Max McLaughlin Dominates For First Big Block Modified Win At The Fulton Speedway

by Contributor | August 6, 2017 1:24 pm

FULTON, NY – “Mad Max” McLaughlin is now a big block modified feature winner.

Teenager Max McLaughlin out of Mooresville, NC has knocked on the door of victory lane racking up many top-five finishes in his short-modified career. Saturday night at the Fulton Speedway he not only knocked on the door, he kicked it wide open, picking up his first ever victory in the big block modifieds, not only at Fulton Speedway but at any speedway.

In the caution-free 35-lap Tracey Road Equipment Big Block Modified feature, McLaughlin in his Textron Off-Road/HBR/Mohawk Northeast/No.6H took the lead on lap-10 and dominated the rest of the way, having one of the most popular victory lane celebrations with fans, his crew and DIRT Hall of Fame father “Magic Shoes” Mike McLaughlin.

Other winners on Regional Truck & Trailer night were Chris Cunningham and Ron Davis III (Sportsman) Chad Homan (Late Model) Matthew Becker and Rachel Zacharias (Novice Sportsman).

Jim Witko and Katelyn Hile would lead the Tracey Road Equipment Big Block Modified field down to the green with Hile grabbing the early advantage in the 35-lap main.

By lap 5 Roy Bresnahan had a narrow lead with Witko, Hile, Billy Whittaker, Chad Phelps and Max McLaughlin in a tight battle for top-five positions just a few car lengths behind the leader.

On lap 10 McLaughlin, who had his car working on the top-side of the speedway, blasted into the top-spot.

With 15 laps showing on the scoring tower, McLaughlin was scorching the field as he opened a 4-second lead. Behind the leader you could have thrown a blanket over Witko, Whittaker, Bresnahan and Chad Phelps in a close battle for second through fifth.

McLaughlin was still on cruise control out front on lap 20 leading by over a straightaway while Whittaker, Larry Wight from 17th, Witko and Chad Phelps still raced in the top-five.

When the race hit the 10-laps to go mark McLaughlin was showing no signs of slowing down as he was putting cars a lap down as he could start to see his first ever modified win.

Over the final laps and no yellows to slow the race pace, Max McLaughlin cruised under the checkers over point leader Larry Wight, Chad Phelps, Tom Sears Jr. and Tim Sears Jr.

With 50 SUNY Canton Sportsman signed in the pits, two 25-lap features were run.

In the first 25-lap feature Chris Cunningham would show the way on the opening lap, setting a quick early race pace.

By lap 10 Cunningham opened a half a straightaway lead while Mike Phelps and Tyler Trump raced side-by-side for second and third with Ryan Hatherill and Alan Fink showing in the top-five.

With 10 laps to go Cunningham lengthened his lead leaving Phelps, Todd Root, Trump and Fink to battle out for second through fifth.

The whole race came down to the final lap between Cunningham and Trump. Between turns three and four, Trump was able to pull even with Cunningham setting up a drag race down the front straight to the checkers that had Cunningham picking up his first-ever SUNY Canton Sportsman win. Mike Phelps, Todd Root and Nick Krause finished third through fifth.

In the second 25-lap SUNY Canton Sportsman feature Colby Herzog would lead the opening 2 laps before AJ Miller took over the top spot.

With 5 laps in the record books you could have thrown a blanket over the top-three, Miller, Herzog and Ron Davis III.

Before the weekend racing at the Brewerton Speedway and Fulton Speedway Ron Davis III and team made the decision to bring out their backup car a 2014 Bicknell and it paid off, taking the lead on lap-7.

The only yellow of the race came on lap 12 erasing the two-second lead Davis built up on the field.

Over the second half of the race nobody seriously challenged Davis for the win as he cruised under the checkers. The race for top-five spots was tight and came down to the checkers with Billy Clark Jr., AJ Miller, Chris Mackey and Matt Janczuk finishing second through fifth.

In the 20-lap Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Model feature Brandon Carvey would lead the opening 3 laps before Dale Caswell drove into the lead.

At the halfway point Caswell, Jason Occhino and Chad Homan were locked in a tight three-way battle for the lead. Bret Belden and Chris Fleming showed in fourth and fifth.

On lap 12 Homan, using the tight inside groove, went from third and into the lead.

Once out front nobody seriously challenged Homan as he drove away for his fourth Fulton win of the season. Chris Fleming, Bret Belden, Dale Caswell, and Jason Occhino finished second through fifth.

In the first 15-lap E&V Energy Novice Sportsman feature Matthew Becker would take the lead on the opening lap and never looked back for his second win of the season. Jake Petit, Kelly Smith, Tyler Rogers and Brandon Thompson finished second through fifth.

The second 15-lap E&V Energy Novice Sportsman feature all came down to the final lap between race-long leader Wesley Hayes, Casey Cunningham and Rachel Zacharias. Exiting turn two on the last lap they were three-wide going down the back straight with racing contact breaking Hayes’ front end entering turn three. With Zacharias on the bottom and Cunningham in the middle, Zacharias was able to win the drag race off of turn four and under the checkers for the popular win. Bill Sauve, Dan Dupra and Kearra Backus finished third through fifth.

This Saturday, August 12, is fan favorite Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux $20 a-car-load night plus fan fest in the midway after hot laps.

Grandstands will open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Pit admission is $27 participant, $30 nonparticipant.

Racing will feature the Tracey Road Equipment Big Block Modifieds, SUNY Canton Sportsman, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Models and E&V Energy Novice Sportsman.

Any questions you might have and for marketing opportunities please contact Cory Reed (315) 593-6531 or [email protected] . For the latest news visit www.fultonspeedway.com

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