Phelps, Dygert, Parkhurst, Poirier, Riggs & Thompson Fulton Speedway Winners
Story By: DAVE MEDLER / FULTON SPEEDWAY Photos By: JAY FISH / RACERSGUIDE.COM
FULTON, NY- July 4, 2016- A great crowd, pit full of cars and fireworks in the sky led to a great night of racing Saturday at the Fulton Speedway on NAPA Auto Parts & A-Verdi Storage Containers Night.
In the 35 lap Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modified feature Jimmy Phelps started 14th and would work his way to second place on a lap 14 restart that started a great battle for the lead with Tommy Sears Jr.. Phelps was finally able to get by Sears on lap 26 in traffic. Once out front and no yellows the rest of the way Phelps pulled away from the field for his second win of the year.
The racing behind the top two was just as good. Larry Wight came from 18th to finish a strong third. Ryan Phelps finished fourth, Chris Hile continued his strong 2016 season finishing fifth.
After parking his J&B Installations/HBR/Mohawk Northeast/No.98H in victory lane Phelps talked about his win.
“We had a great car. We made great moves at the break after the heat races. We struggled last night (Brewerton) we brought a new car out. The guys busted their butts and made a bunch of changes, it paid off, the car was super.”
Phelps went on to to talk about the winning pass on lap 26 getting by Tom Sears Jr. “I knew we were pretty even going through one and two, three and four I thought I could roll the bottom a speck better. He started getting a little free. There wasn’t much we could do until he opened door. Lapped traffic, he went to the top in three and let me get a run on him on the inside, the preferred line.”
In the 25 lap SUNY Canton Sportsman feature Tim Gareau would take the lead at the drop of the green setting the early pace. As the laps clicked off with no yellows Gareau would still set the pace out front. Behind him the racing was two and three wide with positions changing lap after lap.
The difference in the race came on a lap 17 caution that wiped out the lead Gareau built up. When the green came out Jeremy Dygert who has knocked on victory lane’s door in the past would need just two laps to take the lead. Once out front Dygert finally slammed victory lane’s door wide open for his first career win. Tim Gareau, Joe Kline, Jessica Power and Mike Button finished second through fifth.
Dygert related after his win that the key to the race besides the yellow on lap 17 was discovering at the drop of the green that the top was going to be fast the entire race. That played to his advantage for the win with Gareau locked on the bottom.
If there was a long haul award it would have gone to Sportsman racer Tom Princiotta. Princiotta made the trip from West Windsor, NJ to compete.
Once again the Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux RUSH Late Models put on an entertaining 20 lap feature. Jason Occhino would bolt from his fourth starting spot to lead the opening lap. That lead was short lived as Alan Fink would drive by Occhino one lap later. At the halfway point Fink still showed the way by a narrow margin over Matt Parkhurst and Occhino.
Once into second place Parkhurst was all over Fink applying pressure lap after lap looking for a way by. On lap 17 Parkhurst was able to drive into the lead and go onto his first career Late Model win. Alan Fink, Jason Parkhurst, Jason Occhino and Chris Fleming finished second through fifth.
“Over excited at the moment,” said Matt Parkhurst with a wide smile on his face in victory lane. This is one of the most enjoyable wins I have ever had. The Late Models are a very, very difficult car to drive. This is our first year in one and would of never thought we would be a winning car seven weeks into the season. This is pretty much a dream come true.”
Thirty-three cars signed in the pits for night four of the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints Speedweek. The race was also part of the A-Verdi Storage Containers Brewerton & Fulton Speedway’s 360 Sprint Car Series.
In the 25 lap A-Main Fulton Speedway Big Block Modified, regular Larry Wight would take the lead at the drop of the green. Wight was the fastest car on the speedway until a yellow on lap 12. While under yellow Wight had a right rear going flat that sent him to the pits to get it changed.
That would hand the lead to Quebec’s Steve Poirier who would lead the rest of the way. The A-Main ended just in time for Poirier who had an engine starting to let go and would finish on seven cylinders. Chuck Hebing, Jason Barney and Bryan Howland finished second through fourth. Larry Wight drove like a man on a mission driving back through the field for a strong fifth place finish.
“This track is awesome for me,” stated Poirier in victory lane. “We’ve had a lot success in the past. I’m really happy with the ending tonight.”
The E&V Energy Novice Sportsman ran a pair of 18 lap features.
In the first feature Ryan Hatherill jumped out to the early lead showing the way for the opening four laps until Joe Buonagurio took over the top spot on lap 5. Buonagurio would lead until Richie Riggs made a late charge taking the lead on the white flag lap and the win. Joey Buonagurio, Patrick Lapage, Ryan Hatherill and Kyle Perry rounded out the top five.
In the second feature Dorian Wahdan would grab the lead at the drop of the green and lead the first 14 laps until Willy Decker Jr. used a power move to take the lead on lap 15. Just when it looked like Decker would go on to another win he suffered a left rear flat under yellow sending him to the pits.Tyler Thompson took advantage as he would lead the final 3 laps for his second win of the year. John Strickler, Charlie Tibbits, Willy Decker and Dorian Wahdan finished second through fifth.
A special thanks goes out to Tom Juno’s Power Seal Asphalt Sealing for the $50 Modified heat race and feature winner bonus. Kenny C’s Property Management $50 Sportsman heat race winners bonus.
This Saturday, July 9 is the fan and driver favorite, Family Autograph Night presented by McDonald’s Restaurants & the JPW Companies. Home Depot will also be on hand for the Kid’s Workshop.
The real Ronald McDonald and Hamburglar will be there to greet fans of all ages.
On the race card will be the Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modifieds, SUNY Canton Sportsman, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Models, E&V Energy Novice Sportsman and JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinders.
Adult grandstand admission will be $12 with everyone 18 years and younger free, pits are $27. Gates will open at 5:00 with racing at 7:00.
Any questions you might have and for marketing opportunities please contact Cory Reed at cory@fultonspeedway.com . (315) 593-6531. For all the latest news go to wwww.fultonspeedway.com – www.facebook.com/FultonSpeedway.
July 2 – NAPA/ A-Verdi Storage Containers Brewerton & Fulton 360 Sprint Series Results
(Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modifieds 35 Laps) – JIMMY PHELPS, Tom Sears Jr., Larry Wight, Ryan Phelps, Chris Hile, Tim Sears Jr., Chad Phelps, Pat Ward, Tim Kerr, Mike Bowman, Max McLaughlin, Adam Roberts, Billy Whittaker, Chuck Bower, Katelyn Hile, Jim Witko Jr., Tim Schneider Jr., Mike Maresca, Matt Fink,Andrew Ferguson, Tim Murphy, Willy Decker.
(Tom Juno’s Power Seal Asphalt Sealing $50 Heat Winners) – Tom Sears Jr., Tim Kerr, Chad Phelps.
(Tom Juno’s Power Seal Asphalt Sealing $50 Feature Winner Bonus) – Jimmy Phelps
(SUNY Canton Sportsman 25 Laps) – JEREMY DYGERT, Tim Gareau, Joe Kline, Jessica Power, Mike Button, Corey Barker, Jeremy Pitcher, Chris Mackey, Chris Cunningham, Brett Draper, Tyler Trump, Dylan Zacharias, Todd Root, Jordan Bennett, Ron Davis III, Sean Beardsley, Mike Stanton Jr., Bob Henry, Nick Krause, Gregg Kimball, Jim Spano, Tom Princiotta, Wade Chrisman, Rich Riggs, Nate Higgins, Mike Phelps, Brandon Ford, Alan Fink.
(Kenny C’s Property Management $50 Heat Winners) – Wade Chrisman, Jeremy Dygert, Joe Kline.
(Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux RUSH Late Models 20 Laps) – MATT PARKHURST, Alan Fink, Jason Parkhurst, Jason Occhino, Chris Fleming, AJ Kingsley, Bret Belden, Brandon Ford, Billy Eisele, Johnny Hill, Dave Talbot, Aaron Backus, Bob Buono, Steve Coit, Doug Koch, Gordy Button, DNS Kevan Cook, Sean Beardsley.
(Heat Winners) – Alan Fink, Jason Parkhurst.
(E&V Energy Novice Sportsman Feature #1 18 Laps) – RICHIE RIGGS, Joey Buonagurio, Patrick LaPage, Ryan Hatherill, Kyle Perry, Dwight Nichols, Billy Sauve, Kyle Rood, Kearra Backus, Torrey Stoughtenger.
(E&V Energy Novice Sportsman Feature # 2 18 Laps) – TYLER THOMPSON, John Strickler, Charlie Tibbits, Willy Decker Jr., Dorian Wahdan, Kelly Smith, Rachel Zacharias, Taylor Jackson, Michelle Courcy.
(Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints 25 Laps) – STEVE POIRIER, Chuck Hebing, Jason Barney, Bryan Howland, Larry Wight, Paul Kinney , Danny Varin , Shawn Donath, Parker Evans , Matt Tanner , Cory Turner, Larry Kelleher, Jordan Thomas, Tim Axton, Mike Stelter , James Hanson , Jeff Cook, Kelly Hebing, Dave Axton, Sammy Reakes IV, Pete Richardson, Jonathan Preston , Keith Granholm, Lee Sanders.
