By Dave Medler
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Rookie Jason Parkhurst a Pro Stock Graduate picked up his first feature win Saturday night at the Fulton Speedway on Fan Appreciation Night. Parkhurst who started seventh grabbed the lead on the 15th-lap and held off all challengers in the green to checkers feature.
Other winners on the night were, Chris Pullen, E&V Energy Novice Crate Sportsman Modifieds, Mike McLaughlin, Mid State Vintage Stock Car Club Hobby Stocks, Jimmy Kite, Vintage Stock Car Club Modifieds and Skip DeGroff, Four Cylinder Enduros.
Jim Evans jumped out to the lead early in the 20-lap DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature as Timmy Sears Jr. followed Evans as the pair set the early pace.
With 5-laps in the books Evans opened up a few car length lead over Sears, Jason Parkhurst who started seventh moved to third. Tom Juhl and Lee Babcock ran in the top five.
When the starter gave the halfway signal Rookie, Evans was still able to keep some distance between himself and Sears. Parkhurst, Jordan Bennett and Juhl closed the distance on the top two.
Two laps later Parkhurst saw the opening he needed and got by Sears for second. Once into second Parkhurst started putting pressure on Evans for the lead. Sears, Bennett and Juhl were right there making it a five car battle up front.
On lap-15 Parkhurst went to the outside and swept by Evans out of four to grab the lead. From there Parkhurst hit all his marks for his first ever Fulton Sportsman Modified win. On the last lap Juhl went from fourth to come home in the runner-up spot. Sears, Evans and Bennett rounded out the top five.
“We were trying some different stuff on the car this morning and I think it worked,” said the open wheel Rookie Parkhurst. “There is a lot more adjustability on these cars,” Parkhurst related on the difference in the Sportsman compared to a Pro Stock. “When you hit something with one of these it sure cost a lot more to fix them,” finished up the winner with a laugh.
In the E&V Energy Novice Crate Sportsman 15-lap feature Chris Pullen took advantage of his starting spot to take the lead when the field hit the first turn. Last weeks winner Claude Hutchings Jr. followed Pullen looking to make it two in a row.
When the race reached the quarter way point Pullen led by 5 car lengths, Joe Kline found a way around Hutchings to move into second. Scott Fowler and Mark Olmstead Jr. were now chasing the top three.
At the halfway point Kline started reeling in Pullen for the top spot. Fowler, Olmstead and point leader Katelyn Kane were still in striking distance.
With five laps to go Kline moved right on Pullens back bumper but that was as close as he would get. Pullen held the lane he ran the entire race to be first under the checkers for his second win of the season. Fowler, Olmstead and Kane completed the top five.
“My brother in law Bill (Clark) got me involved in this I have to thank him. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be doing this at all,” Bill Clark is the owner of the car who drives it in the Sportsman Modifieds. Chris Pullen related the only racing experience he has ever had before was in the Four Wheelers.
When the Mid State Vintage Stock Cars hit the track for many it brought back great memories of racing past. Don’t think these cars just go out and putt around they are serious racers.
In the Hobby Stock class Mike McLaughin in his No.7 Coach dominated the 12-lap feature. Mike Cole, Tom Traynor, Ray Demolin and Norm Richardson were the top five.
When the Vintage Modifieds hit the track Jimmy Kite was in a car usually driven by Dr Phil Clausen from the Chicago area who was in Beijing for the Olympics. Kite in his Ford Falcon dominated like McLaughin to grab the win. Richard Applebee, Rob Casti, John Applebee and Don Hyatt rounded out the top finishers.
Skip DeGroff was the first under the checkers in the Four Cylinder Enduro. Mark Johnston, Jerry Herbert, Keith Zirbel and Charles DeGroff chased the winner across the line.
Next Saturday August 23rd at the Fulton Speedway it will be Family Autograph Night sponsored by NYTECH Supply. It will be the second to last point race to decide the 2008 Track Champions. On tap will be the DIRTcar Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, E&V Energy Novice Crate Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, ESDCA Mod Lites and Four Cylinder Enduro.
Gates open at 5:00 with the first heat race to take the green at 7:00. Admission prices will be , Adults 15 and up $12, Children 10 to 14 $5 , Children 9 and under free. Pit Admission, DIRT Members $20 and Non Members $25. For more information contact the speedway at 315-668-6906 or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.
(DIRTcar Sportsman 20-Laps) – Jason Parkhurst (Lucas Oil Qualifier), Tom Juhl Jr., Timmy Sears Jr., Jim Evans, Jordan Bennett, John Pietrowicz, Sammy Reakes IV, Chris Hile, A.J Kingsley, Lee Babcock, Jeremy Pitcher, Beth Schneider, Jon Tesoriero, Billy Clark Jr., Gregg Carner, Stewart Garrison, Mike Fowler, Brad Townsend.
(E&V Energy Novice Crate Sportsman 15-Laps) – Chris Pullen, Joe Kline, Scott Fowler, Mark Olmstead Jr., Katelyn Kane, Ron Ingison, Claude Hutchings Jr., Dan Hill, Shannon Jones, Robert Humphries, Tim Schneider Jr., Andrew Ferguson, Gary Nickerson.
(Mid State Vintage Stock Car Club, Hobby Stock 12-Laps) – Mike McLauglin, Mike Cole, Tom Traynor, Ray Demolin, Norm Richardson, Bob Whipple Jr., Gordie Wood “The Dude”, Don Larmon, Pete Lazzaro, Frank Blanchard.
(Mid State Vintage Stock Car Club, Modifieds 12-Laps) – Jimmy Kite, Richard Applebee, Rob Casti, John Applebee, Don Hyatt, Bill Kisselstien, Daryl Sherman, Bill Holmes, Ron Hadden.
(Four Cylinder Enduro) – Skip DeGroff, Mark Johnston, Jerry Herbert, Keith Zirbel, Charles DeGroff.
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