Fulton Speedway report 2001-06-30

FULTON, NY...Matt Sheppard and Tim Burnett split the wins last Saturday night at Fulton Speedway in the Twin 20 lap features for the DIRT 358 Modifieds during the Coca-Cola/Riverside Inn Holiday Spectacular. The win for Sheppard was his fourth of the season at Fulton Speedway. Burnett's win his was initial triumph of the current campaign at the home of the Victoria 200. The large holiday crowd was treated to a great night of family entertainment.

Pete Taylor raced out to the early lead at the start of the first 20 lap DIRT 358 Modified feature from the pole starting position. Taylor was running a strong race and after five circuits he continued to lead with John Barker, Sheppard, Alan Johnson and Jimmy Phelps in the top five. Sheppard started from the 12th starting position and on lap eight the rookie driver took the top spot away from Taylor.

At the halfway point of the first 20-lap feature Sheppard was followed by Johnson, Taylor, Barker and Phelps. In the final laps Johnson did everything he could to try to overtake Sheppard, but the lead never changed. Sheppard went on to his fourth win of the season, while Johnson had to settle for another second place finish. Rudalavage, Phelps and Taylor completed the top five feature finishers. It was the best finish of the season for Taylor.

The inversion for the start of the second feature was by draw and 10 cars would be inverted. John Ramsey raced out to the early lead at the start of the second feature from the pole starting position. Ramsey led the first two circuits, before Burnett took the lead on lap three. After five circuits Burnett was being followed in the top five by J.J. Michaels, Ramsey, Phelps and Taylor.

Burnett was driving a strong race in his first Fulton appearance of the season. The race was far from over as Sheppard and Johnson came storming through the field. Burnett made all the right moves in the late going in lapped traffic and went on for the popular win. The race for second turned into a photo finish between Sheppard and Johnson. Sheppard got the spot by inches over Johnson as the two touched crossing the finish line.

Ramsey and Phelps completed the top five feature finishers in the second event. Sheppard received a $100 bonus from Fulton Speedway for the best overall finish. Johnson picked up a $50 gift certificate from Promotion Speed Supply for the second best overall finish in the twin 20-lap features.

Tim Sears won his fourth DIRT Sportsman feature of the season at Fulton Speedway last Saturday night. Sears earned a guaranteed starting position for the Syracuse Fairgrounds July race. Jamie Christian, Willy Decker, Jeremy Pitcher and Shane Donath completed the top five feature finishers. Sears took the lead away from Walt McArdell on lap four of the 20 lap event.

John Pietrowicz won his second DIRT Pro Stock feature of the season last Saturday night. Tom Barron, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jerry Holmes and Ricky Breed followed Pietrwoicz across the finish line. Holmes led the opening three laps of the feature before Pietrowicz took over on lap four of the 20 lap contest.

Jeff Pastorella won his second Pure Stock feature of the season last Saturday night. Pastorella won out over Darren Kelso, Joe Dote, Chris Cunningham and Joe Buske. Steve Woodworth led the opening lap of the feature before Pastorella took over on lap two. Pastorella led the rest of the way in the 15 lap event.

FULTON NOTES---The entire five feature program plus a huge fireworks display was completed in three hours and 15 minutes...Racing went on despite heavy early afternoon rain. But the track crew went to work and the surface was ready to start on time...Racing continues this Saturday, July 7, with Family Autograph Night. In action will be the DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks and Pure Stocks plus a Four Cylinder Enduro. Race time is 7 p.m. For more information please call (315) 593-6531 or 668-RACE. On line go to www.fultonspeedway.com.

COCA-COLA/RIVERSIDE INN NIGHT RACE RESULTS

DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE #1---Matt Sheppard, Alan Johnson, Jeff Rudalavage, Jimmy Phelps, Pete Taylor, John Barker, Tim Burnett, J.J. Michaels, Rick Miller, John Ramsey, Roy Shields, Jim Mahaney, Tim Murphy, Jim Witko Jr., Ty Hunt, Tyke Morris, Ryan Baye, Derrick Podsiadlo, Mike Prentice, Jim Burke, Jeff Kotary, Ron White, Bill Shantel Sr., Joel Thomas, Jeremy Smith.

DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE #2---Burnett, Sheppard, Johnson, Ramsey, Phelps, Rudalavage, Miller, Baye, Taylor, Shields, Witko, Hunt, Jim Crawn, Murphy, Burke, Kotary, Morris, Prentice, White, Podsiadlo, Brent Wilcox, Thomas, Smith, Michaels, Mahaney, Shantel, Barker.

DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Tim Sears, Jamie Christian, Willy Decker, Jeremy Pitcher, Shane Donath, Craig Terrell, John Cunningham, Mike Watkins, Greg Doust, Ron Loveless, Dave Bargabos, Tom Juhl, Terry Knoblach, Russ Hefti, Ryan Richardson, Ron Centner, Jim Larock, Paul Kinney, Shawn Donath, Dan Vail, Jim Kite, Todd Thomas, Chad Phelps, Bill Shantel Jr., Walt McArdell, Hanry Desormeau.

PRO STOCK FEATURE---John Pietrowicz, Tom Barron, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jerry Holmes, Ricky Breed, Dave Moyer, Jason Rood, Chad Ray, Freddy Dennis, J.B. Dockstader, Joe Jackson, Tom Cook, Dave Fox, Eric Vanderhoof, Ryan Buskey, Keith Butler, Mike Watkins, Paul Stoneburg, Anna Elkema, Ray Maloney, Stony Stoneburg.

PURE STOCK FEATURE---Jeff Pastorella, Darren Kelso, Joe Dote, Chris Cunningham, Joe Buske, Bruce Stanton, Paul Mercier, Rob Seavy, Curt Prevo, Kevin Raymond, Todd Storace, Adam Morley, Bill Allen, Dennis Brown, Gary Barton, Rob Whipple, Ken Connors, Steve Woodworth, Wayne Chesbro, Todd Koegel, Bill Flask.

- "Buffet" Bob Connelly