SHEPPARD WINS FIRST OF THE SEASON IN FRONT OF HUGE CROWD ON COCA-COLA NIGHT
 

FULTON, NY...Matt Sheppard won his first Fulton Speedway DIRT Big Block Modified feature of the season Saturday at Fulton Speedway in front of a huge crowd on Coca-Cola Night. Sheppard took the lead on lap nine of the 35-lap event and was able to hold off the late race charge of Billy Decker to earn the $2,000 payday. The win for the former Fulton Speedway Track Champion came in the Adam Ross Cut Stone DIRT Modified.

     Dave Reilley jumped out to the early at the start of the Coca-Cola DIRT Big Block Modified feature from the pole starting position. After five circuits Reilley continued to lead and was being chased in the top five by Billy Decker, Dave Rauscher, Scott Prentice and Sheppard. Reilley led the first eight laps of the main event.

     It was on lap nine when Sheppard took the lead away from Reilley. Sheppard wasted little time in charging from the eighth starting position. At the halfway point Sheppard was being chased in the top five by Decker, Prentice, Pat Ward and Alan Johnson. Tim Fuller,  Jimmy Phelps, Reilley, Rauscher and Pete Taylor raced in positions sixth through tenth at the halfway mark.

     In the closing laps it appeared that Shepaprd would record an easy victory, but lapped traffic was a factor. Sheppard was able to hold on and record his first  victory of the season with Decker a close second. Alan Johnson made a late race charge to finish third with Prentice and Fuller completing the top five feature finishers.

     Ward, John Barker, Jimmy Phelps, Ryan Phelps and Jeff Rudalavage finished in positions sixth through tenth respectively. Barker earned the $200 bonus for the highest finishing 358 Modified with a solid seventh place effort.

     Mark Yorker earned the well deserved victory in the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature race. It was Yorker's first victory since the 1999 season. Mike Bowman, Donnie Wetmore Sr., Kevin Bates and Tom Juhl finished in positions second through fifth respectively. Yorker took the top spot away from Scott Nash on lap nine and led the rest of the distance for the victory.

     Lee Burnett won his second Fulton Speedway DIRT Pro Stock main event of the season Saturday night. Joey Ladouceur, Ray Maloney, Bob Buono and Bill Knapp chased Burnett across the finish line. On lap seven Burnett took the top spot away from Jason Rood. In the closing laps Burnett held off the advances of Ladouceur to earn the victory.

     Phil Marsden won his sixth Pure Stock feature of the 2004 season Saturday night. Russ Marsden, Steve Woodworth, Chad Crouse and Joe Buske finished in positions second through fifth respectively. Phil Marsden took the top spot away from Russ Marsden on lap 10, The two Mexico area drivers battled the rest of the distance for the win with Phil coming out on top.

     Action will continue this Saturday at Fulton Speedway with the DIRT Big Block Modifieds / 358 Modifieds combined racing in a pair of 35-lap features. The DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinder Enduro racers will also be in competition. It is Lucky Zip Code Night with all Fulton, N.Y. residents with the 13069 Zip Code admitted for $5 with an I.D. Race time is 7 p.m. For more information please call the track office at 315-593-6531 or go on line to www.fultonspeedway.com.

COCA-COLA FEATURE RACE SUMMARY

DIRT BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS---Matt Sheppard, Billy Decker, Alan Johnson, Scott Prentice, Tim Fuller, Pat Ward, John Barker, Jimmy Phelps, Ryan Phelps, Jeff Rudalavage, Pete Taylor, Bob Holland, Jim Witko, Ricky Breed, Dave Reilley, Tim Harris, Brian Murphy, Dave Rauscher, Vinnie Vitale, Tom Sears, Jeff Isabell.

DIRT SPORTSMAN---Mark Yorker, Mike Bowman, Donnie Wetmore Sr., Kevin Bates, Tom Juhl, Eric Richardson, Mike Button, Scott Nash, Sam Reakes IV, Greg Doust, Jeremy Pitcher, Chad Phelps, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Kenny Stafford, Bill Shantel Jr., Ryan Richardson, Mike Teachout, John Juhl Jr., Jordan Bennett, Kyle Lewis, Roger West, Fran Hilton, Chuck DeMott, Mark Davison, Jason Parkhurst.

DIRT PRO STOCKS---Lee Burnett, Joey Ladouceur, Ray Maloney, Bob Buono, Bill Knapp, Scott Kocher, Paul Stoneburg, Dave Briggs, John Underwood, Jack Terrell, Bernie Merithew, Rick Kemblowski, Alan Fink, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Pat Hobbs, Rick Duanehauer, Jason Rood, Don Decker, Scott Beeles.

PURE STOCKS---Phil Marsden, Russ Marsden, Steve Woodworth, Chad Crouse, Joe Buske, Dan Hoffman Sr., Gary Barton, Gary Donahue, Dave Emmons, Rick DeGroff,  Rob Whipple, Kevin Mayville, Curt Prevo, Mike Kazmierczak, Brandon Warner, Dale Guernsey.