Burley scores first of year at Fulton

FULTON, NY - DIRT 358 Modified point leader Todd Burley hadn't even led a lap of a feature coming into Saturday night's program at Fulton Speedway, but that changed with his first win of the year in the 35-lap feature event. Defending track champ Tony Buffa got his first win of the year in the Sportsman, Jerry Holmes took the checker in the caution free Pro Stock main, and Phil Marsden came back after a three year absence to notch the win in the Pure Stocks.

Roy Shields took the lead at the start of the 358 Modified feature event and pulled out a margin over the pack while two time winner Dale Planck pulled out after the first lap with mechanical problems. While Shields continued to lead, Gil Tegg moved into the runnerup spot and set sail after the leader. Todd Burley broke from mid pack and began picking off positions using the outside groove as Tegg caught the leader.

Tegg moved into the lead on lap 8 while Gus Schmidt moved into a battle with Doug Fuller for the fourth spot. As the race neared halfway, Burley moved into the top three and got the second spot on lap 14 as he moved by Shields. Just past halfway, Burley took the lead from Tegg after a battle and began to pull away.

Steve Hulszier was also moving up through the pack smoothly, and on lap 22 Hulszier grabbed the second spot from Tegg. Tegg was left to fight it out with Alan Johnson and Mitch Gibbs, who had come from deep in the field. Schmidt was still in the top ten as well, facing stiff challenges from John Barker, who started near the back after qualifying through the consi.

Burley increased his lead and survived lapped traffic in the final three laps to get the feature win with Hulszier holding off a fast closing Gibbs for second. Johnson grabbed fourth and Tegg rouned out the top five. Modified heats were won by Planck, Johnson, and Tom Sears, while Tim Burnett captured the consi.

The 20-lap Sportsman feature got off to a shaky start with several early crashes. Point leader Ron Richardson was involved in a lap 4 crash that sent Dan Vail's car literally skidding on its side up the banking in turn two before it righted itself. Vail drove away, but had suffered to much damage to continue.

Early leader Clayton Brewer surrendered the lead to Bill Shantel on lap 7, but defending track champ Tony Buffa was storming through the field and grabbed the lead one lap later. Undaunted, Shantel returned the favor by taking the top spot back on lap 10. The pair ran side by side for several more laps until Buffa got the lead for good with three to go. At the checkers, Buffa had his first Sportsman win of the year and the point lead as well. Shantel, Jim Bowman, Tim Johnson, and Rich Keller rounded out the top five. Sportsman heats went to Richardson, Tim Sears, and Dan Vail, with Greg Carner grabbing the consi win.

The 20-lap Pro Stock feature ran green to checker with Ray Maloney leading the first nine laps running the outside lane. Jerry Holmes stuck to the bottom and took the lead as the crossed flags for halfway flew. Holmes pulled away in the second half of the feature event while a great battle took place behind him. John Pietrowicz, Mike Watkins, Maloney, and TJ Fitzgibbons all swapped positions throughout the second half of the feature event.

Homes collected his first win with a commanding performance with Fitzgibbons nabbing the runnerup spot. Watkins nipped Pietrowicz for fourth and Maloney rounded out the top five. Pro Stock heats were won by Maloney and Jason Rood.

The Pure Stock feature event started with several multiple car crashes that eventually eliminated half the field. Once things settled down, the race developed into a battle for the lead between Chad Ray and Phil Marsden, who had not raced at Fulton since 1996. Behind them, Ken Wentworth and Lou Levea, who had been involved in one of the earlier pileups, had a great side by side race for third.

At the checkers, Marsden nipped Ray by half a car length to get the win. Wentworth held off Levea for third and Tom Juhl rounded out the top five. Pure Stock heats were won by Marsden and Darren Kelso.

RESULTS June 5, 1999

DIRT 358 MODIFIED Feature: Todd Burley, Steve Hulszier, Mitch Gibbs, Alan Johnson, Gill Tegg, John Barker, Dave House, J.J. Michaels, Gus Schmidt, Roger Phelps, Jimmy Phelps, Tom Kinsella, Doug Fuller, Ted Lamb, Tim Burnett, John Rothwell, Ty Hunt, Ryan Baye, Jeff Rudalavage, Rick Miller, Roy Shields, Dale Planck, Jason Barney, Tommy Sears.

SPORTSMAN Feature: Tony Buffa, Bill Shantel, Jim Bowman, Tim Johnson, Rich Keller, Willy Decker, John Cunningham, Clayton Brewer, Greg Carner, Jim LaRock, Walt McArdell, Greg Doust, Joe Beyea, Ron Richardson, Ron Davis, Chad Phelps, Tim Mayne, Jeremy Pitcher, Dave Bargabus, Dan Vail, Tim Sears, Howie Albrecht, Mark Tily, Steve Nasholts.

PRO STOCK Feature: Jerry Holmes, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Mike Watkins, John Pietrowicz, Ray Maloney, Joe Jackson, Jason Rood, John Cooper, Rick Breed, Bill Shantel Jr., Pat Hobbs, Bruce Hovis, Paul Stoneburg, Herm Flowers, Howie Koegel, J.B. Dockstader, Chuck Thomas, Gerry Newman.

PURE STOCK Feature: Phil Marsden, Chad Ray, Ken Wentworth, Lou Levea, Tom Juhl, Tom Loving, Rob Seavy, Bruce Stanton, Darren Kelso, Joe Buske, Bob Gloska, Charlie Lacey, David Stoughtenger, Bill Lashing, Dan Hatch, Dan Butterfield, Tim Hettis, Bob Munger.