May 12, 2007

DALE PLANCK ROMPS FULTON SPEEDWAY MODIFIED FIELD IN OPENER
 

FULTON, NY – “The Natural” Dale Planck of Homer returned to his personal playground at Fulton Speedway to win the 35-lap DIRTcar Modified Season Opener last Saturday night. Planck came from the ninth starting position to take the lead from Kevin Bates on lap 17 on the way to the popular victory. Other winners were Sammy Reakes, IV in the DIRTcar Sportsman, Billy Clark Jr. in the DIRT Pro Stocks, Kevan Cook in the IMCA Modifieds, and Jeff Isabell Jr. in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman division.

            Planck, a 4-time Fulton Speedway track champion and dominator of the mid 1990’s, returned to race action on Saturday for a full season of competition, his first since the 2003 season. Going into the opener, he was one of several favorites for the victory and the season-long points battle. Without a doubt, he proved he is loaded for bear and ready to stomp on the Fulton Speedway competition.

            The victory for Planck was the 55^th of his career on the Fulton high banks, spread out over 13 winning seasons, an impressive list of numbers. Planck’s last victory came on July 26, 2003.Ironically, the victory is his first ever driving a Big Block Modified, as all previous wins were behind the wheel of a 358-Modified.

            Dan Vauter led the opening lap of the DIRTcar Modified feature, with Kevin Bates taking control on lap 2. Bates looked like he was pulling away for a victory until a mid race yellow bunched the field. Planck took over the top spot on lap 17 enroute to his victory as he was never seriously challenged. Vinnie Vitale made a late race charge for second, with Jimmy Phelps in third.

Bates had to settle with third, but proved he will park in victory lane sometime this season. Fourth was defending champion Alan Johnson, with Steve Hulsizer, who came from the consi, finishing fifth. Completing the top ten, it was Dan Vauter, Brett Tonkin, Chad Phelps, and Jim Witko Jr.

            Sammy Reakes IV of Palermo won his first DIRTcar Sportsman feature event of the 2007 season after coming from deep in the field in the seventeenth starting position. Reakes took the lead on lap 10 and held on for the remainder of the 20-lap event. Alan Fink led the first two circuits, with Shawn Donath leading laps 3-8 until he broke under yellow. John Pietrowicz, who led lap 9, had to settle for second, with Mark Davison, Chris Hile, and Jeremy Pitcher completing the top five.

            Defending DIRTcar Pro Stock track champion Billy Clark Jr. of Fulton put an early season bid in on the 2007 title with his victory in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature event. Clark had to wrestle the lead away from early leader Dale Guernsey on lap 3 to hold on for the victory from the eighth starting position. Completing the top five it was last week’s winner Jason Parkhurst, Jack Terrell, Bob Buono, and Jim Evans.

            Kevin Cook of Bernhard’s Bay won his first ever IMCA Modified main event after leading the entire 15-lap event from the fourth starting spot. Second was Ken Rogers, followed by Greg Kimball, George Valenti, and Bill Anderson. The IMCA Modifieds will return to Fulton Speedway on Saturday June 2 for their second event.

            In Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman race action, Jeff Isabell Jr. of Pennellville won his first ever 15-lap feature event. Isabell swapped the lead back and forth for the entire event with the now legendary Laslow Howiefeld to take home the win. Timmy Sears Jr., Sean McCarthy, and Eddie Grant completed the top five.

Coming up this Saturday night May 19 at Fulton Speedway is Little League Night. Scheduled in race action are the DIRTcar Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, DIRTcar Pro Stocks, ESDCA Mod Lites, & 4-Cylinder Enduros. Race time is set for 7pm. For more information, contact the speedway office at (315) 593-6531, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.

FULTON PIT NOTES…29 DIRTcar Modifieds were pitside, certainly a tremendous turnout. A competitive field of Modifieds for sure, with a very talented mix of drivers. Young Pennsylvania drivers Kevin Bates, Dan Vauter, and Brett Tonkin all won the Modifieds heats proving the PA Posse connection is as strong as ever. The 4-Cylinder Enduro division has been added to the weekly card for the remainder of the 2007 Fulton Speedway race season. This marks the second week in a row that a Planck was in victory lane at the speedway. Dale’s son Stephen won the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman event last Saturday.

FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
SYRACUSE.COM MAGNETIC SCHEDULE CARD NIGHT
RACE DATE: MAY 12, 2007

DIRTcar MODIFIEDS  (35-Laps) – DALE PLANCK, Vinnie Vitale, Jimmy Phelps, Kevin Bates, Alan Johnson, Steve Hulsizer, Dan Vauter, Brett Tonkin, Chad Phelps, Jim Witko Jr., Willy Decker, Jeremy Smith, Tom Sears Jr., Jamie Christian, John Ramsey, Darwin Greene, Sean Beardsley, Brian Weaver, John Barker Jr., Kenny Stafford, Scott Prentice, Roy Bresnahan, Tony Buffa Jr., Kyle Lewis, Mike Bowman, Tim Sears, Mike Ward, Matt Fink. DNS – Johnny Hill.

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (20-Laps) – SAMMY REAKES IV, John Pietrowicz, Mark Davison, Chris Hile, Jeremy Pitcher, Matt Hulsizer, Amanda Whitney, Gregg Carner, Dave Reilley, A.J. Kingsley, Rob Hile, Curt Prevo, Beth Schneider, Tony Steiner, Morris Mathews, Lee Babcock, Brad Townsend, Stewart Garrison, Shawn Donath, Alan Fink, John Behron, Jason Occhina. DNS – Mike McCarthy, Jon Tesoriero.

DIRTcar GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – JEFF ISABELL JR., Laslow Howiefeld, Timmy Sears Jr., Sean McCarthy, Eddie Grant, Katelyn Kane.

IMCA MODIFIEDS (15-Laps) – KEVAN COOK, Ken Rogers, Greg Kimball, George Valenti, Bill Anderson, Ricky Orton, Don Reeves, Coleen Finch, Pete Anderson, Tony Finch, Larry Bezner, Mark Griffin.

DIRTcar PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – BILLY CLARK JR, Jason Parkhurst, Jack Terrell, Bob Buono, Jim Evans, Dick Parkhurst, Dale Guernsey, Jim Donaldson, Gary Barton, Adam Hunt, Dave Briggs, Jerry Button, Rusty Marsden, Mike Vaughn, Rob Seavy. DNS – Pat Hobbs.