Fulton Speedway race report 2001-06-02

FULTON, NY (June 2, 2001)...Jeff Rudalavage won his first ever DIRT 358 Modified feature at Fulton Speedway last Saturday night in dramatic fashion. Rudalavage held off the numerous challenges of defending Track Champion Alan Johnson to earn the popular win. The victory for the driver from Olyphant, Pa. was worth $1,500.

Wayne Reutimann Jr. raced out to the early lead at the start of the DIRT 358 Modified from the pole starting position. A strong running Ryan Baye took the lead away from Reutimann on lap two. After five laps Baye and Reutimann were being followed in the top five by John Ramsey, Jeremy Smith and Jim Witko.

Baye was setting a fast pace in the lead, but several top runners were working up through the field. Rudalavage started the main event in the 15th position and on lap 17 he took the lead away from Baye. At the halfway mark of the 35 lap main event Rudalavage and Baye occupied the top two spots.

Alan Johnson was another driver on the move and was up to third. Matt Sheppard and Todd Burley completed the top five at the halfway mark. Johnson moved into second place on lap 26 and he quickly started to pressure Rudalavage for the lead. The two veteran drivers race side by side for the rest of the race, with the outcome in doubt.

Rudalavage held on for the win, his first ever at Fulton Speedway, in the Parts Plus DIRT 358 Modified. Johnson had to settle for second with Burley, Baye and Sheppard completing the top five feature finishers.

Tom Juhl Jr. won his first DIRT Sportsman feature of the season last Saturday night. Willy Decker, Terry Knoblach, Shawn Donath and John Cunningham completed the top feature finishers. Juhl took the lead from Knoblach on lap 15 and went on for the win in the 20 lap event.

Tom Barron won his third Pro Stock feature of the season last Saturday night. Barron was followed on this occasion by Mike Watkins, Dave Bruno, Eric Vanderhoof and Joe Jackson. Barron took the lead from Jerry Holmes on lap 16 of the 20 lap event.

Todd Storace won his fourth Pure Stock feature of the season last Saturday night. Storace was followed by Bill Flask, Rob Seavy, Dennis Brown and Darren Kelso. Storace took the lead away from Jeff Pastorella on lap 13 of the 15 lap contest.

FULTON NOTES---Another fast paced race program which was concluded in under three hours...Larry McAuslan won the Four Cylinder Stock Enduro... Action continues this Saturday at Fulton Speedway when Pick-N-Pull Auto Parts presents Family Autograph Night...Action starts at 7 p.m...The large crowd in attendance was treated to great dirt track action all night with a tacky and dust free surface.

FEATURE RESULTS

DIRT 358 MODIFIED FEATURE---Jeff Rudalavage, Alan Johnson, Todd Burley, Ryan Baye, Matt Sheppard, John Ramsey, Jim Witko, J.J. Michaels, Jim Mahaney, Jeremy Smith, Ty Hunt, Rick Miller, Tim Murphy, John Barker, Roy Shields, Jimmy Phelps, Alex Hoag, Brent Wilcox, Joel Thomas, Mike Prentice, Bill Shantel Sr., Gus Schmidt, Pete Taylor, Joe Slawiak, Wayne Reutimann Jr., Jim Crawn.

DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Tom Juhl, Willy Decker, Terry Knoblach, Shawn Donath, John Cunningham, Greg Doust, Mike Button, Tim Sears, Clayton Brewer Jr., Dave Bargabos, Walt McArdell, Jim Kite, John Juhl, Ryan Richardson, Jim Larock, Ron Loveless, Russ Hefti, Shane Donath, Dan Vail, Craig Terrell, Jeremy Pitcher, Rodney Plantz, Chad Phelps, amie Christian.

PRO STOCK FEATURE---Tom Barron, Mike Watkins, Dave Bruno, Eric Vanderhoof, Joe Jackson, Ryan Buskey, Dave Fox, J.B. Dockstader, Heath Carey, Jason Rood, Jerry Holmes, Ricky Breed, Ray Maloney, Dave Moyer, Freddy Dennis, T.J. Fitzgibbons, John Pietrowicz.

PURE STOCK FEATURE---Todd Storace, Bill Flask, Rob Seavy, Dennis Brown, Darren Kelso, Steve Woodworth, Adam Morley, Gary Barton, Bill Allen, David Kirk, Al Button, Paul Mercier, Chris Smiedy, Bruce Stanton, Ken Connors, Wayne Chesbro, Jeff Pastorella, Phil Trimm, Mark Davison, David Pope, Charlie Mettler, Rob Whipple, Todd Koegel, Kevin Raymond, Joe Buske, Mark Denny Jr.

-Doug Zupan