September 27, 1987

PAUCH WINS FULTON'S "VICTORIA 200" FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

Fulton, NY...Billy Pauch took the lead from Donnie Wetmore on lap 176 and went on to win his second straight "VICTORIA 200", Sunday at Fulton Speedway. The win was worth $13,423 for the Stockton, New Jersey driver.

The race featured many tremendous battles from start to finish. After a 10 lap battle with Kenny Bell, Roger Phelps took command of the race in the early stages. Phelps held top slot until lap 39 when first lap leader Bob Podolak grabbed the lead. The Podolak lead was short lived however as Danny Johnson, who started 20th took over on lap 42.

Johnson was maintaining the low groove while fighting off an array of challengers, including Marcel Lafrance, Phelps, Pauch and Donnie Wetmore, who all chose the high side of the speedway. Lafrance, in an impressive early run, tried to move around the Ryan's Express #28 of Johnson, but to no avail.

The top five never remained constant as the impressive field of Small Block Modifieds diced it out lap after lap. Pauch began his assault on the lead when he moved into second on the 65th lap.

At the conclusion of the first 100 laps Danny Johson was still the leader and picked up the $1,000 bonus from Homer's Automoitve. He was followed by Mike Ricci, Pauch, Mike Arminio and Phelps. At this time the race was stopped and the cars were sent to the pits to refuel and make other adjustments. The Late Model feature was then run. The race didn't make it the scheduled 50 laps as unexpected rains brought a halt to the race after 29 laps.

The rain eventually stopped but it sent the various crew chiefs scrambling for the right set up for the final 100 laps. As was expected, the complexion of the race changed in the second half.

Pauch wasted no time in getting the lead from Johnson on lap 103. Meanwhile the man on the move was Donnie Wetmore.
Wetmore, 1987 Fulton Track Champion, faded late in the first half of the race after running strong early. The crew made adjustments during the break and had the Chester Farms #M1 in top form for the second 100 laps.

He moved past Johnson on lap 110 to take over second and then went to work on leader Pauch. With 50 laps remaining Pauch and Wetmore had opened a huge margin over Jimmy Horton, now third, Johnson and John Barker Jr.

As the two worked through lapped traffic, Pauch went high on lap 155 and Wetmore took the lead. They then staged a classic battle with Wetmore riding the high side and Pauch running down low as they ran away from the field.

A lap 176 restart saw Pauch regain the lead in his Keystone Pretzel machine. He then switched grooves, moving up high and opening up a commanding lead over the stellar field.

From then on it was all Pauch as he cruised to his second consecutive "VICTORIA 200" win. Wetmore finished second, with Danny Johnson third, Mike Arminio fourth and John Barker Jr. fifth. Rich Ricci Jr., Jimmy Horton, Pat Ward, Billy Schinkel and Roger Phelps rounded out the top ten.

As was the case all year long in Fulton's Late Model division, it was L.D. Bezner scoring the win. Bezner won his 18th feature of the year.

Bob Goutermout took the lead from the pole and was challenged by Jeff Walton and Bezner, who started tenth. Bezner moved into second on lap seven and then into the lead just one lap later.

On the 29th lap an unexpected rain storm fell and the decision was made, to throw the checker. Following Bezner across the stripe were Ken Updike in a great run, Al Waldron, Walton and Goutermout. Russ Lyons, Louie Michaels, Jim Smith, Mike Mundweiler and Tim Ryan completed the top ten finishers.

Four Small Block Modified Consi's were run earlier in the afternoon. They were won by Jim Mahaney, Chuck Whitford, John Podolak and Mike Hulsizer.

The two non-qualifiers races found Dale Stettler and Dave Lape in Victory Lane. By winning these two races Stettler and Lape had the choice of taking the $600 for the win or starting in the rear of the 40 car field for the "VICTORIA 200". Both drivers elected to keep the money and forfeit their chance to get into the "VICTORIA 200" starting grid.

VICTORIA 200 CONSOLATION RESULTS

Consolation #1: JIM MAHANEY, Ted Lamb Jr., Billy Schinkel, / Ronnie Tobias, George Suprick, Chris Gravius, Paul Richards, Skip Mackenzie, Rick Wilson, Dale Marsteller, George Watson, Gary Donahue, DNS: Dave Lape, Charlie Donk, John Moravec, Gary Griffin.

Consolation #2: CHUCK WHITFORD, Marcel LaFrance, Jackie Brown / Rick Crane, Dale Stettler, Merv Winfield, Jeff West, Mickey Healy, Tom Juhl, Kevin Berger, Duane "Deek" Decker, Leroy Hurlbut, DNS: Eddie Haenelt, Doug Worthing, Chip Wood.

Consolation #3: JOHN PODOLAK, Mark Shadwell, Tim Gareau / Doug Fuller, Jack Follweiler, Mike Brenner, Dick-Marcinko, Tom Faulkner, Carl Kleinsteuber, Eddie O'Neil, Scott Gates, DNS: Gary Hubbard, Ovide Doiron, Mike Perrotte, Sam Reakes Jr.

Consolation #4: MIKE HULSIZER, Dave Adams, Sam Reakes Sr. / Tim Faulter, Dick Longstreet, Stan Samul, Jeff Rudalvage, Mike Nicholas, Crash Nash, Nick Lazzaro, Dick Horning, Mike Conway, Fran Hilton, Hugh Campbell, DNS: Lany Cole.

Results of the VICTORIA 200 Non-Qualifiers Race

Race #1: DALE STETTLER, Leroy Hurlbut, Rick Wilson, Merv Winfield, Rick Crane, Skip Mackenzie, Chris Gravius, Tom Juhl, Mickey Healy, Dale Marsteller, Kevin Berger, Hugh Campbell George Suprick, Jeff West, George Watson, Gary Donahue.

Race #2: DAVE LAPE, Doug Fuller, Dick Marcinko, Mike Brenner, Tim Faulter, Stan Samul, Crash Nash, Tom Faulkner, Dick Homing, Eddie O'Neil, Mike Conway, Dick Longstreet, Jeff Rudalavage, Scott Gates, Nick Lazzaro, Fran Hilton.
(/ splits the qualified cars from non-qualfied)