SHEPPARD AND RUDALAVAGE SPLIT DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE WINS AT FULTON

FULTON, NY...Matt Sheppard and Jeff Rudalavage each claimed one DIRT 358 Modified feature win each at Fulton Speedway last Saturday night. Sheppard won the first 35 lap feature which was rain delayed from July 7. Rudalavage was the winner of the nightcap 35 lap main event. Both drivers earned $1,500 in front of the largest crowd of the season at the home of the Victoria 200.

Jim Witko Jr. raced out to the early lead at the start of the first DIRT 358 Modified feature from the outside pole starting position. Witko would lead the opening six laps of the main event. Alan Johnson took the lead away from Witko on lap seven. Johnson, the defending Fulton Speedway Track Champion, was looking for his first win of the season at Fulton Speedway.

More bad luck was about to come Johnson's way. He lost the lead to Sheppard on lap 15. It was on lap 17 when Johnson lost power on the track with drive line problems. At the halfway point of the feature Sheppard was being followed in the top five by Rick Miller, Witko, Ryan Baye and Rudalavage. Sheppard went on to his fifth Fulton Speedway win of the season in the Paine Motorsports DIRT 358 Modified.

A great battle was contested for positions two through five. Baye would win that battle for second with Witko, Rudalavage and Tim Burnett completing the top five feature finishers. Miller, Jim Mahaney, Jimmy Phelps, Bill Shantel and Wayne Reutimann Jr. finished the first main event in spots sixth through tenth respectively.

Jim Crawn raced out to the early lead at the start of the nightcap 35 lap DIRT 358 Modified feature from the outside pole starting position. Crawn was running a solid race in search of his second win of the season at Fulton Speedway. At the halfway mark Crawn continued to lead the way with Rudalavage, Phelps, Sheppard and John Barker following in the top five.

Crawn led the opening 27 laps of the main event before he had to head to the pits with mechanical problems. Rudalavage inherited the lead at this point. The race was far from over with Sheppard, Phelps, Baye and Barker completing the top five when the race resumed. The race quickly turned into a two car battle for the win between Rudalavage and Sheppard.

On lap 33 Sheppard took the lead away from Rudalavage at the start finish line. Rudalavage had the momentum heading down the back stretch and took the lead back from Sheppard on lap 34. The final lap saw the duo battle for the top spot, but at the end it was Rudalavage in victory lane. It was the second win of the season for the Parts Plus DIRT 358 Modified team.

Sheppard had to settle for second with Phelps, Baye and Barker completing the top five feature finishers. Alan Johnson, Jeremie Corcoran, Jim Burke, Tom Sears Jr. and Bill Shantel finished in positions sixth through tenth at the conclusion of the second feature race.

Tim Sears won his fifth DIRT Sportsman feature race of the season last Saturday night. Sears was followed by Walt McArdell, Jim Larock, John Cunningham and Tom Juhl. McArdell led the opening seven laps of the main event. Sears took the lead on lap eight and led the rest of the way in the 20 lap race.

Tom Barron won both Pro Stock features at Fulton Seedway last Saturday night. Barron won the rain delayed feature from July 7 over T.J. Fitzgibbons, Ricky Breed, Ray Maloney and John Pietrowicz. Barron won out in the nightcap main event over Fitzgibbons, Jason Rood, Jerry Holmes and Gerry Newman.

Jeff Pastorella won his third Pure Stock feature race of 2001 last Saturday night. Bruce Stanton, Joe Dote, Chris Cunningham and Darren Kelso completed the top five finishers behind Pastorella. Ken Connors led the first three laps of the feature. Stanton led the next three before Pastorella took command on lap seven of the 15 lap race.

FULTON NOTES---A total of 35 DIRT 358 Modifieds were in competition last Saturday night...The complete program, which included seven feature races, was completed in under four hours...Action will continue this Saturday, July 21 at Fulton Speedway with the DIRT 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, Four Cylinder Enduro racers and a Bus Race. The Pure Stocks and Enduro drivers will compete in double features. Race time is 7 p.m. with regular admission prices in effect...Wednesday, July 25 is the date of the 4th annual Showdown at Sundown. The evening will be highlighted with the 100 lap special for DIRT 358 Modifieds. Race time is 7 p.m...For more information on Fulton Speedway please call (315) 593-6531 or 668-RACE...The on line address is www.fultonspeedway.com.

DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE FROM JULY 7---Matt Sheppard, Ryan Baye, Jim Witko, Jeff Rudalavage, Tim Burnett, Rick Miller, Jim Mahaney, Jimmy Phelps, Bill Shantel, Wayne Reutimann Jr., Ty Hunt, Ted Lamb, Mike Prentice, Joel Thomas, Tim Murphy, John Ramsey, Jeremy Smith, J.J. Michaels, Alan Johnson, Jeff Kotary, Jim Crawn, Roy Shields, John Barker, Gil Tegg, John Knapp.

DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE--Jeff Rudalavage, Matt Sheppard, Jimmy Phelps, Ryan Baye, John Barker, Alan Johnson, Jeremie Corcoran, Jim Burke, Tom Sears, Tim Burnett, Rick Miller, Jeremy Smith, Ray Bliss, Jim Witko, John Ramsey, Bill Shantel, Jim Mahaney, Ted Lamb, Ty Hunt, Brent Wilcox, Jim Crawn, Jeff Kotary, Wayne Reutimann Jr., J.J. Michaels.

SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Tim Sears, Walt McArdell, Jim Larock, John Cunningham, Tom Juhl, Jeremy Pitcher, Shawn Donath, Greg Doust, Jim Kite, Willy Decker, Mike Button, Bill Shantel Jr., Chad Phelps, Dan Vail, Dave Bargabos, Russ Hefti, Clayt Brewer Jr., Scott Binns, Terry Knoblach, Shane Donath, Ryan Richardson, Todd Thomas, Brian Murphy, Craig Terrell.

PRO STOCK FEATURE FROM JULY 7---Tom Barron, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Ricky Breed, Ray Maloney, John Pietrowicz, Jason Rood, Eric Vanderhoof, Dave Fox, J.B. Dockstader, Ryan Buskey, Paul Stoneburg, Dave Moyer, Jerry Holmes, Phil Barone, Joe Jackson, Mike Watkins.

PRO STOCK FEATURE---Tom Barron, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jason Rood, Jerry Holmes, Gerry Newman, Freddie Dennis, Dave Moyer, Ricky Breed, Paul Stoneburg, Stoney Stoneburg, John Pietrowicz, Anna Elkema, Dave Fox, Ryan Buskey, Heath Carey, J.B. Dockstader, Eric Vanderhoof, Ray Maloney, Tom Juno Jr., Paul Strieff, Joe Jackson, Santos Mendez, Herm Flowers.

PURE STOCK FEATURE---Jeff Pastorella, Bruce Stanton, Joe Dote, Chris Cunningham, Darren Kelso, Phil Trimm, Steve Woodworth, Ken Connors, Bill Allen, Paul Mercier, Dennis Brown, Dave Stoughtenger, Adam Morley, Mark Davison, Rob Seavy, Dave Pope, Wayne Chesbro, Gary Barton, Don Stevenson, John Kanasola, Rob Whipple, Joe Buske, Bill Flask.