Fuller Rolls To Big-Block Modified Victory In 36^th DIRTcar Nationals At Volusia

Barberville, FL – Feb. 16, 2007 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director

An abundance of track time this month paid big dividends for Edwards, N.Y. driver Tim Fuller on Friday night at Volusia Speedway Park as he captured his first Advance Auto Parts non-point series win of the year in the 30-lap DIRT Big-Block Modified main. Fuller staved off a late rally by Dale Planck then outlasted opening night winner Danny Johnson en route to claiming the $2,000 top prize during the 36^th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals presented by Mopar Speed Shop.

“This was the result of a lot of track experience tonight,” said Fuller, 39, following his 76^th career DIRT Big-Block victory which was win number five in the Sunshine State for the 2003 Florida DIRTcar Nationals points champion. “We’ve run a lot the past couple weeks and all the seat time is finally paying off. The cushion was rough but that’s where the Modifieds have to be to get their tires to work. The Late Models have the tread to run in the middle even when the track gets slick. I need to race on more slippery tracks to get enough experience for the Late Models, that may be the direction we’re headed in the very near future.”

New Jersey veterans Billy Pauch and Jimmy Horton shared front row starting assignments after winning the first two of four heat race qualifiers and it was pole-sitter Pauch darting out first. Yet after just one more circuit around the slippery half-mile Barberville oval, heat three victor Fuller blasted by on the high side in his no. 19 Native Poker-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO entry exiting turn four and never missed a beat in just his second Big-Block effort of the 2007 campaign.

Victory for Fuller seemed well in hand with the opening five laps complete and Pauch riding nearly a half straightaway behind in Will Brown’s no. 1W TEO mount. That same advantage evaporated just as quickly as it was built up when J.R. Heffner and Ray Swinehart tangled entering turn one to initiate the first caution period. Danny Johnson started sixth in the 26-car field and charged around Pauch on the ensuing lap seven restart but his potent Thompson Motorsports-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer machine was no match on this night for the high-flying Fuller.

However, opening night runner-up Planck had his own agenda looking to improve just one position in round two for the mighty Modifieds. He began seventh and cracked the top-three with 10 laps complete before overtaking Johnson for second with half the race scored. Lap by lap the Cortland, N.Y. standout tracked down the leader in traffic and with five laps to go took his best shot and Fuller took the brunt from his all-out bid.

“Dale went high and I think the contact with my right rear tire made him even faster, but he got airborne right after and almost flipped into the wall,” noted Fuller, who dropped out of opening night action after breaking the rear-end with early race contact between Planck setting the tone. “I was just riding around at the end biding my time but then I saw Dale out of the corner of my eye coming at me. There just wasn’t enough room to get the job done on the high side and I thought I had the rest of the track covered pretty good. There was no side bite out there at all tonight so I was pretty confident with my chances once in front.”

Colin Jackson looped by himself in the fourth turn on the final lap to set up a one-lap dash for the checkers between Fuller and Johnson. Looking to repeat on consecutive nights at Volusia, Johnson crossed the finish line three car-lengths behind while Pauch settled for third-place in the 16-minute main. Planck regrouped to finish fourth while Jamie Mills slipped past Pat O’Brien on the last lap to fill out the front-five. 

Through two of three Florida Tour races, Danny Johnson tops the point standings with 116 markers. Planck (106) stands second ahead of Mills (94), O’Brien (90) and defending DIRTcar Nationals champion Brett Hearn (86). Open-wheel action at Volusia concludes for the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series teams on Saturday night with a 50-lap big-block main paying $5,000 to win headlining the Florida Tour finale. The 2007 Florida DIRTcar Nationals points champion will be crowned following conclusion of the third race scheduled for Feb. 17.

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series – Volusia Speedway Park, February 16, 2007

36^th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals presented by Mopar Speed Shop Event #2

BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE

FIN STR  CAR# DRIVER/HOMETOWN

1          3          19        Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY ($2,000)

2          6          27j       Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY

3          1          1w       Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ

4          7          77x      Dale Planck/Cortland,NY

5          19        30        Jamie Mills/Milford,DE

6          11        6          Pat O'Brien/Kingston,ONT

7          14        20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ

8          13        42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY

9          10        14j       Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY

10        2          42        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ

11        5          34        Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA

12        9          71        David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ

13        18        32c      Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY

14        21        44s      Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY

15        4          t21       Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

16        17        21k      Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

17        24        79        Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY

18        22        74        J.R. Heffner/Stephentown,NY

19        12        1          Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA

20        25        14        Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA

21        26        66w     Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE

22        8          118     Sean Merkel/Gilbertsville,PA

23        16        923     Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA

24        20        48too  Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY

25        23        33        Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA

26        15        0          Russ Hefti/Elbridge,NY

DID NOT QUALIFY(14)

07-Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT

1k-Scott Kurtzner/Brandon,FL

6pack-Dave Schrader/Endeavor,PA

8-Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ

9-Jeff Brown/Parsonsburg,MD

27m-Dan Hartgraves/Troy,NY

m40-Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ

44-Gary Hager/Stewartsville,NJ

45-Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA

79s-Mike Storms/Wantage,NJ

81-Rich Rutski/Somerville,NJ

88-Dick Larkin/Alford,MA

91-Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY

98-Glenn Richards/Wyoming,DE

Lap Leaders: Pauch (1), Fuller (2-30).

Cautions: 2 (lap 7, lap 30).

QUALIFYING

Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)

#1: Pauch, Bachetti, VanHorn, Ward, Ra.Chrysler, Sheppard, Larkin, Forte, Schrader, Brown.

#2: Horton, D.Johnson, A.Johnson, Hearn, Coffey, Jelley, Scagliotta, Laubach, Swinehart, Decker.

#3: Fuller, Planck, O’Brien, Hefti, Mills, Stacey, Rutski, Richards, Hartgraves.

#4: Ro.Chrysler, Merkel, Greene, Jackson, Rauscher, Hager, Markle, Storms, Kerr, Hefner, Kurtzner (DNS).

Consolation Round (8 laps, top 3 finishers transferred to feature)

#1: Sheppard, Swinehart, Laubach, Larkin, Jelley, Forte, Scagliotta, Brown, Schrader (DNS), Decker (DNS).

#2: Heffner, Markle, Stacey, Kerr, Storms, Rutski, Richards, Hager, Hartgraves, Kurtzner (DNS).

Florida DIRTcar Nationals Point Standings (Top-10 through Feb. 16, 2007)

116-Danny Johnson, 106-Dale Planck, 94-Jamie Mills, 90-Pat O’Brien, 86-Brett Hearn, 84-Andy Bachetti, 82-Pat Ward, 80-Matt Sheppard & 80-Tim Fuller, 76-Jimmy Horton.

2007 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Big-Block Modified Roster (40)

Car#     Driver/Hometown         Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)

0              Russ Hefti/Elbridge,NY            Clearview Windows-Sunsetter Awnings/Bicknell/Carr Power (Tommy Carr)

07            Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT                Saxony-Bronskill&Coe-Grenbush Elec.-Hubert Kerr Const./Bicknell/Enders

1              Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA Greene Quality Bluestone-Big Diamond Tools-TJ's NAPA/Bicknell/Morden

1k            Scott Kurtzner/Brandon,FL     Interstate Batteries-T-Bird Fab.-Greenleaf Recycling/Troyer/Markert

1w           Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ     Will Brown's Truck Repair-Holly Hill Farms/TEO/Lombardo

6              Pat O'Brien/Kingston,ONT       730 Truck Stop-Gypsum Logistics-Newells Garage/Bicknell/Enders

6pack      Dave Schrader/Endeavor,PA  A&S Production-D&C Racing/Bicknell/Krem's Speed Equipment

8              Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Bicknell/Enders

9              Jeff Brown/Parsonsburg,MD  Chesapeake Paving/Dirt Wheels/Lombardo

14            Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA                Alpha Mills-Reiley & Sterner Auto Sales-Werner's Auto Body/TEO/Enders

14j           Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY   Bully's Truck Stop-CFF,Inc./Bicknell/RL Performance

19            Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY          Native Poker-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO/Enders

20            Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ           Madsen Mtrsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders

21k          Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY NECO Distributors-Randy's Smoke Shop-Joey's Sneaks/Bicknell/Campbell-JPM

t21           Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY  Iroquois Water-Randy's Smoke Shop-Joey's Sneaks/Bicknell/Campbell-JPM

27j           Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Thompson Motorsports-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer/Kevlar

27m         Dan Hartgraves/Troy,NY        New England Disposal Technologies-Diversified Sign/Bicknell/Malcuit

30            Jamie Mills/Milford,DE              I.G.Burton Car Dealership-ReMax Realtor-L&W Ins./Bicknell/FingerLakes-DDE

32c          Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY         Sweeteners Plus-CME,Inc./Bicknell/C.C. Performance

33            Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA J & L Speed Supplies-PK Moyer & Sons/Troyer/R&R Machine(SB)

34            Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA    Steve Hough Motors-Troy’s Garage/PMC/JPM

m40         Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ Stone Grille Restaurant & Bar-BSR Products/TEO/Finger Lakes

42            Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Millennium Car Wash-Grosso Trucking-Metal Fab Race Pro Shop/TEO/Feil

42p          Pat Ward/Genoa,NY                Gypsum Express,Ltd.-Stadium International/Bicknell/Enders

44            Gary Hager/Stewartsville,NJ  Quality Drywall-Building Specialties/TEO/Burnett

44s          Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY   BKS/G-U-Currier Plastics-Magee Transport-Adam Ross/Bicknell/Finger Lakes

45            Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA      K&F Modular Homes-Freedom Plains-TLC Contracting/PMC/Dan Bedell

48too       Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY  Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison

66w         Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE Bully's Truck Stop-CFF,Inc./Bicknell/RL Performance

71            David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ Harmony Sand&Gravel-Diamond Hart Ent.-Art's Radiator/TEO/D.VanHorn,Sr.

74            J.R. Heffner/Stephentown,NY                A.Colarusso & Son-Turner Auto-Miller's Automotive/Bicknell/JPM

77x          Dale Planck/Cortland,NY         East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob's Excavation/Bicknell/Kevlar

79            Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY Len & Jo's Restaurant/Bicknell/Precision

79s          Mike Storms/Wantage,NJ        New York Truck Parts-Liberty Rock Crushing/TEO/JPM

81            Rich Rutski/Somerville,NJ        BRB Construction-MMI Properties-Total Automotive/Bicknell/Feil

88            Dick Larkin/Alford,MA             Advance Auto-Bedell Race Eng.-PromotionalIncentives.com/TEO/Dan Bedell

91            Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY          Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int'l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders

98            Glenn Richards/Wyoming,DE  Hatteras Press-Alessi Construction-Coastal Marine/TEO/Morrison-Barnett

118          Sean Merkel/Gilbertsville,PA   Merkel Rebar-Reid Automotive/TEO/Lombardo

923          Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA      Ashford Cottages Bed& Breakfast-Jackson Excavating/Bicknell/Griffin

DIRTcar Nationals Showcased On DIRTVision.com: DIRTVision.com launched its fourth consecutive season at Volusia Speedway Park with LIVE Cybercast video coverage of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series races on Wednesday, February 14 and continues through Saturday, Feb. 17 beginning at 7:30pm, ET. LIVE coverage is for DIRTcar Nationals CyberPass subscribers only so sign up today! Log onto www.dirtvision.com then click on the “DIRTcar Nationals CyberPass” link to subscribe and hang on for the ride of your life. Users can sign-up today for $19.99 using a Visa or Mastercard on our secure payment server at DIRTVision.com.

As part of DIRTVision’s February Special, ALL registered users will now have 24/7 access to our 2004, 2005 and 2006 On-Demand & Cybercast archived videos from around the world of DIRT MotorSports racing. Dirt Radio Network listeners will still be able to enjoy each and every event for FREE as well. Users can sign-up using Visa or Mastercard on our secure payment server at DIRTVision.com. (Monthly & Season CyberPass subscriptions will be available to purchase in March of 2007)

If you are unfamiliar with our LIVE Cybercasts, click on the “Help/FAQ” menu for tips and requirements for viewing the DIRTVision Cybercast. Make sure that you register well in advance of our next show to help troubleshoot any problems you may encounter. Your basic tools will be a DIRTVision.com account, Internet Explorer 5 or higher, and Windows Media Player 9; both of which are FREE. For technical support or questions, e-mail customerservice@dirtvision.com.

Dirt Radio Network Broadcasts: Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series announcer Shane Andrews will host all the action with FREE audio on the DIRT Radio Network broadcast on DIRTVision.com. Thousands of fans enjoyed these free audio broadcasts in 2006. Enhanced features for Registered users listening to the Dirt Radio Network broadcasts include our popular text chat and AMB Scoring/Results. All Dirt Radio Network Shows are slated for 7pm ET from Volusia Speedway Park.

Get Out The Word First: RACEceiver is the Official Driver Communicator of DIRT MotorSports. A compact radio receiver that conveniently fits into a driver’s pocket, a RACEceiver allows each driver to hear directions from series officials, which greatly enhances the safety and timeliness of events. A similar version available to fans will allow RACEceiver users to hear what information series officials are relaying to the drivers. For more information about RACEceiver, visit www.raceceiver.com, call 866-301-7223, or look for their sales trailers at various events.

Tracks Know The Score: In DIRT MotorSports™ ongoing effort to assist every sanctioned track with presenting the best possible race programs, DMS has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRT MotorSports. AMB i.t. is the world’s leader in automatic race timing and scoring systems and the DIRT organization is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all DIRT MotorSports events.

UPCOMING EVENT
The 2007 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series point race schedule for Big-Block Modifieds takes the green flag further north in the springtime. Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway is slated to host the tour opener on March 31 when the Advance Auto Parts SDS big-block teams compete in the 100-lap North-South Shootout paying the winner $6,000 from the total purse in excess of $27,000.