DANNY JOHNSON WINS FULTON SPEEDWAY PROMOTION SPEED SUPPLY/CARSONAUTOMOTIVE GROUP SHOWDOWN AT SUNDOWN
FULTON, NY…Danny Johnson claimed the win in the 100-lap Promotion Speed Supply/Carson Automotive Group Showdown at Sundown at Fulton Speedway last Wednesday Night. Johnson passed brother Alan on lap 31 and led the rest of the distance. The win for the Rochester, N.Y. driver in the Sweetner’s Plus DIRT 358 Modified was worth $3,000.
Jason Barney drew the pole starting position for the 100-lap finale and Barney raced out to the early lead. Barney would only lead the opening two circuits before Alan Johnson took command of the top spot on lap three. Once in front Alan Johnson looked to open up a lead against the talented field. After 10 laps Alan Johnson, Barney, Todd Burley, Danny Johnson and Steve Paine raced in the top five positions.
Danny Johnson moved into second spot on lap 14, but at that time Alan Johnson owned a good sized lead. A caution on lap19 would regroup the field. On the restart Danny Johnson had to work around a lapped car and then he set his sights on his brother. Danny took the lead away from Alan on lap 32 after the duo raced side by side for several laps.
With a light rain falling the biggest question was would the race go the entire distance. A caution on lap 43 made the remainder of the race in doubt as the light rain briefly turned heavy. The cars stayed on the track as the laps clicked away. The event was restarted on lap 68 with Paine, Pete Bicknell, Vic Coffey and Burley following in the top five behind Danny Johnson.
Alan Johnson headed to the pits at this time with mechanical problems. Other top contenders would also later run into problems and failed to finish. Paine pulled out of the race on lap 71 and Bicknell did the same on lap 83. Up in front Danny Johnson pretty much had the field-covered enroute to his first win of the season at Fulton Speedway in his first appearance.
Burley, Coffey, Matt Sheppard and Brett Hearn completed the top five feature finishers. Gibbs, Tom Sears Jr., Jeff Rudalavage, Jimmy Phelps and Bill Gill crossed the finish line in positions sixth through tenth respectively. Barney, Rich Ricci Jr. and Frankie Caprara followed in order. A total of 13 cars finished on the lead lap. The race was slowed for a total of six caution periods, all minor in nature.
John Pietrowicz claimed the win in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature race. Pietrowicz won out over invader Jip Ortiz, Jerry Holmes, T.J. Fitzgibbons and Tom Barron. Paul Streiff led the opening seven laps of the caution-plagued race. Pietrowicz took over on lap eight and led the rest of the 20-lap event.
Pietrowicz also claimed the feature win in the 15 laps Pure Stock finale. Jeff Pastorella, Todd Koegel, Darren Kelso and Bill Flask completed the top five feature finishers. Bill Allen led the opening three laps of the main event before Pietrowicz took command on lap four of the 15 lap race.
FULTON NOTES---A total of 50 cars attempted to qualify for the DIRT 358 Modified main event…Heat wins were claimed by Danny and Alan Johnson, Sheppard, Burley and Barney…Alex Hoag, John Ramsey and Ricci were the Consolation race winners…Burley picked up the guaranteed starting position for the Syracuse Super DIRT Week show…Caprara was the hard charger in the race coming from the 30th starting position to finish 13th…Paine was the top driver in time trials…Action continues every Saturday night at the home of the Victoria 200. The DIRT 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks and Pure Stocks are in weekly competition plus various added attractions. Gates open at 5 p.m. with race time set for 7 p.m…For more information please call (315) 593-6531 or 668-RACE. The on line address is www.fultonspeedway.com.
PROMOTION SPEED SUPPLY/CASRON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
RACE SUMMARY
DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Danny Johnson, Todd Burley, Vic Coffey, Matt Sheppard, Brett Hearn, Mitch Gibbs, Tom Sears Jr., Jeff Rudalavage, Jimmy Phelps, Bill Gill, Jason Barney, Rich Ricci Jr., Frankie Caprara, John Barker, Gil Tegg, Ryan Baye, John Ramsey, Alex Hoag, Gus Schmidt, Pat Ward, Vince Quenneville Jr., Pete Bicknell, Steve Paine, Alan Johnson, Steve Hulsizer, Jim Mahaney, Ray Bliss, J.J. Michaels, Tim Burnett, Ted Lamb.
PRO STOCK FEATURE---John Pietrowicz, Jip Ortiz, Jerry Holmes, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Tom Barron, Dave Moyer, Joe Stefanski, Ricky Breed. Paul Stoneburg, Zack Shove, J.B. Dockstader, Gerry Newman, Pat Hobbs, Jason Rood, Heath Carney, Keith Butler, Tom Juno Jr., Anna Elkema, Jamie Reese, Dave Fox, Paul Streiff, Roger Chrysler, Freddy Dennis, Ray Maloney, Dennis Brown, Mike Watkins.
PURE STOCK FEATURE---John Pietrowicz, Jeff Pastorella, Todd Koegel, Darren Kelso, Bill Flask, Chris Cunningham, Paul Mercier, Gary Barton, Ken Conners, Nathan Peckham, Steve Woodworth, Dennis Brown, Bill Allen, Mike Kirk, Curt Prevo, Mike Welch, Rob Seavy, Wayne Chesbro, Rob Whipple, Mark Webb, Bruce Stanton, Joe Dote, Adam Morley.