September 25, 1988

UNBELIEVABLE PAUCH PULLS OFF THE VICTORIA 200 HAT TRICK

FULTON, NY...For an amazing third straight time, Billy Pauch from Stockton, New Jersey bested a stellar field of Small Block Modifieds to capture the "VICTORIA 200" at Fulton Speedway, the "Outlaw Track". The victory was worth $11,944 and Pauch remains as the only driver to win the prestigious event.

Billy Schinkel raced to the head of the pack at the start of the richest Small Block Modified race in the nation. He was pursued in the early stages by Randy Glenski and Jack Johnson. Glenski took the lead from Schinkel while Johnson soon dropped out. Glenski maintained the lead until he was involved in a crash on the backstretch while holding a large lead.

The next driver to assume command was Bob Holland. The Fulton, New York driver shocked the big dollar teams by stretching a huge margin over the field. The closest driver to him was Toby Tobias Jr., nearly a straightaway behind. Holland's great drive came to an end when he lost the handle in turn four, losing a lap in the process.

That moved Tobias into the lead with Paul Jensen and Billy Pauch in to w. The Racing was incredible behind Tobias with drivers racing four wide while swapping positions. One of the drivers who was dicing it out throughout the pack was Fulton Co-Track Champion Mike Arminio. He stuck to the low groove while picking off cars one at a time. He then moved in to challenge Tobias for the lead.

Arminio took the lead on lap 73, which was worth $300 courtesy of William. Chester Farms. Tobias stayed with him and regained the lead five laps later, only to lose it again on the next circuit. On lap 80 Tobias and Pauch got together, resulting in a Tobias spin. Ronnie Tobias took advantage of the situation to move into second with Pauch, Pat Ward and Mike Ricci following.

The elder Tobias then went to work on the high side of Arminio and took the lead on lap 86. Pauch followed Tobias into second as they approached the $1,000 halfway lap. The two drivers took the high line with Arminio down low as they raced to the completion of the first 100 laps. Tobias held off the challenges to pocket the $ 1,000 put up by Halsey Machinery in Mexico, New York.

At that point the red flag was displayed and the cars reported to the pit area to refuel and make changes. The fans were then treated to a Monster Truck car crushing display by Rambo during the break in the action.

When the race resumed for the completion of the second 100 laps it was once again Ronnie Tobias on top with Pauch close behind. Pauch made his bid for the lead pay off on lap 110 and grabbed the top spot away from Tobias. He then opened a commanding lead over the remainder of the 44 car field.

The top three of Pauch, Tobias and Arminio remained the same for quite some time with some more great racing going on behind them. Pat Ward, Mike Ricci and Paul Jensen battled it out for fourth, swapping positions on numerous occasions. By lap 150 all eyes were on the other Fulton Co-Track Champion Jim Mahaney. The Kings Ferry, New York driver was flying around the top side of the track and by lap 156 he had moved past Arminio for third. Those two drivers were involved in two separate battles, the one for third and the one for who would get the 1988 Tobias Small Block Modified that would go to the highest finishing Fulton regular.

Mahaney began to reel in the leaders when misfortune struck. While attempting to move past lapped car Toby Tobias Jr., the two came together down the backstretch in a crash that nearly sent Tobias out of the ball park, with Mahaney making heavy contact with the wall, ending his great race. With 30 laps to go it was still Pauch in front by a large margin. Arminio had moved past Tobias for second with Billy Schinkel and Paul Jensen close behind. Jensen dropped from the race on lap 174 moving Ricci back into the top five. The top five of Pauch, Arminio, Tobias, Schinkel and Mike Ricci remained that way throughout the closing laps.

Pauch saw his lead evaporate on lap 197 when the yellow flag flew, thus putting Arminio within striking distance. Pauch however ran away once again and cruised to the victory by a comfortable margin over Arminio. Ricci made a tremendous move on the final lap to pass both Schinkel and Tobias to finish third. Tobias was fourth with Schinkel fifth at the finish.

The win for Pauch was his third consecutive "VICTORIA 200" conquest, giving him the "hat trick". He remains the only driver to have ever won the race. Arminio's second place finish made him the highest finishing Fulton regular and he took home the $ 17,000 Tobias Small Block Modified that was given away by Fulton Speedway.

Rounding out the top ten finishers were Roger Phelps, John Barker Jr., Ward, Chuck Whitford and Bob Podolak. The race paid out a whopping $61,240 in cash and prizes to its 44 competitors.

Four consolation races were held on Sunday, the second day of qualifying. There were captured by Smokey Warren, Leroy Hurlbut, Marcel Lafrance and Mike Ricci. The two non-qualifiers races found Bob Podolak and Mike Noto in victory lane. They then had the option of taking the $600 winners share or forfeiting it and taking a starting spot in the "VICTORIA 200" Podolak took the spot and Noto took the cash.

Podolak was followed by Tom Juhl Jr., Shawn George, Mike Root and Charlie Davis in the first non-qualifier. The second one found Sam Reakes Sr., Ron Mawson, Dave Gerhart and Gary Griffin trailing Noto at the finish.

"VICTORIA 200" NOTES...The top four finishers came from deep in the pack. Pauch (30th), Arminio (25th), Ricci (34th) and Tobias (24th)...Pauch, Arminio, Schinkel and Roger Phelps have finished in the top ten in each of the three "VICTORIA 200's" that have been run...Pat Ward has registered back to back 8th place finishes in his two outings.. .Roger Laureno made the longest journey of the weekend. He left his Staten Island, New York home on Thursday and drove to Rochester, Indiana to pick up his motor. He then turned around and drove straight to Fulton, arriving late Friday evening, putting in the motor on Saturday morning so he could compete...Pauch's three wins have earned him nearly $40,000.. .A total of 264 cars took part in the "VICTORIA 200" Weekend. 99 Small Block Modifieds entered the race, four of which were no shows...A total of $86,142 in cash and prizes was distributed to the "VICTORIA 200" Weekend competitors in all classes.