May 25, 2002

JIMMY PHELPS FLIES TO FULTON SPEEDWAY DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE WIN ON ART'S RADIATOR/DIXON PERFORMANCE/LEAF RACEWEAR NIGHT

 
FULTON, NY...Former Fulton Speedway DIRT 358 Modified Track Champion Jimmy Phelps claimed his first feature win of the 2002 season last Saturday night. The win for the Baldwinsville, N.Y. driver came in the Art's Radiator/Dixon Performance/Leaf Racewear main event. Phelps became the fourth different feature winner this season in the headline class at the Home of the Victoria 200.
     Jeff Rudalavage raced out to the early lead at the start of the DIRT 358 Modified feature from the third starting position. Rudalavage set a fast pace from the start in search of his first Fulton Speedway win of 2002. After five laps Rudalavage continued to lead with Phelps, Don Spatarico, Russell Hendrickson and Gordy Button following in the top five. Rudalavage would lead the opening eight laps of the main event.
     Phelps took the lead away from Rudalavage on lap nine. Phelps wasted no time in moving up from his 12th starting position. At the halfway point of the main event Phelps continued to lead and was being followed in the top five by Rudalavage, Tim Fuller, Button and Tim Burnett. Todd Burley, Alan Johnson, Tom Sears, Spatarico and John Barker raced in positions sixth through tenth at this time.
     In the final stage of the race Phelps, Rudalavage and Fuller raced together for the feature win in and out of lapped traffic. Phelps never gave the lead away and he went on to his first feature win of 2002 in the Granby Discount Carpert machine. Rudalavage had to settle for second, his best finish of the season. Fuller, winner of the last two feature races, finished third.
     Matt Sheppard made a late race charge to finish fourth. Johnson, the current point leader completed the top five in the very competitive field. Sears, Burley, Barker, Burnett and Ryan Baye crossed the finish line in positions sixth through tenth respectively. A total of 39 DIRT 358 Modifieds attempted to qualify for the main event. Four heats races, two consolations and a "B" main were needed to determine the starting field.
     Jim Bowman won his first DIRT Sportsman feature race of the season last Saturday night. Bowman was followed across the finish line by Jamie Christian, Bill Shantel Jr., Ryan Richardson and Shawn Donath. Bowman took the lead away from Shantel on lap 18 and went on for the win in the 20-lap affair. A total of 36 DIRT Sportsman cars were in competition. Four heat races, two consolations and a "B" Main were needed to determine the starting field.
     T.J. Fitzgibbons returned to the winners circle at the end of the 20-lap DIRT Pro Stock feature race. Jason Rood, Dave Bruno, Lee Burnett and Keith Butler completed the top five feature finishers behind Fitzgibbons. With just two laps to go Fitzgibbons made the winning pass to slip by Rood.
     Todd Koegel won his first ever Pure Stock feature race last Saturday night. Koegel was followed across the finish line by Chuck Cushman, Dave Marcicculli, Darren Kelso and Kevin Raymond. Koegel took the lead away from Rob Whipple on lap three and led the rest of the way in the 15-lap event.
     Rodney Buskey was the winner in the 28-car Four Cylinder Enduro. Buskey was followed in the top five by Chris Kranz, Bill Carista, Terry Engebretser and Rob Hunt.
     Racing will continue this Saturday at Fulton Speedway with the DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and the CNY Mini-Sprints all in competition. Race time is set for 7 p.m For more information please call (315) 593-6531. On line information is available at www.fultonspeedway.com.

ART'S RADIATOR/DIXON PERFORMANCE/LEAF RACEWEAR
FEATURE RACE SUMMARY
DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Jimmy Phelps, Jeff Rudalavage, Tim Fuller, Matt Sheppard, Alan Johnson, Tom Sears, Todd Burley, John Barker, Tim Burnett, Ryan Baye, Justin Haers, J.J. Michaels, Don Spatarico, Pete Taylor, Tom Juhl, Rick Miller, Roy Shields, Jeremie Corcoran, Jeremy Smith, Russell Hendrickson, Jim Mahaney, Gordy Button, Jim Burke, Dave Reilley.
DIRT 358 MODIFIED "B" MAIN---Jeremie Corcoran, Dave Reilley, Andy Powell, Ron White, Mike Payne, Pat Dabiere, George Horning, Dave Rauscher, Jim Witko, Mark Flach, John Ventura, Bill Shantel, David Orr, Tim Harris, Eric Smith, Ken Johnson, Paul Kinney.
DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Jim Bowman, Jamie Christian, Bill Shantel Jr., Ryan Richardson, Shawn Donath, Walt McArdell, Mark Yorker, Dave Bargabos, Jim Livingston, Jeremy Pitcher, John Juhl, Chad Phelps, Jim Kite, Rich Keller, Ron Loveless, Steve Davis, Mike Button, Billy Price, Tim Sears, Scott Binns, Shane Donath, Greg Doust, Darrell Hagan, Steve Way, Sam Reakes IV.
DIRT SPORTSMAN "B" MAIN---Steve Davis, Shawn Donath, Willie Osmun, John McClelland, Paul Benz, Jim Kite, Walt Chyrywaty, Rodney Trye, Mike Bowman, Tim Nye, Bob Bradt, Eric Richardson, Donnie Wetmore Jr.
DIRT PRO STOCK FEATURE---T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jason Rood, Dave Bruno, Lee Burnett, Keith Butler, Freddy Dennis, Dave Fox, Paul Stoneburg, Mike Watkins, Chad Ray, Bernie Menthew, John Underwood, Ricky Breed, Jack Terrell, Jeremy Clark, Santos Mendez, Anna Elkema, Paul Bowler.
PURE STOCK FEATURE---Todd Koegel, Chuck Cushman, Dave Marciculli, Darren Kelso, Kevin Raymond, Steve Woodworth, Paul Mercier, Bruce Stanton, Chris Cunningham, Russ Marsden, Dennis Brown, Mark Davison, Mark Denny, Michael Barney, Phil Marsden, John Morrison, Joe Buske, Ken Conners, John Phillips, Curt Prevo, Eric Chapman, Rob Whipple, Gary Barton.
ENDURO FEATURE (TOP 5)---Rodney Buskey, Chris Kranz, Bill Carista, Terry Engebretser, Rob Hunt