Planck wins second of year in Fulton thriller
FULTON, NY (May 22, 1999) - It looked to be a long night for Dale Planck after he had to run the consolation race to qualify for Saturday night's DIRT 358 Modified feature at Fulton Speedway. However, Planck used the outside lane to his advantage as he grabbed his second Fulton win of 1999 in a thrilling finish. In other action, Ron Richardson captured his first win of the year in the Sportsman division, Mike Watkins took his second in a row in the Pro Stocks, and Frank Hood got his second win of the year in the Pure Stocks.
Steve Hulsizer and Doug Fuller led the field to the green in the 35-lap Modified feature event, with Fuller grabbing the early lead using the outside lane. Hulsizer stuck with the low groove and the pair swapped the lead at least four times in the first ten laps of the feature. A little further back, Tom Kinsella was showing some strength on the outside groove as well, as he powered into the top ten by the first yellow of the feature, which flew on lap 15.
On the restart, Roger Phelps and John Barker began to battle with Fuller for the second spot, which allowed Hulszier to pull away. Planck, who started 19th, found the outside lane to his liking and began picking off cars each lap as he stormed to the front. Todd Burley was also trying the outside lane, but wound up in a tight battle with several drivers in the back half of the top ten.
The only other yellow flag in the feature flew on lap 24. Planck had made his way to sixth. As the green came out, Fuller started to fade and Planck set his sights on the top three, moving past John Barker for second on lap 30. Hulsizer had a good lead built up, but Planck closed the gap and ran side by side with Hulsizer for two full laps. Finally, Planck moved around Hulsizer on the outside lane with a lap and a half to go and held off repeated challenges from Hulsizer to nab the win. Roger Phelps came home third, followed by Barker and Burley. DIRT 358 Modified heats were won by Roger Phelps, Alan Johnson, and Jimmy Phelps. Dale Planck won the Modified consolation race.
The 20-lap Sportsman feature began with Rich Keller leading the first lap, losing the lead to John Cunnigham. Dave Bargabus was using the outside lane to battle with Cunningham for the top spot when Keller spun on lap 5, which scrambled the field.
On the restart, Cunningham retained the lead while Ron Richardson and Willy Decker battled for position. Richardson moved past Bargabus and battled with Cunningham for the lead while Tony Buffa moved into the top five. Cunnigham, Richardson, and Bargabus battled heavily for the top spot with Richardson finally getting the lead for good on lap 11. Bargabus' great race ended on lap 14 when he dropped out.
Richardson held the lead to the checkers while Howie Albrecht, last week's winner, made a late race charge to grab second. Cunningham, Buffa, and Decker rounded out the top five. Sportsman heats went to Richardson, Greg Doust, and Decker, with Dan Vail winning the consolation race.
The 20-lap Pro Stock feature event began with John Cooper taking the lead. Ray Maloney came up to second and passed Cooper for the top spot on lap 4. Just one lap later, as the caution flag flew, Maloney had two tires go down on his car and he was forced to the pits. On the restart, John Pietrowicz took the lead and began a lengthy side by side battle with Mike Watkins. Watkins finally made the low groove work to take the lead on lap 16 and held on for his second win in a row. Pietrowicz was second, followed by Jerry Holmes, Bill Shantel Jr., and Ricky Breed. John Cooper and T.J. Fitzgibbons won Pro Stock heat races.
The 15-lap Pure Stock feature race began with Dave Mannise making a wild four wide pass on the backstretch that carried into a pass for the lead as the field came down to complete lap 1, moving Mannise from sixth at the start to first. Chad Ray and Frank Hood joined Darren Kelso and Kevin Raymond in a four way battle for position, which Hood emerged from on lap 9.
Mannise and Hood battled for the lead, with Ray joining in. Hood moved into the lead on lap 11 and took his second win of 1999. Ray nipped Mannise for second by a bumper at the line, with Kelso and Rob Seavey rounding out the top five. Pure Stock heats were won by Mannise and Hood.
RESULTS
DIRT 358 Modified Feature: 1. Dale Planck, 2. Steve Hulsizer, 3. Roger Phelps, 4. John Barker, 5. Todd Burley, 6. Jason Barney, 7. Dave House, 8. Doug Fuller, 9. Alan Johnson, 10. J.J. Michaels, 11. Tom Kinsella, 12. Mitch Gibbs, 13. Ted Lamb, 14. Jimmy Phelps, 15. Gus Schmidt, 16. Jim Rothwell, 17. Gil Tegg, 18. Tim Burnett, 19. John Ventura, 20. Ryan Baye, 21. Tom Sears, 22. Jeremy Baye, 23. Jay Hopkins, 24. Roy Shields.
Sportsman Feature: 1. Ron Richardson, 2. Howie Albrecht, 3. John Cunningham, 4. Tony Buffa, 5. Willy Decker, 6. Jim Spano, 7. Mark Yorker, 8. Greg Carner, 9. Tim Johnson, 10. Walt McArdell, 11. Jim LaRock, 12. Chad Phelps, 13. Clay Brewer, 14. Tim Mayne, 15. Mike LaVarnway, 16. Dan Vail, 17. Ron Davis, 18. Terry Knoblauch, 19. Bill Shantel, 20. Greg Doust, 21. Dave Bargabus, 22. Paul Benz, 23. Timmy Sears, 24. Rich Keller, 25. Jeremy Pitcher.
Pro Stock Feature: 1. Mike Watkins, 2. John Pietrowicz, 3. Jerry Holmes, 4. Bill Shantel Jr., 5. Ricky Breed, 6. John Cooper, 7. Gerry Newman, 8. Bruce Hovis, 9. Paul Stoneburg, 10. T.J. Fitzgibbons, 11. Rich Murtaugh, 12. Chuck Thomas, 13. Jason Rood, 14. J.B. Dockstader, 15. Randy Skiff, 16. Ray Maloney.
Pure Stock Feature: 1. Frank Hood, 2. Chad Ray, 3. Dave Mannise, 4. Rob Seavey, 5. Lou Levea, 6. Kevin Raymond, 7. Rick DeGroff, 8. Joe Buske, 9. Tom Loving, 10. Dan Patch, 11. Ken Wentworth, 12. Brian Skiff, 13. Dan Butterfield.