CHRISTIAN, STEFANSKI, & MANNISE SCORE FRIDAY NIGHT VICTORIA WEEKEND VICTORIES

September 28, 2001

CHRISTIAN, STEFANSKI, & MANNISE SCORE FRIDAY NIGHT VICTORIA WEEKEND VICTORIES

FULTON, NY – Jamie Christian of West Winfield claimed the 30-lap victory in the Dig Safely New York Sportsman Super DIRT Series event sponsored by CarQuest Motorsports Expo 2002 to open the Victoria 200 Weekend at Fulton Speedway last Friday night. Pete Stefanski of Wheatfield won the 30-lap Pro Stock Super DIRT Series event, while Dave Mannise of Fulton captured the 20-lap Victoria 200 Weekend Championship for the Pure Stocks.

Brian Sage took the early lead of the Dig Safely New York Sportsman Super DIRT Series event sponsored by the CarQuest Motorsports Expo 2002. On the move in the early going was track regular Greg Doust who took command of the top spot on lap 8, but series regular Chad Brachmann was flying from deep in the pack as he took the lead on lap 11. However, bad luck struck the current series points leader Brachmann, as he suffered a flat right rear tire during a caution period, relegating him to the pit area for a change, as Doust regained the lead. Jamie Christian had worked his way up into second from the eighth starting spot, and was racing in second, but he caught Doust and took the lead on lap 15.

Christian led the remainder of the event unchallenged for the $1,200 to win Super DIRT Series victory, his first ever on the trail. For Christian, it was his second victory of the 2001 season at Fulton. Karl Comfort was second followed by Joe Beyea, Doust, Sage, Tim Sears, Justin Haers, Randy Chrysler, Willy Decker, and Chad Brachmann, who recovered to finish tenth.

Sportsman heat wins went to Kevin Crave, Brian Sage, Tim Clemons, Doust, Comfort, Brachmann, and David VanHorn. Consis were claimed by Sears, Kevin Jordan, and George Boss. A record 71 drivers entered the event.

Pete Stefanski claimed the victory in the 30-lap Pro Super DIRT Series event, the biggest race at Fulton this season for the Pro Stocks. Dennis Gauvearu led the first four circuits, but was overtaken by John Pietrowicz who led until lap 23, when Stefanski was able to work underneath to take the race lead. Stefanski would lead the remainder of the distance, with Pietrowicz right in behind to take second. Both drivers rubbed sheet metal out of the final corner but Stefanski held on for the win, the first of his career at Fulton. Third was Dave Bruno, fourth was Jeremy Clark, and fifth was Ricky Breed. Steve Devos, Gauvearu, Jason Boyle, track champion Tom Barron, and T.J. Fitzgibbons completed the top ten.

Gauvearu, Fitzgibbons, Pietrowicz, Breed, Wade Decker, and Pete Stefanski won pro Stock heat races, while Scott Govertsen, Jipp Ortiz, and Daryl Hilkert claimed the consis. 62 drivers registered for the $700 to win event. Pietoriwcz will represent Fulton Speedway next weekend during Super DIRT Week as the won a guaranteed starting spot for the Pro Stock championship.

Dave Mannise returned to Fulton for the first time this season and claimed the 20-lap Victoria 200 Weekend Championship for the Pure Stock division in one of the wildest Pure Stock races in recent memory. Mannise came from the rear to win, after he was sent to the pits halfway through the event while leading due to sheet metal hanging off the left side of his machine. He raced hard through the field to take the lead on the final lap from Chuck Cushman Jr. for the $300 victory. Mannise was the early leader, while John Pietrowicz spun in turn four on lap 2. Pietrowicz went to the rear and raced his way right back to the front of the pack, as Cushman and Mannise battled it out for the lead. Pietrowicz took the lead on a lap 11 restart, after Mannise went pitside for the black flag. Mannise raced his way towards the front, with late cautions giving him extra help. However on a late race restart, second place car Todd Koegal took out race leader Pietrowicz, putting Pietrowicz to the rear, and himself in the pit area due to the black flag. This gave the lead to Cushman, who was passed by Mannise on the last lap for the victory. Cushman was second, followed by Waylan Wilczek, Bobby Cox, and track champion Jeff Pastorella.

Pure Stock heat races were claimed by Cushman, Pietrowicz, Mannise, Bruce Stanton, and Pastorella.

Notes - Over 200 cars filled the Fulton Speedway pit area on the chilly and damp first day of the 16^th annual Victoria 200 Weekend. The 358-Modifieds were also on hand (approximately 30 of them) to prepare for the Victoria 200, scheduled for Saturday. Pit gates will open at 10am, grandstand gates will open at 11, with qualifying heat races for the Dynomax Victoria 200 for 358-Modifieds taking the green at 2:30pm. The Victoria 200 should take the green at approximately 6pm on Saturday evening, with over 130 cars expected to attempt to qualify for the prestigious $20,000 to win event.

FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
VICTORIA 200 WEEKEND
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2001

Dig Safely New York Sportsman Super DIRT Series Victoria Weekend Championship (30-Laps) – JAMIE CHRISTIAN, Karl Comfort, Joe Beyea, Greg Doust, Brian Sage, Tim Sears, Justin Haers, Randy Chrysler, Willy Decker, Chad Brachmann, Daryl Hagen, Kevin Jordan, Ryan Phelps, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Rob Pratt, Clayton Brewer, Jim Roberts, Shane Donath, Adam Moore, Dick Park Jr., Paul Carey, Mike Button, David VanHorn, George Boss, Gordy Button, Chad Cook, Tom Juhl Jr., Tim Jones, Tim Clemons, Kevin Crave, Paul Kinney, Bill Shantel Jr., Eldon Payne Jr.

Pro Stock Super DIRT Series Victoria Weekend Championship (30-Laps) – PETE STEFANSKI, John Pietrowicz, Dave Bruno, Jeremy Clark, Ricky Breed, Steve Devos, Dennis Gauvearu, Jason Boyle, Tom Barron, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Wade Decker, Scott Govertsen, Beamer Guzzardi, Mike Wainwright, Chad Homan, Harold Humphrey, Roger Chrysler, Patrick Hobbs, Brian Michels, Jim Lagenback, Jipp Ortiz, Zack Shove, Brian Belden, Ray Maloney, Bret Belden, Darryl Hilkert, Mike Loney, Mike Cooper, Jason Rood, Louis Jackson, Butchie Irwin, Jim McGuigan, Gerry Newman, Eric Vanderhoof.

Pure Stock Victoria Weekend Championship – (20-Laps) – DAVE MANNISE, Chuck Cushman Jr., Waylan Wilczek, Bobby Cox, Jeff Pastorella, Ken Conners, John Eiss, Rick Page, Scott Castor, Mike Welch, David Marcuccilli, Russ Marsden, John Pietrowicz, Todd Koegal, Art Newman Jr., Bill Allen, Chris Cunningham, Paul Mercier, Fran Briant, Shane Ray, Les Lewis, David Pope, Nathan Peckham, Bruce Stanton, Kevin Raymond, Joe Buske, Darren Kelso, Dennis Brown, Dan Wheaton.

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