Late Pass Gives Billy Decker 2nd Straight Series Win Sunday At Cayuga County

Weedsport, NY — September 6, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Bill Moore Sr. Photo

What a difference two years can make. Yet the past two weeks alone have been enough to change the outlook of reigning Mr. DIRTcar points king Billy Decker as he captured his second straight Super DIRTcar Series main event Sunday in the ‘Night of Champions 100’ for Big-Block Modifieds.

Inheriting the lead 10 days earlier at Lebanon Valley Speedway when leader Jimmy Phelps suffered a blown rear-end with just four laps remaining, on this occasion race-long leader Matt Sheppard crashed into the turn one wall on lap 76 and Decker bolted by Phelps on a lap 92 restart to ride away for a 10 car-length victory worth $6,000.

“We’re pretty happy right now the way things are going for us, that’s usually what happens when you win,” downplayed Decker, 44, following his fourth series win of the season a year after he tied the all-time tour mark with 10 extra-distance victories. “We lost a couple races (weather) so the series is a little too short to catch the leaders now but we’ll just keep digging and see where it take us.”

Rounding out the top-five behind Decker and Phelps were newly crowned Cayuga County points champion Alan Johnson and rising stars Justin Haers and Ryan Phelps, winner of the All-Star Weekend series showdown in July at the same Weedsport oval.

“We’ve done good the last couple years here, things kind of came to us tonight so we’ve got it down pretty good now,” remarked Decker, following his 53rd career tour triumph at the DIRTcar Racing Northeast charter member facility. All five of his series wins in Weedsport have come during Labor day Weekend, including the past three holiday events. “The track always seems to be changing, sometimes the high line is good, then the middle comes in and the low side gets quicker.”

After starting 11th on the 30-car grid, Decker methodically worked his way through the pack steering the potent LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell ride both high and low. The outside lane became the preferred groove when it counted most as the Unadilla, N.Y. veteran grabbed his first lead of the race up high with less than 10 laps to go and pulled away unchallenged the remainder of the way.

“I just can’t believe how good we were right there on that last restart,” beamed Decker, who still trails points leader Brett Hearn (finished 8th) by 154 markers, with Sheppard and Phelps ranked in between. “I don’t know if the tires were just right or what, but this thing took off and got balanced. Actually, I was pretty good on the restart before trying to run the bottom and was too tight. When I moved up a couple grooves I was really able to roll.”

Sheppard entered Cayuga County’s final regular-season Big-Block show ready to roll over the competition, having recently cornered the Modified market in both his mid-week and weekend appearances over the past month. Out-dragging front row partner and pole-sitter Danny Johnson at the drop of starter Dave Farney’s first green flag gave no indication Sheppard was slowing down.

While his nearest chasers Johnson and Hearn bumped and banged their way around in the early stages, Sheppard needed just a dozen circuits to reach traffic aboard the JB Motorsports no. 9s Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell entry with plenty of distance to spare. The gap suddenly evaporated when Shannon Whaley looped in turn three to bring out the first yellow flag on lap 16, just missing the onrushing runner-up machine of Hearn with Danny taking advantage to duck back into second while older brother Alan Johnson and Haers wrestled for front-five positions directly behind.

Local runners Chuck Bower (lap 22) and Dave Axton (lap 34) forced the yellow lights to flash twice more for minor mishaps, and by the midway mark Sheppard retained the point ahead of a charging Jimmy Phelps while Alan Johnson was dogged by an even faster mount occupied by Decker.

With Sheppard the class of the field able to outdistance his closest rivals at will, the competition was far more unsettling behind him as positions shuffled lap after lap and Hearn faded back almost as quickly as Danny Johnson did 20 laps earlier. Alan grabbed third on lap 53 and Decker moved into fourth the following circuit despite ‘Super Matt’ building up a straightaway lead.

As the laps clicked off, traffic thickened just as fast, cutting Sheppard’s once solid 3.0-second advantage down to 2.3 as Phelps dialed in the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer machine in pursuit of his first-ever tour win in Weedsport. Suddenly, without warning, another yellow flag unfurled and sitting sideways in turn one was the Sheppard car which earlier had broken a right-rear hub and caliper which ultimately knocked out any rear brakes.

A once commanding lead for Sheppard was now a precarious one for new leader Jimmy Phelps, yet on the ensuing lap 84 restart the ‘B’Ville Blast’ opened up comfortable advantage as Decker and Johnson slugged it out for second. However, the fifth and final caution period for the looped machine of Gary Tomkins in turn one proved to be Phelps undoing as Decker blasted around with still nine laps to go and had his way the last three miles.

“Things are starting to look good, everybody’s been scrambling this year,” admitted Decker, fresh off copping the Fulton (NY) Speedway points title the night before at his car owner’s track. “The engine shop has done a phenomenal job.”

“We really had a lot to cover this year. Starting our own engine program, we’ve been chasing it a little bit and not performing quite as well as we want. Been changing a lot of race cars, a lot of parts … so it makes a win like this even more special.“

“Thought we were pretty solid tonight, coming from 11th in a super tough field of cars. I’m pretty proud of this win. Don’t want to be a hog but I want to win them all, whatevers left,” added Decker, who established a personal career high of 22 Big-Block feature wins at nine tracks last season en route to the overall Mr. DIRTcar crown.

On the brink of scoring his first-ever series win at Cayuga County, Phelps reluctantly settled for runner-up honors despite occupying one of the fastest cars throughout the night.

“The car was real good on long runs, but on that second restart at the end I felt like I just didn’t have the stick I needed,” said Phelps, 34, currently third in series points with his lone win this season coming in July at Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway. “The tires cooled off a little bit even on that first restart, just didn’t feel quite as good as I did before that.”

“We got going real good there —shame to see Matt get knocked out— and at that point right before the yellow (lap 76) I felt the best I had all race. Those last two cautions took a couple laps to get going.”

“Billy found that middle (groove) and he’s one of the best in the business so its awful tough when he’s a little better to hold him back. Second-place never hurts you, just hope I have some momentum going my way tomorrow (at Rolling Wheels). I really like this new car, hopefully we’re due for another win really soon,” figured Phelps, after logging his seventh top-five in 16 events.

Coming into Weedsport, Johnson was just a handful of points behind Sheppard in the track standings, and by the time the Middlesex, N.Y. chauffeur was ready to depart he was sole owner of the coveted Cayuga County trophy for a ninth season.

“You love to win these (series) things, but running against these guys third-place is still a really good run,” said Johnson, 51, after successfully defending his season points title at Cayuga County where he ranks third all-time with 62 Big-Block wins, six of which came in series events. “It’s a heck of a field, a lot of strong cars here tonight.”

“My guys had the car running good, like I said, third is tough. I was trying everything out there, nothing seemed to be working too good for me. Maybe the bottom was a little better, I don’t know, I was just all over. It really didn’t feel too good anywhere I put it tonight,” reflected Johnson, recognized today in the yellow Bully’s Truck Stop no. 14j CFF,Inc.-Raymond’s Car Care/Bicknell entry.

The Labor Day holiday closes out for 2009 Super DIRTcar Series point chasers with the ‘King of Beers 100’ presented by Budweiser at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on Monday, September 7.

Super DIRTcar Series Race #16 – Cayuga County Fair Speedway, September 6, 2009 ‘Night of Champions 100’ Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 11 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY($6,000)
2 10 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
3 6 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
4 5 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
5 7 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
6 8 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
7 9 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
8 4 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
9 16 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
10 15 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
11 20 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
12 14 02 Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY
13 29 21k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
14 3 33 Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY
15 13 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
16 1 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
17 18 4* Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
18 19 8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
19 23 37c Eric Fisher/Bluff Point,NY
20 26 15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
21 25 10 Tim Currier/Auburn,NY
22 27 65 Boyd MacTavish/Ransomville,NY
23 12 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
24 2 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
25 22 29x Kevin Ridley/Geneva,NY
26 24 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
27 17 117 Alex Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
28 21 2 Dave Axton/Port Byron,NY
29 28 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
30 30 44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
GATER RACING NEWS LAP LEADERS: Sheppard (1-75), J.Phelps (76-91), Decker (92-100).
CAUTIONS: 5 for 13 laps.
HEAT WINNERS: Hearn, Paine, Brownell, Sheppard.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNERS: Axton, Ridley.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Billy Decker.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Billy Decker.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Jimmy Phelps.
SYRACUSE SDW BIG-BLOCK 200 QUALIFIER: Justin Haers.
SYRACUSE 358-MOD QUALIFIER: Randy Chrysler.
HALFWAY LEADER: Matt Sheppard.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Randy Chrysler.
XTREME LUBRICANTS SLICK MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Billy Decker.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (19th): Eric Fisher.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Brett Hearn (16.062sec/84.049mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $27,750.
CARS ENTERED: 38.
NEXT EVENT: Rolling Wheels Raceway Park Budweiser presents “King of Beers 100” – September 7, 2009.
DID NOT QUALIFY(8)
5-Jason Potter/Richland,NY
5h-Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY
8-Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
13-Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
25-Paul Habeck/Penfield,NY
77f-Mark Flach Jr./Selkirk,NY
82s-Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY
96-Todd Milton/Auburn,NY

QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 16.062 84.049 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 16.108 83.809 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
3 16.170 83.488 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
4 16.287 82.888 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
5 16.352 82.559 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
6 16.369 82.473 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
7 16.380 82.418 33 Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY
8 16.387 82.382 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
9 16.497 81.833 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
10 16.511 81.764 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
11 16.518 81.729 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
12 16.522 81.709 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
13 16.523 81.704 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
14 16.565 81.497 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
15 16.572 81.463 02 Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY
16 16.593 81.360 4* Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
17 16.599 81.330 2 Dave Axton/Port Byron,NY
18 16.606 81.296 77f Mark Flach Jr./Selkirk,NY
19 16.653 81.066 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
20 16.672 80.974 29x Kevin Ridley/Geneva,NY
21 16.695 80.863 117 Alex Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
22 16.701 80.833 37c Eric Fisher/Bluff Point,NY
23 16.737 80.660 8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
24 16.786 80.424 10 Tim Currier/Auburn,NY
25 16.815 80.285 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
26 16.852 80.109 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
27 16.853 80.104 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
28 16.866 80.043 96 Todd Milton/Auburn,NY
29 16.879 79.981 65 Boyd MacTavish/Ransomville,NY
30 16.884 79.957 5h Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY
31 16.990 79.459 5 Jason Potter/Richland,NY
32 17.019 79.323 15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
33 17.066 79.105 44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
34 17.113 78.887 21k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
35 17.131 78.805 82s Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY
36 17.141 78.759 25 Paul Habeck/Penfield,NY
37 17.187 78.548 13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
38 -NT- —– 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ

Heat Races (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature; top 3 redrew)
#1: Hearn, Mahaney, Bower, Tomkins, A.Tonkin, Flach, Fisher, MacTavish, Milton, Scagliotta (DNS).
#2: Paine, Haers, J.Phelps, Bresnahan, Storms, Axton, Currier, Chrysler, Potter, Hile.
#3: Brownell, D.Johnson, R.Phelps, Dunn, Bellinger, Ridley, Wight, Habeck, Shields.
#4: Sheppard, A.Johnson, Decker, Homan, Beardsley, Podsiadlo, B.Tonkin, Whaley, Steiner.
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Races: (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Axton, Fisher, Currier, MacTavish, Chrysler, Milton, Potter, Hile, Flach.
#2: Ridley, Podsiadlo, B.Tonkin, Wight, Whaley, Steiner, Shields, Habeck, Scagliotta (DNS).

Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Point Standings (Thru Sept. 6, 2009)
Rank No. Driver Total Diff Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 20 Brett Hearn 1,336 0 2 11 14 16
2 9s Matt Sheppard 1,243 -93 4 9 11 16
3 98H Jimmy Phelps 1,221 -115 1 7 12 16
4 91 Billy Decker 1,182 -154 4 8 8 16
5 3 Justin Haers 1,049 -287 0 2 10 16
6 99 Ryan Phelps 1,036 -300 2 5 9 16
7 84 Gary Tomkins 1,001 -335 0 4 9 16
8 27J Danny Johnson 928 -408 0 2 7 16
9 77x Dale Planck 876 -460 0 2 5 15
10 14J Alan Johnson 798 -538 1 4 8 12
11 4 Mike Storms 756 -580 0 0 2 16
12 49 Billy Dunn 720 -616 0 1 3 14
13 99L Larry Wight 708 -628 0 0 0 16
14 29 Jeff Brownell Jr. 707 -629 0 2 5 12
15 7x Steve Paine 607 -729 0 2 7 9
16 74 Tim Fuller 486 -850 1 3 3 7
17 8 Rich Scagliotta 388 -948 0 0 1 6
18 6 Pat O’Brien 337 -999 0 1 2 6
19 42p Pat Ward 306 -1,030 0 1 4 6
20 FX1 Frankie Caprara 283 -1,053 0 0 2 5
21 18 Sean Beardsley 249 -1,087 0 0 0 5
22 33 Mike Mahaney 215 -1,121 0 0 0 5
23 99B Chuck Bower 209 -1,127 0 0 0 5
24 42 Pete Bicknell 203 -1,133 0 1 2 3
25 02 Roy Bresnahan 190 -1,146 0 0 0 4
26 34b Andy Bachetti 178 -1,158 0 1 2 2
27 43 Keith Flach 176 -1,160 0 0 0 3
28 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 171 -1,165 0 0 1 4
29 8R Rob Bellinger 171 -1,165 0 0 0 4
30 62 Tom Sears Jr. 169 -1,167 0 0 0 3
31 77F Mark Flach Jr. 167 -1,169 0 1 2 2
32 98 Eddie Marshall 166 -1,170 0 1 1 2
33 57 Donnie Corellis 165 -1,171 0 1 2 2
34 44 Shannon Whaley 145 -1,191 0 0 0 3
35 124 Pierre Dagenais 144 -1,192 0 1 1 2
36 88 Tim O’Brien 143 -1,193 0 0 0 3
37 32c Vic Coffey 141 -1,195 0 0 1 3
38 1H David Hebert 140 -1,196 0 1 1 2
39 22 Eric Gauvreau 137 -1,199 0 0 0 3
40 60 Brian Berger 132 -1,204 0 1 1 2
41 22 Mario Clair 127 -1,209 0 0 0 2
42 3b Chad Brachmann 125 -1,211 0 0 0 3
43 96 Kyle Dingwall 125 -1,211 0 1 1 2
44 44 Frank Cozze 122 -1,214 0 0 0 3
45 47 Jerry Higbie 122 -1,214 0 0 1 2
46 88c Rich Laubach 120 -1,216 0 0 0 2
47 83x Tim Sears 120 -1,216 0 0 0 3
48 88 Kroy Sandstedt 115 -1,221 0 0 1 2
49 73 Alain Boisvert 112 -1,224 0 0 1 2
50 21k Randy Chrysler 111 -1,225 0 0 0 2
51 42 Guy Sheldon 111 -1,225 0 0 1 2
52 91 Chad Homan 109 -1,227 0 0 1 2
53 46 Kayle Robidoux 109 -1,227 0 0 1 2
54 19H Chris Higgins 108 -1,228 0 0 0 2
55 07 Tim Kerr 108 -1,228 0 0 0 2
56 97 Michel Chicoine 105 -1,231 0 0 0 2
57 9m Tim McCreadie 105 -1,231 0 0 1 2
58 76 Travis Braun 97 -1,239 0 0 0 2
59 21 Yan Bussiere 97 -1,239 0 0 0 2
60 2 Dave Axton 96 -1,240 0 0 0 2
61 24 Jim Witko Jr. 96 -1,240 0 0 0 2
62 26 Rick Richner 94 -1,242 0 0 0 2
63 87x Paul Gilardi 92 -1,244 0 0 0 2
64 115 Kenny Tremont Jr. 91 -1,245 0 0 0 2
65 42B Kevin Bates 91 -1,245 0 0 0 2
66 16 Mike Bowman 90 -1,246 0 0 0 2
67 13 Tony Steiner 87 -1,249 0 0 0 1
68 37c Eric Fisher 85 -1,251 0 0 0 2
69 15 Brett Tonkin 84 -1,252 0 0 0 2
70 39 Ryan Larkin 83 -1,253 0 0 0 2
71 22 Larry Lampman Jr 81 -1,255 0 1 1 1
72 33.3 Tommy Meier 81 -1,255 0 1 1 1
73 14 Jimmy Horton 73 -1,263 0 0 0 1
74 5 Jason Potter 71 -1,265 0 0 0 1
75 5H Chris Hile 70 -1,266 0 0 0 1
76 160 Johnny Hill 70 -1,266 0 0 0 2
77 64 Donnie Ackner 69 -1,267 0 0 0 1
78 77J J.C. Flach 68 -1,268 0 0 0 1
79 1F Stewart Friesen 68 -1,268 0 2 4 4
80 54 Steve Bernard 65 -1,271 0 0 1 1
81 72 Todd Stewart 65 -1,271 0 0 1 1
82 65 Boyd MacTavish 62 -1,274 0 0 0 1
83 7* Danny O’Brien 62 -1,274 0 0 1 1
84 1F Adam Ferri 60 -1,276 0 0 0 1
85 123 Robbie Krull 60 -1,276 0 0 0 1
86 72 Tommy Flannigan 60 -1,276 0 0 0 1
87 10 Tim Currier 58 -1,278 0 0 0 1
88 55 Perry Francis 58 -1,278 0 0 0 1
89 26 Ryan Godown 57 -1,279 0 0 0 1
90 1 J.R. Heffner 56 -1,280 0 0 0 1
91 38 Scott Wood 56 -1,280 0 0 0 1
92 44 Sebastien Gougeon 56 -1,280 0 0 0 1
93 117 Alex Tonkin 55 -1,281 0 0 0 1
94 48T Dave Rauscher 55 -1,281 0 0 0 2
95 55 Mike King 55 -1,281 0 0 0 1
96 3 Claude Brouillard 54 -1,282 0 0 0 1
97 87 Hector Stratton 54 -1,282 0 0 0 1
98 14 Mitchell Jock 54 -1,282 0 0 0 1
99 99 Charlie Donk 52 -1,284 0 0 0 1
100 23 Laurent Ladouceur 52 -1,284 0 0 0 1

Super DIRTcar Series Modified Entries – September 6 (38)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
02 Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY Gypsum Express-RJ’s Excavating/Bicknell/Enders
2 Dave Axton/Port Byron,NY Simplex Auto & Machine-Scott’s Auto/Bicknell/Simplex
3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY Phelps Cement Products-SMV Motorsports-Jeff Jolly Masonry/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
4* Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ Keizer Aluminum Wheels-Mike Sparta Trckng-Four Star Transmissions/TEO/Morrison
5 Jason Potter/Richland,NY Butler Disposal-Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop/Bicknell/Enders
5h Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY Ernie Kreis & Son-Fastline Performance-P&M Fabrication/Bicknell/Morrison
7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Swarthout Recycling-Instant Heat Wood Pellets/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil
8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY U-Store of Watertown-Westward Painting-Coffin Excavation/Troyer/Finger Lakes
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
10 Tim Currier/Auburn,NY Currier Plastics-Aflac/Bicknell/Mastin Engineering
13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY NY Tech Supply-Tech Tire Repairs/Troyer/Donath(358)
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc.-Raymond’s Car Care/Bicknell/Jimmy D’s Speed
15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA Grimm Construction-G&G Towing/Bicknell/Wally Fiehl
18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY Pipe Pros-Bradco Supply-Blackburn Truck Bodies/Troyer/Moshier
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO/Enders
21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY Penn Yan Mini Storage-Keuka Restaurant/TEO/Finger Lakes
21k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Signal Cigarettes-Randy’s Smoke Shop-Seneca Tobacco/TEO/Mike Harvey(358)
25 Paul Habeck/Penfield,NY SwimmingPool.com-DJM Equipment-Bobcat of Finger Lakes/Troyer/Bruneau
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Thompson Motorsports-SUNY Canton/Troyer/Dan Bedell
29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
29x Kevin Ridley/Geneva,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
33 Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY Aloi Materials Handling/Bicknell/Enders
37c Eric Fisher/Bluff Point,NY Bully Hill Vineyards-Fisher Tree Service-Daily Electric/Ozcar/Finger Lakes
44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY Davis Trailer World-D&M Precision/Bicknell/Morrison
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
65 Boyd MacTavish/Ransomville,NY Investor Services-Cosgrove Excavating/Bicknell/Ralph Vinson(358)
77f Mark Flach Jr./Selkirk,NY Gould Erectors & Riggers-F&M Farms/Troyer/Dan Bedell
82s Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY Shields Bookkeeping-RLS Auto Repair/Bicknell/Shields
84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Rochester Americans-National Guard/Bicknell/Mastin
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Kevlar
91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY DigTrack.com-North Eastern Pool & Spa/Bicknell/Campbell
96 Todd Milton/Auburn,NY Bradco Supply-Milton Motorsports/Fox/FingerLakes
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer/Bruneau
99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY Big Red Towing-Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell/Enders
99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Ingles Performance-United Fasteners-Bradco Supply/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
117 Alex Tonkin/Carbondale,PA Grimm Construction-G&G Towing/TEO/Wally Fiehl

SKIDMARKS
Sheppard Falls One Short In DIRTcar Track Title Sweep: Matt Sheppard arrived at the Cayuga County Fairgrounds on Sunday 60 points behind Brett Hearn in the Super DIRTcar Series standings. ‘Super Matt’ already tucked away a pair of track titles at Brewerton Speedway on Friday and Canandaigua Speedway on Saturday with a twin-bill on the docket in Weedsport. However, by the time he headed west toward home in Waterloo, N.Y. the talented 27 year-old had fallen shy of a third track crown after losing his brakes and dropped back 93 markers to Hearn in quest of his first overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship. “The only way we can catch Brett is to keep racing,” remarked Sheppard, who headed into Labor Day with 17 Big-Block feature wins scored. “I’m excited going to every race knowing we have a chance to win, that’s the only way to track him down.”

Phelps Pose Double Threats In Cayuga County Finale: Jimmy Phelps has been chasing victory lane in Super DIRTcar Series competition at Cayuga County through much of the new millennium while his younger cousin Ryan Phelps never even had a top-five tour tally until capturing both ends of All-Star Weekend this past July. “I’m pumped coming back for a series show, we just scaled the car and everything is identical with our July ride, hopefully it can end that way,” said Ryan, 25, before hitting the high-banked 3/8-miler for Integra Shocks Time Trials. “This car just loves slippery tracks and it looks the same as a couple months ago.” Posting all top-five finishes the past two years when Cayuga County hosted twin feature events during the Labor Day classic, Jimmy was anxious for just one race at a longer distance. “I definitely like the race format better this time, but I’m more confident with the new car we’ve been working with the past few weeks,” said Jimmy, who was anxious to improve on the 11th and 6th-place finishes he notched July 18-19 in the All-Star Weekend twin-bill. “It also helps that I know the track pretty well. But so do most of the other veterans on tour. Going 100 laps a lot can happen, maybe that will work in our favor tonight.”

Hearn Now At Home In Weedsport: All-time Super DIRTcar Series winner Brett Hearn came into Cayuga County’s ’09 Big-Block finale with two series wins and on Sunday claimed his second Integra Shocks Fast Time Award. While remaining just a visitor to the storied Weedsport oval as his annual series schedule dictates, only Alan Johnson (23) and Billy Decker (21) have now recorded more top-five finishes in tour races with the ‘Jet’ logging 18 in his career at the hub of DIRTcar Northeast. “Our mindset coming in is that we’re so close to getting another win here,” noted Hearn, who won his first tour race at Cayuga County in 1990 and followed up three years later with his most recent extra-distance victory at the Route 31 speedplant. “We even had some bad draws during All-Star Weekend and still salvaged some decent finishes. We’re definitely more comfortable now than just a few years ago.”

Super DIRT Week Website Active: Now available on the internet is the official site for information about Super DIRT Week, DIRTcar Racing Northeast’s crown jewel event staged at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. This year’s 38th edition runs October 7-11, 2009 and features Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Ticket and schedule information is available by contacting the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during the day or logging into www.superdirtweekonline.com anytime.

Pot Holes: Rich Scagliotta slammed the outside cement in turn four and that’s the last his no. 8 Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer machine was seen the rest of the night as the New Jersey invader worked feverishly to repair a broken rear axle that caused the mishap…It was even more disappointing for Lebanon Valley Speedway mainstay Mark Flach Jr. as he was three laps away from qualifying in the first consolation race before slowing into the pits after his motor suffered a broken rocker arm to put an end to his first-ever appearance at The Port…While Matt Sheppard was denied a fifth series victory during the ’09 campaign, the JB Motorsports team collected a trio of checkered flags after Sheppard and Jeff Brownell Jr. copped heat race wins and Kevin Ridley topped the opening consolation round.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Following the $6,000-to-win Budweiser ‘King of Beers 100’ on Monday at Rolling Wheels, Super DIRTcar Series action moves to Lernerville Speedway where the premier touring series of Big-Block Modifieds in the country returns to Sarver, Pennsylvania to kick off the first of day of the Advance Auto Parts Autumn-Motive Fest on Friday, September 11. The talented traveling troop will do battle with Lernerville Speedway/BRP Modified Tour guns contending in the $6000-to-win North-South 75 portion of Modified Madness.

2009 Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Schedule
NP=Non-Point event; SP=Show-Up Point event.
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/LOCATION
Wed-Feb 11 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Thr-Feb 12 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Fri-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Jamie Mills
Sat-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Brett Hearn
Sat-Mar 28 Hagerstown Speedway rain-cancelled
Sun-Apr 26 Big Diamond Raceway Duane Howard
Sat-Jun 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway Matt Sheppard
Sun-Jun 7 Airborne Speedway rain-cancelled
Wed-Jun 17 Orange Co Fair Speedway Bily Decker
Fri-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Brett Hearn
Sat-Jul 4 Fulton Speedway Alan Johnson
Thr-Jul 9 Brockville Ont Speedway Brett Hearn
Fri-Jul 10 Autodrome Granby Billy Decker
Sat-Jul 18 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Ryan Phelps
Sun-Jul 19 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Ryan Phelps ($20,000-to-win)
Mon-Aug 3 Merrittville Speedway Matt Sheppard
Fri-Aug 7 Brewerton Speedway Matt Sheppard
Sat-Aug 8 Canandaigua Speedway Tim Fuller
Fri-Aug 21 Can-Am Motorsports Park Matt Sheppard
Sun-Aug 23 Cornwall Motor Speedway Jimmy Phelps
Thr-Aug 27 Lebanon Valley Speedway Billy Decker ($17,500-to-win)
Sun-Sep 6 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Billy Decker
Mon-Sep 7 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Fri-Sep 11 Lernerville Speedway Sarver,PA
Fri-Sep 18 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Sat-Sep 26 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-Oct 11 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY ($50,000-to-win)
Sun-Oct 18 -TBA-
Sun-Oct 25 -TBA-

DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds, home of DIRTcar All-Star Weekend in July. DIRTcar Northeast’s crown jewel event —Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse— runs October 7-11, 2009 featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Ticket and schedule information is available by contacting the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during the day or logging into www.superdirtweekonline.com anytime.