August 4, 2007

PHELPS CLOSER TO SECOND TRACK TITLE AFTER WIN ON GYPSUM EXPRESS / FERRIS INDUSTRIES NIGHT
 

FULTON, NY (August 4) – Popular local driver Jimmy Phelps of Baldwinsville inched closer to his second career Fulton Speedway DIRTcar Modified track title after his second straight win Saturday on Gypsum Express / Ferris Industries Family Autograph Night. Phelps started twelfth on the grid and fought hard with leaders Jim Witko Jr. and Vinnie Vitale to take the lead with just four laps remaining on the Fulton Speedway high banks. The win for the driver of the family owned J&B Installations, Troyer No. 99j was worth $1,500 and another important step to the coveted track championship. Other winners on the night were Jeff Isabell Jr. in the DIRTcar Sportsman, Timmy Sears Jr. in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, Rusty Marsden in the UMP Pro Stocks, Gary Barton in the UMP Street Stocks, and Jerry Herbert in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.

Jim Witko Jr. and Jeff Isabell paced the 22-car DIRTcar Modified feature starting field down to the flags of Starter Glen O’Loughlin with Witko racing out to the early lead.  Witko had the entire field under control as he opened up a commanding lead. At the halfway point of the Gypsum Express / Ferris Industries 35-lap feature event, Witko remained the leader with John Ramsey, Vinnie Vitale, Tom Sears Jr. and Jeff Isabell in the top five. As the race wore on, some of the top names were working their way to the front including Jimmy Phelps, Pat Ward, Billy Decker, and Alan Johnson.

The excitement continued as the battle for the race lead heated up. Witko, going for his first ever Fulton Speedway win, was working in and out of lapped traffic, allowing Vitale to close in. Both drivers went side by side for several laps as Jimmy Phelps caught them and entered the fight for the top spot. Vitale inched ahead for the lead on lap 29 with Phelps taking over second and setting his sights on the lead. On lap 31, Vitale bobbled momentarily allowing Phelps to take the lead. Right after this, Pat Ward had entered the top five and was rising up through the top spots quickly as was Gypsum teammate Billy Decker. Ward took over second with two laps to go but it was too late as Phelps was gone.

As the checkers flew for Phelps in his fourth victory of the season, a closing Pat Ward was 2.229 seconds behind in second, followed by Vitale, Billy Decker, and Alan Johnson. Completing the top ten in the exciting feature was Jim Witko, followed by John Ramsey, Tom Sears Jr., Kevin Bates, and Matt Fink.

Jeff Isabell Jr. of Pennellville inherited his second straight DIRTcar Sportsman 20-lap feature win in as many weeks, after apparent winner Matt Hulsizer was disqualified for being underweight. Isabell started eighth on the grid and ran second behind Hulsizer, who led the entire event looking for his first ever feature win. At the finish, after tech, Isabell was the victor as second place finisher and current point leader Jeremy Pitcher strengthened his standings lead. Gregg Carner had his best finish of the season in third, with John Pietrowicz and Alan Fink fourth and fifth respectively.

Rusty Marsden of Mexico won an action-packed 20-lap UMP Pro Stock feature, his second victory of the year. Marsden started eighth and took the lead on lap 15 when early leader Rob Seavy broke coming out of turn 4. Point leader Jason Parkhurst finished second, Scott Conover was third, newcomer Frank Guererri Jr. was fourth, and Billy Clark Jr. was fifth.

Gary Barton of Mattydale won his second 20-lap UMP Street Stock feature event of the 2007 race season and gained several points on leader Ron Hawker. Barton, who started third, lost the lead with three laps to go as Nick Rizzo took command looking for his first ever win. A late race caution bunched up the field, and on the final lap, Rizzo slipped high allowing Barton the hard earned victory. Rizzo settled for second, with Dan Hofmann Sr., Ron Hawker, and Dave Mannise right behind.

In the beginner’s class known as the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, teenager Timmy Sears Jr. won his fourth 15-lap main event of the year. Sears led Brad Godshalk, Brandon Planck, Sean McCarthy, and cancer survivor Katelyn Kane in the top five. The 25-lap 4-Cylinder Enduro feature victory went to Jerry Herbert, who beat out Jon Shumway, Marjorie Wallace, Eric M. Zirbel, and Mark Johnston at the finish.

Coming up this Saturday August 11 at Fulton Speedway is Canale Insurance Night featuring the DIRTcar Modifieds (40 Show-up points), DIRTcar Sportsman, UMP Pro Stocks, UMP Street Stocks, Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, 4-Cylinder Enduros, and Midstate Vintage Stock Cars. 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…The always popular Family Autograph session was held during intermission on the frontstretch. All cars and drivers were brought down for autographs and to meet the race fans. The Victoria 200 Rules Modified Mini-Series will resume at Fulton Speedway on Tuesday August 21 and continue after that at Brewerton Speedway on Tuesday August 28. On the midway was the Gypsum Express Souvenir trailer plus Ferris Industries and the highly popular Donnie Moran Dirt Late Model Simulator.

FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY

GYPSUM EXPRESS / FERRIS INDUSTRIES NIGHT

RACE DATE: AUGUST 4, 2007

DIRTcar MODIFIEDS (35-Laps) – JIMMY PHELPS, Pat Ward, Vinnie Vitale, Billy Decker, Alan Johnson, Jim Witko Jr., John Ramsey, Tom Sears Jr., Kevin Bates, Matt Fink, Roy Bresnahan, Tim Sears, Willy Decker, Chad Phelps, Brett Tonkin, Ryan Phelps, Jeff Isabell, Brian Weaver, Brian Murphy, Wallace Stacey, Sean Beardsley, Pat O’Brien.

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (20-Laps) – JEFF ISABELL JR., Jeremy Pitcher, Gregg Carner, John Pietrowicz, Alan Fink, Anthony Steiner, Larry Wight, A.J. Kingsley, Beth Schneider, Dave Reilley, Doug Shattell, Lee Babcock, Ron Schadt, Shawn Donath, Brad Townsend, John Behron, Sammy Reakes IV., Stewart Garrison, Mike Button, Curt Prevo, Jon Tesoriero, Matt Hulsizer (DQ).

UMP PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – RUSTY MARSDEN, Jason Parkhurst, Scott Conover, Frank Guererri Jr., Billy Clark Jr., Dave Briggs, Dale Guernsey, Adam Hunt, Jack Terrell, Jim Evans, Jerry Button, Rob Seavy, Pat Hobbs, Dick Parkhurst (DQ).

UMP STREET STOCKS (20-Laps) – GARY BARTON, Nick Rizzo, Dan Hofmann Sr., Ron Hawker, Dave Mannise, Steve Crouse, Steve Woodworth, Jim Wallace, Josh Blackwell, Bill Thomas, Joe Briere, Matt Henderson, Chuck Thomas, Adam Guilds, Quentin Burton (DQ), Dan Hofmann Jr. (DQ), Joe Schirm (DQ).

GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – TIMMY SEARS JR., Brad Godshalk, Brandon Planck, Sean McCarthy, Katelyn Kane, Joey Delacruz, Ron Ingison, Jake Reilley, Mike Fowler, Dan Hill.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO (25-Laps, Top Five Listed) – JERRY HERBERT, Jon Shumway, Marjorie Wallace, Mark Johnston.