JOHNSON CONTINUES WIN STREAK AT FULTON SPEEDWAY WHILE SHEPPARD CLAIMS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP ON WAYNE REGIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC NIGHT
FULTON, NY...Alan Johnson won his fifth straight 35 lap DIRT 358 Modified feature at Fulton Speedway, but Matt Sheppard claimed the 2001 Track Championship by virtue of his second place finish last Saturday on Wayne Regional Orthopaedic Night. Johnson's win was his sxith of the season. Sheppard, 19, became the youngest Track Champion in the history of Fulton Speedway.
Dave Reilley raced out to the early lead at the start of the DIRT 358 Modified feature from the pole starting position. Reilley led the first two laps before J.J. Michaels took command of the field on lap three. Michaels would only lead two laps as well, as Jeff Rudalavage became the third different leader of the race on lap five. After five laps Rudalavage was being followed in the top five by J.J. Michaels, Reilley, John Barker and Jimmy Phelps.
Matt Sheppard took the lead away from Rudalavage on lap 13. Sheppard worked up fast from the 16th starting position. Sheppard appeared headed to his first victory at Fulton Speedway in several weeks, but Johnson had a different plan. At the halfway mark Sheppard was being followed in the top five by Johnson, Rudalavage, Barker and Phelps. Tim Burnett, Michaels, Jeff Kotary, Pete Taylor and Reilley completed the top ten at this stage of the race.
Johnson took the lead away from Sheppard on lap 19. Johnson started from the 18th starting position and consistently worked his way through the field. Once in front Johnson opened up his lead and went on to his fifth straight win in the Mike Maroney owned DIRT 358 Modified. Sheppard's second place finish was good for the 2001 Fulton Speedway DIRT 358 Modified track title.
Rudalavage, Barker and Phelps completed the top five feature finishers. Burnett, Kotary, Jim Mahaney, Pete Taylor and J.J. Michaels crossed the finish line in positions sixth through tenth respectively.
Willy Decker won his second DIRT Sportsman feature of the season last Saturday. Tim Sears claimed the 2001 DIRT Sportsman track title by virtue of his ninth place finish. Tom Juhl, Mike Button, Gordy Button and Walt McArdell completed the top five feature finishers behind Decker.
Jeremy Clark won his first ever Pro Stock feature last Saturday night at Fulton Speedway. Tom Barron claimed the track title by virtue of his sixth place finish. Clark won the feature event over T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jason Rood, John Pietrowicz and Ricky Breed.
Jeff Pastorella won the Pure Stock feature race last Saturday night as well as the 2001 Pure Stock track title. Pastorella was followed across the finish line by Paul Mercier, Chris Cunningham, Darren Kelso and Bruce Stanton.
Blaise Regina was the winner of the Central New York Mini-Sprint feature. Regina was followed across the finish line by Don Harvey, Brian Howland, Steve Boyd and Lance O'Dell.
Dan Hoffman Sr. won the Four Cylinder Enduro feature race. Jerry Curcie, Dan Hill, Steve Wodworth and Jay McGillicuddy completed the top five feature finishers over Hoffman.
Racing continues this Saturday at Fulton Speedway with Victoria 200 Weekend Qualfiers on the line in the DIRT 358 Modified, Sportsman, Pro Stock, Pure Stock and Four Cylinder Stock classes. The Four Cylinder Enduro cars will also be in action. Race time is 7 p.m. For more information please call (315) 593-6531. On line go to www.fultonspeedway.com.
WAYNE REGIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC RACE SUMMARY
DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Alan Johnson, Matt Sheppard, Jeff Rudalavage, John Barker, Jimmy Phelps, Tim Burnett, Jeff Kotary, Jim Mahaney, Pete Taylor, J.J. Michaels, Rick Miller, John Ramsey, Ty Hunt, Dave Reilley, Roy Shields, Tyke Morris, Scott Benedict, John Ventura, Mark Yorker, Tim Harris, Tom Sears Jr., Jim Larock, Billy Shantel, Ryan Baye.
DIRT 358 MODIFIED TRACK CHAMPION-Matt Sheppard.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Willy Decker, Tom Juhl, Mike Button, Gordy Button, Walt McArdell, Tim Clemons, Greg Doust, Jim Kite, Tim Sears, John Juhl, Ryan Richardson, Shawn Donath, Jeremy Pitcher, Dan Vail, Derrick McGrew, Scott Binns, Dave Bargabos, Mike Holmes, Bill Shantel Jr., Terry Knoblach, Shane Donath, Darryl Hagan, Ron Loveless, Mike Lavarnway.
SPORTSMAN TRACK CHAMPION-Tim Sears.
PRO STOCK FEATURE---Jeremy Clark, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jason Rood, John Pietrowicz, Ricky Breed, Tom Barron, Jerry Holmes, Ray Maloney, Freddy Dennis, Keith Butler, Ryan Buskey, J.B. Dockstader, Ryan Sherman, Doug Girmaldi, Dave Fox, Paul Streiff, George Dyer, Jim Graves, Joe Jackson, Paul Stoneburg, Tom Juno Jr.
PRO STOCK TRACK CHAMPION---Tom Barron.
PURE STOCK FEATURE---Jeff Pastorella, Paul Mercier, Chris Cunningham, Darren Kelso, Bruce Stanton, Ken Conners, Curt Prevo, Kevin Raymond, Bill Allen Jr., Steve Woodworth, Adam Morley, John Collette Sr., Rob Whipple, Wayne Chesbro, Dennis Brown, Stella Grayten, Todd Koegel, Brett Haman, Joe Buske, Gary Barton, Dave Stoughtenger, Russ Marsden.
PURE STOCK TRACK CHAMPION---Jeff Pastorella.