Jimmy Phelps Grabs Checkers at Fulton
Story By: DAVE MEDLER /FULTON SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By:JAY FISH / RACERSGUIDE.COM
FULTON, NY – May 9, 2016- Jimmy Phelps out of Baldwinsville, NY served noticed that he will be a serious contender for the 2016 Fulton Speedway, Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modified track championship. In the 35 lap feature Phelps used a lap 22 restart to take the lead from race-long leader Larry Wight. Once out front Phelps held off challenges from Wight for the first points paying race victory of the season for the division.
Other winners on the night were Todd Root (Sportsman) Chris Fleming (Late Models) Richie Riggs (Novice Sportsman) Dakota Bechler (Four-Cylinders).
Billy Whittaker and Larry Wight brought the hungry Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modified field down to the green with Wight grabbing the early advantage in the 35 lap feature.
With 10 laps complete Wight held a six-car length advantage over Jimmy Phelps. Behind the top two Tom Sears, Whittaker and Tim Kerr battled for third through fifth.
At the halfway point, lap 18 and no yellows since lap 2, Wight was still setting a fast pace out front as Phelps stayed within striking distance. Sears, Whittaker, Kerr and Pat Ward were putting on a show behind the top two.
The yellow would wave on lap 22 when Andrew Ferguson had engine problems ending his night. When the race restarted Jimmy Phelps got a run on the bottom of the speedway to be scored the new leader.
With 10 laps to go Phelps still showed the way with Wight right in his tire tracks. Sears, Kerr and Ward showed on the scoring tower running in the top five.
Over the remaining laps Wight threw everything he had at Phelps but to no avail as Phelps was the first under the checkers over Wight, Sears, Kerr and Ward.
In the 25 lap SUNY Canton Sportsman feature the winner was in doubt until the final lap with great racing throughout the field.
Dylan Zacharias would lead the opening six laps before a quick yellow would tighten up the field. On the restart Mike Phelps would blast into the top spot.
With 10 laps complete Phelps held a few car advantage while behind him you could have thrown a blanket over Corey Barker, Zacharias, Nick Krause and Todd Root as they used every groove on the speedway battling for position.
A quick caution on lap 12 gave the great racing throughout the field a breather. On the restart Barker, using the low groove, drove into the lead with Krause and Root moving into second and third.
With 10 laps go Krause found speed on the high side and shot by Barker and into the lead.
Over the remaining laps Krause led but was feeling pressure from Root. The difference in the race came on the final lap when Krause got hung up behind a slower car allowing Root to shoot under Krause and go onto the popular win.
After some post-race weight infractions, Corey Barker, Mike Phelps, Ron Davis III and Chris Mackey finished second through fifth.
In the 20 lap Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Model feature Alan Fink would lead the opening five laps when suddenly he slowed and stopped with mechanical problems handing the lead to Kevan Cook.
On lap 9 Chris Fleming would go to the top of the speedway to drive by Cook and into the lead. Once in the lead there was no stopping Fleming even with a caution on lap 18 to give the field one last shot at him. AJ Kingsley, Brandon Ford, Jason Occhino and Billy Eisele finished second through fifth.
The 15 lap E&V Energy Novice feature saw a great race where they drove anything but like Novice. Dorian Wahdan would lead the opening early laps before Tyler Thompson took over the lead on lap 4.
On lap 8 Richie Riggs took advantage of slower cars in front of Thompson to drive into the lead exiting turn four. Thompson fought back and retook the lead on lap 11 just before the caution flag waved. Over the remaining laps Thompson was the first under the checkers.
A post-race trip over the scales found Thompson light giving the win to Richie Riggs. Willy Decker Jr., Ryan Hatherill, Taylor Jackson and Kelly Smith finished second through fifth.
In the first half of the 15 lap JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinder feature two of the best in the division put on a show between Dakota Bechler and Chuck Powelczyk. Over the second half of the race Bechler was just too strong as he pulled away for the victory. Chuck Powelczyk, Justin Buske, Jim Graham and Colby Herzog chased Bechler under the checkers.
This coming Saturday, May 14 VP Small Engine Fuels presents a fast, family, affordable night of fun and racing. On the race card will be the Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modifieds, SUNY Canton Sportsman, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux RUSH Late Models, E&V Energy Novice Sportsman and JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinders.
Gates will open May 14th at 5:00 with racing at 7:00. Adult admission is $12 with everyone 18 and under free. Pit admission is $27.
If you have any questions or for marketing opportunities please contact Cory Reedcory@fultonspeeedway.com (315) 593-6531. For all the latest news go towww.fultonspeedway.com and like the track Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/FultonSpeedway.
Ferris Mowers Night May 7 Results
Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modifieds 35 Laps – JIMMY PHELPS , Larry Wight, Tom Sears Jr., Tim Kerr, Pat Ward, Billy Whittaker, Ryan Phelps, Chuck Bower, Tim Sears Jr., Chris Hile, Matt Hulsizer, Mike Bowman, Max McLaughlin, Adam Roberts, Katelyn Hile, Jim Witko Jr., Rich Riggs, Andrew Ferguson, Chad Phelps, DNS Joe August Jr., Tim Murphy.
(Heat Winners) – Chuck Bower, Billy Whittaker, Tom Sears Jr.
SUNY Canton Sportsman 25 Laps – TODD ROOT, Corey Barker, Mike Phelps, Ron Davis III, Chris Mackey, Billy Clark Jr., Dylan Zacharias, Earl Rudy, Chris Cunningham, Randy Gates, Ricky Yelle, Mike Button, Steve Barber, Tony Finch II, Jessica Power, Kyle Kiehn, Jeremy Dygert, Joe Kline, Gregg Kimball, Jim Spano, Brett Draper, Wade Chrisman, Rocky Grosso, Jordan Bennett, Kyle Fink, Mike Stanton Jr., Nick Krause, Jeremy Pitcher.
(Heat Winners) – Mike Stanton Jr., Nick Krause, Ron Davis III, Kyle Fink
(Consi Winners) – Jeremy Dygert, Jessica Power.
(Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Models 20 Laps) – CHRIS FLEMING, AJ Kingsley, Brandon Ford, Jason Occhino, Billy Eisele, Jason Parkhurst, Kevan Cook, Bret Belden,Johnny Hill, Aron Backus, Matt Parkhurst, Alan Fink, Dave Talbot, Brandon Carvey, Tony Finch II.
(Heat Winners) – Dave Talbot, Jason Parkhurst.
E&V Energy Novice Sportsman 15 Laps – RICHIE RIGGS, Willy Decker Jr., Ryan Hatherill, Taylor Jackson, Kelly Smith, Dorian Wahdan, Kyle Perry, Rachel Zacharias, Dwight Nichols, Patrick LaPage, Billy Sauve, Kearra Backus, Torrey Stoughtenger, Mikey Wight, Tyler Thompson.
(Heat Winners) – Torrey Stoughtenger, Richie Riggs.
JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinders 15 Laps – DAKOTA BECHLER, Chuck Powelczyk, Justin Buske, Jim Graham, Colby Herzog, Ken Pitsley, Nate Powers, David DeNova, Mike Sherbeck, Quinn Wallace, Chris Bonoffski, Evan Wright, Sam Carista, Rick DeGroff, Ray Bechler.
(Heat Winners) – Dakota Bechler, Chuck Powelczyk.
