Decker Closes Late at Utica-Rome Speedway for His Second Super DIRTcar Series Victory of the Season
Defending series champ charged from 11th, Phelps and Wight complete podium
VERNON, N.Y. – June 24, 2015 – Billy Decker scored his second Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series win of the season by tracking down long-time leader Stewart Friesen in the SUNY-Canton 60 at Utica-Rome Speedway Wednesday.
Friesen started on the outside pole and led for 50 laps before yielding to Decker, who had been pressuring him since the halfway mark. Friesen quickly came under attack by eventual runner-up Jimmy Phelps and Larry Wight and crossed the line in fourth, but failed to make weight in post-race inspection and was disqualified.
Erick Rudolph and Billy Dunn officially completed the top five after Friesen’s demise, which was brought about in part by nine restarts and the resultant use of fuel.
Despite the nine cautions, the race was action-packed with lots of passing and surges back up through the field by the likes of Wight, Dunn and Danny Johnson, all of whom pitted for tires.
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Decker started 11th and advanced to third by lap 27 when Dunn fell off the pace and brought out the 5thcaution. He got to Friesen’s quarter-panel under green for the first time on lap 37 and a dogfight ensued while Phelps and Wight diced a few car-lengths back.
“It was a tough race, but we had a good race horse from the heat race on,” Decker said. “As the track cleaned up, you could see a better line and the bottom got better in 3 and 4 late in the race.”
Decker said he was glad the Series had returned to Utica-Rome after a 12-year absence.
“I’m glad to be back here,” he said. “This is a track where you can come from anyplace and win if your car’s good enough.”
Phelps started 9th and was soon in the top-five to stay. “Larry (Wight) woke me up and we got to racing,” he said. “I could go to the top when I had to, but I just felt better with the low line.”
Friesen set fast time in qualifying and continually drew away from all comers for the first seven restarts. “I think I would have been all right without all the cautions,” he said. “It is what it is.”
Rudolph was strong and steady as the fourth-place finisher. Dunn drove a valiant race to break into the top-five after returning in 23rd after a tire change on lap 27.
Justin Haers, Matt Sheppard, Danny Johnson, Jim Davis (from 29th) and Vince Vitale completed the top 10. Johnson worked his way into second place before Decker overtook and tire problems set in.
The Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series moves to Cornwall Speedway Sunday, June 28.
For more information on the Super DIRTcar Series, visit www.SuperDIRTcarSeries.com,www.uticaromespeedway.com, follow on Twitter @SuperDIRTcar, and like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/DIRTcar.
Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series Statistical Report; Utica-Rome Speedway ‘SUNY Canton 60’; Vernon, N.Y.; June 24, 2015
A-Main (60 laps): start in (*)
1. 91 Billy Decker – Unadilla, N.Y. (11)
2. 98h Jimmy Phelps – Baldwinsville, N.Y. (9)
3. 99L Larry Wight- Phoenix, N.Y. (7)
4. 21R Erick Rudolph – Ransomville (5)
5. 49 Billy Dunn – Watertown, N.Y. (27)
6. 3H Justin Haers – Phelps, N.Y. (14)
7. 9h Matt Sheppard – Waterloo, N.Y. (4)
8. 27J Danny Johnson – Rochester, N.Y. (10)
9. 41 Jim Davis – Ballston Spa, N. Y. (29)
10. 55 Vince Vitale – Cato, N.Y. (18)
11. 48T Dave Rauscher – Waterloo, N.Y. (28)
12. 43 Keith Flach – Ravena, N.Y. (19)
13. 93v Danny Varin – Sharon Springs, NY (24)
14. 20 Brett Hearn – Sussex, NJ (3)
15. 42p Pat Ward – Genoa, N.Y. (8)
16. 8R Rob Bellinger, Cicero, N.Y. (13)
17. 8 Rich Scagliotta – Bound Brook, N.J. (26)
18. 109 Billy Whittaker – Central Sq., N.Y. (6)
19. 93 Gary Tomkins – Clifton Springs, N.Y. (12)
20. 32 Vic Coffey – Leicester, N.Y. (31)
21. 55 Anthony Perrego – Montgomery, N.Y. (18)
22. 16 Mike Bowman – Baldwinsville, N.Y. (20)
23. 99 Ryan Phelps – Newark, N.Y. (22)
24. 33 Mike Mahaney – King Ferry, N.Y. (15)
25. 17 Elmo Reckner – Ballston Lake, N.Y. (30)
26. 19 Tim Fuller – Edwards, N.Y. (16)
27. 4* Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY (1)
28. 21a Peter Britten – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (17)
29. 6m Mat Williamson – St. Catherines, ONT (21)
30. 21K Randy Chrysler – Lewiston, NY (23)
31. 1w Stewart Friesen – Sprakers, NY (2)
Did Not Start:
2J Ronnie Johnson – Duanesburg, N.Y.
28 Chris Mackey – Rome, N.Y.
91H Chad Homan – Macedon, N.Y.
3 Mark Kislowski
63 Adam Roberts – Watertown, N.Y.
Qualifying Heats (8 laps, top 5 transfer, top 3 redraw)
Heat 1: Decker, J Phelps, Friesen, Bellinger, Britten, Reckner, Vitale, Chrysler, Davis
Heat 2: Wight, Hearn, Sheppard, Haers, Perrego, Williamson, Dunn, Mackey, Rauscher
Heat 3: Ward, Rudolph, Tomkins, Mahaney, Flach, Roberts, Varin, Kislowsky, Homan
Heat 4: D Johnson, Whittaker, McCreadie, Fuller, Bowman, R Phelps, R Johnson, Scagliotta, Coffey
Contingency Awards:
VP Race Fuels – Danny Johnson ($50 cash)
ASI Racewear – Matt Sheppard ($50 cash)
Pole Position Raceway Fast Qualifier Award – Stewart Friesen ($100 cash)
Bilstein Shocks – Rich Scagliotta ($50 cash)
Bicknell Racing Products – Billy Decker ($100 product certificate)
Cometic Gasket – Rich Scagliotta ($50 cash)
Comp Cams – Dave Rauscher ($50 cash), Billy Decker ($50 product certificate)
Edelbrock – Dave Rauscher ($50 cash)
Fox Shox – Danny Varin ($50 cash)
JE Pistons – Justin Haers ($50 cash), Rich Scagliotta (product valued at appr. $285)
KSE – Dave Rauscher ($50 product certificate)
MSD – Billy Decker ($50 cash), Mike Mahaney ($25 cash)
Mobil 1 – Vince Vitale ($50 cash), Peter Britten (20% product discount)
SuperFlow – Rich Scagliotta ($50 cash)
Wrisco Aluminum – Billy Decker (product valued at appr. $200)
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, Pole Position Raceway and Dig Safely New York. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, FX Caprara, Fox Shox, Impact Race Products, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Mobil 1, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Racing Electronics, Superflow, TNT Rescue and Wrisco Aluminum.
