FULTON ADVANCE AUTO SERIES MODIFIED MAIN TO BOBBY VARIN;

TOM BARRON WINS PRO STOCK FEATURE

Fulton, NY…Bobby Varin passed Billy Decker for the lead on lap 54 of Wednesday night’s Advance Auto Parts DIRT Modified Tour 2000 Series feature and drove a flawless race to grab the Fulton victory. In the companion Pro Stock feature, it was Tom Barron getting the last lap win when the 2G of Ray Maloney had mechanical problems.

The 28 of Steve Poirier grabbed the early lead away from outside pole sitter Tom Sears in the 83. The 34-car field went 22 straight laps without a yellow in a fabulous start to the 100-lap race. The 84 of Gary Tompkins, who set fast time earlier in the evening, ran third early, with Billy Decker and the M1 of Tim Fuller following closely.

Sears allowed Poirier just five laps to enjoy being king of the mountain before he blasted his 83 by and took command. Sears opened up some distance once he got out front, while the 93 of Varin moved through the field and into the top five on lap 15.

The first caution flag was waved on lap 22 for the 99J of Jimmy Phelps, who came to a halt in turn two. Sears was the leader at this point, with Decker, Poirier, Fuller, and Varin filling out the top five. Decker snagged the lead on lap 26 and shuffled Sears back to second.

Brett Hearn, who had to use a provisional to get into the race, had a brake rotor go bad and pulled out on lap 32. Two laps later, the 87 of Jason Barney also went pitside and ended his night earlier than he would have liked.

Varin continued to move forward toward the front of the field, and when the caution flew for the second time on lap 43 for the 9 of Bob McCreadie’s broken rear axle, Varin had only leader Decker and second place Sears in front of him.

Also charging their way through the field were the brothers Johnson, better known as Danny and Alan. At the halfway point, the top five read Decker, Varin, Tim McCreadie, Danny Johnson, and Fuller. Alan Johnson was also in the top ten and making progress.

Mitch Gibbs pulled the Kreis 2G off the track on lap 53 as the race continued to go green. On the next lap, Varin, who had been battling furiously with Decker for the top spot, finally made his way around the 91 and would never again be headed.

Chuck Hebing brought out the race’s third yellow flag on lap 64, as he came to a stop on the back straightaway and had to be hooked to the pit area. The field tightened up once again with Varin leading Decker, Danny Johnson, Tim McCreadie, and Alan Johnson. Tom Sears, Frank Caprara (in a Small Block FX1), Fuller, Gary Tomkins, and Poirier rounded out the top ten.

With just 28 laps left Danny Johnson took over second from Decker and set sail after Varin, while Alan Johnson snared fourth from Tim McCreadie and began chasing down his brother. Ryan Baye brought out the yellow on lap 77 when he spun on the back straightaway. Baye would retire from the race at this point.

Decker temporarily took third back from Decker on the ensuing restart, but Johnson passed him back on lap 85 to reclaim the spot. Ken Tremont broke on lap 86, causing another yellow and slowing the pace once again and putting Danny Johnson right on the bumper of leader Varin for a final showdown at sundown.

The race would go green the rest of the way, and Johnson threw everything he had at Varin but it was not to be his night. Varin took the checkered flag to a thunderous ovation from the massive Fulton crowd. Danny Johnson finished second, with Alan Johnson, Decker, and Tim McCreadie rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Tom Sears, Frank Caprara, Steve Poirier, Tim Fuller, and Doug Hoffman rounding out the top ten.

Caprara was the first 358 Small Block Modified across the finish line, and chose to accept the guranteed starting spot for the 15th annual Victoria 200 at Fulton in late September. Gil Tegg, with his 20th place run, was the second 358 car across the line, and was given a guaranteed starting spot in the Sunoco Race Fuels 358 Mr. DIRT Series race at Syracuse during Super DIRT Week in October.

The 20-lap Pro Stock companion feature saw the 2G of Ray Maloney command the field early, with Dave Moyer second. Chuck Matthews and Randy Coit tangled on lap 2, bringing out the first of six yellow flags. While the field was under caution, Moyer had a tire go flat and he reported to the pits. This turn of events left Maloney in the lead with Jason Rood, Rick Breed, Paul Streiff, and Jerry Holmes behind him.

Tom Barron had his 28T hooked up, and moved through the field into the top five by the halfway point. Maloney was able to maintain some distance over the rest of the field when the race was green, with Barron working his way into second by lap 17.

The stage was set for a shootout when Jerry Holmes got spun and then made contact with another car, bringing out the last of the cautions with two laps left. The order was now Maloney, Barron, Breed, Rood, and T.J. Fitzgibbons.

As the old saying goes, it’s never over until it’s over, and for Maloney his dream of a Rolling Wheels Raceway World Series of Dirt Track Racing qualifying spot would be over as the white flag flew. The 2G suffered a mechanical failure and he slowed, giving Barron the lead, the win, and the qualifying spot.

When the checkered flag waved, it was Barron over Breed, Rood, Fitzgibbons, and Scott Moyer. A total of 24 DIRT Pro Stocks entered this special mid-week event.

The next race at Fulton is scheduled for Saturday, July 29th. Raymond’s Car Care and Wayne Regional Orthopedic will present The Central New York Mini Sprint Mid-Summer Shootout. A full card of DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Slingshots is also scheduled, along with a display of Microds and Quarter-Midgets from the Syracuse-Geddes Microd and Quarter Midget Club. Gates will open at 5pm, with race time set for 7pm. For more information, contact the speedway office at (315) 593-6531 or see them online at www.fultonspeedway.com.

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIED TOUR 2000 FEATURE FINISH: BOBBY VARIN, Danny Johnson, Alan Johnson, Billy Decker, Tim McCreadie, Tom Sears, Frank Caprara, Steve Poirier, Tim Fuller, Doug Hoffman, Jimmy Phelps, Steve Paine, Butch Tittle, Andy Bachetti, Jerry Higbie Jr., Vic Coffey, Todd Milton, Pat Ward, Ronnie Johnson, Gil Tegg Jr., Ray Bliss Jr., J. J. Michaels, Jack Johnson, Chuck Bower, Gary Tomkins, Kenny Tremont, Ryan Baye, Chuck Hebing, Mitch Gibbs, Bob McCreadie, Jason Barney, Brett Hearn, Pete Bicknell, Josh Skarzenski.

PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH: TOM BARRON, Rick Breed, Jason Rood, T. J. Fitzgibbons, Scott Moyer, Tim Sears, Paul Stoneburg, Mike Watkins, Bill Knapp, Dave Fox, Pat Hobbs, Zack Shove, Jerry Holmes, Paul Streiff, Dan Winks, Chuck Matthews, Ray Maloney, Keith Butler, Wayne Archer, Herm Flowers, Brent Michaels, Ryan Buske, Randy Coit, Dave Moyer, Stan Clark.

DIVISION: Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series: Race #9
TRACK: Fulton Speedway - Fulton, New York
DATE: Wednesday - July 26, 2000
FIN
STR
CAR#
DRIVER TEAM
1
14
93
Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY Magsarus Ignitions/Troyer/Waters
2
19
27j
Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld-Prudential Sec./Troyer/C.C. Perf.
3
17
1
Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY Mitsubishi-Beachy Motorsports/Bicknell/Enders
4
5
91
Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY New England Financial-Quality Hardwoods/Olsen/Enders
5
13
94
Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame-F.X. Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
6
2
83
Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY Mullen Industrial Handling Corp.-Pirate's Cove Marina/TEO/Moshier
7
15
fx1
Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY Manheim Auto Auction-Auto Value-F.X.Caprara Cars/Troyer/Gor-Den
8
1
28
Steve Poirier/St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil,QUE Fondations 4 Saisons-Coffrages Jacques Constant/TEO/AMB
9
8
m1
Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY B&F General Machine-Follweiler's Garage/Olsen/Enders
10
28
5
Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA Lincoln Auto Body/Troyer/Morrison
11
26
99j
Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY FleetPride/Troyer/Finger Lakes Machine
12
27
7x
Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Wynn's Lubrication Products-Junell Corp./TEO/Finger Lakes
13
12
Z
Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA Tittle & Sons Motorsports/Troyer/Fiehl
14
32
4b
Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Four Star Transmission-Bachetti's Auto Sales/TEO/Enders
15
22
97
Jerry Higbie,Jr./Middletown,NY Mr. K's Carpet Service/TEO/Precision
16
25
32c
Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld-Prudential Sec./TEO/C.C. Perf.
17
10
96
Todd Milton/Jordan,NY Terrell's Potato Chips/Troyer/Finger Lakes Machine
18
11
56
Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Finch's Trucking-Gypsum Wholesalers/TEO/Finger Lakes
19
6
21
Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY Coors Light Racing/TEO/Enders
20
20
22
Gil Tegg,Jr./Rochester,NY Mobil Speedpass-Snapple/Troyer/Campbell
21
16
27z
Ray Bliss,Jr./Warsaw,NY Bliss Logging/TEO/Campbell
22
30
31
J.J. Michaels/Baldwinsville,NY Schmidt Trucking/Troyer/Morrison
23
21
20
Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY Nice'N Easy Grocery Shoppes/TEO/Enders
24
3
99b
Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Currier Plastics-Mier Tool Company/TEO/Finger Lakes
25
4
84
Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Pennzoil-Red Parker Excavating/TEO/Mastin
26
24
115
Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY Emerick Assoc-S&S Asphalt-Fane Concrete/Troyer/Tremont
27
31
2
Ryan Baye/Constantia,NY American Auger Water Wells/Bicknell/Moshier
28
18
45
Chuck Hebing/Ontario,NY Crown Electric-Excel Long-Distance Service/Troyer/Stevens-Barron
29
9
2k
Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY Ernie Kreis & Sons Heating Co./TEO/Precision
30
7
9
Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame-F.X. Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
31
29
87
Jason Barney/Constantia,NY Stadium International-Pit Stop/Bicknell/Moshier
32
34
3
Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Budweiser Racing-WLR Const-Cavallaro Prod/TEO/Enders
33
23
1b
Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT Pillsbury Doughboy-Beachy Motorsports/Bicknell/Enders
34
33
9j
Josh Skarzenski/Erie,PA Stan's Garden Center-U.S. Navy/Bicknell/Enders
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: Poirier (1-5), Sears (6-25), Decker (26-53), Varin (54-100).
CAUTIONS: 5 for 13 laps.
HEAT WINNERS: B.McCreadie, Poirier, Milton, Sears, Fuller.
CONSI WINNERS: Higbie, Bicknell, Tremont.
EXISS DASH WINNER: Gary Tomkins.
SYRACUSE ECKERD 200 QUALIFIER: Tim McCreadie.
SYRACUSE SUNOCO 150 QUALIFIER: Gil Tegg,Jr.
BERT HARD CHARGER: Doug Hoffman.
JE PISTONS QUICK QUALIFIER: Gary Tomkins (16.920sec/79.787mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $35,800.
CARS ENTERED: 56.

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