Phelps victorious in Fulton 358-Modified feature
FULTON, NY — Jimmy Phelps powered by Alan Johnson on lap 23 of the DIRT 358 Modified feature and won his first race of the year at the Fulton Speedway on Saturday night. Jamie Christian won his second Sportsman feature in a row, Scott Moyer won the Pro-Stock feature, and Dan Pastorella scored a checkered flag in the Pure Stock class.
Phelps and Johnson started the event together in the seventh row. At the drop of the green, it was Dave Riley jumping out to the early lead with his 1R. Roger Phelps was on a mission early in the event and swept by the top three cars to take over the top spot on lap four.
The race’s first yellow came on lap 6 when the 31 of J.J. Michaels had a right front tire go down and he stopped in turn four. At this point Roger Phelps had Bill Shantel Sr., Johnson, Riley, and Jimmy Phelps behind him. Lansing Petzault, Steve Hulsizer, Jeff Rudalavage, Jason Barney, and Gil Tegg rounded out the top ten as the race was restarted.
It took the 14J of Johnson just two laps to move into first place, but he didn’t have much time to get away before a multi-car tangle slowed the event down another time on lap 9. Gus Schmidt, Ryan Baye, Ty Hunt, Mike Ward, and Aaron Jacobs were all involved in the melee with Baye’s machine coming to rest on top of Hunt’s. Most were able to restart.
A raging battle developed between Phelps and Johnson for the lead as the race neared its halfway point. Steve Hulsizer got his 88 into a fast groove on the speedway and was running in third when the 99A of Aaron Jacobs stalled in turn four and the yellow flag flew again.
Two laps of green flag racing were followed by the race’s final caution, which ensued when Gus Schmidt slowed in turn two before taking his car into the pits. Johnson was still the leader, but it wouldn’t be for long.
As the green lights came back on, Jimmy Phelps put his 99J up to the outside of Johnson and powered his way to the head of the class. Although Johnson tried to snare the lead back, it was to no avail as Phelps dodged slower traffic and captured his first win of the 2000 season.
Johnson, Hulsizer, Roger Phelps, and Jason Barney rounded out the top five. Modified heat wins went to Jimmy Phelps, Roger Phelps, and J.J. Michaels.
The Sportsman feature began with two simultaneous incidents occurring on the first lap. As the 0 of Russ Hefti spun in turn one, a chain reaction jingle ended with John Cunningham and Clayt Brewer sitting in turn four along with the 19 of Jim Kite.
After the restart, Chad Phelps took his 11 into the infield with smoke pouring out of the machine. The 26J of Tim Johnson was the leader at this time, and he had Gregg Carner, Greg Doust, Tyke Morris, and Willie Decker hot on his heels.
Green flag racing didn’t last even a lap before Tim Johnson broke loose in turn one causing a jingle that left Bill Shantel Jr., and Tom Collins tangled in turn one. On the move throughout this period was the 27 of Cunningham, who was charging from the back of the field after being involved in the opening lap incident.
Carner and Decker each took turns out front between laps four and nine. Cunningham was up to fifth as the race approached the ten lap mark, but he nudged an inside stationery tire as he exited turn two and flipped his car gently over, bringing the race to a halt.
As the track safety crew gently turned the car over, the crowd roared its approval when Cunningham got back in the car and restarted the race at the back of the field. Jamie Christian got a terrific restart, and moved by both Carner and Decker to take command on lap 10.
The remainder of the race was clean and green, with Christian fending off all challenges to remain undefeated in feature competition at Fulton this season. At the checkers it was Christian, Decker, Mark Yorker, Tim Johnson, and Paul Kinney finishing in the top five.
Winning Sportsman Heat events were Yorker, Carner, and the 26J of Johnson.
The Pro-Stock feature began with Jerry Holmes jumping out front, with Ricky Breed and Joe Jackson following. Breed threw everything but the kitchen sink at Holmes early on, but the 16 was running strong as only a few early yellows slowed the pace.
As the top three cars diced amongst themselves on lap 12, the 76 of Breed tapped the 16 of Holmes and the leader spun in turn four. Breed was sent to the back along with Holmes and the race restarted with Scott Moyer now the leader.
Once the race got back underway, Moyer pulled comfortably away from second place Ray Maloney and third Place Joe Jackson and held on for the win. Finishing behind Moyer and Jackson were Paul Stoneburg and the 18J of Jason Rood. Holmes and Moyer captured heat race victories.
Paul Mercier won the face-off in the Pure Stock event and became the early leader. Before the scoreboard changed to one, last week’s winner Darren Kelso lost an axle and the Tom Hood owned 17 was done for the evening.
Mercier led a few more laps before surrendering the top spot to the 25 of Jeff Pastorella, who held on for the win. Behind him, Chad Ray, the 54 of Jay Finch, and Mercier traded positions back and forth but finished in that order. The 99 of Bob Seavy rounded out the top five. Pastorella and Kelso were the heat winners in the Pure Stock division.
Next Saturday is B104.7 Poster Night at Fulton. Youngsters who attend the races are encouraged to draw a picture of their favorite driver, and the posters will be judged for prizes.
The Dwarf Cars will make their first appearance of the year at Fulton, and there will ATV racing as well. Of course, the 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro-Stocks and Pure Stocks will be on the card as well, making for a full night of fun for everyone. Gates open at 5, with race time slated for 7pm. For more information call (315) 593-6531, or contact the speedway website at www.fultonspeedway.com.
RESULTS
MODIFIEDS – Jim Phelps, Alan Johnson, Steve Hulsizer, Roger Phelps, Jason Barney, John Barker, Jeff Rudalavage, Roy Shields, Ryan Baye, Bill Shantel Sr., Pete Taylor, Dave Reilly, Ty Hunt, Lansing Petzoldt, Mike Ward, Erik Van Scriver, Tim Murphy Jr., Bill Woodworth, Gus Schmidt, Pat Lynch, Aaron Jacobs, Jim Burke, Gil Tegg, J.J. Michaels, Tim Harris.
SPORTSMAN – Jamie Christian, Willy Decker, Mark Yorker, Tim Johnson, Paul Kinney, Dave Bargabos, John Cunningham, Bill Shantel Jr., Rich Keller, Shane Donath, Paul Benz, Russ Hefti, Ed Ferris, Jimmy Harris, Clayt Brewer, Gregg Carner, Greg Doust, Jeremy Pitcher, Tom Collins, Tyke Morris, Chad Phelps, Tim Sears, Jim Kite.
PRO STOCKS – Scott Moyer, Ray Maloney, Joe Jackson, Paul Stoneburg, Jason Rood, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Rick Breed, Jerry Holmes, Dan Winks, Chuck Matthews, Ryan Buskey, John Pietrowicz, Dave Fox, Randy Coit, Paul Streiff, Roger Olschewske.