ALAN JOHNSON CONTINUES HIS DOMINANCE AT FULTON
SPEEDWAY IN THE MARONEY OWNED DIRT 358 MODIFIED
FULTON, NY...Alan Johnson won his fourth straight DIRT 358 Modified feature of the season last Saturday night at Fulton Speedway. It was Johnson's fourth straight win at the home of the Victoria 200 in the Mike Maroney owned DIRT 358 Modified. With the victory Johnson remains in contention for the 2001 track title. Matt Sheppard, who finished second, owns a 37 point lead going into the season finale this Saturday night.
Tyke Morris raced out to the early lead at the start of the DIRT 358 Modified feature from the pole starting position. A multi-car tangle on the front stretch stopped action on lap one. When racing resumed Jim Mahaney took over the top spot of the 27 car starting field. Mahaney was running strong and after five circuits he was being followed in the top five by Tom Sears, Mark Yorker, Morris and Tim Burnett.
With the race at the halfway stage Mahaney continued to lead and was being followed in the top five by Johnson, Sears, Sheppard and Burnett. Racing in positions sixth through tenth at the halfway mark in order included Yorker, Ryan Baye, Jeff Rudalavage, Jimmy Phelps and Dale Planck. Mahaney was looking for his first win of the season, but Johnson was starting to close the gap.
After several laps of racing in and out of lapped traffic, Johnson finally took the lead away from Mahaney. Once in front Johnson never looked back and returned to the winners circle. It was the Johnson's fifth win of 2001. Sheppard moved up to a second place finish on the final lap to protect his point lead. Mahaney had to settle for third with Sears and Rudalavage completing the top five feature finishers.
Tim Sears won his ninth DIRT Sportsman feature of the season in dramatic fashion last Saturday night. Sears passed invader Tim Clemons down the front stretch of the final lap to record the exciting win. Shawn Donath, Tom Juhl and Gordy Button completed the top five finishers. Clemons took the lead from Donath on lap nine and led up until just before the drop of the checkered flag.
T.J. Fitzgibbons won his second DIRT Pro Stock feature race of 2001 last Saturday night. Fitzgibbons was followed by John Pietrowicz, Jason Rood, Paul Stoneburg and Tom Barron in the top five. Fitzgibbons took the lead away from Stoneburg on lap six and led the rest of the way in the 20 lap caution free race.
Darren Kelso won his first Pure Stock feature of the season last Saturday night in a wild event. Kelso was followed across the finish line by Ken Conners, Dennis Brown, Paul Mercier and Kevin Raymond. The Pure Stock feature was another race decided in the final lap with Kelso winning. Joe Buske led up until lap 14, but faded to sixth in the finish.
FULTON NOTES-----A total of 37 DIRT 358 Modifieds attempted to qaulify for the main event...The DIRT Sportsman field featured 32 entrants...Fans were entertained during intermission with a Bus Race and Kids Big Wheels races...Action will continue this Saturday night at Fulton Speedway with the Central New York Mini-Sprints in action plus the DIRT 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and the Four Cylinder Enduro racers. Action will start at 7 p.m...For more information regarding Fulton Speedway please call (315) 593-6531 or 668-RACE...On line go to www.fultonspeedway.com.
FEATURE RACE SUMMARY
DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Alan Johnson, Matt Sheppard, Jim Mahaney, Tom Sears, Jeff Rudalavage, Tim Burnett, Ryan Baye, Jimmy Phelps, Dale Planck, John Barker, Ty Hunt, Bill Shantel, Jim Crawn, Jim Larock, Tyke Morris, Mark Yorker, Jeremie Corcoran, Roger Phelps, Billy Wilcox, Jeremy Smith, J.J. Michaels, Dave Reilley, Roy Shields, Jason Barney, Frankie Caprara, Rick Miller, John Ramsey.
DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Tim Sears, Tim Clemons, Shawn Donath, Tom Juhl, Gordy Button, Greg Doust, Willy Decker, Mike Lavarnway, Jeremy Pitcher, Jim Kite, Dan Vail, Terry Knoblach, Shane Donath, John Juhl, Dave Bargabos, Bill Shantel Jr., Donnie Wetmore Jr., Ryan Richardson, Scott Binns, John Cunningham, Steve Way, Craig Terrell, Ron Loveless, Clayton Brewer Jr., Mike Button.
PRO STOCK FEATURE---T.J. Fitzgibbons, John Pietrowicz, Jason Rood, Paul Stoneburg, Tom Barron, Jerry Holmes, Ricky Breed, Jeremy Clark, Ryan Sherman, Matt Smith, Ray Maloney, Dave Fox, Anna Elkema, Ricky Degroff, Santos Mendez, J.B. Dockstader, Ryan Buskey, Paul Streiff, Tom Juno.
PURE STOCK FEATURE---Darren Kelso, Ken Conners, Dennis Brown, Paul Mercier, Kevin Raymond, Joe Buske, Curt Prevo, Chris Cunningham, Rob Whipple, Gary Barton, Jeff Pastorella, Bruce Stanton, Dave Donath, Bill Allen, Adam Morley, John Collette Jr., Bill Juhl, Dave Stoughtenger, John Pietrowicz, Ted Crawford, Joe Reeves.