Sears Jr. Strikes Late to Take Fulton Checkers

Tim Sears Jr. Uses Last Lap Pass For Second Fulton Speedway Modified Victory 
   
Story By: DAVE MEDLER /FULTON SPEEDWAY MEDIA         Photos By: JAY FISH / RACERSGUIDE.COM

FULTON, NY – July 23, 2016 – The number thirteen was lucky for Tim Sears Jr. Saturday at the Fulton Speedway in the Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modifieds on Sunoco Fulton Ethanol Facility night.

Sears started thirteenth in the 35 lap feature quickly working his way into the top five. Once at the front of the field, Sears was locked in a three way battle with Billy Whittaker and Ryan Phelps at the front of the field. Sears played the waiting game and saw the opening he needed making the winning pass on the final lap for his second win of the year at the speedway.

Other winners were, Ron Davis III (Sportsman) Brandon Ford (Topless Late Models) Willy Decker Jr. & Patrick LaPage (Novice Sportsman) Chris Bonoffski (4-Cylinders).

Chuck Bower would led the opening three laps of the Modified feature before Billy Whittaker took over the top spot on a lap 4 restart.

With 10 laps complete, Whittaker and Ryan Phelps were in a  two-car breakaway at the front of the field as Tim Sears started closing in on the lead battle. Chuck Bower and Adam Roberts showed fourth and fifth.

At the 15 lap mark, Whittaker was still running quick laps at the front of the field with Phelps searching around the speedway looking for a way by. Sears still ran third waiting for any mistake by the top two.

With 20 laps complete, Phelps closed within a car length of Whittaker. Sears started running quicker laps than Whittaker and Phelps as he inched closer to the lead battle. Chuck Bower, Chris Hile, Larry Wight and Pat Ward were using every groove of the speedway in a slugfest for third through seventh.

Over the last 10 laps, Whittaker, Phelps and Sears put on a show using every inch of the speedway that included backmarkers to add to the excitement. Sears would move into second  with two laps to go and then went to work on Whittaker. On the final lap using the bottom of the speedway, Sears was able to wrestle the lead away from Whittaker and go on to the the narrow 0.560 of a second win over Whittaker and 0.782 over third place Phelps. Larry Wight and Chris Hile finished fourth and fifth.

Mike Phelps jumped out to the early lead to set the pace in the 25 lap SUNY Canton Sportsman feature that showcased two and three wide racing, slide jobs and a late race pass for the win in what was the race of the season to date in the division.

At the 10 lap point Phelps still led as he had Todd Root putting heavy pressure on him lap after lap. Jeremy Pitcher, Sean Beardsley and Ron Davis III were putting on a show of their own fighting for top five positions.

On lap 14 Root took the lead from Phelps using the top of the speedway exiting turn two. Root’s lead was short lived as he suddenly slowed in turns three and four ending his shot at the win.

With 10 laps to go, Phelps, Beardsley,Davis and Jim Spano were putting on a battle royal using every inch of the speedway as the final dash to the checkers was on.

Davis would move into second on lap 16. This would set up Phelps and Davis putting on a show as the pair would run bumper to bumper, side by side, with slide job attemps by Davis as the temperature of the lead battle was as hot as the temperature outside.

On lap 23 Davis was able to throw his car in hard on the bottom of speedway and slide up in front of Phelps to be scored the new leader by a narrow margin.

A caution on lap 24 would set up a green,white checker dash to the win. On the restart Davis was too strong as he was able to drive away to the victory. Mike Phelps, Nick Krause, Tony Finch II and Sean Beardsley finished second through fifth.

The Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Models would take their roofs off for one night only as they did battle in the Late Model “Topless 25”.

Brandon Ford would take the lead at the drop of the green and lead the entire distance. Kevan Cook would close on Ford in the late going. The difference in the race was Ford was able to put two lapped cars between himself and Cook with two laps to go winning by 0.357 at the checkers. Jason Parkhurst, Chris Fleming and AJ Kingsley finished third through fifth.

The E&V Energy Novice Sportsman would run a pair of 15 lap features.

In the first feature Willy Decker Jr. would take the lead on lap 4 when Kyle Rood slide high in turn four as Decker drove by. Once out front Decker drove away to the convincing win. Joey Buonagurio, Dorian Wahdan, Jason Amidon and Dwight Nichols finished second through fifth.

In the second 15 lap feature Patrick LaPage drove the best race of his rookie season. On the final lap LaPage was in third in turns three and four. LaPage hit his marks and found the power he needed winning the drag race to the checkers for his first career win. Brandon Carvey, Kyle Perry, Robbie Johnston and Richie Riggs came home second through fifth.

In a hotly contested 15 lap JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinder feature the race would see at different points where you could’ve thrown a blanket over the top six cars. The winning pass of the race would come on a lap 10 restart when Chris Bonoffski would take take the lead from Dakota Bechler. Once out front Bonoffski would have to hold off Dakota Bechler, Ray Bechler, Chuck Powelczyk and Sam Curcie for the popular win.

This Saturday, July 30 Ehrlich Pest Control will present a full night of fast, family, affordable, fun racing. Hitting the speedway will be  the Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, SUNY Canton Sportsman, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Models, E&V Energy Novice Sportsman, JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinders plus the Firehouse Subs Mod Lites.

Adult grandstand admission will be $12 with everyone 18 years old and younger free, pits $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 www.fultonspeedway.com – www.facebook.com/FultonSpeedway .

Sunoco Fulton Ethanol Facility July 23 Results

(Tracey Road Equipment DIRTCar Modifieds 35 Laps) – TIM SEARS JR.,  Billy Whittaker, Ryan Phelps, Larry Wight, Chris Hile, Pat Ward, Jimmy Phelps, Chad Phelps, Chuck Bower, Willy Decker, Tim Kerr, Adam Roberts, Mike Bowman, Katelyn Hile, Tim Schneider Jr., Tommy Kinsella, Vinnie Vitale, Tom Sears Jr., Jim Witko Jr., John west, Tim Murphy.

(Heat Winners) – Ryan Phelps, Pat Ward, Billy Whittaker.

(SUNY Canton Sportsman 25 Laps) – RON DAVIS III, Mike Phelps, Nick Krause, Tony Finch II, Sean Beardsley, Chris Mackey, Jim Spano, Corey Barker, Chris Cunningham, Mike Button, Wade Chrisman, Kyle Fink, JJ Courcy, Joe Kline, Connor Cleveland, Mike Stanton jr., Jessica Power, Tim Gareau, Josh Blackwell, Rich Riggs, Nate Higgins, Michelle Courcy, Jeremy Pitcher, Todd Root, Jeremy Dygert, Tyler Trump, Dylan Zacharias.

(Heat Winners) – Tyler Trump, Jeremy Pitcher, Wade Chrisman.

(DNQ) – Jordan Bennett, Steve Marshall.

(Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Model Topless 25) – BRANDON FORD, Kevan Cook, Jason Parkhurst, Chris Fleming, AJ Kingsley, Johnny Hill, Billy Eisele, Bret Belden, Jason Occhino, Steve Coit, Mike Kazmierczak, Alan Chapman, Dave Talbot.

(Heat Winners) – Dave Talbot, Johnny Hill.

(E&V Energy Novice Sportsman #1 15 Laps) – WILLY DECKER JR., Joey Buonagurio, Dorian Wahdan, Jason Amidon, Dwight Nichols, Andy Kieffer, Kyle Rood, Torrey Stoughtenger. DNS Kearra Backus.

(E&V Energy Novice Sportsman # 2 15 Laps) – PATRICK LAPAGE, Brandon Carvey, Kyle Perry, Robbie Johnston, Richie Riggs, Rachel Zacharias, Colby Herzog,  John Strickler.

(Heat Winners) – Kyle Perry, Torrey Stoughtenger.

(JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinders 15 Laps) – CHRIS BONOFFSKI, Dakota Bechler, Ray Bechler, Chuck Powelczyk, Sam Curcie, David DeNova, Nate Powers, Justin Buske, Skip DeGroff, Evan Wright.

(Heat Winners) – Chris Bonoffski.