JOHNSON USES LAPPED TRAFFIC TO BEAT BUTTON IN FULTON SPEEDWAY DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE

 

FULTON, NY...Alan Johnson used lapped traffic to catch and evetually pass Gordy Button for the win in the Papa Joe's Restaurant DIRT 358 Modified feature at Fulton Speedway last Saturday night. Johnson slipped under Button on lap 34 and went on to the win in the 35-lap event. Johnson's first Fulton Speedway win of 2002 came in front of the largest crowd of the season at the Home of the Victoria 200.

     Pete Taylor raced out to the early lead at the start of the DIRT 358 Modified feature from the pole starting position. After five laps Taylor continued to lead and was being followed in the top five by J.J. Michaels, Button, Tim Burnett and Jeremy Smith. Taylor was fast from the start and he would lead the quality field through lap 17. Button took the lead away from Taylor the following circuit, which was also the halfway mark.

     Button, Taylor, Burnett, J.J. Michaels and Johnson raced in the top five positions at the halfway stage. Smith, Jim Mahaney, Jeff Rudalavage, Jimmy Phelps and Matt Sheppard raced in positions sixth through tenth at the halfway mark. The first and only caution period of the race also came on lap 18 when Paul Kinney lost power on the track. When the race resumed Button opened up what appeared to be a comfortable lead.

     It appeared that Button was on the way to his first win of the season. In the late going Button encountered lapped traffic and that is the break that Johnson needed. Johnson followed Button for two laps before he made a low pass on lap 34 for the lead and eventual win. Johnson started from the 16th starting position and truly earned the $1,500 winners share.

     Button had to settle for second, still his best finish of the season at Fulton Speedway. Burnett finished third in another season best finish. Sheppard made another late race charge to finish fourth. Taylor completed the top five feature finishers. Michaels, Justin Haers, Rudalavage, Ryan Baye and Tom Sears finished in positions sixth through tenth respectively at the end of the 35-lap affair.

     Mike Button won his second DIRT Sportsman feature race of the season last Saturday night. Button was followed across the finish line by Tim Sears, Ryan Richardson, Darryl Hagen and Jeremy Pitcher. Hagen led the first 17 laps of the main event. Button slipped by on lap 18 and went on to lead the rest of the way in the 20-lap main event.

     Dave Bruno claimed his first DIRT Pro Stock feature race win of 2002 last Saturday night. Bruno won in a photo finish over Jason Rood, Jeremy Clark, Lee Burnett and T.J. Fitzgibbons. Bruno took the lead on lap nine and went on to the win in the 20-lap event. Early race leaders included Jack Terrell, Paul Stoneburg and Ricky Breed.

     Phil Marsden won his second Pure Stock feature race of 2002 last Saturday night. Marsden was followed across the finish line by Todd Koegel, Russ Marsden, Ken Conners and Darren Kelso. Eric Chapman led the first two laps of the main event. Marsden took over on lap three and led the rest of the way in the 15-lap event.

     Brian Howland claimed the win in the 20-lap Central New York Mini-Sprint feature. The winner in the opening race in the special Dash for Cash Series was followed by Doug Norrie, Don Harvey, Matt Norrie and Jared Fink. Howland took the lead away from Bob Scaccio on lap 17 and went on to lead the rest of the distance.

     Racing will continue this Saturday at Fulton Speedway with the DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and the Four Cylinder Enduro Racers all in action. The Northeast Extreme Free Style Motorcycle Series will also be on the agenda plus a Traffic Cone Race. Action will start at 7 p.m. For more information please call (315) 593-6531 or go on line to www.fultonspeedway.com.

                                     PAPA JOE'S RESTAURANT RACE SUMMARY

DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Alan Johnson, Gordy Button, Tim Burnett, Matt Sheppard, Pete Taylor, J.J. Michaels, Justin Haers, Jeff Rudalavage, Ryan Baye, Tom Sears, Jeremy Smith, Dale Planck, Don Spatarico, John Barker, Rick Miller, Jim Burke, Russell Hendrickson, Jimmy Phelps, Jim Mahaney, Mark Flach, Jim Witko, Paul Kinney, Tim Fuller, Rich Vinson.

DIRT 358 MODIFIED "B" MAIN---Jim Burke, Mark Flach, Tom Juhl, Roy Shields, John Ventura, Ron White, Bill Shantel Sr., Dave Reilley, Andy Powell, Ken Johnson, Dave Rauscher, Mike Payne, Adam Smith, Jeremie Corcoran, Frank Doll Jr.

DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Mike Button, Tim Sears, Ryan Richardson, Darryl Hagen, Jeremy Pitcher, Greg Doust, Steve Way, Bill Shantel Jr., John Juhl, Rich Keller, Terry Knobloch, Mark Yorker, Mike Bowman, Chad Phelps, Shane Donath, Dave Bargabos, Jim Livingston, Shawn Donath, Walt McArdell, Bob Bradt, Scott Binns, Sam Reakes IV, Russ Hefti, Jim Kite, Ron Loveless, Jim Bowman, Donnie Wetmore Jr.

DIRT PRO STOCK FEATURE---Dave Bruno, Jason Rood, Jeremy Clark, Lee Burnett, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Paul Stoneburg, Mike Watkins, Dave Fox, Anna Elkema, Jack Terrell, Paul Bowler, Bernie Mentheu, Scott Moyer, Ricky Breed, Keith Butler, Santos Mendez.

PURE STOCK FEATURE---Phil Marsden, Todd Koegel, Russ Marsden, Ken Conners, Darren Kelso, Paul Mercier, Chris Cunningham, Rob Whipple, Mark Davison, Dennis Brown, Curt Prevo, Steve Woodworth, Joe Buske, Mark Denny, John Phillips, Bruce Stanton, John Morrison, Gary Barton, Mark Barney, Jamie Glimpse, Bill Norman, Kevin Raymond, Eric Chapman, Charlie Mettler, Dave Marcicculli.

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