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ALAN JOHNSON WINS 358 SERIES RACE AT CAYUGA COUNTY




WEEDSPORT, NY..8/26/98...Alan Johnson took top honors for the fifth time this year in the Skoal Bandit Racing sm Super DIRT 358-Modified Series, winning the 98-lap feature at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway last Wednesday evening, August 26. Vince Vitale won the special 20-lap DIRT Sportsman main while Gary DeChick won the 40-lap enduro special event.

Todd Burley used his outside front row starting spot to blast into the lead at the drop of starter, Dave Farney's, green flag. Danny O'Brien, the pole sitter ran second followed by Tim Fuller, Tom Kinsella and Alan Johnson. Before the race was three laps old the yellow flew for a multi car incident involving Andy Bachetti, Bill Mullin, Todd Stewart and Hector Stratton in the second turn. All, but Stewart, were able to return to the race.

Burley tried to stretch his lead as Danny Johnson, who started fifth took second on lap nine. Johnson began to close the gap on Burley with Alan Johnson in third. A second yellow, coming on lap 15 for Shawn Donath slowing on the track, bunched the field together for the restart.

The cars were barely running laps when the yellow flew a third time when Mike Colsten looped his mount on the front stretch and tagged the concrete wall on lap 18. He was able to drive away from this incident.

Burley continued to lead as Alan Johnson passed his brother for second on lap 20. Burley was able to use lapped traffic to hold the Johnson brothers off until lap 39 when Alan was able to inch by Burley at the start-finish line. Alan then proceeded to take the lead and maintain a four car advantage over Burley, Danny and Brett Hearn. Danny O'Brien raced a distant fifth from the lead pack.

The yellow flew for the final time on lap 47 when Pierre Dagenais slowed on the front stretch with a flat tire. He made it into the pits under caution, but lost three laps changing the tire.

Alan Johnson now began to pull away from Burley. Brett Hearn passed Danny Johnson for third on lap 58. The remainder of the race kept a steady pace as Alan seemed to dominate the field.

On lap 91 smoke appeared from the back of the Danny Johnson-Bill Trout owned number 84. Danny steered this car into the infield and out of the race. Also dropping from competition at that time was Steve Paine.

Alan Johnson led Burley across the finish line by ten car lengths. Hearn finished third followed at a distance by Danny O'Brien and Dale Planck. Burley's second place finish earned him a guaranteed starting spot for the Prolong Super Lubricants 200 for 358-modifieds during Super DIRT Week XXVII, October 10. He also picked up a guaranteed starting spot at Rolling Wheels raceway during the Suzuki Wheels World Series of DIRT Track Racing Weekend's double point Skoal Bandit Racing sm Super DIRT 358-Modified Series race on Saturday, September 26. Forty-two 358-modifieds were present to attempt qualifying at Cayuga County's event.

Brett Hearn maintained his points lead over Alan Johnson as the points battle may go to an appellate hearing after the results of the Frogtown race's post race fines. Johnson sits second in series points 45 points behind Hearn. Tim Fuller, Tim McCreadie and Pete Bicknell round out the top five in points going into the next to final series race of the year.

In the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature Rick Miller took the early lead with Vince Viatle running second. A yellow flag on lap three flew when Tim Sears and Ben Tucker were collected in the second turn dring the Sears car hard into the outside wall. Also involved was Mike Conrow.

The restart saw Vitale take command of the race and draw away from Miller. Jim Spano joined the battle at the front of the field as Rich Swarthout raced twelve car lengths behind in fourth. Vitale held on for the win followed by Miller, Spano, Swarthout and Mike Button rounding out the top five.

The 358-Modified Series moves to Can Am International Speedway Thursday, August 27 for their final race before the Rolling Wheels double point event in September. Racing returns to the Cayuga County Fair Speedway for a regular race on Sunday, featuring the final points race for the 358-Modifieds. The season finale, Sunday, September 6, comes to town when the big block modifieds run a live televised Skoal Bandit Racing sm Super DIRT Series race. It will also be the final track points races for the big blocks, sportsman and enduro machines. Also that same afternoon the DIRT Motorsports merchandise division will host their annual "Blow-Out" Sale at the DIRT Motorsports Warehouse located behind DIRT Headquarters.

SYRACUSE FRAME & TRACEY ROAD EQUIPMENT presents the SKOAL BANDIT RACING sm SUPER DIRT 358-MODIFIED SERIES NIGHT SUMMARY

ENDURO

FEATURE TOP 3(40-LAPS): GARY DeCHICK, Bill Juhl, John Juhl.

SPORTSMAN

HEAT 1: J. Spano, R. Plantz, M. Button, J. LaRock, G. Doust.

HEAT 2: R. Miller, R. Swarthout, B. Tucker, T. Sears, V. Vitale.

FEATURE (20-laps): VINCE VITALE, Rick Miller, Jim Spano, Rich Swarthout, Mike Button, Greg Doust, Ron Davis, Steve Gray, Rodney Plantz, Dave VanArsdale, Steve Oplinger, Jim LaRock, Mark Cammuso, Bob Haws, Paul Benz, Tim Sears, Ben Tucker, Mike Conrow.

358-MODIFIED

HEAT 1: B. Hearn, J. Phelps, D. Johnson, S. Paine, T. Milton.

HEAT 2: A. Johnson, J. Barney, T. Burley, S. Donath, D. Ruggles.

HEAT 3: T. Kinsella, D. O'Brien, T. Fuller, D. Planck, M. Colsten.

HEAT 4: P. Bicknell, T. McCreadie, V. Coffey, T. Burnett, K. Tremont.

CONSI 1: A. Bachetti, T. Stewart, H. Stratton.

CONSI 2: C. Bower, D. Spatorico, P. Ward.

ADDED: B. Mullin, M. Perrotte, S. Ridley, J. Hopkins, S. Glover, P. Dagenais.

FEATURE (98-laps): ALAN JOHNSON, Todd Burley, Brett Hearn, Danny O'Brien, Dale Planck, Tim Fuller, Jimmy Phelps, Mike Colsten, Pete Bicknell, Tim McCreadie, Tom Kinsella, Kenny Tremont, Vic Coffey, Chuck Bower, Todd Milton, Mike Perrotte, Steve Glover, Andy Bachetti, Jason Barney, Hector Stratton, Scott Ridley, Danny Johnson, Jay Hopkins, Bill Mullin, Pierre Dagenais, Steve Paine, Don Spatorico, Darryl Ruggles, Tim Burnett, Shawn Donath, Pat Ward, Todd Stewart.