FULTON, NY – A great weather night and a pit full of cars made for a exciting racing Saturday at the Fulton Speedway.
The big winners on Ehrlich Pest Control night were, Tom Sears Jr. (Big Block Modified) Ron Davis III (Sportsman) Chris Fleming (Late Models) Joey Buonagurio & Brandon Carvey (Novice Sportsman) Quinn Wallis (4-Cyl) Joe Isabell (Mod Lites).
The first attempt at starting the 35-lap Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modified feature saw a mad scramble when Mike Bowman and Tim Kerr locked bumpers. Cars collected in the incident were, Brandon Walters, Tim Sears Jr., Tim Schneider Jr., Brett Wight and Vinnie Vitale. Bowman and Vitale had their night end early.
The second attempt to start the feature would see Tom Sears Jr. jump out to the early advantage as he set a fast pace opening a few car length advantage over the racing behind him.
With 10 laps complete, Sears, after seeing Ryan Phelps to his outside a few laps prior, moved to the top of the speedway opening about a 10 car advantage over Phelps. Behind the top two Pat Ward, Chuck Bower and Chris Hile raced for position in the top five.
At the 15-lap mark Sears was still clicking off quick laps at the front of the pack. Friday’s Brewerton winner Pat Ward had moved into second with Hile, Phelps and Tim Sears Jr. who came from the back of the field and was closing in on the top four.
With 10 laps to go Sears had Ward right in his tire tracks as the final laps started to click off. Hile, Phelps, Tim Sears and Larry Wight, who started deep in the field, battled for third through sixth.
Over the remaining laps Pat Ward could keep pace with Tom Sears Jr. but couldn’t mount a serious challenge as Sears grabbed the checkers and his first win of the year at the speedway. Chris Hile, Ryan Phelps and Tim Sears Jr. finished third through fifth.
It took four heats to set the starting field for the 25-lap SUNY Canton Sportsman feature that would see 29 cars take the green.
Tyler Trump would lead the opening two laps before Jeremy Pitcher running the top of the speedway would drive around Trump to be scored the new leader.
A yellow on lap 4 and restart saw Trump retake the lead. His lead lasted only one lap as Pitcher battled back to the front.
On lap 10 Pitcher and Trump were in a two car breakaway at the front of the field. Jeremy Dygert, Jessica Power, JJ Courcy and Corey Barker used multi grooves looking for an advantage racing for third through sixth.
With 10 laps to go Pitcher, Trump and Dygert still showed the way out front, closing fast was Ron Davis III who started 20th and Corey Barker ran fifth.
Just when it looked like Pitcher was going to victory, disaster stuck. Going down the back straight on the final lap Pitcher suddenly slowed and pulled into the infield with what was later reported as a broken drive shaft. Ron Davis III would be the first under the checkers followed by Tyler Trump, Jeremy Dygert, Corey Barker and Jessica Power.
Jason Occhino jumped out to the early lead in the 20 lap Billy Whiitaker Cars & Trux RUSH Late Model feature.
With 5 laps showing on the lap counter Occhino was still fast out front as Jason Parkhurst tried closing from second. Steve Coit, Brandon Ford and Bret Belden battled in the top five.
At the halfway point and no yellows to tighten the field up, Occhino opened an over two second lead on Parkhurst. Coit, Belden, Chris Fleming, Ford and Kevan Cook used every inch of the speedway racing for third through seventh.
When it looked like Occhino was going to cruise to the win Fleming had other ideas. With 2 laps to go Fleming was two seconds behind Occhino. Fleming found the speed he needed and ran down the leader. Going into two turns three and four coming for the checkers, Fleming pulled a masterful slide job and then beat Occhino to the finish by 0.183. Bret Belden, Jason Parkhurst and Kevan Cook finished third through fifth.
Another strong field of over 20 E&V Energy Novice Sportsman signed in the pits.
In the first 15-lap feature Joey Buonagurio and Richie Riggs put on a classic battle that saw Buonagurio pick up the win by 0.150 at the checkers over Riggs. Willy Decker Jr., John Strickler and Daryl Canfield finished third through fifth.
In the second 15-lap feature Rachel Zacharias would lead the opening 6 laps when the yellow flag waved. On the restart Brandon Carvey would grab the lead. Once out front there was no stopping Carvey as he cruised first under the checkers. Dorian Wahdan, Rachel Zacharias, Patrick LaPage and Colby Herzog finished second through fifth.
Being a rookie in any division is tough. Being a 13-year-old rookie one would think the learning curve would be steep. Someone forgot to tell Quinn Wallis how tough it should be.
In the 15-lap JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinder feature Wallis would race like a seasoned veteran as he outran the hot shoes in the division for his first ever win. Ray Bechler, Chris Bonoffski, Chuck Powelczyk and David DeNova would chase Wallis across the line.
A week ago this past Friday Joe Isabell took a nasty series of flips at the Brewerton Speedway in the Firehouse Subs Mod Lites. The Isabell team worked every night in the garage to put the car back together. All that hard work paid off as he picked up the 15-lap feature win Saturday. Jim Bogett, Jeff Isabell, Jeff Sykes and Mike Mullen finished second through fifth.
This Saturday, August 6, RFH’s Hideaway located just minutes south of the speedway on Route 57 will present a night of fast, affordable, family fun racing.
On the race card will be the Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modifieds, SUNY Canton Sportsman, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux RUSH Late Models, E&V Energy Novice Sportsman and JB Logging & Firewood Four Cylinders.
Have you always wanted to race on the Fulton Speedway “Highbanks?” August 6 will be your chance in the One-On-One Spectator Races. All you need to participate is a registered and insured road vehicle, driver’s license and a helmet. After you buy your general admission ticket go to the track office located behind the main grandstands to sign up.
Adult grandstand admission will be $12 with everyone 18 years old and younger free, pits are $27. Gates will open at 5p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.
Mark your calendars for these two big upcoming events in the month of August.
August 13. Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux $20 a-car-load night and Fan Fest in the midway. Everyone will get to see all the drivers and cars up close and personal for autographs and pictures. Fans will also be able to see what goes on during a race night as Billy Whittaker will be pitting his big block modified for the night in the midway.
August 27. High-speed racing and crunching metal will come together as a full night of racing will take place followed by the fan favorite Kings Small Car & Youth Demo Derbies.
Any questions you might have and for marketing opportunities please contact Cory Reed at [email protected] (315) 593-6531. For all the latest news go to www.fultonspeedway.com – www.facebook.com/FultonSpeedway
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