October 4, 2007

Jimmy Phelps Tops Big Block Time Trials at Syracuse Mile
Story by DIRT Motorsports

Syracuse, NY — Team Troyer driver Jimmy Phelps continued his climb up the DIRTcar Racing ladder as he bested a stellar field of 70 Big-Block Modifieds under the clocks to earn the pole-position start for the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Rite Aid 200 scheduled for Sunday at the New York State Fairgrounds. Phelps was the third from last driver to take time and he made the best of the late afternoon assignment, winning the $2,500 Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems Pole Award after touring the historic Syracuse Mile in a one-lap clocking of 28.365 sec. (126.917 mph).

“These guys brought two awesome cars here this week and we made the best of it,” said Phelps, who time trialed sixth quickest in 2005, improved to third fastest last October before taking top honors yesterday on a sun-drenched day on the Moody Mile. “We just did what we had to do today to set up for the week and that definitely takes some pressure off the rest of the way.”

Capturing three consecutive pole awards from 2003-05, four-time Rite Aid 200 Champion Billy Decker went out just ahead of Phelps and stopped the clocks at 28.615 seconds to collect the $1,500 TEO Pro Car Outside Pole Award. Last year’s fast timer Tim Fuller (28.714) was the 34th car out of the gates and held the top spot until dropping to third on the final chart while Decker’s Gypsum Express teammate Pat Ward (28.953), recently crowned Lebanon Valley Speedway points champion J.R. Heffner (28.986) and Phelps (28.987) in his back-up car filled out the top-six.

With the six fastest cars locked into the front three rows and Phelps putting a pair in this elite group, second-generation standout Ronnie Johnson was next in Iine to fill the position and will start outside row three on Sunday. Tenth fastest time trialer Brett Hearn will start seventh in DIRTcar racing NorthEast's signature race on Sunday by virtue of his victory in the Lebanon Valley 200 in mid-September.

“When I first went out I thought I’d be in the top-six with the second car. After the first lap I knew there was a little work left to do so I took it in a little deeper the second time around and the car just stuck. Other than scuffing the tires we really didn’t do too much to the car today. Its great to be starting up front but we’ll have a bigger smile if we can stay there on Sunday,” said Phelps, who will be chasing the lucrative $50,000 first-place prize aboard the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Virginia Motor Speedway-Mohawk Northeast New England Race Fuels/Troyer entry to close out the 36th edition of Super DIRT Week in the Salt City.

Eighth-fastest in last year’s opening day trials, Decker improved a half-dozen spots to share the front row with Phelps on Sunday. “This is a testament to the crew as we haven’t really changed a thing since we unloaded the car for inspection on Tuesday,” said Decker, who led a race record 160 of the 200-lap distance en route to his latest victory in 2005. Decker still owns the track record for Big-Block Modifieds at Syracuse, running the Moody Mile in a time of 28.348 seconds (126.993 mph). “I’ve been hearing all the weatherman calling for a great week but being around here so long I find it hard to believe we won’t some kind of wet stuff at least one of the days. We’ll just have to play it by ear, you just never know what to expect from day to day around here. But that’s what makes it Super DIRT Week, there’s a lot going on and even more can happen.’

Despite starting on the pole last autumn, Fuller is looking to improve on his seventh-place finish after pacing the field the initial 45 laps one year ago. “This is pretty much all we can really ask for,” said Fuller, after putting his JL Motorsports no. 19 Street Wise Fighting Gear/TEO machine to begin Sunday’s show inside the second row. “I know it was really fast out there today and my hat’s off to those guys for running it a little harder than we did. We’re pretty satisfied where we are right now and we’ll just have to wait to see how everything pans out over the weekend.”

The remainder of the Rite Aid 200 field will come from Friday’s Modified Triple 20’s and the 'Dig Safely New York Shootout' last-chance qualifier on Sunday, with the 2nd Annual Pullen’s Truck Center “Win And You’re In Twins” Big-Block/Small-Block Super Shootout at Cayuga County Fair Speedway giving the driver with the best combined finish in a pair of 25-lap features the 45th starting spot in this year’s Rite Aid 200.

Super DIRT Week XXXVI action continues on Friday with the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified Triple 20s and Pullen’s Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20s taking center stage on the NYS Fairgrounds oval. P & M Fabrication and MSS Sportsman Time Trials follow in the afternoon with Thompson Motorsports reviving the popular Modified Pit Stop Competition to conclude the fourth day of activity. But that’s not all as the action then moves over to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park for a 358-Modified/Sportsman Mr. DIRTcar Series doubleheader while Cayuga County hosts round no. 11 of the 12-race Caprara Bros. Outdoor Toy Store Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Super Series, with Mod Lites and NY Modified Midgets making up the three-star attraction.

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXV MODIFIED TIME TRIALS: DAY 1 @ NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 4

FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER AWARD
1 28.365 126.917 98H Jimmy Phelps / Baldwinsville,NY $2,500 - Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems Pole
2 28.615 125.808 91 Billy Decker / Unadilla,NY $1,500 - TEO Pro Car Outside Pole
3 28.714 125.374 19 Tim Fuller / Edwards,NY
4 28.953 124.339 42P Pat Ward / Genoa,NY
5 28.986 124.198 88 J.R. Heffner / Pittsfield,MA
6 28.987 124.194 98Hx Jimmy Phelps / Baldwinsville,NY
7 29.043 123.954 2 Ronnie Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
8 29.105 123.690 98 Eddie Marshall / Ridgefield,CT
9 29.117 123.639 35B Jason Barney / Constantia,NY
10 29.151 123.495 20H Brett Hearn / Sussex,NJ
11 29.182 123.364 26 Ryan Godown / Ringoes,NJ
12 29.232 123.153 14 Rick Laubach / Quakertown,PA
13 29.282 122.942 88H Steve Hulsizer / Bridgeport,NY
14 29.293 122.896 115 Kenny Tremont / West Sand Lake,NY
15 29.323 122.771 1H David Hebert / St. Damase,QUE
16 29.325 122.762 USA1x Richie Tobias,Jr. / Annville,PA
17 29.337 122.712 44S Matt Sheppard / Waterloo,NY
18 29.363 122.603 27J Danny Johnson / Rochester,NY
19 29.513 121.980 19B Kenny Brightbill / Sinking Spring,PA
20 29.537 121.881 7X Steve Paine / Waterloo,NY
21 29.569 121.749 55 Mitch Gibbs / North Norwich,NY
22 29.581 121.700 21J Jeff Trombley / Altamont,NY
29.581 121.700 32Cx Vic Coffey / Leicester,NY
24 29.665 121.355 47 Jerry Higbie / Slate Hill,NY
25 29.672 121.327 93X Craig Mitchell / Wappingers Falls,NY
26 29.677 121.306 77X Dale Planck / Cortland,NY
27 29.788 120.854 45 Wayne Jelley / Pittsfield,MA
28 29.842 120.635 24 Chris Shultz / Pawling,NY
29 29.854 120.587 49 Billy Dunn / Watertown,NY
30 29.861 120.559 34 Andy Bachetti / Sheffield,MA
31 29.889 120.446 84 Gary Tomkins / Clifton Springs,NY
32 29.893 120.430 3B Chad Brachmann / Sanborn,NY
33 29.948 120.208 42 Jimmy Horton / Neshanic Station,NJ
34 29.965 120.140 35 Mike Perrotte / Elizabethtown,NY
35 30.005 119.980 1H Tim Hindley / Monticello,NY
36 30.007 119.972 1J Bobby Varin / Sharon Springs,NY
37 30.048 119.808 62R Ron Smoker / Hamburg,NY
38 30.069 119.725 3 Justin Haers / Phelps,NY
39 30.076 119.697 99B Chuck Bower / Lansing,NY
40 30.140 119.443 12A Jack Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
41 30.170 119.324 32C Vic Coffey / Leicester,NY
42 30.183 119.272 43 Keith Flach / Ravena,NY
43 30.187 119.257 44 Frank Cozze / Wind Gap, PA
44 30.200 119.205 56 Vince Vitale Jr./ Phoenix,NY
45 30.299 118.816 OB's Scott Flammer / Milford,NJ
46 30.319 118.737 21 Donnie Corellis / Averill Park,NY
47 30.352 118.608 21M Bob McGannon / Garnerville,NY
48 30.381 118.495 62Rx Ron Smoker / Hamburg,NY
49 30.426 118.320 41x Shawn Reimert / Oley,PA
50 30.464 118.172 USA1 Richie Tobias,Jr. / Annville,PA
51 30.707 117.237 M96 Brian McDonald / Cornwall,ONT
52 30.806 116.860 37 Jason Herrington / Troy,NY
53 30.880 116.580 6N Eric Palmer / Cresco,PA
54 30.907 116.478 14B Rick Laubach / Quakertown,PA
55 30.916 116.445 41 Shawn Reimert / Oley,PA
56 30.945 116.335 56 Russell King / Bristolville,OH
57 30.972 116.234 65 Rex King Sr. / Bristolville,OH
58 30.993 116.155 99 Ryan Phelps / Fulton,NY
59 30.995 116.148 49K Kenny Stafford / Homer,NY
60 31.126 115.659 76 Brett Graham / Kerhonkson,NY
61 31.157 115.544 66 Vince Gagliardo Jr. / Kenhorst,PA
62 31.188 115.429 16 Mike Bowman / Baldwinsville,NY
63 31.190 115.422 83 Tom Sears Jr. / Clay,NY
64 31.212 115.340 24D Patrick Dupree / Saranac Lake,NY
31.212 115.340 M40 Mark Forte Jr. / Blue Anchor,NJ
66 31.350 114.833 00 Doug Manmiller / Shoemakersville,PA
67 31.569 114.036 165 Rex King Jr. / Bristolville,OH
68 31.669 113.676 80 Jeff Marshall / Fort Covington,NY
69 31.830 113.101 18 Sean Beardsley / Central Square,NY
70 31.838 113.072 48too Dave Rauscher / Waterloo,NY
71 -NT- ----- 1 Sean Gallivan / Troy,NY
72 -NT- ----- 2x Ronnie Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
73 -NT- ----- 11 Scott Armbruster Jr. / Monroeville,NJ
74 -NT- ----- 14J Alan Johnson / Middlesex,NY
75 -NT- ----- 20 Brett Hearn / Sussex,NJ
76 -NT- ----- 22 Mike Bruno / Castleton,VT
77 -NT- ----- 26x Ryan Godown / Ringoes,NJ
78 -NT- ----- 37X Tom Scheetz Jr. / Boyertown,PA
79 -NT- ----- 42 Pete Bicknell / St.Catharines,ONT
80 -NT- ----- 47x Jerry Higbie / Slate Hill,NY
81 -NT- ----- 66X Carey Terrance / Hogansburg,NY

*Top-6 locked into front three rows.
- 81 Cars Entered

October 4, 2007

Rising Through Racing's Ranks
Story by Mike Waters Syracuse.com

Jimmy Phelps grew up at Brewerton Speedway, watching his father and uncle race. He got his first taste of the driver's seat in a 4-cylinder car at Brewerton. He moved up to the sportsman division and continued to win.

But after moving to a big-block modified in 1997, the Baldwinsville native found the road to victory lane at Brewerton blocked.

"It just seemed like the longer I ran there, the worse I got," Phelps, 32, said last week. "We started getting the hang of other race tracks, but we got very frustrated at Brewerton."

In 2005, Phelps and the rest of the Andy Phelps Motorsports team decided to take Friday off. That meant no racing at Brewerton. They would focus on weekend programs at Fulton Speedway and the Cayuga County Fair Speedway.

Then in July 2005, Phelps joined forces with Troyer race cars out of Rochester. He began driving Troyer's house car for the Connecticut-based H&H Motorsports team.

On Aug. 30, 2006, near the end of his first full season in the Troyer cockpit, Phelps took the checkered flag at Brewerton for his first Advanced Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series win.

"Your first series win just seems like such a huge hurdle," Phelps said. "I never imagined it happening there. I was confident we would get one, but I didn't think it would happen there.

"For the team and for Troyer race cars, it was huge. For me personally, it was unbelievably huge."

Since that race, Phelps has been one of the hottest drivers on the Super DIRTcar circuit. He ranks fourth in the series point standings, trailing only the most notable drivers on the tour Tim Fuller, Brett Hearn and Billy Decker.

In his last seven events, Phelps has driven the H&H Motorsports car to one win, two seconds and four third-place finishes.

"I think finishing the season strong last year really helped Jimmy this year," Troyer owner Bill Colton said. "He carried the momentum into this season."

Now, as he prepares for his fifth Super DIRT Week appearance, Phelps is hoping to improve upon last year's eighth-place finish.

"Super DIRT Week's so different than what we're used to. It takes a totally different approach," Phelps said. "There are guys there that have been running it for 30 years. I do have some good people behind me with a ton of experience, and that's been huge for me. It takes some of the inexperience out of the decision-making when you have guys behind you that have been successful there."

Don't be fooled. Phelps has more experience than the average 32-year-old.

His uncle, Roger Phelps, took a lot of successful turns on local tracks, and his father, Andy, raced late models.

"The car was kept at the house where I grew up," Phelps said. "I grew up working on the cars and going with them to races."

Eventually, Roger Phelps started his own auto parts business and began racing on his own. Andy was pondering leaving auto racing when Jimmy, then 15, got his first start in the 4-cylinder super stock division at Brewerton.

"From that point, I wanted to drive them," Phelps said.

Andy Phelps Motorsports became a team of weekend warriors short on resources and time, but long on a love for racing. That grounding in the sport attracted Colton.

"He's the kind of guy you want as a driver," Colton said. "He's a very hard worker. He knows race cars inside and out, and that makes him more astute at getting the race car to go fast. He communicates very well with the crew, and not everybody has the ability to do that.

"He's very focused," Colton continued. "He never gives up. He'll fight 100 laps straight, but in the meantime, he'll keep the wheels on the car. He's relatively easy on the equipment.''

Phelps said the move into the Troyer car has put him in a position to challenge the top teams in the DIRTcar Northeast series.

"It gives us the ability to try things that could possibly be cutting edge," Phelps said. "If we want to make a change in the car, all the work that goes into building these cars is done right there (in Rochester)."

Being on the road with H&H Motorsports also aided the weekend warriors.

"Our team really took off on the local level this year," said Phelps, who won three track championships and 10 races in his father's car this year.

All that remains for Phelps is to top off his breakout 2007 season with a solid showing at Super DIRT Week.

"He's come into his own and he comes into races with a lot of confidence," Colton said. "The big difference this year over prior years is just that. When he rolls into a race track, he knows he can beat whoever's there and a driver has to have that to succeed at this level."

September 7, 2007

Jimmy Phelps 2007 DIRTcar NorthEast Central Regional Points Champion
Story by Tom Skibinski

Central Region Champion Jimmy Phelps in the Troyer House Car.

Weedsport, NY (September 7, 2007) – The chase for valuable points towards the lucrative 2007 DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Regional Championships ended on Labor Day after five straight months of wheel-to-wheel, paint-trading action at more than 20 tracks.

Crowned champions of their respective DIRTcar Region were Jimmy Phelps (Central), Brett Hearn (Eastern) and Brian Swartzlander (Western) in the Big-Blocks ranks, 358-Modified chauffeurs Yan Bussiere (Northern), David VanHorn (Eastern) and Pete Bicknell (Western), and Chris Higgins (Northern), Shawn Donath (Central) and Don Spatorico (Western) in Sportsman Modified competition.

Culminating with the first Big-Block track point titles of his budding career at Cayuga County Fair Speedway and Fulton Speedway, Phelps has dominated the Central all season and is third on the overall DIRTcar NorthEast win list with 10 victories in 2007. All-time DIRTcar Modified feature winner Hearn, a 12-time victor in ’07, overtook New Egypt Speedway points king Matt Sheppard in the Eastern Region, while recently crown Lernerville Speedway champion and six-time winner Swartzlander edged weekly rival Kevin Bolland in the final weeks out West.

In the Small-Block ranks, Frenchman Bussiere traded spots atop the standings with David Hebert and also outdistanced Laurent Ladouceur in the final countdown up north. David VanHorn pulled away from Orange County opposition Chuck McKee to claim the Eastern points title while Canadian veteran Pete Bicknell controlled the West side much of the season with seven feature wins to date.

2005 DIRTcar Sportsman Rookie of the Year and Can-Am champion Higgins stayed in command most of the way with nine wins to his credit this season to earn northern region accolades while Donath racked up another nine wins in the Central area. Western warrior Spatorico has copped a class-best 12 feature wins to remain in charge coming down to the wire.

In 2007, DIRTcar-sanctioned tracks hosting Big-Block Modifieds, 358-Modifieds and/or Sportsman Modifieds were divided into three regions with top-15 teams sharing plenty of cash and memberships rewards in each classification: Mod-$20,175; 358 Mod-$14,175; Spt Mod-$10,800. Regional points were kept separately and had no direct bearing on any individual track points race. In each of the Regional Championships in all three classes, points were awarded for the best finishes in DIRTcar-sanctioned feature races, with events held at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park counting toward any region in all divisions.

For further questions regarding the 2007 DIRTcar Regional Racing Series format, please contact DIRTcar NorthEast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Cory Reed in the Weedsport Office (315/834-6606) during normal business hours or log into the current DIRT NE homepage at www.superdirtcarseries.com to find out more about the entire circuit.

2007 BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED REGIONAL POINTS: Final
CENTRAL (best 20)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Jimmy Phelps 1152
2 Alan Johnson 1100
3 Steve Paine 1096
4 Danny Johnson 1096
5 Vic Coffey 1034
6 Chuck Bower 1026
7 Pat Ward 1004
8 Justin Haers 1002
9 Gary Tomkins 966
10 Kevin Bates 956
11 Billy Decker 943
12 Willy Decker 903
13 Derrick Podsiadlo 894
14 Billy Dunn 850
15 Dale Planck 847

EASTERN (best 12)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Brett Hearn 696
2 Matt Sheppard 690
3 Frank Cozze 670
4 Ryan Godown 664
5 Andy Bachetti 652
6 J.R. Heffner 648
7 Jimmy Horton 634
8 Keith Hoffman 632
9 Eddie Marshall 618
10 Jeff Trombley 590
11 Kenny Tremont 582
12 Guy Sheldon 580
13 Bob Drayton 562
14 Sam Martz 562
15 Bucky Kell 560

WESTERN (15 best)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Brian Swartzlander 856
2 Kevin Bolland 848
3 Jer. Shingledecker 826
4 Rex King 806
5 Del Rougeux Jr. 796
6 Russell King 794
7 Dave Murdick 788
8 Jim Weller Jr. 691
9 J.R. McGinley 660
10 Skip Moore 650
11 Tom Winkle 626
12 Mike Turner 612
13 Chris Schiffer 607
14 Carl Murdick 598
15 Dave Schrader 524

DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Regions
*Events held at Rolling Wheels count toward any region.
East (best 12 finishes): Lebanon Valley, New Egypt, Orange County, Drummond (July 9), Airborne (July 24);
Central (best 20 finishes): Brewerton, Can-Am, Canandaigua, Cayuga County, Fulton, Thunder Alley, Cornwall (July 8), Brockville (July 10), Oswego (Aug. 22);
West (best 15 finishes): Lernerville, Tri-City, Ransomville (July 6), Merrittville (Aug. 6), BRP Modified Tour events.

September 3, 2007

Phelps, Tomkins, Henderson, DePuy Share Rolling Wheels Series Spotlight
Story by Rolling Wheels Raceway Park

Race Winner Jimmy Phelps in Victiry Lane.

Elbridge, NY (September 3, 2007) - A full card of Super DIRTcar Series racing attracted a big field of cars and a capacity crowd was in attendance to take in the annual Labor Day attraction at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on Monday.

It was a memorable night for Jimmy Phelps and Gary Tomkins as they shared space in the winner’s circle at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park after splitting Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Petrocci Twin 50s presented by Ferris Mowers. It was Phelps first tour win of the 2007 campaign and Tomkins second, with his first coming at the same Elbridge oval during the Independence Day holiday.

Todd Henderson bested a stellar 32-car line-up to capture the 30-lap Mr. DIRTcar Dig Safely New York Sportsman main event while Adam DePuy held back race long pressure from Blane Smith to pick up the win in the 20-lap Caprara Brothers Outdoor Toy Store Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Super Series win, his third in the inaugural season for the tour.

Phelps started on the pole to pace the 33-car starting field in round one but his first Advance Auto Parts Series win of the season was never guaranteed, especially after Alan Johnson blew past on the lap 10 restart and tried his best to extend the advantage the rest of the way. Numerous caution periods thwarted the efforts of ‘A.J. Slideways,’ with a half-dozen slowing the action over the ensuing 22 laps. Phelps shadowed the leader the entire way until ducking under in the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer Spl. to forge the final lead change on lap 39. Billy Decker finished his race-long charge in second while tour points leader Tim Fuller salvaged third-place ahead of Johnson and Vic Coffey.

After Phelps drew to invert the top12 for round two, Tomkins started fifth and watched as pole-sitter Dale Planck and Matt Sheppard held the point for the first half of the race. Tomkins stayed steady aboard the no. 84 Honeoye Auto Parts-Red Parker & Son Excavating/Bicknell entry and reeled in Sheppard for the final lead exchange on lap 23. Fuller improved one position from race one to finish second while Phelps slipped past Sheppard on the final circuit to secure third with Pat Ward filling out the front-five.

The 30-lap Sportsman Modified finale had 32 cars called to the starting line from the 64 teams that had originally signed in. The first yellow flag flew immediately when Greg Carner slid off the first turn. Up front Scott Schrader was scored as the race leader although on the restart Jipp Ortiz jumped out to take the point and begin to stretch out a lead. The caution lights appeared again to bunch the field together once more.

By lap 11 Todd Henderson had assumed the lead on a restart following a yellow for Canandaigua Speedway standout driver Dan Wiesner, who’s car had come to a stop in the first turn. Danny Varin was the next to bring out a yellow lap 12 as he slowed on the back stretch.

The final 18 laps were all run under green flag conditions. Henderson used this period to stretch out a six-second lead on Ortiz, who in turn was building an advantage over Eric Giguere.

Lapped cars started to have a effect on the leaders with seven laps remaining. Henderson crossed the finish line just 24 minutes after he started the race. Ortiz, Giguere, Paul Guererri and Shawn Donath rounded out the top-five finishers.

In the Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock feature DePuy and Smith led the field down to the starter’s green flag with DePuy leading the pack into turn one to grab the early led. Smith, Mike Welch and Ron Hawker tucked in right behind DePuy to pace the opening laps of the feature. As the early laps clicked off DePuy, Smith and Welch, all Canandaigua Speedway regulars, started to pull away from the rest of the field.

The first yellow of the race came on lap five as Dave Marcuccilli and Bobby Boynton made slight contact in turn three sending the pair spinning, both were able to continue. As the pace of the race quickened the yellow came out again, this time on lap eight for LeRoy Lewis, who was able to rejoin the field at the back of the pack.

When the green waved DePuy kept his foot down with Smith right on his bumper. Seventh-place starter Scott Smith, the previous Series feature winner at Rolling Wheels, joined the battle for the lead. With five laps still to go, DePuy was able to open up a three-four car length lead on the straights yet in the corners Smith was able to close in despite never finding enough speed to get by. Under the checkers DePuy won by a narrow margin over Blane Smith, Scott Smith, Andy Fisk and Mike Welch, who charged back from the rear of the field to complete the front-five.

Rolling Wheels Raceway Park returns to action when the 21st annual World Series Weekend takes center stage at the ‘Fast Track’ on Friday, September 21 and Saturday, September 22. Super DIRT Series events for all five touring classes ---Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman Modified, Pro Stock, Street Stock--- fill the bill during the popular autumn motorsports attraction.

For more information regarding Rolling Wheels, contact DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Headquarters during the week at 315/834-6606, call RWR (315/689-7809) on raceday or visit www.rollingwheelsraceway.com on the internet anytime.

FERRIS MOWERS/DIG SAFELY NEW YORK ROBERT N. PETROCCI MEMORIAL EVENT SUMMARY

UMP/DIRTcar STREET STOCK

HEAT 1: B.Smith, Hawker, Peckham, S.Smith, Fisk, Norman, Rizzo, Knapp, Chapman.

HEAT 2: DePuy, Welch, Schultz, Lewis, Boynton, Hyatt, Marcuccilli, LaVare, K.Smith.

BUDWEISER 20: Adam DePuy, Blane Smith, Scott Smith, Andy Fisk, Mike Welch, Dave Marcuccilli, Ron Hawker, Nathan Peckham, Nick Rizzo, Frank Hyatt, Leroy Lewis, Kevin Knapp, Mike Schultz, Phil Norman, Kevin Smith, Bobby Boynton, George LaVare Sr., Eric Chapman.

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN MODIFIED

HEAT 1: J. Williams, J. Ortiz, J. Juhl.

HEAT 2: C. Hile, J. Johnstone, J. Behron.

HEAT 3: D. Wiesner, M. D’Ilario, P. Guererri.

HEAT 4: T. Henderson, R. Hile, A.J. Kingsley.

HEAT 5: E. Giguere, T. Currier, K. Hotchkiss.

HEAT 6: J. Venuto, J. Juhl II, L. Lincoln.

CONSI 1: L. Wight, N. Cupolo.

CONSI 2: C. Higgins, D. Spatorico.

CONSI 3: G. Panunte, D. Varin.

GUARANTEES ADDED: R. Pratt, T. McPherson, A. Fink, Shawn Donath, M. Hulsizer, J. Pietrowicz, C. Garner, J. Pitcher.

DIG SAFELY 30: TODD HENDERSON, Jipp Ortiz, Eric Giguere, Paul Guererri, Shawn Donath, Chris Hile, Mark D’Ilario, John Venuto, Dan Wiesner, Larry Wight, Joe Williams, Chris Higgins, Tyler McPherson, Rob Hile, Jin Johnstone, Tim Currier, John Juhl, John Pietrowicz, Jeremy Pitcher, Matt Hulsizer, John Behron, Loren Lincoln, John Juhl II, Don Spatorico, A.J. Kingsley, Nick Cupolo, Greg Panunte, Rob Pratt, Danny Varin, Alan Fink, Keith Hotchkiss, Greg Carner.

DNQ: Todd Town, Joe Cook Jr., Tom Flannigan, Matt Smith, Earl Rudy, Jack Meeks, Jordan Bennett, Scott Goodrich, Don Ogden, Bill Colman, Beth Schneider, Rich Quick, Michael Storms, Luke Carleton, Brady Fultz, Anthony Steiner, Amanda Whitney, Shane Donath, Fran Hilton, Rick Bellante, Damon Walker, James M. Friesen, Daryl Hilkert, Jeff Isabell Jr., Mark Dixon, Rob Knapp, Nick Guererri, Jesse Pontello, James Spano, Brett Ford.

DIRTcar BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED

HEAT 1: J.Phelps, R.Phelps, Fuller, B.Decker, Paine.

HEAT 2: Planck, Sheppard, A.Johnson, W.Decker, Bower.

HEAT 3: P.Ward, Tomkins, D.Johnson, Coffey, Bates.

HEAT 4: Hearn, Varin, Cozze, Podsiadlo, Beyea.

CONSI 1: Dunn, Lamb, Godown, Hanson, Beardsley

CONSI 2: Haers, Tittle, Hefti, Payne, Henry.

Added: Whaley, Bowman, Ward.

PETROCCI 50: JIMMY PHELPS, Billy Decker, Tim Fuller, Alan Johnson, Vic Coffey, Pat Ward, Danny Johnson, Gary Tomkins, Matt Sheppard, Chuck Bower,

Brett Hearn, Dale Planck, Kevin Bates, Ryan Godown, Billy Dunn, Bobby Varin,

Ryan Phelps, Ted Lamb Jr, Willy Decker, Derrick Podsiadlo, Butch Tittle, Eldon Payne Jr, Craig Hanson, Russ Hefti, Justin Haers, Sean Beardsley, Mike Ward,

Steve Paine, Frank Cozze, Mike Bowman, Bob Henry Jr, Shannon Whaley, Joe Beyea.

FERRIS MOWERS 50: GARY TOMKINS, Tim Fuller, Jimmy Phelps, Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward, Brett Hearn, Vic Coffey, Billy Dunn, Dale Planck, Willy Decker, Alan Johnson, Ryan Godown, Bobby Varin, Chuck Bower, Frank Cozze,

Justin Haers, Kevin Bates, Sean Beardsley, Joe Beyea, Mike Bowman, Eldon Payne Jr, Derrick Podsiadlo, Ted Lamb Jr, Ryan Phelps, Steve Paine, Billy Decker, Mike Ward, Butch Tittle, Russ Hefti, Craig Hanson, Danny Johnson, Bob Henry Jr. (DNS), Shannon Whaley (DNS).

DNQ: Darwin Greene, Joe Isabell, Randy Chrysler, Roger Chrysler, Brian Murphy.

September 1, 2007

JIMMY PHELPS 2007 FULTON SPEEDWAY TRACK CHAMPION
Story by Fulton Speedway

Winner Pat Ward, Tim Sears and 2007 Track Champion Jimmy Phelps.

FULTON, NY (September 1) – On a night when track champions were crowned race teams saved their best for last at Fulton Speedway on Saturday, fireworks in the sky and on the track had the fans on the edge of their seats right down to the checker flags. Pat Ward came from dead last to win an intense three-car battle in the DIRTcar Modifieds on the final lap over Tim Sears and Jimmy Phelps. The $1,500 win for the popular Ward in the Gypsum Express No. 42p was nothing short of a miracle after breaking his Big Block on lap 1 of his heat race and changing cars to his Utica-Rome Speedway 358-Modified. A.J. Kingsley won his first ever DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature and Scott Conover out ran two of Fulton's best to take the UMP Pro Stocks. Other winners were Ron Hawker in the UMP Street Stocks, Mike Fowler in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, and Charles DeGroff in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.

At the drop of the green for the 35-lap Modified feature Sean Beardsley jumped out front to lead the opening lap before Willy Decker behind the wheel of the Kyle Lewis, Stadium International Trucks, No.09 blasted by on the top side of the speedway to grab the lead away on lap-2. Once out front Decker opened a comfortable lead leaving the rest of the field to battle it out. By lap 10 Decker opened a full straightaway lead as eyes turned to the battle for second between Beardsley, Tim Sears, Brian Weaver and John Ramsey. The speedway top teams were mired in heavy traffic but would become a factor in the end.

When the race hit the halfway point and no yellows to bunch the field up, Decker still maintained his big lead followed by Sears, Weaver, Ramsey and Brett Tonkin. Pat Ward and Track Champion Jimmy Phelps were still fighting their way forward running in 14th and 15th.

The whole complexion of the race would change dramatically on lap-25 when Decker came across the start-finish line in the No.09. He suddenly slowed, ending his night in disappointment. This set up a shoot-out to the finish. The leader was now Sears followed by Weaver, Phelps, Ramsey and Tonkin. Phelps was able to get by Weaver and take off after the leader. With Sears and Phelps running nose-to-tail and side-by-side Ward moved into third with 2 laps to go. The three-car battle had the crowd on their feet as the white flag waved. Phelps was running the top, Sears the leader slipped up from the bottom just enough allowing Ward to blast by both and grab the popular win. Ward, Sears, Phelps, Ramsey and Weaver were the top five. Jim Witko, Dale Planck, Brett Tonkin, Sean Beardsley and Chad Phelps completed the top ten.

Ward started the feature in last place as his primary big block car broke in his heat race. "This is our Utica-Rome small block car," said an excited Ward from victory lane. "This car just came to us once we got through heavy traffic and the track slicked up. We have been having so much fun this year the way we have been running," finished up Ward.

It was a bittersweet night for Jimmy Phelps. Being the racer that he is, he wants to win every race he enters. "We might have lost the battle tonight but we won the war," related Phelps about his third place finish but being the 2007 track champion. "Can't thank this team enough that kept this going all season. Thanks to my mom and dad and my kids. They put up with a lot and put in a lot of time in this also," said Jimmy Phelps. He finished up by thanking his sponsors J&B Installations, Granby Discount Carpets, Town Mechanical, E&V Energy and Doug Holmes and Finger Lakes Machine, his engine builder.

The 20-lap Sportsman feature was just as exciting as the Modifieds. Beth Schneider took off at the drop of the green in her Thompson Road Tavern, No.57 to pace the field. Schneider running the race of her life held off early challenges from Jeff Isabell, Jr. and A.J. Kingsley as the race reached the halfway point. Kingsley, running the top side of the speedway, was able to grab the lead away on lap-13 but the race was far from over.

Over the last 7 laps you could throw a blanket over the top three with Kingsley grabbing the narrow win at the checker. Schneider, Isabell, Jr., Sammy Reakes IV and track champion Jeremy Pitcher were the top five. Gregg Carner, John Pietrowicz, Shawn Donath, Anthony Steiner and Larry Wight completed the top ten.

Before A.J. Kingsley even exited his car he was asking for his dad Eric Kingsley. The Kingsley family name is synonymous with the speedway and founder Bub Benway. "Oh my God this is great," said an excited Kingsley, Benway's grand nephew, from victory lane. "When I got the lead this race never seemed like it was ever going to get over. I have to thank my mom and dad for putting me back in a car," In 2006 Kingsley took a violent flip at the speedway in the third turn. The accident put Kingsley on the sidelines physically for the rest of the season and this win capped off his return to racing.

The youth movement took over for the night as Kingsley, Schneider and Isabell, Jr. are three of the youngest competing at Fulton. As announcers Bill Foley and Shane Andrews said after that race, "If that race was any indication the future is in great hands."

Parking his MDV Construction, No.14 on the front stretch, a happy but relieved Jeremy Pitcher shared his thoughts on his first ever Sportsman Modified track title. "I'm glad it's finally over, this year was pretty
stressful and took a lot out of me. I wish we could have won more but we were very consistent all year," said Pitcher. "This one is for my brother (Shannon) he works so hard at this year after year, it's for him."

Scott Conover took top honors in a tight four-way battle for the win in the 20-lap UMP/DIRT Pro Stock feature. Jason Parkhurst, Rusty Marsden, Bill Clark, Jr. and Jack Terrell were second through fifth.

"It's great to win another track title. I wanted it for this guy over here," as Clark pointed to the No.38 of Jason Parkhurst. "He's one of my best friends and I wanted him to see how it feels to win a title," finished up a humble 2007 Pro Stock Champion Bill Clark, Jr.

Ron Hawker put an exclamation point on his UMP Street Stock track Championship. Hawker cruised to an easy 20-lap win. Nick Rizzo, Quentin Burton, Steve Crouse and Gary Barton were the top five. Steve Woodworth, Dan Hoffman, Sr., Scott Beeles, Jim Wallace and Matt Henderson rounded out the top ten.

Hawker talked about his track title, "This was a great year and we didn't do much of anything to the car all year except shock and tire pressure changes." Hawker finished up by saying, "I learned to drive like Alan
Johnson this year, go slow to go fast by rolling the car off the bottom of the turns. That made a huge difference."

Mike Fowler won the Gypsum Express feature over Jake Reilley, Ron Ingison, Katelyn Kane and Sean McCarthy. Tim Sears, Jr. became the first ever track Champion in division. Sears ended the year with six victories, but did not race on the final night due to suffering a concussion earlier in the day in a soccer game.

Charles DeGroff took the win in the 4-Cylinder Enduros over Joe Buske, Jr. and new track champion Mark Johnston.

Coming up this Saturday September 8 is the long awaited return of the alcohol powered ASCS Patriot Sprint Cars on A-Verdi Storage Containers / Scouting Night. Also in race action will be the UMP Street Stocks in a North vs. South Shootout, 4-Cylinder Enduros in their 50-lap $400 to win Victoria Championship, and a $1,000 to win King’s Smash’em Crash’em Demolition Derby. Racing will begin at 7pm sharp. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 593-6531, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.

FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY

FINAL POINTS / FIREWORKS NIGHT

RACE DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2007

DIRTcar MODIFIEDS (35-Laps) – PAT WARD, Tim Sears, Jimmy Phelps, John Ramsey, Brian Weaver, Jim Witko Jr., Dale Planck, Brett Tonkin, Sean Beardsley, Chad Phelps, Roy Bresnahan, Vinnie Vitale, Alan Johnson, Tom Sears Jr., Kevin Bates, Matt Fink, John Barker Jr., Billy Decker, Willy Decker. DNS – Jeff Isabell. TRACK CHAMPION – JIMMY PHELPS.

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (20-Laps) – A.J. KINGSLEY, Beth Schneider, Jeff Isabell Jr., Sammy Reakes IV, Jeremy Pitcher, Gregg Carner, John Pietrowicz, Shawn Donath, Anthony Steiner, Larry Wight, Mike Conrow, Billy Coleman, Dave Reilley, John Behron, Matt Hulsizer, Alan Fink, Curt Prevo, Lee Babcock, Stephen Planck, Mike Holmes, Danny Varin, Doug Shattell, Earl Rudy, Jon Tesoriero. DNS – Roger West, Brad Townsend, Joe August Jr. TRACK CHAMPION – JEREMY PITCHER.

UMP PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – SCOTT CONOVER, Jason Parkhurst, Rusty Marsden, Billy Clark Jr., Jack Terrell, Pat Hobbs, Jim Evans, Dale Guernsey, Adam Hunt, Jerry Button, Mike Vaughn, Dave Briggs, Rob Seavy. TRACK CHAMPION – BILLY CLARK JR.

UMP STREET STOCKS (20-Laps) – RON HAWKER, Nick Rizzo, Quentin Burton, Steve Crouse, Gary Barton, Steve Woodworth, Dan Hofmann Sr., Scott Beeles, Jim Wallace, Matt Henderson, Paul Fountaine, Adam Guilds, Dan Hofmann Jr. TRACK CHAMPION – RON HAWKER.

GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – MIKE FOWLER, Jake Reilley, Ron Ingison, Katelyn Kane, Sean McCarthy, Dan Hill, Shannon Jones, Mitch Taylor, Brandon Planck. TRACK CHAMPION – TIMMY SEARS JR.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO (25-Laps, Top Five Listed) – CHARLES DEGROFF, Joe Buske Jr., Mark Johnston, Les Baker, Jerry Herbert. TRACK CHAMPION – MARK JOHNSTON.

-30-

August 4, 2007

PHELPS CLOSER TO SECOND TRACK TITLE AFTER WIN ON GYPSUM EXPRESS / FERRIS INDUSTRIES NIGHT
Story by Fulton Speedway

DIRTcar Modified feature winner Jimmy Phelps.

Fulton, NY — Popular local driver Jimmy Phelps of Baldwinsville inched closer to his second career Fulton Speedway DIRTcar Modified track title after his second straight win Saturday on Gypsum Express / Ferris Industries Family Autograph Night. Phelps started twelfth on the grid and fought hard with leaders Jim Witko Jr. and Vinnie Vitale to take the lead with just four laps remaining on the Fulton Speedway high banks. The win for the driver of the family owned J&B Installations, Troyer No. 99j was worth $1,500 and another important step to the coveted track championship. Other winners on the night were Jeff Isabell Jr. in the DIRTcar Sportsman, Timmy Sears Jr. in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, Rusty Marsden in the UMP Pro Stocks, Gary Barton in the UMP Street Stocks, and Jerry Herbert in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.

Jim Witko Jr. and Jeff Isabell paced the 22-car DIRTcar Modified feature starting field down to the flags of Starter Glen O’Loughlin with Witko racing out to the early lead. Witko had the entire field under control as he opened up a commanding lead. At the halfway point of the Gypsum Express / Ferris Industries 35-lap feature event, Witko remained the leader with John Ramsey, Vinnie Vitale, Tom Sears Jr. and Jeff Isabell in the top five. As the race wore on, some of the top names were working their way to the front including Jimmy Phelps, Pat Ward, Billy Decker, and Alan Johnson.

The excitement continued as the battle for the race lead heated up. Witko, going for his first ever Fulton Speedway win, was working in and out of lapped traffic, allowing Vitale to close in. Both drivers went side by side for several laps as Jimmy Phelps caught them and entered the fight for the top spot. Vitale inched ahead for the lead on lap 29 with Phelps taking over second and setting his sights on the lead. On lap 31, Vitale bobbled momentarily allowing Phelps to take the lead. Right after this, Pat Ward had entered the top five and was rising up through the top spots quickly as was Gypsum teammate Billy Decker. Ward took over second with two laps to go but it was too late as Phelps was gone.

As the checkers flew for Phelps in his fourth victory of the season, a closing Pat Ward was 2.229 seconds behind in second, followed by Vitale, Billy Decker, and Alan Johnson. Completing the top ten in the exciting feature was Jim Witko, followed by John Ramsey, Tom Sears Jr., Kevin Bates, and Matt Fink.

Jeff Isabell Jr. of Pennellville inherited his second straight DIRTcar Sportsman 20-lap feature win in as many weeks, after apparent winner Matt Hulsizer was disqualified for being underweight. Isabell started eighth on the grid and ran second behind Hulsizer, who led the entire event looking for his first ever feature win. At the finish, after tech, Isabell was the victor as second place finisher and current point leader Jeremy Pitcher strengthened his standings lead. Gregg Carner had his best finish of the season in third, with John Pietrowicz and Alan Fink fourth and fifth respectively.

Rusty Marsden of Mexico won an action-packed 20-lap UMP Pro Stock feature, his second victory of the year. Marsden started eighth and took the lead on lap 15 when early leader Rob Seavy broke coming out of turn 4. Point leader Jason Parkhurst finished second, Scott Conover was third, newcomer Frank Guererri Jr. was fourth, and Billy Clark Jr. was fifth.

Gary Barton of Mattydale won his second 20-lap UMP Street Stock feature event of the 2007 race season and gained several points on leader Ron Hawker. Barton, who started third, lost the lead with three laps to go as Nick Rizzo took command looking for his first ever win. A late race caution bunched up the field, and on the final lap, Rizzo slipped high allowing Barton the hard earned victory. Rizzo settled for second, with Dan Hofmann Sr., Ron Hawker, and Dave Mannise right behind.

In the beginner’s class known as the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, teenager Timmy Sears Jr. won his fourth 15-lap main event of the year. Sears led Brad Godshalk, Brandon Planck, Sean McCarthy, and cancer survivor Katelyn Kane in the top five. The 25-lap 4-Cylinder Enduro feature victory went to Jerry Herbert, who beat out Jon Shumway, Marjorie Wallace, Eric M. Zirbel, and Mark Johnston at the finish.

Coming up this Saturday August 11 at Fulton Speedway is Canale Insurance Night featuring the DIRTcar Modifieds (40 Show-up points), DIRTcar Sportsman, UMP Pro Stocks, UMP Street Stocks, Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, 4-Cylinder Enduros, and Midstate Vintage Stock Cars. Racing will begin at 7pm sharp. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 593-6531, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.

PIT NOTES…The always popular Family Autograph session was held during intermission on the frontstretch. All cars and drivers were brought down for autographs and to meet the race fans. The Victoria 200 Rules Modified Mini-Series will resume at Fulton Speedway on Tuesday August 21 and continue after that at Brewerton Speedway on Tuesday August 28. On the midway was the Gypsum Express Souvenir trailer plus Ferris Industries and the highly popular Donnie Moran Dirt Late Model Simulator.

FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY

GYPSUM EXPRESS / FERRIS INDUSTRIES NIGHT

RACE DATE: AUGUST 4, 2007

DIRTcar MODIFIEDS (35-Laps) – JIMMY PHELPS, Pat Ward, Vinnie Vitale, Billy Decker, Alan Johnson, Jim Witko Jr., John Ramsey, Tom Sears Jr., Kevin Bates, Matt Fink, Roy Bresnahan, Tim Sears, Willy Decker, Chad Phelps, Brett Tonkin, Ryan Phelps, Jeff Isabell, Brian Weaver, Brian Murphy, Wallace Stacey, Sean Beardsley, Pat O’Brien.

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (20-Laps) – JEFF ISABELL JR., Jeremy Pitcher, Gregg Carner, John Pietrowicz, Alan Fink, Anthony Steiner, Larry Wight, A.J. Kingsley, Beth Schneider, Dave Reilley, Doug Shattell, Lee Babcock, Ron Schadt, Shawn Donath, Brad Townsend, John Behron, Sammy Reakes IV., Stewart Garrison, Mike Button, Curt Prevo, Jon Tesoriero, Matt Hulsizer (DQ).

UMP PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – RUSTY MARSDEN, Jason Parkhurst, Scott Conover, Frank Guererri Jr., Billy Clark Jr., Dave Briggs, Dale Guernsey, Adam Hunt, Jack Terrell, Jim Evans, Jerry Button, Rob Seavy, Pat Hobbs, Dick Parkhurst (DQ).

UMP STREET STOCKS (20-Laps) – GARY BARTON, Nick Rizzo, Dan Hofmann Sr., Ron Hawker, Dave Mannise, Steve Crouse, Steve Woodworth, Jim Wallace, Josh Blackwell, Bill Thomas, Joe Briere, Matt Henderson, Chuck Thomas, Adam Guilds, Quentin Burton (DQ), Dan Hofmann Jr. (DQ), Joe Schirm (DQ).

GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – TIMMY SEARS JR., Brad Godshalk, Brandon Planck, Sean McCarthy, Katelyn Kane, Joey Delacruz, Ron Ingison, Jake Reilley, Mike Fowler, Dan Hill.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO (25-Laps, Top Five Listed) – JERRY HERBERT, Jon Shumway, Marjorie Wallace, Mark Johnston.

July 28, 2007

PHELPS POWERS TO THIRD WIN OF SEASON AT FULTON SPEEDWAY ON SATURDAY
Story by Fulton Speedway

DIRTcar Modified feature winner Jimmy Phelps.

Fulton, NY — On Total Site Development Night last Saturday at Fulton Speedway, Jimmy Phelps out of Baldwinsville used an outside pass to get by rookie Roy Bresnahan with 9 laps to go to win the 35-lap DIRTcar Modified feature. There were two brand new winners as 16 year-old Jeff Isabell, Jr. won the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified main and Scott Conover took top honors in the UMP Pro Stocks. Other drivers to visit victory lane were Timmy Sears Jr. in the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, Doug Williams in the ESDCA Mod Lites, and Jon Shumway in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.

Third place starting Roy Bresnahan was able to get the jump on front row starters Matt Fink and Brett Tonkin out of turn two to grab the early lead in the 35-lap Modified feature. Despite early yellow flags and restarts, each time, Bresnahan, as he did earlier in the season when he won at Brewerton Speedway was able to pull away using the bottom of the speedway.

As the race reached the halfway point the speedway top runners were coming to the front. With Bresnahan still leading, Jimmy Phelps, Chad Phelps, Alan Johnson, Kevin Bates and Dale Planck were closing in on the leader. As the final laps clicked off the lap counter it appeared Bresnahan was starting to lose his tires as Phelps was all over him.

With 9 laps to go coming out of turn four Bresnahan's car slid slightly off the bottom of the speedway, allowing Phelps to pull even. The two made slight incidental contact. Phelps used a power move on the top to get the momentum he needed coming out of turns one and two to grab the lead. From there Phelps, who started tenth, went unchallenged grabbing his third win of the season at the speedway. Bresnahan, Alan Johnson, Dale Planck and Chad Phelps rounded out the top five. Kevin Bates, Brian Weaver, Tim Sears, Vinnie Vitale and Steve Hulsizer completed the top ten. Phelps slightly padded his point lead over third place finisher Alan Johnson in the standings.

When Phelps exited the family owned, J&B INSALLATIONS, No.99j the first thing he did was look at the right rear tire, "Halfway through the race I thought I smelled it burning off. It did its job and got us here," said Phelps. When asked about his pass for the win, Phelps related, "It looked like Roy buzzed his tire and lost his momentum coming off of four. We did make some contact and I felt bad that happened. It wasn't intentional." Phelps finished up by saying how well his Troyer worked anywhere on the speedway and how patience was the key to victory Saturday night.

A.J Kingsley and Lee Babcock swapped the lead back and forth running side-by-side in the early going of the 20-lap DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature. While the battle up front was going on Stewart Garrison and Jeff Isabell, Jr. fought it out for 3rd. Once Isabell was able to get by Garrison he took off reeling in the two leaders. At the halfway point Isabell Jr., who started third, was able to grab the lead and opened up some distance on the rest of the field.

Point leader Jeremy Pitcher was able to work his way to 2nd and looked to close the gap between him and the leader. What Isabell didn't want to see happened with 2 laps to go, the yellow flag flew setting up a two-lap dash to the finish. On the final two laps Pitcher tried muscling his car past Isabell on the high side, but to no avail as 16 year-old Isabell picked up his first ever win in the Sportsman class.

"I knew the bottom was the fastest place to be tonight," related an excited Isabell. "If I didn't over drive the car and stayed on the bottom I knew they had to go around me where it wasn't as fast."

Scott Conover who has come close in many races to picking up a win in 2007 driving his No. 26 UMP Pro Stock, he finally erased all that frustration picking up a hard fought 20-lap win. For Conover it was his first ever win in the class. Second was Jack Terrell, followed by invader Frank Guererri, Dale Guernsey, and Dick Parkhurst. Timmy Sears, Jr., grabbed his third career 15-lap win in the Gypsum Express Crates over Brad Godshalk, Mike Fowler, newcomer Zach Amo, and Ron Ingison.

Dan Williams looked to have racked up yet another 20-lap win on the year in the ESDCA Mod Lites. A post race inspection for an engine infraction disqualified Williams handing the win to his brother Doug Williams over Justin Crisafulli, Jeff Barker, Tim Devendorf, and Tod Simons. Jon Shumway tried to inch closer to point leader Mark Johnston grabbing the 25-lap win in the 4-Cylinder Enduros over Chris Bonoffski, Kelly Smith, Mark Johnston, and Marjorie Wallace.

Coming up this Saturday August 4 at Fulton Speedway is Gypsum Express / Ferris Industries Family Autograph Night featuring the DIRTcar Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, UMP Pro Stocks, UMP Street Stocks, Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman, and 4-Cylinder Enduros. The Donnie Moran Dirt Late Model Simulator will also be in attendance for race fans to drive. Racing will begin at 7pm sharp. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 593-6531, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.

PIT NOTES…27 Modifieds, 21 Sportsman, 21 Mod Lites, 16 Pro Stocks and 10 Gypsum Express Crates signed in the pit area. Modified drivers Vic Coffey, Ryan Phelps and Bob Henry, Jr., were late arrivals after Can-Am Speedway rained out. The long haul of the night went to Denis Gauvreau who towed in from Quebec with his Pro Stock. Look for the entire Gypsum Express Modified team of Billy Decker, Pat Ward, Pat O’Brien, and Ryan Phelps to be in the pit area next Saturday, August 4th, The night will be sponsored by Gypsum Express and Ferris Industries.

FULTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY

TOTAL SITE DEVELOPMENT NIGHT

RACE DATE: JULY 28, 2007

DIRTcar MODIFIEDS (35-Laps) – JIMMY PHELPS, Roy Bresnahan, Alan Johnson, Dale Planck, Chad Phelps, Kevin Bates, Brian Weaver, Tim Sears, Vinnie Vitale, Steve Hulsizer, Willy Decker, Pete Taylor, Matt Fink, Sean Beardsley, Jeremy Smith, Jim Witko Jr., Brett Tonkin, Bob Henry Jr., John Ramsey, Terry Knoblock, Ryan Phelps, Vic Coffey, Derrick Podsiadlo, Tom Sears Jr. DNS – Dan Vauter.

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN (20-Laps) – JEFF ISABELL JR., Jeremy Pitcher, John Pietrowicz, A.J. Kingsley, Shawn Donath, Anthony Steiner, Lee Babcock, Stewart Garrison, Jim Spano, Alan Fink, Dave Reilley, John Behron, Larry Wight, Beth Schneider, Keith Hotchkiss, Jon Tesoriero, Gregg Carner, Ron Schadt, Morris Mathews, Curt Prevo, Sammy Reakes IV., Matt Hulsizer.

UMP PRO STOCKS (20-Laps) – SCOTT CONOVER, Jack Terrell, Frank Guererri, Dale Guernsey, Dick Parkhurst, Pat Hobbs, Jerry Button, Dave Briggs, Rusty Marsden, Billy Clark Jr., Adam Hunt, Rob Seavy, Jason Parkhurst, Jim Donaldson, Jim Evans, Denis Gauvreau.

ESDCA MOD LITES (20-Laps) – DOUG WILLIAMS, Justin Crisafulli, Jeff Barker, Tim Devendorf, Tod Simons, Tommy Felicia, Rocco Leone, Ken Gamlen, Joe Gwilt, Luke Lonergan, Gary Schug, Kelly Skinner, Matt Virginia, Ricky Yelle, Andrew Schartner, Jamie King, Mike Virginia, Lisa Thomas, Chuck DeMott, Dan Williams (DQ).

GYPSUM EXPRESS CRATE SPORTSMAN (15-Laps) – TIMMY SEARS JR, Brad Godshalk, Mike Fowler, Zach Amo, Ron Ingison, Sean McCarthy, Katelyn Kane, Jake Reilley, Dan Hill, Jim Romano.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO (25-Laps, Top Five Listed) – JON SHUMWAY, Chris Bonoffski, Kelly Smith, Mark Johnston, Marjorie Wallace.

July 16, 2007

Phelps Wins Exciting Big-Block Modified Main, Williams Top Sportsman
Story by Gary M. Spaid

DIRTcar Modified driver Jimmy Phelps in victory lane.

Weedsport, NY — Jimmy Phelps took the 35-lap DIRTcar Modified feature win on Sunday in one of the best features ever run at the three-eighths mile Cayuga County Fair Speedway oval. “We knew we had a good car here tonight but the “Doctor” is a good driver and one of the toughest to get by,” referenced Phelps in victory lane following a torrid battle with Danny Johnson. “The heavy lap traffic helped us tonight.”

Joe Williams picked up his second feature win of the year at Cayuga County in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified main event. “I see this track as more of a finesse kind of track,” stated Williams. “It’s more of a driver’s track. I made a mistake early, but I was able to work back to the front. I have to say Steve (Planck) raced me clean. I want to thank him for that.”

Dave Mannise took his third UMP Ferris Mowers Street Stock feature. He too commented on the track. “Usually I start in the back of the pack and battle all night,” stated Mannise. “But tonight I started on the outside pole and that helps.”

Karl Werner picked up the Pit Stop Convenience Stores BattleKarz special honoring Dannie Mack. Mack’s car was on hand and driver by Ken Miner.

A full field of 24 roaring DIRTcar Modifieds took to the track for their 35-lap main event, following a delay to fix the lights. Joe Beyea and Jason Potter raced side-by-side for the lead with Beyea winning out. The first of just three yellows flew on lap four when third-place runner Vince Vitale slowed on the track with a right rear flat tire.

On the restart Beyea held off Derrick Podsiadlo, but just for two laps because the yellow was out again on lap six. This time Justin Haers popped high in the air after hopping a wheel on the Jason Potter car that had spun in the first turn.

This action saw a number of cars sliding and crashing with Vitale, Brian Weaver, Potter, Jeff Isabell, Bob Henry, Tyler Bartlett and Roy Shields involved in the accident. All were able to return except for Potter and Henry.

Steve Paine took the lead on the restart in his new Oz-Troyer Car, with a special built suspension by the legendary Lee Osborne. Paine was able to stretch out a seven-car advantage on the field before Danny Johnson, using the high line, flew by to take second. Johnson then set his sites on Paine and just as he caught the leader on lap 13 the yellow flew again when Tyler Bartlett slowed on the track.

This time it would be Johnson taking the lead on the restart along with a new running mate in the form of Jimmy Phelps, as Phelps passed Paine for the runner up spot on lap 15. Johnson and Phelps broke free from the rest of the field and as they approached lap traffic it became obvious that which ever driver was able to maneuver through lap traffic best would win the race.

On lap 29, they passed Roy Shields, on either side, and running wide open. With just three laps remaining in the race Phelps was able to complete his pass on Johnson for the lead. Phelps held on for the win followed by Johnson, Haers, Paine and Podsiadlo. “We worked best on the high side of the first and second turns, but we were saving tires when we used the low side of the track,” commented Phelps.

Jeff Isabell Jr. took the early lead in the 25-lap DIRTcar Sportsman feature. But even on the first lap the call went out over the track radios that the leader’s car was on fire. The yellow was thrown on lap two when Tim Currier slowed on the front stretch and this gave time for officials to check over the Isabell car, which was on fire at the rear end of the car.

Steve Planck took the lead on the restart. But before two more full laps could go in the record books, the cars of Jess Pontello and Alan Fink became hooked together and slowed on the track to bring out the yellow. This time it was Williams taking the lead with Planck running second. On lap 10 Anthony Steiner slammed the first turn wall and almost climbed out of the park. Other drivers took evasive action resulting in a number of cars involved in the accident; Bill Hallett, Keith Hotchkiss and Rob Richmond Jr.

Williams remained in the lead through the closing laps of the race with Planck making some inside efforts to take the lead. Planck had to settle for second followed by Jeremy Pitcher, Shawn Donath and Mike Mahaney.

In the UMP Street Stock finale it was Dave Mannise taking the lead from the outside pole starting position and go on to lead all 20 laps. In the second half of the race he was pressured by Dave Marcuccilli, who wound up finishing second.

Only one yellow slowed the race, that coming on lap 13 when points leader Nick Rizzo suddenly slowed while running in the top-five. Mannise took the victory followed by Marcuccilli, Nathan Peckham, Phil Marsden and Steve Woodworth.

CAYUGA CHATTER: Young Matthew Rucco was the Kid’s Club winner of the new bicycle…Ashley Glaski, 9 years old, from Liverpool, won the poster contest. The subject was her favorite driver, Danny Johnson…A dance-a-thon hosted by Shane Andrews helped to fill a time gap created when the track lights failed to turn on. A great effort from the grounds crew helped to right the electric situation…Russ Hefti slammed the front stretch wall in his heat race just as he took the checkers. His car suffered significant front end damage and was done for the night….Supporters of the Donnie Mack Fund were on hand helping to raise money for the Mack family. A special Donnie Mack Party has been planned for next Sunday at DeVaney’s Restaurant in Weedsport…Keith Keuer flipped his BattleKarz on the first lap of the 25-lap main. He emerged uninjured and the race resumed. Up front the 24 of Karl Werner was the class of the field and he led the entire distance for the victory. ..Twenty-seven DIRTcar Modifieds were on hand along with 21 DIRTcar Sportsman for one of the best fields of open wheelers this season at Cayuga County.

The Cayuga County Fair Speedway will be dark this coming Sunday to make way for a special show at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park. On tap July 22 at the “Wheels” will be the DIRTcar Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Street Stocks. The Street Stocks race will be a Super Series event for the full fender guys. Race time is 7 p.m. sharp.

FERRIS MOWERS/BIG DOG COUNTRY 103.5 FM RADIO NIGHT SUMMARY

PIT STOP CONVENIENCE STORES BATTLEKARZ

FEATURE (25-laps): KARL WERNER, Bill Werner, Dave Nageldinger, Les Baker, Kyle Wilkins, Adam Keuer, Tom Cook, Ted Leader, Kale Wilkins, Ken Miner, Ed Gilner, James Werner, Barb Amadon, Kelly Smith, Jeremy Werner, Wally Dean, Nick Werner, Keith Keuer, Kevin Alfred, Charles Degroff, Josh St. Martin.

UMP FERRIS MOWERS STREET STOCKS

HEAT: D. Mannise, D. Marcuccilli, J. Wallace, D. Pope, N. Peckham, N. Rizzo.

FEATURE (20-laps): DAVE MANNISE, Dave Marcuccilli, Nathan Peckham, Phil Marsden, Steve Woodworth, Van Grant, Mike Dandino, Nick Rizzo, David Pope, Jim Wallace.

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS

HEAT 1: S. Donath, J. Isabell Jr., J. Behron, A. Steiner, B. Hallett.

HEAT 2: J. Pitcher, J. Juhl II, D. Sellen, J. Pitcher, J. Pontello.

HEAT 3: T. Currier, S. Planck, M. Mahaney, K. Ridley, K. Hotchkiss.

BIG DOG COUNTRY 25: JOE WILLIAMS, Steve Planck, Jeremy Pitcher, Shawn Donath, Mike Mahaney, John Juhl, John Behron, Alan Fink, Matt Hulsizer, Todd Town, Dan Sellen, Jesse Pontello, Rob Richmond Jr., Ronald Schadt, John Juhl II, Kevin Ridley, Bill Hallett, Anthony Steiner, Keith Hotchkiss, Jeff Isabell Jr., Tim Currier.

DIRTcar BIG-BLOCK MODIFIEDS

HEAT 1: S. Paine, D. Podsiadlo, J. Haers, T. Juhl, J. Isabell, M. Bowman.

HEAT 2: V. Vitale, J. Phelps, J. Potter, D. Rauscher, R. Hefti, S. Whaley.

HEAT 3: D. Johnson, S. Beardsley, B. Dunn, C. Phelps, J. Beyea, R. Bellinger.

CONSI: B. Weaver, J. Pfeffer, R. Shields, C. Steele, T. Bartlett, A. Roberts, B. Henry Jr.

FERRIS MOWERS 35: JIMMY PHELPS, Danny Johnson, Justin Haers, Steve Paine, Derrick Podsiadlo, Rob Bellinger, Billy Dunn, Chad Phelps, Joe Beyea, Tom Juhl, Chris Steele, Sean Beardsley, Mike Bowman, Dave Rauscher, Jeff Isabell, Roy Shields, John Pfeffer, Shannon Whaley, Adam Roberts, Tyler Bartlett, Brian Weaver, Vince Vitale, Jason Potter, Bob Henry Jr.

JIMMY PHELPS WINS VICTORIA 200 RULES MODIFIED MINI-SERIES EVENT 1 AFTER HARD FOUGHT BATTLE
Story by Dave Medler

Victoria 200 Rules Modified Mini-Series Event 1 winner Jimmy Phelps.

BREWERTON, NY (Tues, June 26) - Jimmy Phelps of Baldwinsville attached Sail Panels to his J&B Installations No. 99j family owned Troyer and earned a hard fought $2,000 pay day in the 35-lap Victoria 200 Rules Modified Mini-Series feature on Tuesday at Brewerton Speedway. Phelps came from the third starting position to take the lead on lap 21 after a furious battle in heavy lapped traffic with leader Danny Johnson and Willy Decker. Ron Hawker won the 15-lap UMP Street Stock main in a photo finish over Dave Mannise and Doug Williams won the ESDCA Mod Lite 20-lap feature.

Danny Johnson and last Friday’s feature winner Willy Decker paced the field to Glenn O’Laughlin’s green flag with Danny Johnson gaining the slight advantage over Decker in the early going. Decker was able to use to the high line in Paul Kinney’s No.19 small block power modified to wrestle the lead away from Johnson on lap 13. While Decker and Johnson swapped the lead back and forth Jimmy Phelps and Billy Decker joined the fray setting up a classic battle to the finish. Johnson took his final lead on lap 19

As the consecutive green flag laps clicked off the lap counter, lapped traffic played heavily into the race. As the four not only had to contend with lap traffic they had to keep an eye on who they were battling as positions changed on every inch of the race track. On lap-21 Jimmy Phelps was able to use the extreme inside and grab the lead. On lap-25 the only caution of the race occurred as the No.1k of Robert King slowed with a flat, he was able to return.

After a quick breather for the top runners the green flew again for the final 10-laps. Phelps, still hugging the bottom, drove a flawless race as Danny Johnson threw everything he had at him but coming up short. Billy Decker, Willy Decker and Vic Coffey rounded out the top five. The remainder of the top ten was Pat Ward, Gary Tomkins, Kevin Bates, Bobby Varin, and Brian Weaver.

"That was probably the most fun I have ever had in a race car," said Phelps after the win. "Using the bottom of the track really helped tonight, the lapped cars couldn’t hold their line and would slide up leaving the bottom open," finished up Phelps.

Ron Hawker grabbed the early lead in the 15-lap UMP Street Stock feature from the pole position and looked to have things in hand after an early race battle with Darl Ellis, Jr. Dave Mannise who had an early race tangle restarted at the rear of the field and steadily picked off cars setting up a last shootout with Hawker. As the white flag flew Mannise was able to run down Hawker who had led every lap to that point. As the two entered turns 3 and 4, Mannise used the high line to set up a drag race to the checkers. As the two hit the finish line it looked to be a dead heat. Track officials determined Hawker the winner over Mannise. Steve Woodworth, Darl Ellis and Van Grant completed the top five.

In ESDCA Mod Lite action it looked like yet another victory for Dan Williams as he grabbed the top spot early on in the 20-lap feature after Ken Gamlen had led the first five circuits. When the yellow flew on lap-11 Williams exited the speedway with mechanical problems. When racing resumed Lowell Zehr who sits fourth in points took the lead and was looking for his first win of the year. Coming through the pack was Doug Williams who started twelfth in the Hays Motorsports No.2. Williams flew by Zehr on lap 13 and from there cruised to the victory. Zehr was forced to settle for second followed by Matt Manger, Mike Mullen and Tim Devendorf.

Coming up this Friday June 29 at Brewerton Speedway is Novelis / Wheel-A-Way Motorsports Night. In race action will be the DIRTcar Modifieds, IMCA Modifieds, ESDCA Mod Lites, 4-Cylinder Super Stocks, and 4-Cylinder Enduro. All firemen and policemen will be admitted free of charge with valid ID in appreciation for their tiring efforts. Gates will open at 5:30pm, with racing at 7:30pm. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 668-6906, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.brewertonspeedway.com.

PIT NOTES…A very diverse mix of 29 drivers was on hand for the Victoria 200 Rules Modified Mini-Series special. The next race in this series at Brewerton Speedway is set for Wednesday July 11 when Twin 25’s will be held. Willy Decker drove track regular Paul Kinney’s car on the night to save wear and tear on his own No. 1x as Decker is just 4 points out of the lead over current point leader Alan Johnson. Two exciting events have now been held, one at Fulton Speedway on May 22, and Tuesday’s at Brewerton. Without a doubt, the fledging series is gaining popularity as we get nearer to the 22nd Annual $25,000 to win Victoria 200 at Fulton Speedway on September 29.

BREWERTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
RACE DATE: TUESDAY JUNE 26, 2007

VICTORIA 200 RULES MODIFIED MINI-SERIES BREWERTON RACE NO. 1 (35-Laps) – JIMMY PHELPS, Danny Johnson, Billy Decker, Willy Decker, Vic Coffey, Pat Ward, Gary Tomkins, Kevin Bates, Bobby Varin, Brian Weaver, Alan Johnson, Johnny Hill, Robert King, Billy Shantel Jr., Chad Homan, Roy Bresnahan, Gus Schmidt Jr., Kyle Lewis, Joe Isabell, Wade Decker, Jeremy Smith, Chad Phelps, Tom Sears Jr., Tim Sears. DNS – Jim Mahaney, Ryan Phelps, Jim Gabriel Jr., Darwin Greene, Rick Rogala, Sean Beardsley.

ESDCA MOD LITES (20-Laps) – DOUG WILLIAMS, Lowell Zehr, Matt Magner, Mike Mullen, Tim Devendorf, Jamie King, Jeff Williams, Ken Gamlen, Barry Virts, Rocco Leone, Jeff Barker, Sam Morse, Jeff Blackburn, Lisa Thomas, Brenda Rice, Justin Chrisafulli, Mike Virginia, Dan Williams, Tommy Felicia, Larry Casbohm.

UMP STREET STOCKS (15-Laps) – RON HAWKER, Dave Mannise, Steve Woodworth, Darl Ellis Jr., Van Grant, David Pope, Keith Stevenson, Glenn Weaver, Dean Moshier, Quentin Burton, Mike Watkins (DQ)

June 22, 2007

PHELPS FUTURE IS NOW
Story by Tom Skibinski

DIRTcar Modified driver Jimmy Phelps in victory lane.

Weedsport, NY — Look behind Danny Johnson. Move over Brett Hearn. Step aside Alan Johnson.
Take notice race fans. Jimmy Phelps is heading to the front fast and the 2007 DIRTcar Racing summer season is just getting underway in the Northeast.

“It’s a nice feeling to be recognized for what our team has done lately but still a little strange being mentioned with this group since I’m still a big fan of Danny,” admitted Phelps, 32, who recently vaulted to the top of DIRT NorthEast’s Big-Block Modified winner’s list with five. Only Danny Johnson (6) ranks higher while perennial favorites Hearn (3), the all-time Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series win leader, and Alan Johnson (2), DIRTcar NE’s winningest Big-Block Modified driver, lurk in the shadows.

“DIRT is made up of a rare breed of racer unlike most others, the drivers just seem to get better with age and experience plays such a big role in almost every outcome. There’s so much going on from the start of a night to the finish and the learning curve just never seems to end,” said Phelps, who owned nine DIRT BB feature wins when the season started and has already more than doubled his career total in less than two months.

Just last summer Phelps was an up-and-coming driver in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series, loaded with potential and chasing that elusive victory in his first full season following DIRTcar NorthEast’s premier Modified tour. Then lightning struck. And when it hit again he was suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

Phelps steered the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer machine to dramatic Advance Auto Parts SDS victory at Brewerton (NY) Speedway in August and followed up with a convincing 101-lap tour triumph at Williams Grove (PA) Speedway in October. He charged from 26th starting position to overtake Alan Johnson with just 6 laps left in Brewerton’s century grind, then led the final 77 circuits to top the Williams Grove field.

“It’s a heck of a lot of fun right now, and ultimately that’s why you do it --- to win,” figured Phelps, the low key campaigner from Baldwinsville, N.Y. who has been high strung so far on the Central New York circuit in ’07. He copped the season-opener at Brewerton and has since posted a pair of wins at both Fulton (NY) Speedway and Cayuga County Fair (NY) Speedway to get off to the best start in his 17-year career that began at Brewerton in the 4-Cylinder Super Stock division.

“But this isn’t something that just happened overnight, we’ve been knocking on the door for awhile and everything is finally starting to pan out. Awhile back we used to be happy with some top-10s and then it got to the point where it was frustrating not finishing in the top-5 more consistently. Our team really started to gel at the end of last season and our confidence has been building ever since but there’s still a ways to go to get where I want to be in the (Advance Auto Parts) Series,” said Phelps, who stands eighth in AAP points with a pair of top-five finishes in four events. He is now regarded among the favorites to win as soon as he buckles into his no. 99J J&B Installations/Troyer mount for weekend activity, leading the point standings at Cayuga County and Fulton, where he swept the Father’s Day feature races run last Saturday and Sunday.

“Our goals starting out were to win races and stay closer to home where we can afford to keep the program going strong all season. Some of the teams are running other tracks weekly but when the green flag drops it doesn’t matter who you’re racing against, we feel our team is good enough to be successful. We felt we could be in contention in the Series, and we haven’t lost touch with that goal, yet the biggest hurdle remains the lack of track experience. We’re getting closer and I truly believe now that being out on the road has helped out tremendously in what we’ve been able to accomplish on the local circuit. We’ve only been out of the top-2 once (6 races) at Cayuga County and I’m very comfortable having a car that can move around the entire track now,” Phelps added.

Phelps first joined the H&H Motorsports team in time for the Advance Auto Parts stop at Lernerville (PA) Speedway in June of 2005. He was fast right out of the gate with the 4th-best time recorded before rain postponed the event for another two months. Up to that time, the only tour events outside of his CNY neighborhood were run at Hagerstown Speedway and Lowe's Dirt Track with the most Series races attended in one season just a half-dozen.

“When I was younger I always hoped to get a shot at the tour but over the years I became content and wasn't really pushing to be a part. With the family business ---Barr Transportation in Auburn, NY--- I get a little break with the flexible schedule. My dad (Andy Phelps) still runs it, my uncle (Doug Phelps) is in charge of the maintenance shop and I’m the general manager. This has turned into a solid deal as I've had a good relationship with Billy (Colton, Troyer,Inc. owner) for awhile now and more recently with Randy (Kisacky, crew chief), together we've had great success. I’ve always seemed to have a Troyer in my garage and with Billy’s work ethic never changing from day one we finally feel we’re in the driver’s seat.”

For additional information about the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series, log into http://www.superdirtcarseries.com or contact the DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Office (315/834-6606) in Weedsport, N.Y. during regular weekday hours. Check out www.jimmyphelps.com for a complete driver profile or e-mail jimmy@jimmyphelps.com to find out more about his race plans in 2007.

The DIRTcar Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., F.X. Caprara Car Companies and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company and Wrisco Industries.