Ice Breaker 40 at Fulton Speedway last Saturday night. Burley regained the lead from Steve Hulsizer with a lap to go and he was then able to hold on for the victory over Alan Johnson and Hulsizer. The Spencerport, N.Y. driver earned $1,750 for the victory which came in front of a large opening night crowd. A total of 54 DIRT 358 Modified drivers attempted to qualify for the opening night show.
Jimmy Phelps raced out to the early lead at the start of the Carson Automotive Group Ice Breaker 40 from the pole starting position. Phelps led the opening three laps over the 26 car starting field. Burley took the top spot away from Phelps on lap four. Burley started in the third starting position. Once in front Burley looked to open up a lead, but it was hard to do over the quality starting field.
At the halfway point of the 40 lap event Burley continued to lead with Hulsizer, Phelps, Matt Sheppard and Gordy Button following in the top five. The first caution of the race came about on lap 25. That allowed the field to bunch together and it led to a great finish. Hulsizer took the lead away from Burley on lap 32. With eight laps to go Hulsizer, Burley, Johnson, Phelps and Sheppard raced in the top five positions.
The battle for the win at the end was between Hulsizer, Burley and Johnson. Burley regained the lead on lap 39 from Hulsizer. Johnson followed right through for the second position with Hulsizer looking to come back. Burley went on to the feature win, while Hulsizer powered around Johnson to finish second. Phelps finished fourth while Tim Fuller came from the 24th starting position to finish fifth.
Jamie Christian won the opening night 20 lap DIRT Sportsman feature in a photo finish over Greg Doust. Tim Sears, Ryan Richardson and Walt McArdell completed the top five feature finishers. Christian led the opening 12 laps of the main event. Doust took over on lap 13 and would lead the field through lap 19. Christian won the sprint to the finish line for the thrilling win.
T.J. Fitzgibbons was the race winner in the 20 lap opening night Pro Stock main event. Fitzgibbons edged Jeremy Clark for the win. Joe Ladouceur, Billy King and Lee Burnett completed the top five feature finishers. Tom Barron led the opening two laps of the main event. Fitzgibbons took command on lap three and led the rest of the way.
Scott Castor won his first ever Fulton Speedway Pure Stock feature race last Saturday night in the season opening 15 lap event. Curt Prevo, Darren Kelso, John Morrison and David Maricuccilli completed the top five feature finishers. Todd Koegel led the opening 13 laps of the feature before crashing out of the lead with Dave Mannise. Castor inherited the lead and went on to the win.
The season opening show featured large car counts in all four classes. A total of 54 DIRT 358 Modifieds, 40 DIRT Sportsman, 23 DIRT Pro Stocks and 28 Pure Stocks packed the pit area. Racing will continue this Saturday at Fulton Speedway with all four classses once again in competition. Race time is set for 7 p.m. For more information please call the track office at (315) 593-6531 or go on line to www.fultonspeedway.com.
CARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP RACE SUMMARY
DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Todd Burley, Steve Hulsizer, Alan Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Tim Fuller, Matt Sheppard, Gordy Button, Pat Ward, Ryan Baye, Jim Mahaney, Justin Haers, Don Spatarico, John Barker, Willy Decker, Gus Schmidt, Mike Ward, Jeff Rudalavage, Mike Adderly, Bill Shantel, Dave Reilley, Tom Sears, Ty Hunt, Rick Miller, J.J. Michaels, Jason Barney, Tim Burnett.
TOP 10 SHOOT-OUT---Johnson, Sheppard, Miller, Rudalavage, Phelps, Shields, Baye, Mahaney, Barker, Michaels.
DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Jamie Christian, Greg Doust, Tim Sears, Ryan Richardson, Walt McArdell, Ryan Phelps, Shawn Donath, Jim Bowman, Jim Kite, Mike Button, Chad Phelps, Dave Bargabos, Steve Way, Bill Shantel Jr., Tom Denton, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Scott Binns, Eric Richardson, Jeremy Pitcher, Matt Butler, John Christian, Shane Donath, Jim Livingston.
PRO STOCK FEATURE---T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jeremy Clark, Joe Ladoceur, Billy King, Lee Burnett, Wayne Archer, Chad Ray, Mike Watkins, Geoff VanRiper, Paul Stoneburg, Ryan Buskey, Dave Fox, Kenny Michels, Dave Bissonette, Keith Butler, Jason Rood, Anna Elkema, Ricky Breed, Tom Barron and Matt Smith.
PURE STOCK FEATURE---Scott Castor, Curt Prevo, Darren Kelso, John Morrison, David Marcuccilli, Kevin Raymond, Jim Cronin, Ricky Trexler, Joe Buske, Bill Flask, Gary Barton, John Phillips, Russ Marsden, Dave Mannise, Mark Denny, Claude Hutchins, Paul Mercier, Ken Conners, Jamie Glimpse, Todd Koegel, Chris Cunningham, Lew Lewis.