WARD EDGES SEARS AND WITKO IN WILD FULTON SPEEDWAY SYRACUSE.COM BIG BLOCK MODIFIED MAIN EVENT

WARD EDGES SEARS AND WITKO IN WILD FULTON SPEEDWAY SYRACUSE.COM BIG BLOCK MODIFIED MAIN EVENT

FULTON, NY...The large crowd in attendance at Fulton Speedway last Saturday were treated to a hot DIRT Big Block Modified main event on a very hot evening. Pat Ward claimed the victory in the 35-lap Syracuse.com main event. The veteran driver edged out Tom Sears Jr. and Jim Witko Jr. for the $2,000 payday. The top three raced virtually three wide during the final circuits.

Donnie Wetmore Jr. raced out to the early lead at the start of the Syracuse.com DIRT Big Block Modified main event from the pole starting position. With five laps complete Wetmore continued to lead and was being followed in the top five by Witko, Dan Vauter, Tony Buffa and Ward. Wetmore would lead the opening 12 circuits before Witko took the position away.

Witko's lead would only be a brief one with Wetmore back leading the 26-car starting field on lap-15. This time Wetmore's lead was also a brief one with Witko back in command on lap-17. At the halfway point Witko was followed in the top five by Ward, Wetmore, Vauter and Sean Beardsley. Buffa, Ryan Phelps, Tom Sears, Scott Prentice and Tim Fuller raced in positions sixth through tenth respectively at the halfway mark.

Ward took the lead away from Witko on lap-22, but Witko raced right back on the top side to regain the top spot on the next circuit. At this point of the event Sears closed in on the lead duo and made it a three car shoot-out for the victory. Ward officially regained the lead on lap-30 and as it turned out the driver of the Gypsum Express DIRT Modified would never lose it again.

Sears and Witko finished in second and third respectively, their best outings of the season at Fulton Speedway. Fuller, Alan Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Billy Decker, Matt Sheppard, Scott Prentice and Vauter completed the top ten feature finishers.

Roy Bresenahan earned his first ever DIRT Sportsman 20-lap feature race victory last Saturday night. Bresenahan also became the first driver to win a DIRT Sportsman feature race at Fulton Speedway using the new crate engine. Matt Janczuk, Joey Williams, Jeremy Pitcher and Greg Doust completed the top five feature finishers. Bresenahan led the entire distance for the history making win.

Lee Burnett won his first 20-lap DIRT Pro Stock feature race of the 2005 season last Saturday. The former Fulton Speedway Track Champion is hoping to turn his season around with the victory. John Pietrowicz, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Mark Alnutt and Jack Terrell finished in positions second through fifth respectively. Burnett earned the victory by holding off Pietrowicz and Fitzgibbons in a three car battle for the win.

Rusty Marsden won his fourth 15-lap Pure Stock feature race of the season the hard way last Saturday night. Marsden was the winner of a four car shoot-out over Dan Hofmann Sr., Phil Marsden, Ron Marsden and Chad Crouse. Rusty Marsden took the lead away from brother Ron Marsden on lap-13 and then held off Hofmann and Phil Marsden for the victory.

Professional DIRT Motorsports competition will continue this Saturday at Fulton Speedway with the DIRT Big Block Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Mod Lites all in action. Race time is set for 7 p.m. For more information please call the track office at 315-593-6531 or the race line at 668-RACE. On line information is available at www.fultonspeedway.com.

SYRACUSE.COM FEATURE RACE SUMMARY

DIRT BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS---Pat Ward, Tom Sears, Jim Witko, Tim Fuller, Alan Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Billy Decker, Matt Sheppard, Scott Prentice, Dan Vauter, Chad Phelps, A.J. Romano, Sean Beardsley, Ryan Richardson, Ryan Phelps, Tim Harris, Dave Rauscher, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Jeremie Corcoran, Vinnie Vitale, Tony Buffa, John Barker, Tim Sears, Jeff Isabell, Jeff Rudalavage, Dave Axton.

DIRT SPORTSMAN---Roy Bresnahan, Matt Janczuk, Joe Williams Jr., Jeremy Pitcher, Greg Doust, Kevin Bates, Brett Tonkin, Mike Holmes, Dave Reilley, Todd Town, Sam Reakes IV, Chris Higgins, Roger West, Shane Donath, Mark Yorker, Mark Pitoniak, Mike Bowman, Alan Fink, Jim Bowman, Chris Hile.

DIRT PRO STOCKS---Lee Burnett, John Pietrowicz, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Mark Alnutt, Jack Terrell, Bob Buono, Jeremy Clark, Scott Beeles, Cheryl Guernsey, Jerry Button, Ricky Breed, Ray Maloney, Dick Parkhurst, Bill Clark Jr., Dale Guernsey, Jesse Updike, Jim Evans.

PURE STOCKS---Rusty Marsden, Dan Hofmann Sr., Phil Marsden, Ron Marsden, Chad Crouse, Steve Woodworth, Dave Emmons, Rob Whipple, Curt Prevo, Gary Donahue, George Ritchie Jr., Gary Barton, Chuck Lacey, Brett Buono, Jim Donaldson, Van Grant, Debbie Whalen, Ethan Parkhurst, Joe Buske, Brandon Warner, Jay McGilliccuddy, Ron Hawker, Bill Thomas.