April 28, 2001

ROOKIE SENSATION SHEPPARD WINS CARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
DIRT 358 MODIFIED ICE BREAKER 40 AT FULTON

FULTON, NY…DIRT 358 Modified rookie driver Matt Sheppard started off the 2001 season in convincing fashion at Fulton Speedway by winning the season opening Carson Automotive Group Ice Breaker 40 on Saturday night. Sheppard, 18, became the youngest driver ever to win a Modified feature at Fulton Speedway. The win for the Waterloo, N.Y. driver was worth $1,750.

     Jeff Rudalavage raced out tot the early lead at the start of the Carson Automotive Group Ice Breaker 40 from the pole starting position. After five laps the Pennsylvania hot shoe continued to lead with Jimmy Phelps, Sheppard, Alan Johnson and Ryan Baye following in the top five. Rudalavage owned the lead through lap seven. It was on lap eight when Sheppard took possession of the top spot.

     At the halfway mark of the Ice Breaker 40 Sheppard continued to lead with Rudalavage, Johnson, Phelps and John Ramsey following in the top five. Racing in positions sixth through tenth at the halfway mark were Gus Schmidt Jr., Rick Miller, Jim Witko Jr., Ron White and Roy Shields.  Sheppard lost a comfortable lead on lap 30 when the yellow lights came out.

     The caution put Johnson right behind Sheppard on the restart. It set up a classic battle between the veteran 2000 Fulton Speedway champion, against the young Mr. DIRT Sportsman Champion. For several laps Johnson looked to duck under Sheppard, but he was never able to make it past. Throughout the final laps Sheppard was able to hold off Johnson for the win in the Paine Motorsports DIRT 358 Modified.

     Johnson had to settle for second with Phelps, Rudalavage and Ramsey completing the top five. Finishing in positions sixth through tenth respectively were Schmidt, Miller, Bill Shantel Sr., Witko and Shields. DIRT 358 Modified heat race wins were claimed by Rudalavage, Sheppard and Baye.

     Jimmy Phelps claimed the win in the Top 10 Shoot-out for the DIRT 358 Modifieds in a race long battle over Alan Johnson. The duo raced side by side for the entire race, swapping the lead throughout. Rudalavage, John Barker and Schmidt completed the top five in the crowd pleasing race which ended the entertaining opening night show.

     Willy Decker won the opening night DIRT Sportsman feature at Fulton Speedway. Tom Juhl, Russ Hefti, Steve Way and Walt McArdell completed the top five feature finishers behind Decker. At the halfway point Decker took the lead away from Juhl and he led the rest of the distance. Heat race wins were claimed by Jamie Christian, Hefti and Juhl. Dave Bargabos won the last chance consolation.

     Tom Barron was the opening night winner at Fulton Speedway in the Pro Stock class. Barron was followed by Jerry Holmes, Ricky Breed, Joe Jackson and Joe Ladoceur. Holmes led the opening five laps of the main event. Barron took over on lap six and led the rest of the distance. Mike Watkins and Holmes were the Pro Stock heat race winners.

     Todd Storace  claimed the win in the Fulton Speedway opening night Pure Stock main event. Storace was followed by Jeff Pastorella, Darren Kelso, Bruce Stanton and Todd Koegel. Storace took the lead from Koegel on lap three and held the top spot the rest of the way. Pure Stock heat race wins were claimed by Stanton, Koegel and  Storace.

     FULTON NOTES---The entire four division show was completed by 10:20 p.m…Fulton Speedway Management would like to thank all the fans and race teams for their support on a chilly spring night…A total of 106 cars took part in the four division show…Action continues this Saturday with a weekly four division show plus One On One Spectator Races…Race time is 7:00 p.m. For more information please call (315) 593-6531 or visit the website at www.fultonspeedway.com.

                                                    RACE RESULTS

CARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP DIRT 358 MODIFIED ICE BREAKER 40---Matt Sheppard, Alan Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Jeff Rudalavage, John Ramsey, Gus Schmidt Jr., Rick Miller, Bill Shantel Sr., Jim Witko Jr., Roy Shields, Ron White, Brian Palmateer, Tim Murphy, Joel Thomas, Jeremy Smith, Jim Burke, Brent Wilcox, Pete Taylor, Wayne Reutimann Jr., Jim Crawn, Ryan Baye, Gary Farnsworth, Ty Hunt, John Barker and J.J. Michaels.

CARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 358 MODIFIED TOP 10 SHOOT-OUT---Jimmy Phelps, Alan Johnson, Jeff Rudalavage, John Barker, Gus Schmidt, Bill Shantel and Tim Murphy.

CARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Willy Decker, Tom Juhl, Russ Hefti, Steve Way, Walt McArdell, Greg Doust, Jimmy Kite, Jeremy Pitcher, Shane Donath, Dave Bargabos, John Juhl, Paul Kinney, Clayton Brewer, Tim Johnson, Steve Davis, Dan Vail, Craig Pritchard, Jason Potter, Tom Denton, Rich Knoblock, Tim Sears, Jamie Christian, Bill Shantel Jr. and Brian Sommerville.

CARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP PRO STOCK FEATURE---Tom Barron, Jerry Holmes, Ricky Breed, Joe Jackson, Joe Ladoceur, Wayne Archer, Mike Watkins, Floyd Thomas, Dave Fox, Ryan Buskey, Eric Vanderhoof, Paul Stoneburg, Stan Clark, Tom Juno, Chad Ray, Freddy Dennis, John Pietrowicz, Keith Butler, Heath Carey and Dave Moyer.

CARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP PURE STOCK FEATURE---Todd Storace, Jeff Pastorella, Darren Kelso, Bruce Stanton, Todd Koegel, Ken Connor, Gary Barton, Kevin Raymond, Joe Buskey, Joe Bono, Mark Davison, Bill Allen, Dennis Brown, Joe Schirm Tim Nye, Adam Morley, Al Button, Mark Effner, Bob Gloska, Dave Stoughtenger and Steve Woodworth.

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