WARD HOLDS ON FOR DIRT BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE WIN ON FERNANDEZ AUTO MALL NIGHT

 

FULTON, NY...Pat Ward held off the late race charge of Matt Sheppard and teammate Billy Decker to record the 35-lap DIRT Big Block Modified feature win at Fulton Speedway Saturday on Fernandez Auto Mall Night. The trio raced three wide during the final circuit with Ward earning the victory in the Gypsum Express DIRT Big Block Modified. The win was worth $2,000.
 

     Pete Taylor raced out to the early lead at the start of the Fernandez Auto Mall DIRT Big Block Modified feature. Taylor would lead the opening two laps of the main event. Vinnie Vitale took the top spot away from Taylor on lap three. With five laps to go Vitale was being followed in the top five by Ward, Taylor, Sheppard and Jeff Rudalavage.
 

     Ward took the top spot away from Vitale on lap seven. At the halfway mark Ward was being chased in the top five by Sheppard, Vitale, Decker and Ryan Phelps. Tim Fuller, Rudalavage, Alan Johnson, Jimmy Phelps and A.J. Romano raced in positions sixth through tenth respectively at the halfway stage. Ward was hoping to run away and hide from the rest of the field, but that clearly didn't happen.
 

     Both Sheppard and Decker started to chase down Ward. What developed was an amazing display with the three drivers racing three wide for the victory in the closing laps. What made the finish even more dramatic was the leaders involved in lapped traffic in the closing laps. At the finish it was Ward who came out on top in a crowd pleasing finish.
 

     Decker finished in second with Sheppard third. Fuller and Rudalavage completed the top five feature finishers. Vitale, Tim McCreadie, Johnson, Phelps and Romano finished in positions sixth through tenth respectively.
 

     Kevin Bates won his second 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature race of the season Saturday night. The 18-year old driver from Pennsylvania was chased across the finish line by Greg Doust, Chad Phelps, Jeremy Pitcher and Donnie Wetmore Jr. Bates took the lead away from Matt Fink on lap-13 and would never give it back.
 

     Ray Maloney earned the win in the 20-lap DIRT Pro Stock main event. Lee Burnett, Dick Parkhurst, Jason Rood and Pat Hobbs followed Maloney across the finish line. Maloney held off the challenges of Burnett to earn the victory in the hotly contested race.
 

     Phil Marsden won yet another 15-lap Pure Stock feature race. Dave Emmons, Curt Prevo, Gary Donahue and Russ Marsden completed the top five feature finishers. Marsden took the lead for good on lap seven.
 

     Chad Guthrie returned to the winners circle after the 25-lap Four Cylinder Enduro race. Nick Rupert, Jerry Herbert, Chris Wolcik and Matt Fay completed the top five feature finishers.
 

     Ray Bull was the winner of the 20-lap ARDC Midget feature race.
 

     Action will continue this Saturday at Fulton Speedway on Family Autograph Night. In race competition will be the DIRT Big Block Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and the Four Cylinder Super Stocks. Race time is set for 7 p.m. For more information please call the track office at 315-593-6531 or go on line to www.fultonspeedway.com.

FERNANDEZ AUTO MALL FEATURE RACE SUMMARY
 

DIRT BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS---Pat Ward, Billy Decker, Matt Sheppard, Tim Fuller, Jeff Rudalavage, Vinnie Vitale, Tim McCreadie, Alan Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, A.J. Romano, Ryan Phelps, Tim Sears, John Barker, Sean Beardsley, Pete Taylor, Mike Prentice, Dave Ruascher, Ricky Breed, Dave Reilley, Dave Bargabos, Brian Murphy, Jeremy Bargabos, Chris Ostrowsky, Scott Prentice.
 

DIRT SPORTSMAN---Kevin Bates, Greg Doust, Chad Phelps, Jeremy Pitcher, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Matt Fink, Mark Yorker, Eric Richardson, Ryan Richardson, Kenny Stafford, Mike Bowman, Tom Juhl, Sam Reakes IV, Scott Nash, Rob Pratt, Chris Hile, Roger West, Steve Crouse, Mark Davison, Steve Regan, Jim Zimmerman, Bill Shantel Jr.
 

DIRT PRO STOCKS---Ray Maloney, Lee Burnett, Dick Parkhurst, Jason Rood, Pat Hobbs, Bob Buono, Dale Guernsey, Paul Stoneburg, Dave Meeks, John Underwood, Jack Terrell, Jim Evans, Scott Beeles, Bernie Merithew, Jeff Piersall, Rick Duanehauer, Mark Alnutt, John Pietrowicz, Don Decker, Anna Elkema, Alan Fink.
 

PURE STOCKS---Phil Marsden, Dave Emmons, Curt Prevo, Gary Donahue, Russ Marsden, Rob Whipple, Chad Crouse, Gary Barton, Joe Buske, Brandon Warner, Steve Woodworth, Chuck Lacey, Cheryl Guernsey, Brent Tardy, Dan Hoffman Sr., Ricky DeGroff, Don Stevenson, Matt Steckel, Ron Hawker, Mike Kazmierczak.
 

FOUR CYLINDER ENDURO TOP FIVE---Chad Guthrie, Nick Rupert, Jerry Herbert, Chris Wolcik, Matt Fay.

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