Phelps Fulton Speedway Modified Win Sets Up A Three-way Race For Track Championship; Empire Super Sprints Part Of September 2 Championship Night

Jimmy Phelps Tracey Road Equipment Modified Winner.

Jimmy Phelps Tracey Road Equipment Modified Winner.

FULTON, NY – Coming into Saturday night Jimmy Phelps sat third in points and he knew he had to take matters into his own hands to have a shot at the Tracey Road Equipment Modified Track Championship on Saturday, September 2.

Jimmy Phelps Tracey Road Equipment Modified Winner.
Jimmy Phelps Tracey Road Equipment Modified Winner.

Phelps went out and won the 35-lap feature after a tough battle with Billy Whittaker making the winning pass on lap 27 and putting him just one point out of the championship chase. Tim Sears, Jr. (658) Jimmy Phelps (657) Larry Wight (648).

It’s not just the modifieds that will need the final points night to decide 2017 track champions. The SUNY Canton Sportsman and Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Models will need every lap this Saturday to crown their champions.

In the 35-lap modified feature, Joe August, Jr. would lead the opening lap before Billy Whittaker blasted into the lead using the top side of the speedway.

At the 10-lap mark, Whittaker was on cruise control out front leading by a straightaway while August, Tim Kerr and Jimmy Phelps were in a close fight for second, third and fourth and Mike Bowman was fifth a few car lengths back.

With 15 laps showing on the scoring tower Whittaker was still clicking off quick laps as he was putting cars a lap down. Phelps, August, Kerr and Bowman still showed in the top five.

At the halfway point Phelps caught Whittaker and the battle for the lead was on as the pair raced bumper to bumper and side by side in and out of traffic.

Phelps made the winning pass of the race on lap 28 when he saw the bottom lane open. Once out front, Phelps slowly drove away for the win. Billy Whittaker, Tim Kerr, Mike Bowman and Tom Sears, Jr finished second through fifth.

Modified points coming into Saturday, September 2 Championship Night. Tim Sears Jr. (658) Jimmy Phelps (657) Larry Wight (648) Pat Ward (589) Max McLaughlin (562).

Once again, the SUNY Canton Sportsman impressed with 55 cars signing into the pits bringing out 6 heats and three full point, full purse 25-lap features.

In the first 25-lap feature recent Novice Sportsman graduate Jimmy Moyer would lead the opening 5-laps before Amy Holland grabbed the top-spot.

At the 10-lap mark, Holland ran alone out front using the bottom of the speedway while Kyle Fink, Moyer and Alan Fink were in a three-way fight for second through fourth with Tyler Trump a distant fifth.

After moving into second Alan Fink chased down and passed Holland with 10-laps remaining. Once out front Fink drove away for his fourth Fulton win of the year. Amy Holland, Kyle Fink, Mike Phelps and Chris Cunningham finished second through fifth.

In the second 25-lap feature Mike Button would take the lead on a lap-2 restart to set the early pace while the racing behind him was two and three wide for position.

At the 10-lap point Button was in control of the race while racing behind him was tight between Dylan Zacharias, Nick Krause, Ryan Hatherill and Glenn Forward.

The race would change on a lap 11 caution and restart. On the restart, in turns three and four, leader Button got turned around also collecting Davis and Forward. All three cars would continue at the back of the field.

The story over the second half would be the battle royal between Nick Krause, Dylan Zacharias and Corey Barker. All over the speedway the trio would run under a blanket and even three-wide more than once that saw Barker grab his second win in a row. Dylan Zacharias, Nick Krause, Ron Davis III and Nate Higgins finished second through fifth.

The final 25-lap feature would see Wade Chrisman behind the wheel of his recently purchased Jeremy Dygert car bolt out to a half a straightaway lead by lap-10 with AJ Miller, Jeremy Pitcher, Todd Root and Dorian Wahdan racing for second through fifth.

The whole race would come down to a three-car shootout between Chrisman, Pitcher and Root. Lap after lap the three would run within inches of each other. They would come across the line three-wide on the final lap that saw Root win by a narrow margin over Pitcher and Chrisman. AJ Miller and Mike Stanton, Jr. finished fourth and fifth.

Sportsman points coming into Saturday, September 2 Championship Night. Ron Davis III (722) Todd Root (720) Corey Barker (684) Jeremy Pitcher (675) Glenn Forward (672).

In the 20-lap Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Model feature Jason Parkhurst would take the lead on lap-2 and looked to run away and hide but Chris Fleming had other ideas.

At lap 5 Parkhurst and Fleming were in a two-car breakaway at the front of the field. You could have thrown a blanket over Sean Beardsley, Kevan Cook and Alan Chapman in the race for third through fifth.

Parkhurst and Fleming were still in a close battle for the lead at the halfway point as Sean Beardsley ran alone in third looking for a way to close in on the top-two. Jason Occhino and Cook showed fourth and fifth.

A yellow on lap 14 slowed the battle royal for the lead and would put the rest of the field within striking distance for the final six laps.

When the green came back out Parkhurst and Cook took off again to settle it between them. Fleming threw everything he had at Parkhurst but Parkhurst was too quick, grabbing his fourth win of the year. Chris Fleming, Sean Beardsley, Kevan Cook and Jason Occhino finished second through fifth.

Late Model points going into Saturday, September 2 Championship Night. Jason Parkhurst (1,485) Kevan Cook (1,485) Chad Homan (1,477) Chris Fleming (1,468) Bret Belden (1,452).

Robert Gage was the class of the field in the first 15-lap E&V Energy Novice Sportsman feature over Jake Petit, Casey Cunningham, Kearra Backus and Brandon Thompson. In the second 15-lap feature Wesley Hayes won his second in a row. Pat Nolan, Kyle Rood, Dan Dupra and Billy Sauve finished second through fifth.

This Saturday, September 2 will be a Labor Day Weekend Holiday Spectacular presented by Unique eCigs featuring the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints and Champions will be crowned in the Tracey Road Equipment Big Block Modifieds, SUNY Canton Sportsman, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux Late Models plus the E&V Energy Novice Sportsman.

Adult grandstand admission is $20 with everyone 18 years old and younger free. Pit is $35. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.

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

Like the track Facebook page www.facebook.com/FultonSpeedway

Print this entry


Discover more from Oswego County Today

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.