Fuller Claims Opener

Fuller Charges to Super DIRTcar Series Victory at Rolling Wheels

Decker tops Safety-Kleen Shootout; Reakes IV, Smith also DIRTcar All-Star Weekend winners

ELBRIDGE, N.Y. – May 29, 2011 – After going winless 2010, Tim Fuller charged to victory on Sunday night in the 2011 Super DIRTcar Series season opener at the Third Annual DIRTcar All-Star Weekend at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park. (Jay Fish photo)

A huge crowd at “The Fast Track” was treated to an incredible night of racing that included not only the Big-Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series, but also DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds and two unique races, the Pro Stock/Stock Car Challenge and the much-anticipated Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Safety-Kleen Shootout. Add in a massive fireworks display at the end of the night, Hall of Fame inductions in the afternoon and a ton of activities for the entire family throughout the day and the DIRTcar All-Star Weekend was a big success.

In the season opener for the Super DIRTcar Series, it was Australian Peter Britten on the pole to lead the field of 30 Big-Blocks to the green flag, but it was Chuck Bower, powering from his second starting spot, who would lead the first lap before Fuller mounted a charge to the front.

Bower would hold the lead until Lap 14 when fourth-place starting Fuller used the inside line to inch ahead of Bower’s 99B off of Turn 2. Fuller’s timing proved impeccable, as seconds later a caution flag flew as Tommy Scheetz Jr. came to a stop on the backstretch.

Fuller jumped out to a large lead on the ensuing double-file restart, as Bower battled with former Super DIRTcar Series champions Billy Decker and Matt Sheppard, who both surged past Bower on Lap 22 and set their sights on Fuller.

Tim McCreadie brought out a caution on Lap 23 as the Vinnie Salerno-owned machine had a left rear tire go down on the backstretch. Matt Sheppard jumped past Fuller on the restart, but Fuller used the outside groove at the 5/8^th-mile oval to keep his momentum going and retake the lead by the time the cars reached the backstretch.

From that point on, Fuller had his Smith Bros. Concrete Foundation Teo on cruise control. He opened a four-second lead on Sheppard, who was in a tight battle for second with Billy Decker.

As the leaders negotiated lapped traffic, Decker was eventually able to move around Sheppard and begin to cut into Fuller’s lead. He eventually moved to within a few car lengths of Fuller, but a caution with nine laps remaining erased Decker’s momentum.

Fuller had a strong restart and rebuilt his lead, charging to the checkered flag for the 19^th time in his Super DIRTcar Series career and the first time since 2009.

Fuller and the Smith Bros. Race Team relied on one of their older cars to capture the victory.

“We had such a disastrous season last year that we brought out the two-year-old Teo Car,” said Fuller, of Edwards, N.Y. “We hit the set up right on.”

The Big-Block Modifieds returned to the track later in the evening for the inaugural Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Safety-Kleen Shootout, a 25-lap, $2,500-to-win event featuring top weekly racers, including several track champions. Billy Decker drew the pole and quickly jumped into the lead. Decker clearly used his experience from his runner-up finish Super DIRTcar Series 60-lapper to power his way to victory over Larry Wight and Matt Sheppard.

The DIRTcar Sportsman Modified division was also in action Sunday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway. Sammy Reakes IV led early but was eventually caught and passed for the lead by Tim Sears Jr. A late race restart allowed Reakes to regain the lead and hold off a late race charge by Dan Weisner to pick up the victory.

The DIRTcar Pro Stock/Stock Car Challenge saw Pete Stefanski lead the field early from the pole until mechanical problems developed on the former DIRTcar Pro Stock Series champion’s car. The lead was then handed to Kevin Smith, who held off challenges from Dick Parkhurst and Frank Burnell for the victory.

Super DIRTcar Series Statistical Report; May 29, 2011; Rolling Wheels Raceway Park; Elbridge, N.Y.

SUPER DIRTcar SERIES A-MAIN (60 laps/Pos., Car, Driver) – 1. (74F) Tim Fuller, Edwards, N.Y.; $6,000; 2. (91) Billy Decker, Unadilla, N.Y.; 3. (9s) Matt Sheppard, Waterloo, N.Y.; 4. (21a) Pete Britten, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 5. (20) Brett Hearn, Sussex, N.J.; 6. (66) Danny Johnson, Rochester, N.Y.; 7. (77x) Dale Planck, Cortland, N.Y.; 8. (98h) Jimmy Phelps, Baldwinsville, N.Y.; 9. (8R) Rob Bellinger, Dexter, N.Y.; 10. (62s) Tom Sears Jr., Clay, N.Y.; 11. (3) Justin Haers, Phelps, N.Y.; 12. (673) Gary Tomkins, Clifton Springs, N.Y.; 13. (99L) Larry Wight, Phoenix, N.Y.; 14. (6x) Jackie Brown, Hurley, N.Y.; 15. (99) Ryan Phelps, Fulton, N.Y.; 16. (10) Tim Currier, Auburn, N.Y.; 17. (8) Rich Scagliotta, Bound Brook, N.J.; 18. (07) Tim Kerr, Picton, Ontario; 19. (23) Billy VanInwegen, Sparrowbush, N.Y.; 20. (99b) Chuck Bower, Lansing, N.Y.; 21. (7) Rick Laubach, Hellertown, Pa.; 22. (20d) Jerry Higbie, Newburgh, N.Y.; 23. (4*) Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.; 24. (48T) Dave Rauscher, Waterloo, N.Y.; 25. (7x) Steve Paine, Waterloo, N.Y.; 26. (32c) Vic Coffey, Leicester, N.Y.; 27. (37x) Tom Scheetz Jr., Boyertown, Pa.; 28. (63) Adam Roberts, Watertown, N.Y.; 29. (49) Billy Dunn, Watertown, N.Y.; 30. (zero3) Lance Willix II, Theresa, N.Y. Lap leaders: Bower, 1-13; Fuller 14-60.

DNQ: Dan Humes, Mike O’Brien, Dave Allen.

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Justin Haers, Jimmy Phelps, Tim McCreadie, Larry Wight

QUALIFYING (Pos., Car, Driver, Time, Speed) – 1. 98h Jimmy Phelps, 20.483 (109.847); 2. 3 Justin Haers, 20.504 (109.735); 3. 4* Tim McCreadie, 20.661 (108.901); 4. 91 Billy Decker, 20.669 (108.859); 5. 99 Ryan Phelps, 20.702 (108.685); 6. 99b Chuck Bower, 20.717 (108.606); 7. 99L Larry Wight, 20.738 (108.496); 8. 8 Rich Scagliotta, 20.785 (108.251); 9. 66 Danny Johnson, 20.790 (108.225); 10. 20 Brett Hearn, 20.848 (107.924); 11. 74F Tim Fuller, 20.875 (107.784); 12. 21a Pete Britten, 20.894 (107.686); 13. 77x Dale Planck, 20.922 (107.542); 14. 9s Matt Sheppard, 20.974 (107.276); 15. 32c Vic Coffey, 20.989 (107.199); 16. 7x Steve Paine, 21.022 (107.031); 17. 8R Rob Bellinger, 21.036 (106.959); 18. 7 Rick Laubach, 21.042 (106.929); 19. 48T Dave Rauscher, 21.044 (106.919); 20. 49 Billy Dunn, 21.070 (106.787); 21. 10 Tim Currier, 21.070 (106.787); 22. 62s Tom Sears Jr., 21.102 (106.625); 23. 20d Jerry Higbie, 21.108 (106.595); 24. 23 Billy VanInwegen, 21.151 (106.378); 25. 1Jr Mike O’Brien, 21.201 (106.127); 26. 6x Jackie Brown, 21.201 (106.127); 27. 673 Gary Tomkins, 21.235 (105.957); 28. 37x Tom Scheetz Jr., 21.366 (105.307); 29. 7 Tim Kerr, 21.538 (104.467); 30. 88 Dave Allen, 21.543 (104.442); 31. 0 Dan Humes, 21.589 (104.220); 32. 3 Lance Willix II, 21.622 (104.061); 33. 63 Adam Roberts, 21.896 (102.758)

Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Point Standings, through 1 event

MR. DIRTcar BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED SAFETY-KLEEN CHALLENGE (25 Laps/Pos., Car, Driver) – 1. (91) Billy Decker, $2,500; 2. (99L) Larry Wight; 3. (9s) Matt Sheppard; 4. (20) Brett Hearn; 5. (66) Danny Johnson; 6. (77x) Dale Planck; 7. (7x) Steve Paine; 8. (6x) Jackie Brown; 9. (99) Ryan Phelps; 10. (49) Billy Dunn; 11. (98h) Jimmy Phelps. Lap leaders: Decker, 1-25.

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN MODIFIED A-MAIN (30 Laps/Pos., Car, Driver) – 1. (1s) Sammy Reakes IV; 2. (66)Dan Wiesner; 3. (83x)Tim Sears Jr.; 4. (777)Tyler McPherson; 5. (5)Don Spatorico; 6. (1J)Jim Spano; 7. (55c)Jesse Cotriss; 8. (19w)Justin Wright; 9. (7)Cody MacPherson; 10. (3a)Adam Hilton; 11. (28)Jimmy Spellmon; 12. (12h)Brandon Hagan; 13. (33)Matt Hitchcock; 14. (25G)Nick Guerierri; 15. (10m)Brett Martin; 16. (11)Ben Wheeler; 17. (4)Greg Martin; 18. (20X)Kevin Ridley ; 19. (1m)Jim Maher; 20. (10V)Josh VanBrocklin; 21. (0)Jipp Ortiz; 22. (3E)Tim Schneider; 23. (81)Christine Martin; 24. (17d)Tom Juhl; 25. (34)Andrew Ferguson; 26. (m1) Dave Marcuccilli. Lap leaders: Reakes IV 1-19, 27-30; Sears Jr. 20-26.

DIRTcar PRO STOCK/STOCK CAR CHALLENGE A-MAIN (15 Laps/Pos., Car, Driver) – 1. (272) Kevin Smith; 2. (93) Dick Parkhurst; 3. (57b) Frank Burnell; 4. (00R) Mike Rasbeck; 5. (715) Mike Cooper; 6. (143) Tim Hettis; 7. (2) Pete Stefanski. DNS: (00JR) Joe Reeves. Lap leaders: Stefanski 1-6; Smith 7-15.

DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners; including Hoosier Racing Tire; VP Racing Fuels; GM Performance Parts and Safety-Kleen. Promotional partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio and Chizmark & Larson Insurance. Contingency sponsors are ASI; Bert Transmissions; Bicknell Racing Products; Bilstein Shocks; Brodix; ButlerBuilt; Comp Cams; Intercomp; JE Pistons; KSE Racing Products; Motorsports Safety Systems; MSD Ignition; Penske Shocks; Racing Electronics; R2C; Super Flow; Vicci Racing Apparel; WIX Filters; Wrisco Industries; Xtreme Lubricants and Extreme Mufflers.