HEBING, HILE, PLANCK, PARKHURST, MANNISE, & SHUMWAY WIN IN 2007 OPENER AT FULTON SPEEDWAY
 

FULTON, NY – After nearly a month due to weather related cancellations, Fulton Speedway was finally able to kick off the 46^th Season of racing last Saturday night on Cobra Trailers / FA Products Night. Plenty of new faces visited victory lane for the first time in their race careers on the 3/8-mile high banks. Winning features were Chris Hile in the DIRTcar Sportsman, Stephen Planck in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, Jason Parkhurst in the DIRTcar Pro Stocks, Dave Mannise in the UMP Street Stocks, Jon Shumway in the 4-Cylinder Enduro, and Chuck Hebing in the ASCS Patriot Sprint Cars.

            Chris Hile of Syracuse won his first ever Fulton Speedway DIRTcar Sportsman 20-lap main event. Hile started on the pole and led the entire event Hile had to fend off the late race charges of Jeremy Pitcher and Shawn Donath, who finished second and third respectively. Sammy Reakes, IV and Gregg Carner completed the top five finishers in the competitive feature.

            Jason Parkhurst of Fulton started on the pole position and won his first career DIRTcar Pro Stock feature at the speedway. Parkhurst led the entire 20-lap main, followed by close relative Dick Parkhurst, defending champion Billy Clark Jr., Jim Evans, and Rob Seavy at the finish.

            In likely the most exciting 20-lap UMP Street Stock feature in quite some time at Fulton Speedway, Dave Mannise of Fulton came from third to take the lead on the final corner to win his first feature of 2007. The race featured three different leaders with six different lead changes. Dave Bruno led the opening lap, with Mannise leading laps 2-7. As the top four cars battled it out, Dan Hofmann Sr. led lap 8, and Mannise at the point on lap 9. Hofmann looked to have it all locked up as he lead the entire second half until Mannise took over as the checkered fell. Hofmann was forced to settle for second, with a hard charging Andy Fisk in third, Chuck Cushman Jr. in fourth, and Steve Woodworth in fifth.

            Third generation driver Stephen Planck of Homer won his first ever feature in the debut of the brand new Gypsum Express Crate DIRTcar Sportsman division of beginning drivers. Planck started sixth on the field and took the lead from early leader Jeff Isabell Jr. on lap 2 enroute to the popular victory. After Planck, it was Laslow Howiefelt, Sean McCarthy, Brad Godshalk, and Timmy Sears Jr. in the top five. Planck’s father Dale is a 4-time Fulton Speedway Modified track champion, and will heavily figure in the points battle this season.

            Chuck Hebing of Ontario won the 20-lap ASCS Patriot Sprint Car season opener in dominating fashion on Saturday night. Hebing led the entire distance after starting on the pole. Completing the top five finishers, it was former Fulton winner Bryan Howland, followed by Jason Barney, Jeff Cook, and Josh Weller.

            Jon Shumway came from the third starting position to lead the entire 20-lap 4-Cylinder Enduro feature. Following Shumway in his first ever win was Josh Herbert, Jerry Herbert, Mark Johnston, and Marjorie Wallace.

            Coming up this Saturday May 12 is the 2007 debut of the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds on the Fulton Speedway high banks in a 35-lap feature. Also scheduled are the DIRTcar Sportsman, IMCA Modifieds, DIRTcar Pro Stocks, UMP Street Stocks, and the Gypsum Express Crate DIRTcar Sportsman. Race time is set for 7:30pm. 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…Young Katelyn Kane, a teenaged cancer survivor, made her long awaited debut in the new Gypsum Express Crate DIRTcar Sportsman division. Kane was unable to start the feature due to transmission problems. Several DIRTcar Modifieds were in attendance to hotlap in preparation for Saturday’s Modified opener. Jamie Christian, John Ramsey, Sean Beardsley, Matt Fink, and Darwin Greene were all in attendance. Beardsley had the best time in the first session with a 16.622. Several ESDCA Mod Lites were also on hand, with Jeff Barker being the fastest. The ASCS Patriot Sprint Cars will visit Fulton again on September 8, with their season points ending then. The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars will visit Fulton on July 24.

FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
46^TH SEASON OPENER – COBRA TRAILERS / FA PRODUCTS NIGHT
RACE DATE: MAY 5, 2007

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (20-Laps) – CHRIS HILE, Jeremy Pitcher, Shawn Donath, Sammy Reakes IV, Gregg Carner, Rob Hile, John Pietrowicz, Dave Reilley, Mark Davison, Tony Steiner, Roger West, Matt Hulsizer, Stewart Garrison, John Behron, Lee Babcock, Morris Mathews, Beth Schneider, Curt Prevo, Todd Town, Jon Tesoriero, A.J. Kingsley, Alan Fink. DNS – Brad Townsend.

DIRTcar GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – STEPHEN PLANCK, Laslow Howiefelt, Sean McCarthy, Brad Godshalk, Timmy Sears Jr., Eddie Grant, Earl Rudy, Jeff Isabell Jr. DNS – Katelyn Kane.

DIRTcar PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – JASON PARKHURST, Dick Parkhurst, Billy Clark Jr., Jim Evans, Rob Seavy, Dave Briggs, Jim Donaldson, Adam Hunt, Pat Hobbs, Mike Vaughn, Jack Terrell, Dale Guernsey. DNS – PJ Peters.

UMP STREET STOCKS (20-Laps) – DAVE MANNISE, Dan Hofmann Sr., Andy Fisk, Chuck Cushman Jr., Steve Woodworth, Ron Hawker, Nick Rizzo, Gary Barton, Jim Wallace, Jay McGillicuddy, Joe Buske, Josh Blackwell, Dan Hofmann Jr., Matt Henderson, Dave Bruno, Adam Guilds, Billy Flask, Joe Briere, Chuck Thomas. DNS – Steve Crouse, Quentin Burton.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO (20-Laps, Top Five Listed) – JON SHUMWAY, Josh Herbert, Jerry Herbert, Mark Johnston, Marjorie Wallace.

ASCS PATRIOT SPRINT CARS (25-Laps) – CHUCK HEBING, Bryan Howland, Jason Barney, Jeff Cook, Josh Weller, Don Adamczyk, Jared Zimbardi, Rick Wilson, Blake Breen, Geoff Quackenbush, Jessica Zemken, Mike VanDusen, Nick Fratto, Ray Preston, Justin Barger, Bobby Breen, Warren Alexson, Dave Wickham, Chris Muhleisen, Darrell Quackenbush, Jeff VanDusen, April Wilson. DNS – Gary Troutman.