TREMONT POSTS RECORD-SETTING FOURTH PROLONG 200 VICTORY ON THE MILE (Sat. Oct. 11, 1997)

SYRACUSE,NY...West Sand Lake, New York driver Kenny Tremont successfully defended his Prolong Super Lubricants 200 Championship on Saturday as he captured a record-setting fourth career triumph in the 358-Modified portion of Super DIRT Week XXVI.

Tremont's most recent victory on the New York State Fairgrounds notorious 'Moody Mile' was worth $21,725 in cash and contingencies from a total prize package in excess of $60,000.

Tremont overtook a sputtering Billy Decker with less than 20 laps remaining and went on to score the popular victory by a 3.6 second margin over fast small-block time-trialer Joe Plazek. His first two SDW small-block wins came in 1988 and '92.

The Prolong 200 was broadcast "live" on SportsChannel to millions of viewers tuning in from across the nation.

Rochester, N.Y.'s Danny Johnson took off from second position as legendary engine-builder turned honorary starter Smokey Yunick waved the initial green flag to begin the 125-lap feature race. Johnson held the point until making his mandatory pit stop under racing conditions with 30 laps complete.

Pole-sitter Jimmy Horton assumed the lead role until taking his own tour pitside 10 laps later. Horton pitted under caution along with nearly half the field after Jimmy Chester lost a wheel in turn three to incur a yellow flag siuation.

It was Guy Sheldon's turn to take command of the 49-car field with Decker and Englishtown, N.J. veteran Ralph Rue close in tow. Sheldon pocketed the $1,300 halfway bonus for leading lap 63 but lost the top spot to Decker on lap 70 as he drifted too high between turns one and two.

Despite pulling to the infield for a splash of fuel on lap 36, Decker only lasted until lap 108 before his 22-gallon tank ran dry. Tremont took advantage and sped past aboard his cousin Dennis Tremont's no. 21 Precision-powered Gable Motorsports machine for the final exchange.

A restart with just two circuits remaining offered Plazek a glimmer of hope but the two-mile distance, extending the race to 126 laps, proved still not enough to catch the nine-time Lebanon Valley Speedway points champion.

1995 Prolong 200 winner Jimmy Hauser crossed the finish line in the show position but was disqualified for his car being underweight in the customary post-race inspection.

Horton improved to third while Waterloo, N.Y.'s Steve Paine won the 'Hard Charger' award for finishing fourth after a 40th-place start. Second-generation pilot Steve Bottcher rounded out the top-five in the day's final event.

Dick Larkin, Bud Christmann, Jerry Higbie,Jr., top-finishing rookie Todd Milton and Rue completed the top-10 positions at the stripe.

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