SHEPPARD TURNS IN DOMINATING PERFORMANCE AT FULTON
AND WINS THIRD FEATURE OF SEASON
FULTON, NY...Matt Sheppard won his third DIRT 358 Modified feature of the season at Fulton Speedway last Saturday night. It was Sheppard's third win in four starts this season for the talented rookie driver. The win for the 18 year old driver from Waterloo, N.Y. in the Paine Motorsports DIRT 358 Modified was worth $1,500.
Ty Hunt raced out to the early lead at the start of the 35 lap DIRT 358 Modified feature from the outside pole starting position. After five laps Hunt continued to lead with Wayne Reutimann Jr., J.J, Michaels, Ryan Baye and Sheppard following in the top five. Both Hunt and Reutimann were having their best outing of the season in leading the 25 car starting field.
Hunt continued to lead the field through the first seven laps when the first caution of the race came about. On the restart Sheppard restarted fourth and before the next lap was complete he was leading the field. Sheppard made a great move as he split both Hunt and Reutimann to take over the top spot.
At the halfway point of the main event Sheppard was being followed by Michaels, Hunt, Alan Johnson and Jimmy Phelps. Racing in positions sixth through tenth at the hakfway stage of the race in order included Jeff Rudalavage, Pete Bicknell, Jeremy Smith, Jim Mahaney and Jim Crawn. In the last half of the race Sheppard was able to pull away with a long green flag period to his advantage.
Even though Sheppard was all alone in the lead, a great race was being staged for the runner-up position between Johnson and Michaels. Johnson won that battle with Michaels, invader Bicknell and Rudalavage completing the top five feature finishers. Phelps, Mahaney, Hunt, John Barker and Jeremy Smith finished in positions sixth through tenth.
Shawn Donath won his first ever DIRT Sportsman feature at Fulton Speedway last Saturday night. Donath was followed by Russ Hefti, Shane Donath, Greg Doust and Jim Kite. Donath led the entire 20 lap distance. Hefti pressured Donath the entire distance, but had to settle for second.
Jason Rood won his first Fulton Speedway Pro Stock feature of the season last Saturday night. Mike Watkins, Dave Moyer, Tom Barron and Ray Maloney completed the top five feature finishers behind Rood. The entire 20 lap distance found Rood racing in the top spot.
Todd Storace won his third Fulton Speedway Pure Stock feature race last Saturday night. Storace was followed on this occasion by Bruce Stanton, Joe Buske, Rob Seavy and Dennis Brown. Storace took the lead away from Stanton on lap 13 and went on for the win in the 15 lap contest.
FULTON NOTES---The entire four division race program was completed in two and a half hours and that was much appreciated by the fans on the chilly night...Pete Bicknell and Dan Miller both entered their first Fulton race of the 2001 race season...Legendary driver Wayne Reutimann Sr. was at the track Saturday night watching his son compete in the 358 Modified division...This Saturday a Fulton Speedway will be a weekly four division show of DIRT 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks and Pure Stocks plus a Four Cylinder Enduro. Kids Big Wheel races will also be contested during intermission. Race time is 7 p.m. For more information please call (315) 593-6531 or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.
RACE SUMMARY
DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Matt Sheppard, Alan Johnson, J.J. Michaels, Pete Bicknell, Jeff Rudalavage, Jimmy Phelps, Jim Mahaney, Ty Hunt, John Barker, Jeremy Smith, Roy Shields, Rick Miller, Jim Crawn, John Ramsey, Ryan Baye, Gus Schmidt, Tim Murphy, Jim Burke, Bill Shantel Sr., Joel Thomas, Dan Miller, Mike Prentice, Pete Taylor, Wayne Reutimann Jr., Jim Witko.
DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Shawn Donath, Russ Hefti, Shane Donath, Greg Doust, Jim Kite, Paul Kinney, Jamie Christian, Mike Button, Craig Terrell, Bill Shantel Jr., John Cunningham, Clayton Brewer Jr., Tim Johnson, Chad Phelps, Tom Juhl, Jim Larock, Rodney Plantz, Jeremy Pitcher, Todd Thomas, Willy Decker, Ron Loveless, Walt McArdell, Dave Bargabos, Tim Sears, Dan Vail.
DIRT PRO STOCK FEATURE---Jason Rood, Mike Watkins, Dave Moyer, Tom Barron, Ray Maloney, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Ryan Buskey, Freddy Dennis, Dave Fox, John Pietrowicz, J.B. Dockstader, Paul Stoneburg, Tom Juno Jr., Ricky Breed, Eric Vanderhoof, Anna Elkema, Joe Jackson.
PURE STOCK FEATURE---Todd Storace, Bruce Stanton, Joe Buske, Rob Seavy, Dennis Brown, Gary Barton, Adam Morley, Jeff Pastorella, Mark Denny Jr., Darren Kelso, Al Button, Ken Connors, Rob Whipple, Mark Davison, Wayne Chesbro, Todd Koegel, Eric Chapman, Dan Butterfield, Kevin Raymond, Doug Jewell, Phil Trimm, Steve Woodworth, Bill Flask.