Tim Fuller Shoots Down Field In 'Garden State Gunfight' At New Egypt.

Wed - August 16, 2006 -- New Egypt Speedway

New Egypt, NJ

Author: Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director

Reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT points king Tim Fuller took advantage of a broken axle by race-long leader Sam Martz on Wednesday night at New Egypt Speedway and cruised home to score a convincing straightaway victory in the ‘7th Annual Garden State Gunfight 100’ Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series event. The 100-lap Advance Auto Parts SDS victory was his third of the season and the Edwards, N.Y. driver collected $6,000 for his work in the 40-minute DIRT big-block Modified main.

“That no. 3 (Martz) car was definitely gone tonight,” said Fuller, 38, after opening up a five and a half second lead over runner-up Billy Decker and another half-dozen car-lengths over Alan Johnson when the final checkered flag flew. Through the opening 16 tour events, Johnson (1,316 pts) leads Decker (1,281) and Fuller (1,280) with the next event slated for Aug. 30 at their Friday night hangout in Brewerton, N.Y. “I give a lot of credit to the guy, he had the field covered until he broke. It’s a tough way to lose but that’s the way things happen in our sport. Only one lap really counts no matter how good you are the first 99.”

For the second straight race Martz came up empty-handed in his bid to capture a second career Modified victory at New Egypt. In the a regular 30-lapper held on Saturday, current track points leader Jimmy Horton set up Martz on the final tour and hustled in for his sixth victory of the season. On Wednesday night at NES it was just a regular Saturday night distance that separated Martz from the biggest win of his career before the right-rear axle gave way on the ultra-tacky half-mile oval.

Martz won the third of four qualifying heats and grabbed pole-position in the customary pre-race draw among the top-12 finishers to determine the starting order for the talent-laden field of 30 open-wheel machines. The Whitehouse Station, N.J. pilot out-dragged front-row partner Horton at the drop of the initial green flag but put the brakes on his no. 3 Perone’s Auto Salvage/Bicknell mount just as fast following display of a rare red flag. Weekly NES runner Rich Scagliotta got turned around coming out of turn four to stack up the on-rushing pack and by the time the smoke had cleared nearly a dozen cars were involved in the lap two melee. Done for the night were second-generation standouts Ronnie Johnson and Keith Brightbill along with Scagliotta, while picking up the rear of the field on the ensuing restart was defending track points champ Frank Cozze, the Integra Shocks Fast Time earlier in the show turning a best lap of 17.334 sec. (103.842 mph) and also winner of heat number one.

Track mainstays Martz and Horton paced the field early on with Fuller, Decker and Rick Grosso Jr. holding top-five posts. Grosso suddenly pulled down to the infield with mechanical problems leaving last year’s ‘Legends of the Fall’ feature winner Matt Sheppard to fill the void. Challenging for position right behind with 10 laps complete were career New Egypt feature winner leader Billy Pauch, Alan Johnson, all-time Advance Auto Parts tour winner Brett Hearn and Danny Johnson, who was charging after starting 23rd on the grid.

New Jersey hopeful Ryan Godown slowed between turns one and two to require the first yellow flag on lap 14 and after getting shuffled to fourth on the restart Horton retired into the pits for good six circuits later. Godown limped into the pits for the duration on lap 23 with a flat right-front tire and was followed soonafter by brother Brian Godown. Already falling a lap down to the leaders, tour regular Jimmy Phelps broke at the end of the front straightaway and he too crawled slowly into the pits following the lap 33 caution. Rich Rutski spun out in turn four (lap 42) and Sheppard slowed momentarily (lap 49) with mud in his wheel to incur two more slowdowns and at the midway mark it was Martz leading Fuller and Decker with Pauch and Alan Johnson the next closest pursuers. Danny Johnson, Hearn, Pat Ward, a rallying Cozze and Billy Pauch Jr. figured into the top-10 with 25 miles still to go.

Pauch and Decker swapped the show position on two occasions before Danny Johnson’s no. 27J Troyer ride went up in smoke and remained parked up against the outside frontstretch wall. It was on the following lap 69 restart when Martz suddenly slowed and opened the door for Fuller to assume a position he would not relinquish the remainder of the way. Pauch was overtaken by Alan Johnson with 10 to go, then gave up fourth to Hearn on lap 94 before Cozze complete his charge back to the front with a last lap pass of the two-time ‘Gunfight’ winner. Cozze’s valiant run earned him a guaranteed starting berth in the Eckerd 200 Championship during Super DIRT Week XXXV, Oct. 4-8, at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

“Having the lead here is everything, you can run your own groove and avoid a lot of the trouble,” said Fuller, following his DIRT NorthEast-high 13th big-block Modified victory steering his no. 19 JL Motorsports(Native Poker)-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO special with a Kevin-Enders-prepared powerplant under the hood. His 14th career Advance Auto Parts SDS triumph also improved his overall DIRT NE big-block total to 74. “This track is not what we’re used to, a little bumpy with a big cushion, but we brought down the right motor and got the job done. We’ve got a skeleton crew that took time off from work to be here, even John (Lazore, major sponsor) came down to help out. I’m here talking to you now but they made this all possible.”

Past ‘Garden State Gunfight’ winners Decker (2001) and Johnson (2003) came next with little to offer Fuller over the closing laps.

“I don’t think I could take running here weekly, I’m pretty tired right after tonight’s race,” said Decker, who time trialed fourth quickest among the 32 cars entered then settled for second in the fourth heat behind Fuller wheeling the LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell machine. “The track is so demanding on equipment in a long race you just try to keep the car alive. You run as smooth as you can for as long as you can and try to be around at the end. We fell one spot short but were in the hunt for awhile. That no. 3 (Martz) car had the high line figured and certainly would’ve been hard to catch if he stayed out a few more laps.”

Added third-place finisher Johnson, “It was just survival out there tonight. It’s a nice track but tonight I took half of it home with me. At the end I went over the scales 100 lbs. heavy and that’s a lot to carry around all night for so many laps.”

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Race #16 – New Egypt Speedway, August 16, 2006 ‘7th Annual Garden State Gunfight 100’ Modified Event Summary

FIN STR CAR# DRIVER

1 3 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY ($6,000)

2 4 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY

3 8 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY

4 7 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ

5 9 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA

6 10 1 Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ

7 17 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY

8 13 1t Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY

9 24 15 Billy Pauch Jr./Frenchtown,NJ

10 30 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY

11 14 81 Rich Rutski/Somerville,NJ

12 16 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY

13 20 14w Ryan Watt/Pottstown,PA

14 1 3 Sam Martz/Whitehouse Station,NJ

15 5 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY

16 23 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY

17 11 rjs7 Ron John Koczon/New Egypt,NJ

18 21 27 Steve Bottcher/Lehighton,PA

19 19 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA

20 29 usa1 Richie Tobias,Jr./Annville,PA

21 18 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY

22 15 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY

23 25 10g Brian Godown/Frenchtown,NJ

24 12 26 Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ

25 2 42 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ

26 22 23 Tom Carberry/Hopewell,NJ

27 6 r24 Rick Grosso,Jr./Belle Mead,NJ

28 28 14r Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY

29 27 41 Keith Brightbill/Mohnton,PA

30 26 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ

LAP LEADERS: Martz (1-68), Fuller (69-100).

CAUTIONS: 6 for 16 laps; 1 RED FLAG (lap 2).

ECKERD 200 QUALIFIER: Frank Cozze.

QUALIFYING

FAST AVE

TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER

1 17.334 sec. 103.842 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap, PA

*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award

**$50 Vespia Tire & Auto Care ‘Lightning Lap’ Bonus

2 17.390 103.508 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY

3 17.409 103.395 3 Sam Martz/Whitehouse Station,NJ

4 17.543 102.605 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY

5 17.579 102.395 r24 Rick Grosso,Jr./Belle Mead,NJ

6 17.587 102.348 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY

7 17.653 101.966 26 Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ

8 17.660 101.925 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY

9 17.705 101.666 42 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ

10 17.713 101.620 81 Rich Rutski/Somerville,NJ

11 17.770 101.294 1 Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ

12 17.810 101.067 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY

13 17.819 101.016 1t Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY

14 17.856 100.806 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ

15 17.876 100.694 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY

16 17.904 100.536 10g Brian Godown/Frenchtown,NJ

17 17.925 100.418 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY

18 17.940 100.334 19j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY

19 17.996 100.022 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA

20 18.006 99.967 rjs7 Ron John Koczon/New Egypt,NJ

21 18.026 99.856 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY

22 18.029 99.839 23 Tom Carberry/Hopewell,NJ

23 18.048 99.734 14r Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY

24 18.068 99.624 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ

25 18.110 99.393 usa1 Richie Tobias,Jr./Annville,PA

26 18.114 99.371 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY

27 18.119 99.343 15 Billy Pauch Jr./Frenchtown,NJ

28 18.186 98.977 14w Ryan Watt/Pottstown,PA

29 18.252 98.619 27 Steve Bottcher/Lehighton,PA

30 18.341 98.141 41 Keith Brightbill/Mohnton,PA

31 18.352 98.082 73 Ryan Jacobs/Hogansburg,NY

32 18.491 97.345 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA

Heat Races (10 laps, top-5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)

#1: Cozze, Grosso, Horton, Tomkins, Ward, Bottcher, Planck, Tobias.

#2: A.Johnson, Sheppard, Hearn, Rutski, Phelps, Carberry, Brightbill, D.Johnson.

#3: Martz, R.Godown, Pauch, Paine, Laubach, Pauch Jr., R.Johnson, Jacobs.

#4: Fuller, Decker, Koczon, Stafford, Watt,

Consolation Round (8 laps, top 10 finishers transferred to feature)

#1: Bottcher, Carberry, D.Johnson, Pauch Jr., B.Godown, Scagliotta, Brightbill, R.Johnson, Tobias, Planck, Jacobs (DNS), Bates (DNS).

Advance Auto Parts Super Series Point Standings (through August 16, 2006)

No. Driver Points Diff Money Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts

1 14J Alan Johnson 1,316 0 $48,125 4 11 12 16

2 91 Billy Decker 1,281 (35) $40,725 3 11 13 16

3 19 Tim Fuller 1,280 (36) $38,200 3 12 13 16

4 20 Brett Hearn 1,158 (158) $29,850 2 9 11 16

5 1 Gary Tomkins 1,110 (206) $27,450 1 8 11 16

6 42p Pat Ward 1,056 (260) $14,850 0 3 11 16

7 27J Danny Johnson 1,001 (315) $17,250 1 1 9 16

8 77x Dale Planck 973 (343) $18,075 1 2 10 15

9 98h Jimmy Phelps 973 (343) $14,500 0 3 11 16

10 44s Matt Sheppard 942 (374) $11,925 0 1 8 16

11 44c Frank Cozze 918 (398) $10,650 0 3 6 16

12 7x Steve Paine 911 (405) $11,150 0 1 7 16

13 8J Tom Sears Jr. 643 (673) $6,125 0 1 2 13

14 10 Stewart Friesen 519 (797) $3,713 0 0 2 10

15 32c Vic Coffey 471 (845) $6,075 0 2 5 8

16 3 Justin Haers 450 (866) $3,700 0 0 2 9

17 11 Kyle Jacobs 445 (871) $3,825 0 1 1 9

18 Z Butch Tittle 408 (908) $2,950 0 0 0 10

19 60 Kenny Stafford 395 (921) $2,700 0 0 0 8

20 39 Tim McCreadie 308 (1,008)$6,950 0 3 4 5

21 6J Joe Isabell 306 (1,010)$1,875 0 0 0 5

22 42 Jimmy Horton 296 (1,020)$7,400 1 1 1 5

23 42B Kevin Bates 267 (1,049)$1,550 0 0 0 5

24 3b Chad Brachmann 242 (1,074)$2,925 0 1 1 5

25 62 Todd Burley 237 (1,079)$2,200 0 0 1 4

26 14 Rick Laubach 212 (1,104)$1,200 0 0 0 5

27 73 Ryan Jacobs 207 (1,109)$900 0 0 0 3

28 22g Mitch Gibbs 196 (1,120)$1,263 0 0 0 5

29 6 Pat O’Brien 195 (1,121)$6,500 0 2 2 2

30 14r Ronnie Johnson 176 (1,140)$1,200 0 0 0 4

31 99b Chuck Bower 174 (1,142)$1,100 0 0 0 3

32 99 Ryan Phelps 173 (1,143)$1,200 0 0 0 5

33 357 Billy Pauch 162 (1,154)$2,000 0 0 1 3

34 18 Sean Beardsley 159 (1,157)$1,125 0 0 0 4

35 R2 Rusty Smith 156 (1,160)$1,100 0 0 0 3

36 90r Martin Roy 156 (1,160)$1,050 0 0 0 3

37 42 Pete Bicknell 152 (1,164)$4,350 0 1 1 2

38 26 Ryan Godown 143 (1,173)$1,000 0 0 0 3

39 88 Steve Hulsizer 129 (1,187)$900 0 0 0 4

40 66 Jeff Heotzler 128 (1,188)$2,300 0 1 1 3

41 71 David VanHorn Jr. 124 (1,192)$1,000 0 0 1 2

42 33.3 Tommy Meier 120 (1,196)$500 0 0 0 2

43 66 Kyle Dingwall 115 (1,201)$800 0 0 0 2

44 21 Yan Bussiere 111 (1,205)$625 0 0 0 2

45 11 Chris Jones 106 (1,210)$1,100 0 0 1 2

46 86 Billy Pauch Jr. 105 (1,211)$1,100 0 0 1 2

47 30 Jamie Mills 105 (1,211)$900 0 0 1 2

48 81 Rich Rutski 103 (1,213)$800 0 0 0 2

49 19B Kenny Brightbill 102 (1,214)$600 0 0 0 2

50 14w Ryan Watt 101 (1,215)$650 0 0 0 2

51 88 Jeff Strunk 99 (1,217)$650 0 0 0 2

52 91d Kevin Hirthler 96 (1,220)$650 0 0 0 2

53 FX1 Frankie Caprara Jr. 95 (1,221)$625 0 0 0 3

54 20D Del Rougeux Jr. 94 (1,222)$800 0 0 0 2

55 8 Rich Scagliotta 93 (1,223)$600 0 0 0 2

56 00 Doug Manmiller 93 (1,223)$600 0 0 0 2

57 9 Ken Cosgrove 90 (1,226)$2,500 0 1 1 1

58 9 Bob McCreadie 90 (1,226)$600 0 0 0 3

59 151 Brian McDonald 89 (1,227)$600 0 0 0 2

60 115 Kenny Tremont Jr. 88 (1,228)$2,000 0 1 1 1

61 15 Brett Tonkin 83 (1,233)$600 0 0 0 3

62 09 Alex Fortier 83 (1,233)$600 0 0 0 2

63 21 Gary Edwards Jr. 81 (1,235)$1,000 0 0 1 1

64 95 Mark Hitchcock 81 (1,235)$600 0 0 0 2

65 XXX Todd Gordon 80 (1,236)$600 0 0 0 2

66 22 Mario Clair 80 (1,236)$600 0 0 0 2

67 47 Jerry Higbie 79 (1,237)$1,400 0 0 1 1

68 17d Danny O’Brien 77 (1,239)$1,200 0 0 1 1

69 29B Jeff Brownell Jr. 76 (1,240)$1,400 0 0 1 1

70 93x Craig Mitchell 75 (1,241)$1,200 0 0 1 1

71 17T Todd Town 68 (1,248)$500 0 0 0 1

72 2 Frederic Gamache 65 (1,251)$800 0 0 1 1

73 1J Bobby Varin 62 (1,254)$600 0 0 1 1

74 46 Kayle Robidoux 62 (1,254)$600 0 0 1 1

75 72 Ray Swinehart 60 (1,256)$300 0 0 0 1

76 3 Sam Martz 59 (1,257)$325 0 0 0 1

77 99 Mike Adderley 59 (1,257)$400 0 0 0 1

78 48T Dave Rauscher 58 (1,258)$300 0 0 0 1

79 26 Rick Richner 58 (1,258)$300 0 0 0 1

80 777 Kevin Bolland 58 (1,258)$300 0 0 0 1

81 49 Billy Dunn 58 (1,258)$300 0 0 0 1

82 23x Danny Bilodeau 56 (1,260)$350 0 0 0 1

83 23 Larry Lampman 55 (1,261)$300 0 0 0 1

84 3g Gary Risch Jr. 55 (1,261)$500 0 0 0 1

85 4 Duane Howard 54 (1,262)$325 0 0 0 1

86 12J Danny Williams 54 (1,262)$300 0 0 0 1

87 8 Frnk Jashembowski 53 (1,263)$300 0 0 0 1

88 07 Tim Kerr 52 (1,264)$300 0 0 0 1

89 8g Keith Swartzlander 52 (1,264)$500 0 0 0 1

90 39 Clement Therrien 52 (1,264)$300 0 0 0 1

91 41 Keith Brightbill 50 (1,266)$300 0 0 0 1

92 44w Shannon Whaley 50 (1,266$300 0 0 0 1

93 66x Carey Terrance 50 (1,266)$300 0 0 0 1

94 RJ7 Ron Jon Koczon 49 (1,267)$300 0 0 0 1

95 24 Chris Shultz 48 (1,268)$300 0 0 0 1

96 44sf Sebastian Gougeon 48 (1,268)$300 0 0 0 1

97 27 Steve Botcher 47 (1,269)$300 0 0 0 1

98 22 Dan Miller 46 (1,270)$300 0 0 0 1

99 3 Claude Brouillard 46 (1,270)$300 0 0 0 1

100 USA1 Richie Tobias Jr. 45 (1,271)$300 0 0 0 1

101 1F Adam Ferri 45 (1,271)$300 0 0 0 1

102 73 Rick Mill 45 (1,271)$300 0 0 0 1

103 10 Richie Eurich 45 (1,271)$300 0 0 0 1

104 66w Wallace Stacey 45 (1,271)$300 0 0 0 1

105 20h David Hebert 45 (1,271)$300 0 0 0 1

Advance Auto Parts DIRT Modified Entries – August 16 (32)

CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)

1 Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ K&A Excavating Contractors-Greenfield Dodge/Bicknell/Feil

1t Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Pillsbury/Bicknell/Mastin

usa1 Richie Tobias,Jr./Annville,PA Cenco Heating Oil-Advanced Power Wash/TEO/Ayrer’s

3 Sam Martz/Whitehouse Station,NJ Perone’s Auto Service & Salvage-Cedar Fence/Bicknell/Feil

7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Terrell’s Potato Chips-Geneva Homes-J&M Roofers/TEO/Finger Lakes

rjs7 Ron John Koczon/New Egypt,NJ PenCell Plastics-RJS H&AC/Bicknell/Feil

8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Bicknell/Enders

10g Brian Godown/Frenchtown,NJ Active Heating & Cooling-Johnson Landscaping/Bicknell/Feil

14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA Alpha Mills-Reiley & Sterner Auto Sales-Werner’s Auto Body/TEO/D.VanHorn,Sr.

14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY NativePoker.Com-WPC Associates,Inc.-Pine Line Auto Sales/Bicknell/Morrison

14r Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY Chet’s Floor Covering-Finish Line Welding/TEO/Dan Bedell

14w Ryan Watt/Pottstown,PA BPG Racing-Alex’s Lemonade Stand-Mavericks/TEO/Feil

15 Billy Pauch Jr./Frenchtown,NJ Carefree Bus Tours-Tabloid Graphics/Bicknell/H&G

19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY JL Motorsports(Native Poker)-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO/Enders

19j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY JL Motorsports(Native Poker)-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO/Enders

20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-BPG Racing-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders

23 Tom Carberry/Hopewell,NJ Michele’s All Breed Dog Grooming/Bicknell/Ken Carberry

r24 Rick Grosso,Jr./Belle Mead,NJ Grosso Trucking-Millennium Car Wash-Metal Fab Race Pro Shop/Bicknell/Feil

26 Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ Stanton Hills Landscaping/Bicknell/Feil

27 Steve Bottcher/Lehighton,PA Supreme Manufacturing/TEO/Enders

41 Keith Brightbill/Mohnton,PA Vince’s Towing-Vince’s Auto Sales/Olsen/Feil

42 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Millennium Car Wash-Grosso Trucking-Metal Fab Race Pro Shop/Bicknell/Feil

42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA Blaise & Son Racing-The Ulster 4-Locklin’s Bottled Gas/Bicknell/Bedell & Murray

42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd.-Stadium International/Bicknell/Enders

44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA Waite’s General Contr-Carquest Auto Parts-Bert Transmission/TEO/Feil-M2 Power

44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY BKS/G-U Hardware-Currier Pastics-Adam Ross Cut Stone/Bicknell/Enders-FingerLakes

60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY HS Edinger Trucking-Amsoil-Fast Line Performance/TEO/Chevy

73 Ryan Jacobs/Hogansburg,NY East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob’s Excavation/Bicknell/Enders

77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob’s Excavation/Bicknell/Enders

81 Rich Rutski/Somerville,NJ BRB Construction-Jersey Jerkey-Sheppard Builders/Bicknell/ Feil

91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders

98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer/Bruneau-JanCen

SKIDMARKS

2006 Tour 12: For the second straight year DIRT MotorSports™ has signed up the best big-block Modified teams in the Northeast to compete in every Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series show. The list of a dozen contracted drivers (in alphabetical order) includes popular Pennsylvania pilot Frank Cozze, four-time and defending Eckerd 200 titlist Billy Decker, reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT champion Tim Fuller, all-time Advance Auto Parts SDS race winner Brett Hearn, DIRT’s winningest big-block Modified driver Alan Johnson, five-time DIRT MotorSports NE Driver of the Year Danny Johnson, Canandaigua (NY) Speedway record-setter Steve Paine, second-year tour mainstay Jimmy Phelps, first-year full-time Series follower Dale Planck, rising star Matt Sheppard, former Mr. DIRT champion Gary Tomkins and 30-year open-wheel veteran Pat Ward.

New At New Egypt: Of the 32 teams signed up for New Egypt’s Gunfight, a half-dozen first-time entries helped fill open-wheel roster including host track regulars Ron John Koczon, Brian Godown, Tom Carberry and Sam Martz, plus former Syracuse Eckerd 200 champion Richie Tobias Jr. and second-generation standout Steve Bottcher. Track pep man Rick Grosso Jr. competed in his first Advance Auto Parts SDS points event after making the trip to Volusia Speedway Park in February for the annual Florida Tour. Martz (14th) was the highest finisher, Koczon placed 17th, Bottcher finished 18th, Tobias ran 20th, Godown was scored 23rd, Carberry netted 26th and AAP Super DIRT Series track record-holder Grosso ended up 27th on the final scoresheet.

Danny & Dale Double Dip: It was a busy night for Danny Johnson and Dale Planck as well as scorers trying to figure out their ride come feature time. Johnson broke out the JL Motorsports no. 19J TEO team car for warm-ups and time trials before the rear-end broke in his heat to put him back into Dave Thompson’s no. 27JQuality Concrete-King Enterprises/Troyer machine for the consi. The ‘Doctor’ stormed from the rear to finish third then charged from 23rd to seventh before the motor detonated on the home stretch with 64 laps complete. Planck ran Ryan Jacobs’ no. 77x East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob’s Excavation/Bicknell car in time trials before a water pump gasket expired during his heat. Owner Jacobs offered his no. 73 Bicknell copy to Planck but the steering box broke during the last-chance qualifier. Planck jumped back in the primary no. 77x machine for the feature and went from 30th to 10th to earn the Bert Hard Charger Award.

14 & 42 Lucky Numbers: With 32 cars signed in for the trip to New Jersey, almost a quarter of the field carried the numbers 14 and 42 on their side panels. Rick Laubach (14), Alan Johnson (14J), Ronnie Johnson (14R) and Ryan Watt (14W) sported the lower numeral while Jimmy Horton (42), Kevin Bates (42B) and Pat Ward (42P) shared higher aspirations.

Magic Eludes Sheppard: On the heels of his dramatic last turn, last lap pass of Jimmy Horton to steal away the ‘Legends of the Fall’ tour trophy last autumn at New Egypt, Matt Sheppard was thinking only about finishing in his return on Wednesday to New Jersey. “I’ll take just about anything (finish) tonight the way things have been going this season. If we make it a 100 laps that will be a victory in itself. The only time I like coming down here is when we win. It’s a long trip otherwise and a longer trip home if we don’t finish well.” Sheppard held onto third before a clump of mud slowed his best effort and he parked the Ross Motorsports no. 44S BKS/G-U Hardware-Currier Pastics-Adam Ross Cut Stone/Bicknell in the pits for good with 66 laps run.

Freshman Orientation: Recent Homer (NY) H.S. graduate Kenny Stafford dropped off his bags at Alfred State (NY) College on Wednesday morning, drove right past the library and headed straight to New Egypt Speedway to continue his run toward DIRT NE Modified Rookie of the Year high-point honors. The soon-to-be freshman in pursuit of a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Alfred was 12th fastest in time trials and qualified fourth in his heat before settling for 12th-place in the feature four laps down in his no. 60 HS Edinger Trucking-Amsoil-Fast Line Performance/TEO mount. The 18 year-old has called Brewerton (Fri.) and Can-Am (Sat.) speedways home during the 2006 regular season.

Homepage Highlights: The Official DIRT MotorSports NorthEast Web site at http://www.dirtmotorsports.com/DirtNE/SDS includes Advance Auto Parts Series driver biographies with individual statistics and pictures, race-by-race statistics, detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team press releases. There are also specific links to the 2006 DIRT MotorSports Media Guide, the Official Rulebook and the 2006 DIRT MotorSports Membership form.

Get Out The Word First: With RACEceiver now recognized as the Official Driver Communicator of DIRT MotorSports™ in 2006, fans, as well as the competing drivers, were able to hear first hand everything that was happening throughout the entire New Egypt show. A compact radio receiver that conveniently fits into a driver’s pocket, a RACEceiver allows each driver to hear directions from series officials, which greatly enhances the safety and timeliness of events. A similar version available to fans allows RACEceiver users to hear what information series officials are relaying to the drivers. For more information about RACEceiver, visit www.raceceiver.com, call 866/301-7223, or look for their sales trailers at various events.

Tracks Know The Score: In DIRT MotorSports™ ongoing effort to assist every sanctioned track with presenting the best possible race programs, DMS has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRT MotorSports. AMB i.t. is the world’s leader in automatic race timing and scoring systems and the DIRT organization is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all DIRT MotorSports events.

Eckerd Store Specials: Eckerd Pharmacies in New York and Pennsylvania will give away close to 1,000 free tickets for Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series/Eckerd 200 Qualifier Races held throughout the 2006 season. The popular Eckerd program is part of the promotion for the Oct. 8 Eckerd 200 Championship race at Super DIRT Week in Syracuse, N.Y. Each Eckerd Pharmacy promotion will feature DIRT driver appearances, race cars, the Eckerd “cut-away” Modified, free autograph cards and free tickets to Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series/Eckerd 200 Qualifier Races. Fans can find more information on the Eckerd promotion by visiting Eckerd Pharmacy online at www.eckerd.com. For race information, please visit www.dirtmotorsports.com.

DATE TRACK (PHONE) DRIVER/APPEARANCE ECKERD STORE ADDRESS

Wed-Aug 30 Brewerton Speedway (315/668-6906) Pat Ward / 12noon-2:00pm 8379 Thompson Road – Cicero, NY

Sun-Sep 3 Cayuga Co. Fair Speedway (315/834-6606) Matt Sheppard / 11:00am-1:00pm 113 Downer Street – Baldwsinville, NY

Mon-sep 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway (315/689-7809) Steve Paine / 11:00am-1:00pm 153 Grant Avenue – Auburn, NY

Sat-sep 9 Lebanon Valley Speedway (518/794-9965) Kenny Tremont / 10:00am-12noon 463 Albany-Shaker Rd – Loudonville, NY

Sat-Sep 30 Fulton Speedway (315/593-6531) Vic Coffey / 9:00am-11:00am 503 South Second St. - Fulton, NY

Mon-Oct 9 Super DIRT Week XXXV WINNER / 10:0am-12noon Eckerd, TBA

Next Event: Top teams traveling the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series have two weeks off from mid-week competition before the tour closes out the month at Brewerton (NY) Speedway with another century grind on Aug. 30. The 100-lapper pays out $6,000 to the winner plus offers valuable points towards the overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRT Championship and a guaranteed starting spot in the Eckerd 200 Championship during Super DIRT Week XXXV at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Schedule

NP=Non-Point event.

DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK WINNER/LOCATION

Wed-Feb 15 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park JIMMY HORTON

Thr-Feb 16 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park TIM FULLER

Fri-Feb 17 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park BRETT HEARN

Sat-Feb 18 50-NP Volusia Speedway Park BRETT HEARN

Sat-Mar 25 100 Hagerstown Speedway BRETT HEARN

Sun-May 7 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway BILLY DECKER

Sun-May 7 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway TIM FULLER

Sun-May 28 100 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway DANNY JOHNSON

Wed-Jun 14 100 Lernerville Speedway BILLY DECKER

Thr-Jun 15 100 Susquehanna Speedway JIMMY HORTON

Wed-Jun 21 100 Ransomville Speedway ALAN JOHNSON

Wed-Jun 28 100 Fulton Speedway Rain-Cancelled

Mon-Jul 3 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Rain-Cancelled

Tue-Jul 4 100 Brockville Ont Speedway ALAN JOHNSON

Sun-Jul 9 100 Cornwall Motor Speedway DALE PLANCK

Mon-Jul 10 100 Autodrome Drummond BRETT HEARN

Thr-Jul 13 100 Orange Co Fair Speedway BILLY DECKER

Wed-Jul 19 100 Grandview Speedway ALAN JOHNSON

Sat-Aug 5 100 Eldora Speedway TIM FULLER

Mon-Aug 7 100 Merrittville Speedway ALAN JOHNSON

Thr-Aug 10 100 Canandaigua Speedway GARY TOMKINS

Wed-Aug 16 100 New Egypt Speedway TIM FULLER

Wed-Aug 30 100 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY

Sun-Sep 3 100 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY

Mon-Sep 4 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY

Sat-Sep 9 200 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY

Fri-Sep 15 100 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY

Sat-Sep 23 200 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY

Sat-Sep 30 200-NP Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY

Sun-Oct 8 200 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY

Sun-Oct 15 100 Williams Grove Speedway Mechanicsburg,PA

Sun-Oct 22 200 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY

*All events subject to change.

The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., DealMaker Auto Group and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DART Machinery, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.