August 3, 2002

JOHNSON COMES BACK FROM OPENING LAP CRASH TO WIN SIXTH FEATURE OF THE SEASON AT FULTON SPEEDWAY ON ALLTEL NIGHT

 
FULTON, NY...Alan Johnson truly had to work for his sixth Fulton Speedway DIRT 358 Modified feature win of the season last Saturday on Alltel Night. Johnson became involved in an opening lap multi-car crash which forced him to restart near the rear of the 25-car field. The opening lap incident didn't slow Johnson down though as he eventually caught and passed Tim Fuller for the victory.
     Ken Johnson raced out to the early lead at the start of the Alltel DIRT 358 Modified feature from the outside pole starting position. Johnson only led the first circuit as Dale Planck moved by on lap two. With five circuits complete Planck was being followed in the top five by J.J. Michaels, Roy Shields, Ken Johnson and Ryan Baye.
     Michaels became the third leader of the race on lap six. Michaels would lead the field through lap 12. Tim Fuller took the top spot away from Michaels on lap 13. Fuller wasted no time in charing through the field from the 15th starting position. On lap 19 Johnson moved into second and he quickly looked to catch Fuller.
     Fuller and Johnson raced side by side several laps to the delight of the crowd. Finally on lap 24 Johnson got the edge as Fuller slid high between the third and fourth turns. That was the break that Johnson needed. One week ago Johnson lost the race in lapped traffic, but that was not about to happed again.
     Johnson claimed his sixth win of the season at the Home of the Victoria 200 while Fuller had to settle for second. Ryan Baye enjoyed his best Fulton finish of the season in third. Tom Sears Jr. and Jimmy Phelps completed the top five feature finishers.
     Donnie Wetmore Jr. claimed his second DIRT Sportsman feature win of the season last Saturday night. Mike Button, Scott Binns, Shawn Donath and Eric Richardson completed the top five feature finishers behind Wetmore. Wetmore took the lead away from Binns on lap seven and led the rest of the distance in the 20-lap affair.
     Jeremy Clark won his sixth Pro Stock feature race of the season last Saturday night.  John Pietrowicz, Jason Rood, Paul Stoneburg and Ryan Buskey completed the top five feature finishers behind Clark. Clark took the lead away from Pietrowicz on lap 13 and led the rest of the way in the 20-lap affair.
     Jeff Pastorella won his first Pure Stock main event of 2002 last Saturday night. It was Pastorella's first night of competition this season. Bruce Stanton, Dave Marcuccilli, Bill Flask and Paul Mercier followed Pastorella across the finish line. Pastorella took the lead away from Jim Cronin on lap 11 and led the rest of the way in the 15-lap event.
     Jason Spalding was the winner of the 36-car Four Cylinder Enduro over Mitch Pietrowicz, Terry Engerbretsen, Dale Caswell and Sam Carista.
     Racing will continue this Saturday at Fulton Speedway with the DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and School Bus Races all on the agenda. The night will also be the final Family Autograph Night of the season. Action will start at 7 p.m. For more information please contact the track office at (315) 593-6531 or go on line to www.fultonspeedway.com.

ALLTEL FEATURE RACE SUMMARY

DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Alan Johnson, Tim Fuller, Ryan Baye, Tom Sears Jr., Jimmy Phelps, J.J. Michaels, Jeremy Smith, John Barker, Jim Mahaney, Roy Shields, Ty Hunt, Don Spatorico, Tim Burnett, Tom Juhl, Kenny Johnson, Mike Payne, Justin Haers, Gordy Button, Russ Hendrickson Jr., Jeff Rudalavage, Dale Planck, Matt Sheppard, Adam Smith, Rich Vinson, Dave Rauscher.
DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Donnie Wetmore Jr., Mike Button, Scott Binns, Shawn Donath, Eric Richardson, Greg Doust, Chad Phelps, Ryan Richardson, Tim Sears, Sam Reakes IV, Jim Bowman, Bill Shantel Jr., Mark Yorker, Walt McArdell, Jeremy Pitcher, Ron Loveless, Terry Knoblock, Tom Bliss, Jim Livingston, Dave Bargabos, Steve Way, Daryl Hagen, Rich Keller, Bob Bradt, Mike Bowman, Craig Terrell.
DIRT PRO STOCK FEATURE---Jeremy Clark, John Pietrowicz, Jason Rood, Paul Stoneburg, Ryan Buskey, Paul Bowler, Bernie Merithew, Ray Maloney, Dave Fox, Keith Butler, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Jim Graves, Jack Terrell, Jerry Holmes, Lee Burnett, Ricky Breed.
PURE STOCK FEATURE---Jeff Pastorella, Bruce Stanton, Dave Marcuccilli, Bill Flask, Paul Mercier, Phil Marsden, Curt Prevo, Matk Denny, Joe Buske, Steve Woodworth, Todd Koegel, Gary Barton, Darren Kelso, Paul Becker, Irving Casler, Chris Cunningham, Don Stevenson, Mike Barney, Jim Cronin, Chuck Lacey, Ken Conners, Russ Marsden, John Phillips, Charlie Mettler, Eric Chapman, Ron Billings, David Kirk, Ricky DeGroff.
FOUR CYLINDER ENDURO TOP 5---Jason Spalding, Mitch Pietrowicz, Terry Engerbretsen, Dale Caswell, Sam Carista.

-30-