DANNY JOHNSON CAPTURES FIRST WIN OF 1998 AT FULTON SPEEDWAY

FULTON, NY...8/8/98....Danny Johnson held off a strong last lap challenge from J.J. Michaels to win Saturday night's 35-lap Modified feature as Fulton Speedway celebrated its return to Saturday night racing. In other action, Ron Richardson and Todd Storace got their second wins of the year in the Sportsman and Pure Stocks respectively, while Mike LaVarnway won a hotly contested Street Stock feature.

Danny Johnson drew the outside pole for the Modified feature event, but did not take the lead until lap 3, as Gus Schmidt held the lead on the first two circuits. Once Danny got past him, he pulled away at the front of the field, leaving Schmidt all alone in second. Behind them, Roger Phelps was holding off a strong pack of cars that included Chuck Bower, Bill Abold, and Dave House.

The first yellow of the feature came on lap 18 when Phelps slowed on the backstretch and dropped out of the race. Schmidt also went to the pits under this yellow, which left Bower in second. Michaels had come up from his thirteenth starting spot to battle behind Bower and Abold, eventually getting by Bower to go to third. On the race's final restart on lap 31, Michaels got by Abold for the second spot, then went after Danny using the low groove. The two were side by side at least twice on the final lap, but Johnson got the best run off turn four to the checkered flag. Michaels was second, with Abold, Steve Hulsizer, and Bower rounding out the top five. Modified heats were won by Abold, John Barker, and Schmidt.

The 20-lap Sportsman feature was a two car duel at the front of the field between Ron Richardson and Jamie Christian. The two ran high and low, side by side for most of the first half of the feature. Within the pack, Tony Buffa and Rick Miller were puttin g on a strong show with charges from the rear while Greg Doust and Bill Shantel battled for position behind the lead duo.

In the second half of the race, Richardson built an advantage that he carried to the checkered flag. Christian held a solid second after a fine run. Buffa held off Doust for third, with Shantel rounding out the top five. Sportsman heats were won by Richardson and Christian.

The 20-lap Street Stock feature event was a three way battle between Mike LaVarnway, Gerry Newman, and John Pietrowicz, with LaVarnway and Newman trading the lead a few times. Pietrowicz fell out of the running on lap 14, leaving LaVarnway with a solid lead. Newman fell back from the leader and fought for second with Rick Breed, with Breed getting by for the runner-up spot. Newman finished third, followed by Rich Keller and Ray Maloney. Street Stock heats were won by Newman and Joe Jackson.

The Pure Stock 15-lapper belonged to Todd Storace, who handled the challenges of Dave Mannise on several restarts to record his second win of 1998 at Fulton. Mannise was a distant second. Dennis Bird and Herm Staats battled all race long for third spot, with Bird getting the nod at the checkers. Paul Mercier rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Mannise and Storace.

RACE SUMMARY
FULTON SPEEDWAY AUGUST 8, 1998

MODIFIED FEATURE-DANNY JOHNSON, JJ Michaels, Bill Abold, Steve Hulsizer, Chuck Bower, John Barker, Dave House, Steve Way, Steve Roberts, Jason Barney, Mitch Gibbs, Todd Milton, Jim Rothwell, Mike Hulsizer, Jeremy Smith, Jeff Hoff, Pete Taylor, Bill Hoff, Doug Fuller, Gus Schmidt, Roger Phelps, Ted Lamb, Dave Reilly, Joe Shields.

SPORTSMAN FEATURE-RON RICHARDSON, Jamie Christian, Tony Buffa, Greg Doust, Bill Shantel Sr., Willy Decker, Rick Miller, Tim Mayne, Jeremy Pitcher, Ron Davis, Rob McDougal, Mark Tilly, Dan Vail, Don Stevenson, John Cunningham, Gary Morrissete, Jim LaRock.

STREET STOCK FEATURE-MIKE LAVARNWAY, Rick Breed, Gerry Newman, Rich Keller, Ray Maloney, Dave Bagabust, Ed Kotary, Randy Coit, Anna Elkema, Howie Koegel, Bill Harrington, Bill Shantel Jr., Rich Murtaugh, Brian Corbit, John Pietrowicz, Joe Jackson, Ron Root.

PURE STOCK FEATURE-TODD STORACE, Dave Manise, Dennis Bird, Herm Staats, Paul Mercier, Jason Rood, Rick Trexler, Charlie Lacey, David Bock, Joe Buske, Phil Trim, Chad Ray, Lou Levea, Tom Martin, Dave Meeks, Mike Holmes.