August 18, 2007

REAKES, GODSHALK, CLARK, HOFMANN, WILLIAMS, & BAKER WIN AT FULTON SPEEDWAY

FULTON, NY (August 18) – On www.cnyjunkcarswanted.com Night last Saturday at Fulton Speedway, Sammy Reakes IV was able to shake off mechanical woes that have plagued him lately to win the 20-lap DIRTcar Sportsman feature from the third starting position. Bill Clark, Jr. won a hotly contested 20-lap UMP Pro Stock feature over Jason Parkhurst and Frank Guererri, Jr. Other winners Saturday night were Dan Hoffman Sr. in the UMP Street Stocks, Dan Williams in the ESDCA Mod Lites, Brad Godshalk in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, and Les Baker in the 4-Cylinder Enduro.

John Behron took off from his pole starting position to pace the field in the 20-lap DIRTcar Sportsman feature, with Curt Prevo, Stewart Garrison and Sammy Reakes IV in pursuit. After a yellow on lap-4 Reakes would overtake Behron on lap-5 to grab the lead and started to open up a lead on the rest of the field. While Reakes tried to run away and hide, the top three in the points, Jeremy Pitcher (13th) John Pietrowicz (9th) and Shawn Donath (14th), were making their way towards the front from starting
further back in the field. All three would be a factor in the finish.

At the halfway point it turned into a three-way race between Reakes, Donath and Pietrowicz. As the laps clicked off Donath tried every lane on the race track to get by Reakes. While this was going on, Pitcher was able to slip by Pietrowicz to take over third. With a handful of laps left and the top three running nearly identical lap times Reakes was able to hold on for the win followed by Donath, Pitcher, Pietrowicz, and Behron completing the top five. Larry Wright, A.J Kingsley, Gregg Carner, Dave Reilley and Matt Hulsizer rounded out the top ten.

"That was a tough race out there, that was a lot of fun. Shawn (Donath) is one of my favorite people to race," said Reakes after parking his Whittakers Trophy Auto Sales, No.17k in victory lane. Reakes also related it was great to get to victory lane again after a few DNF's that put an end to his hopes of a track title. The rest of the season will be about having fun and trying to get as many wins as he can.

Jason Parkhurst took the lead on lap-6 of the UMP Pro Stock feature and looked to be heading for his fourth win of the 2007 season. Bill Clark, Jr. and Frank Guererri, Jr. had other ideas and made it a great four-car battle for the win. You could have thrown a blanket over the top runners as the leader on each lap was in doubt. On lap-14 Guererri took over the top spot but he would lose his momentum running the top side with three to go. That allowed Clark to get by for the lead. Parkhurst also got by Guererri and took off after Clark. Parkhurst could pull even with Clark but couldn't carry enough speed off the corners to get by for the win. Clark won by a narrow margin followed by Parkhurst, Guererri, Rusty Marsden and Dale Guernsey. Jim Evans, Dave Briggs, Pat Hobbs, Rob Seavy and Mike Vaughn rounded out the top ten.

After his win Clark said, "That was a tough race. Parkhurst and that 113 (Guererri) are hard runners. But I knew once we got out front I could run my own line and then just had to be smooth and not make any mistakes." The win was Clark's fifth of the season. He now leads Parkhurst by six points coming down to the last three point races to decide the 2007 track champion.

Dan Hoffman, Sr. survived a race-long battle with Steve Crouse and Jim Wallace to grab a hard fought win in the UMP Street Stock 20-lap main. With two laps to go Crouse made a move to the inside of Hoffman trying to take the lead going into turn one, but contact was made between the two resulting in a flat for the Crouse machine. Hoffman, Sr. was able to hold on for the green, white, checker finish. Jim Wallace, Gary Barton, Bill Thomas and Steve Woodworth were the top five.

"That was a tough one tonight," said Hoffman, "I didn't think I did anything wrong with the 02 (Crouse, when they made contact) I guess it was just hard racing." Hoffman credited fast track conditions as a key to his win.

Doug Williams started 10th in the 20-lap ESDCA feature. He wasted no time grabbing the lead and cruising to the win. His toughest competitors on the night, Dan Williams and Tim Devendorf, made contact going into turn one on lap-14 resulting in both cars spinning. Devendorf retired to the pits and Williams finished 11th. Lowell Zehr finished second, followed by Tod Simons, Tommy Felicia, and Rocco Leone.

"This win had nothing to do with me tonight. It was all the crew. We tried different gears tonight we have never run," related Williams about the key to his win. "Man, this track was fast. I don't think I have ever run that fast. I don't know my lap times but I'd like to find out."

Brad Godshalk won a nose-to-tail, side-by-side battle with Tim Sears, Jr. in the Gypsum Express Crates. The win was the fourth of the season for Godshalk. Ron Ingison, Katelyn Kane, and Sean McCarthy were the rest of the top five.

In the final feature of the night Les Baker won the 4-Cylinder Enduro main over Mark Johnston, Charles DeGroff, Kelly Smith and Jack Beshures who rounded out the top five.

Coming up this Tuesday August 21 at Fulton Speedway is the sail paneled Dirt Modifieds under Victoria 200 Rules for Victoria 200 Rules Modified Mini-Series Event #2. The Modifieds will compete in a 35-lap $2,000 to win special. The DIRTcar Sportsman, UMP Pro Stocks, and 4-Cylinder Enduros will also be on hand. Racing will begin at 7pm sharp. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 593-6531, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.

PIT NOTES… Drivers all night long were very complimentary about the change in track conditions and Jeremie Corcoran's work. The speedway was smooth, fast and virtually dust free. 25-Sportsman, 21-Mod Lites, 16-Street Stocks- 14-Pro Stocks and 9-Gypsum Express Crates signed in the pit area for the night. Tuesday night will be the Victoria Mini Series for Modifieds. The last time this series visited the speedway Pat Ward won in a photo finish over teammate Billy Decker. This race will be just as exciting. Also on the
card will be the DIRTcar Modified Sportsman (30- Laps) UMP Pro Stocks (20-laps) and the 4-Cylinder Enduros.

FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY

WWW.CNYJUNKCARSWANTED.COM NIGHT

RACE DATE: AUGUST 18, 2007

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (20-Laps) – SAMMY REAKES IV., Shawn Donath, Jeremy Pitcher, John Pietrowicz, John Behron, Larry Wight, A.J. Kingsley, Gregg Carner, Dave Reilley, Matt Hulsizer, Curt Prevo, Billy Coleman, Stewart Garrison, Todd Town, Lee Babcock, Jon Tesoriero, Anthony Steiner, Jason Occhino, Morris Mathews, Doug Shattell, Jeff Isabell Jr., Beth Schneider, Ron Schadt, Alan Fink, Roger West.

UMP PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – BILLY CLARK JR., Jason Parkhurst, Frank Guererri Jr., Rusty Marsden, Dale Guernsey, Jim Evans, Dave Briggs, Pat Hobbs, Rob Seavy, Mike Vaughn, Adam Hunt, Jack Terrell, Scott Conover, Jerry Button.

UMP STREET STOCKS (20-Laps) – DAN HOFMANN SR., Jim Wallace, Gary Barton, Bill Thomas, Steve Woodworth, Josh Blackwell, Chuck Thomas, Matt Henderson, Ron Hawker, Chuck Cushman Jr., Adam Guilds, Steve Crouse, Dan Hofmann Jr., Nick Rizzo, Quentin Burton, Jay McGillicuddy.

ESDCA MOD LITES (20-Laps) – DOUG WILLIAMS, Lowell Zehr, Tod Simons, Tommy Felicia, Rocco Leone, Terry Lapham, Chuck DeMott, Jeff Hays, Mike Mullen, Kelly Skinner, Dan Williams, Lisa Thomas, Jamie King, Jeff Barker, Tim Devendorf, Mike Virginia, Ken Gamlen, Ricky Yelle, Justin Crisafulli.

GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – BRAD GODSHALK, Timmy Sears Jr., Ron Ingison, Katelyn Kane, Sean McCarthy, Mike Fowler, Jim Calvin, Jake Reilley.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO (25-Laps, Top Five Listed) – LES BAKER, Mark Johnston, Charles DeGroff, Kelly Smith, Jack Beshures.