May 19, 2001

SHEPPARD WINS SECOND OF THE SEASON AT FULTON
ON BUDWEISER NIGHT IN FRONT OF LARGE CROWD

FULTON, NY…Young Matt Sheppard won his second DIRT 358 Modified feature of the season at Fulton Speedway last Saturday on Budweiser Night. The rookie driver from Waterloo, N.Y. is now two for three this season on the Fulton Speedway high banks. Sheppard’s win last Saturday came in front of the largest crowd of the season at the home of the Victoria 200, and he earned $1,500 for the victory in the Paine Motorsports DIRT 358 Modified.

     Ryan Baye raced out to the early lead at the start of the Budweiser DIRT 358 Modified feature from the outside pole starting position. Baye led the opening two circuits before Jeremy Smith took command of the top spot on lap three. Smith would only lead two circuits, however, as Baye regained the top spot on lap five. John Barker became the third different leader of the race on lap six.

     Barker would lead the 27 car starting field until lap eight. It was on lap nine when Sheppard took the lead away from the former Fulton Speedway DIRT 358 Modified Track Champion. At the halfway mark of the 35 lap feature Sheppard continued to lead with Jeff Rudalavage, Alan Johnson, Barker and Jimmy Phelps following in the top five.

     Throughout the last half of the event Rudalavage continued to pressure Sheppard, but the 18 year old driver would not make a mistake as he went on to his second win of the season at Fulton Speedway. Rudalavage had another strong outing with a second place finish. Phelps made a late race charge to finish third ahead of  Johnson. Finishing in positions sixth through tenth in order were Barker, Jim Mahaney, Smith, Jim Witko, Roy Shields and Rick Miller.

     Tim Sears won his second straight DIRT Sportsman feature at Fulton Speedway last Saturday night. Sears was followed by Mike Button, Clayton Brewer Jr., Willy Decker and Jeremy Pitcher. Sears took the lead away from Shawn Donath on lap 18 of the 20 lap event. Pitcher led the opening circuit and Donath led from lap two up until lap 17.

     Tom Barron won his second Pro Stock feature of the season last Saturday at Fulton Speedway. John Pietrowicz, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jerry Holmes and Eric Vanderhoof completed the top five behind Barron. Vanderhoof led the opening five laps of the main event. Holmes led from lap six up until lap 13. Barron took command on lap 14 of the 20 lap affair.

     The wildest feature of the night came in the Pure Stock main event. Bobby Newman was credited with the 15 lap feature win after Jeff Pastorella and Todd Storace were both penalized for rough driving. Newman was followed in the official finish in the top five by Darren Kelso, Todd Koegel, Ken Connor and Dennis Brown.

      FULTON NOTES---Racing continues this Wednesday, May 23 at Fulton Speedway. In race competition will be the Empire Super Sprints, Central New York Mini-Sprints and the DIRT Sportsman. Race time is 7 p.m…ESS drivers R.C. Faigle and Mike Bozzuto gave a preview of the upcoming ESS action at Fulton…Daryl Saunders was the winner of the One on One Truck Spectator Races…Weekly Saturday night competition continues this Saturday on the Fulton Speedway high banks at 7 p.m…A total of 116 cars took part in the race program last Saturday which was completed in just over three hours…Track surface was once again in great condition, smooth and dust free.

                                     BUDWESIER NIGHT RACE SUMMARY

DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Matt Sheppard, Jeff Rudalavage, Jimmy Phelps, Alan Johnson, John Barker, Jim Mahaney, Jeremy Smith, Jim Witko, Roy Shields, Rick Miller, Ryan Baye, Gus Schmidt, John Ramsey, Tim Murphy, Jim Crawn, Pete Taylor, Derrick Podsiadlo, Bill Shantel Sr., Mike Prentice, Ty Hunt, Brian Palmanteer, Ron White, Wayne Reutimann Jr., Alex Hoag, Dave Clark, J.J. Michaels and Jim Burke.

DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Tim Sears, Mike Button, Clayton Brewer Jr., Willy Decker, Jeremy Pitcher, Shawn Donath, Paul Kinney, Walt McArdell, Bill Shantel Jr., John Cunningham, Jamie Christian, Shane Donath, Dan Vail, Dave Bargabos, Greg Doust, Chad Phelps, Terry Knoblach, Craig Terrell, Ryan Richardson, Tim Johnson, Russ Hefti, Adam VanPatten, Tom Juhl and John Juhl.

DIRT PRO STOCK FEATURE---Tom Barron, John Pietrowicz, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jerry Holmes, Eric Vanderhoof, Tom Sears, Paul Stoneburg, Jason Rood, Dave Moyer, Ryan Buskey, Joe Jackson, Gerry Newman, Dave Moyer, Chad Ray, Keith Butler, Tom Juno Jr., Mike Watkins, Ricky Breed, Heath Carney, Dave Bruno, Ray Maloney and Dave Fetterly.

PURE STOCK FEATURE---Bobby Newman, Darren Kelso, Todd Koegel, Ken Connor, Dennis Brown, Paul Mercier, Bob Gloska, Bill Allen, Rob Whipple, Adam Morley, Gary Barton, Kevin Raymond, Eric Chapman, Rob Seavy, Charlie Mettler, Jeff Pastorella, Todd Storace, Mark Davison, Chris Smiedy, Dave Stoughtenger, Steve Woodworth, Dan Butterfield, Wayne Chesbro, Joe Buske, Bruce Stanton, Phil Trimm, Al Button and Joe Bono.

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