BURLEY WINS FIFTH OF THE SEASON IN NEW CAR AT UTICA-ROME ON PEPSI NIGHT
VERNON, NY – Todd Burley of Spencerport moved another step closer to his first career Utica-Rome Speedway DIRT 358-Modified track championship with his fifth victory of the 2001 season last Sunday on Pepsi-Cola night. Burley, 30, started thirteenth, took the lead from Ted Lamb on lap 22, and led the remainder of the 30-lap distance to open the final full month of racing this season at the speedway. The win for the driver of the brand new Mirabito Fuel Group / Troyer 4-Link machine was worth $1,500.
Also winning feature events on Pepsi-Cola night were Jamie Christian of West Winfield in the DIRT Sportsman, Chad Ray of Verona in the DIRT Pro Stocks, George Schulze of Illion in the Pure Stocks, and Randy Marsh of West Edmeston in the Slingshots.
Wayne Reutimann Jr. and Ted Lamb Jr. paced the 30-lap headline DIRT 358-Modified feature down to the flags of Starter Dick Sweet, with Lamb racing out to the lead. Early on in the race, Jason Barney and Lamb battled it out for the lead, but Lamb had more power on the high side to continue riding out front as Reutimann continued in third. Todd Burley, J.J. Michaels, Ryan Baye, and Mitch Gibbs put on an entertaining battle for the fifth spot, until Gibbs fell out of the event on lap 7. Steve Hulsizer, who started third, pressured Barney for the position for several laps until he took the runner up spot on lap 9. Burley moved into the top five, and raced three wide with Barney and Hulsizer on lap 12. Hulsizer jumped the cushion in turn one, and Burley took over second as he set his sights on race leader Ted Lamb.
At the halfway mark as Burley peeked underneath Lamb several times, Lamb was the leader, Burley in second, Barney in third, Baye in fourth, and Hulsizer in fifth. Lamb, looking for his first Utica-Rome win since 1998, was rim riding on the high side and able to hold off Burley for the next seven laps, until Burley finally got by on the backstretch on lap 22. Then, on the next lap, Lamb’s fantastic run ended in turn one when he broke and stopped on the track in turn two in a tough break.
When the race resumed, Burley hit the rocket boosters and opened a commanding lead, but the top story of the last few laps was the battle for positions three through five. Baye was racing with close friend Barney for third, just as J.J. Michaels made his presence known in the top five. On lap 26, Michaels took over fourth, and appeared to be much quicker than the cars just ahead as he took over third from Barney with just two laps to go. However, from there on out it was Burley with a commanding lead over Hulsizer for his fifth victory of the season at Utica-Rome, the eighth of his career at the track. Michaels had to settle for third, followed by Baye and Barney. Reutimann recorded a fine sixth place finish, with Roger Phelps in his comeback in seventh, Gus Schmidt in eighth, Aaron Excel in ninth, and Pete Taylor in tenth. Reutimann, Lamb, and Hulsizer were the heat race winners.
"Early on, I don’t think I had enough for Lamb, but he kept getting looser and looser," said Burley who debuted a brand new 2000 Troyer 4-Link 358-Modified. "This car works good here, and it was a good setup for tonight." Burley now holds a 128 point lead over J.J. Michaels in the season point standings, and he could very well be on his way to his first career track title.
Steve Hulsizer, who won at Can-Am the night before, was all smiles in victory lane, with his second runner-up finish of the 2001 season at Utica-Rome. "I’m just happy," Hulsizer said. "We got home in one piece, and it’s been a good weekend."
Four yellows slowed the fast paced feature, with the most serious occurring on lap 4 when Jim Rothwell spun in turn three, collecting rookie Todd Thomas. Heavy damage was inflicted on both cars, although Thomas was able to return after a pit stop to remove bent sheet metal.
Jamie Christian came from the fourteenth starting position to claim his third DIRT Sportsman 20-lap feature victory of the season. Christian held off the late race charge of Willy Decker as the pair made contact several times on the last few circuits, as well as the last corner as they raced to a photo finish. Decker had to settle for second, with point leader Tim Clemons in third, Shawn Donath in fourth, and Gordy Button in fifth. Tim Mayne, looking for his first victory of the season, led the first seventeen laps until he broke on the backstretch, handing the lead to Christian with just two laps to go. Steve Davis, Mayne, and Shawn Donath won the heat races, while Jim Roberts was victorious in the consi.
Chad Ray won his first career DIRT Pro Stock feature and it certainly was not easy as he was dogged by point leader Jerry Holmes in the closing laps of the caution filled 15-lap event. However, Ray, who started fifth on the grid, held on for the popular victory, with Holmes settling for second. Eric Vanderhoof was third in his best career finish, with Bret Belden making a late race charge for fourth, and Dave Moyer in fifth. Bill Knapp led the opening circuit, with Mark Effner taking control until he broke while leading on lap 9. Heat victories went to Effner and Jason Rood.
George Schulze won his first career 15-lap Pure Stock feature event after taking the lead from David Pope on lap 2 and leading the remainder of the distance. Jim Thomas was second, Les Lewis was third, Rob Seavy was fourth, and Art Newman Jr. was fifth. Lewis and Thomas won the Pure Stock heat races.
Randy Marsh took the lead from A.J. Digsby on lap 5 of the 12-lap Slingshot feature and went on to his second victory of the 2001 season. Digsby was second, followed by point leader Denny Tilison, Mike Teachout, and Jackie Botindari. Mike Waterman was the heat race winner.
Notes – 23 Modifieds, 30 Sportsman, 23 Pro Stocks, 18 Pure Stocks, and 8 Slingshots were on hand for Pepsi-Cola night. Roger Phelps returned to Utica-Rome for the first time since severe burns due to a blown radiator hose at another speedway earlier this season. The Modified chassis win count: Troyer 8, TEO 4, and Bicknell 1. Six different drivers have won in the headline DIRT 358-Modifieds to date, including Todd Burley (5), Jack Johnson (3), J.J. Michaels (2), Danny Johnson (1), John Ramsey (1), and Mitch Gibbs (1). Coming up this Sunday August 12 will be Nice N’ Easy Grocery Shoppes and F.X. Caprara Car Companies night, featuring the DIRT 358-Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks, and Pure Stocks plus the WWF Monster Trucks in a special free-style event. Race time is set for 6pm. For more information, contact the speedway office at (315) 829-4557 or log on to www.newuticaromespeedway.com.
NEW UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
DIRT 358-Modifieds – TODD BURLEY, Steve Hulsizer, J.J. Michaels, Ryan Baye, Jason Barney, Wayne Reutimann Jr., Roger Phelps, Gus Schmidt, Aaron Excel, Pete Taylor, Andy Romano, Paul Jensen, Chad Ward, Bill Shantel Sr., Mike Schoonover, Joel Thomas, Todd Thomas, Dave Rauscher, Ted Lamb Jr., Mitch Gibbs, John Ramsey, Jim Rothwell, John Barker Jr.
Current Unofficial Point Standings – Burley 638, Michaels 510, Barney/Baye 502, Schmidt 496, Jensen 483, Hulsizer 480, J. Johnson 472, Ramsey 446, Gibbs 369.
DIRT Sportsman – JAMIE CHRISTIAN, Willy Decker, Tim Clemons, Shawn Donath, Gordy Button, Paul Carey, Paul Kinney, Steve Davis, Bill Trexler Jr., Shane Donath, Tom Denton, Jim Roberts, Dan Yankowski, John Christian, Jessica Zemken, Butch Reiter, Daryl Hagen, John Kinsella, Tim Mayne, Kevin Crave, Tony Ross, Bill Shantel Jr., Donnie Wetmore Jr., Brian Murphy.
Did Not Qualify – Bob Hentschel, Steve Way, Craig Pritchard, Mark Tily, Ben Novak, Brian Johnson.
Current Unofficial Point Standings – Clemons 506, Ja. Christian 474, Decker 468, Trexler 378, Carey 368, Crave 332, Roberts 329, Shane Donath 296, Jo. Christian 294, M. Button/Davis 286.
DIRT Pro Stocks – CHAD RAY, Jerry Holmes, Eric Vanderhoof, Bret Belden, Dave Moyer, Bill Knapp, Gerry Newman, Wayne Archer, John Roese, Ray Hall, Dave Meeks, Warren Williams, Bob Gloska, Brian Belden, Gus Gould, Mark Hoffman, Jamie Reese, Heath Carney, Mark Effner, Jason Rood, Chuck Jones, Ray Fancher, Doug Grimaldi.
Pure Stocks – GEORGE SCHULZE, Jim Thomas, Les Lewis, Rob Seavy, Art Newman Jr., Jeff Pastorella, Mike Kirk, Waylan Wilczek, Walt Koperda Jr., Ray Hall Jr., Cody Streeter, David Pope, Tim Nye, Ted Crawford, Herm Staats, Joe Dote, Brett Haman, Ricky Trexler.
Slingshots – RANDY MARSH, A.J. Digsby, Denny Tilison, Mike Teachout, Jackie Botindari, Claude Hitchings, Joe DeJohn, Mike Waterman.