Decker Downs DIRT Challenge Cup Field, Williams Wins Mod Lite Special

Elbridge, NY – May 6, 2007 – By Gary M. Spaid, Rolling Wheels Raceway Park PR

Billy Decker returned to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on Sunday and demolished the field of 31 starters to lay claim to the 27^th annual DIRT Challenge Cup 60-lapper. Decker dominated the last half of the race leading Brett Hearn by over a full straight away under the checkers.

In other racing action it was Allen Peters who can claim the early lead in the Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series. Peters won the series opening 25-lap main. The Mod Lites were also on hand with Dan Williams taking the 15-lap victory. Also on the race card were the ASCS Patriot Sprinters with Chuck Hebing winning the 20-lap A-Main.

Somewhat dusty conditions existed due to a strong all day westerly wind and bright sunny skies. The start of the 60-lap Challenge Cup race took a few tries to finally get it right. Once running, Matt Sheppard took the lead from his pole-position start. In close pursuit was Decker followed by Hearn. A battle for fourth was taking place between young guns Kenny Stafford and Jimmy Phelps.

The yellow flew on lap two when Kyle Lewis made contact with the inside cement wall in the fourth turn. Sheppard maintained his lead as the race went green again. On lap 12 Decker made the move down the backstretch using a lapped car to block Sheppard and Decker sailed into the lead.

Caution lights flashed again on lap 17 when Vince Vitale slowed on the backstretch. One lap later the yellow was out again, this time for Derrick Podsiadlo. On the restart Hearn was able to pass Sheppard for second and take off after Decker.

The final yellow flag dropped on lap 24 when Chad Homan lost it in the first turn. The remainder of the race went green and up front it was Decker followed by Hearn, Sheppard, Phelps and Tim Fuller.

Decker now started to stretch his lead over Hearn. He seemed to be able to keep a 3-second advantage over the ‘Jet’ as they maneuvered lapped traffic. Phelps was able to pass Sheppard for third and tried to catch Hearn, but to no avail. With just 15 laps remaining only ten cars remained on the lead lap as Decker was setting a torrid pace. At the finish line it would be Decker followed by Hearn, Phelps, Fuller and Sheppard rounding out the top-five.

The Mod Lite experienced a number of yellow flags, mainly for spins in the corners. As for the race, Dan Williams started on the pole and maintained his lead the entire race. Early in the event he was challenged by Tim Devendorf but was able to hold onto the lead. On lap seven Devendorf almost moved to the point, but the yellow flew to end his best run at the lead all day. At the finish line it was Dan Williams followed by Doug Williams, Devendorf, Lowell Zehr, Mike Isabell and Dave Trytek to make up the top-five finishers. The other races run are covered elsewhere in the publication.

The next event at Rolling Wheels will be the World of Outlaws Sprint special on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28. This will be the night after the Hall of Fame Classic held at nearby Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport. This will make for a special Memorial weekend of racing in central New York. Race time on May 28 will be 7 p.m., with time trials starting just a bit earlier. For more information go to the Rolling Wheels Raceway webpage at www.rollingwheelsraceway.com.

27^TH ANNUAL DIRT CHALLENGE CUP/TERRELL’S POTATO CHIPS NIGHT SUMMARY

UMP/DIRTcar PRO STOCK

HEAT 1: D. Barnes, D. Gauvreau, D. Oakes, B. Buono, D. Bissonnette, S. Gribben,  J. Roy.

HEAT 2: P. Stefanski, M. Martin, A. Peters, L. Jackson, R. Aubin, C. Benedict, D. Charbonneau.

MR. DIRTcar PRO STOCK SERIES FEATURE (25-laps):  ALLEN PETERS, Louis Jackson, Don Barnes, Bob Buono, Roch Aubin (dq’ed), Denis Gauvreau, Pete Stefanski, Dean Charbonneau, Ricky Thompson, Dave Bissonnette, Jocelyn Roy, Scott Gribben, Jack Terrell, Mike Martin, Joey Ladouceur, Dion Oakes, Jim Evans Jr., Mike Vaughn, Brett Martin, -DNS Clayton Benedict.

MOD LITE

HEAT 1: Da. Williams, T. Devendorf, M. Isabell, D. Williams, J. Crisafulli, K. Gamlen, K. Hotchkiss.

HEAT 2: L. Zehr, R. Leone, D. Trytek, L. Lonergan, T. Felicia, M. Virginia, J. Williams.

FEATURE (15-laps): DAN WILLIAMS, Doug Williams, Tim Devendorf, Lowell Zehr, Mike Isabell, Dave Trytek, Rocco Leone, Tom Felicia, Mike Virginia, Andrew Schartner, Ken Gamlen, Keith Hotchkiss, Jeff Williams, Joe Gwilt, Justin Lonergan, Jimmy King, Larry Cashbohn.

DIRTcar BIG-BLOCK  MODIFIED

HEAT 1: C. Phelps, S. Paine, B. Decker, D. Podsiadlo, B. Dunn.

HEAT 2: B. Tittle, J. Phelps, M. Sheppard, D. Johnson, C. Homan.

HEAT 3: T. Fuller, B. Hearn, S. Hulsizer, V. Coffey, S. Beardsley.

HEAT 4: Ra. Chrysler, K. Stafford, C. Bower, F. Cozze, G. Tomkins,

FEATURE (60-laps): BILLY DECKER, Brett Hearn, Jimmy Phelps, Tim Fuller, Matt Sheppard, Steve Paine, Danny Johnson, Vic Coffey, Gary Tomkins, Billy Dunn, Steve Hulsizer, Kevin Bates, Kenny Stafford, Randy Chrysler, Chad Phelps, Sean Beardsley, Chuck McKee, Dave Rauscher, Chad Homan, Vince Vitale, Butch Tittle, Derrick Podsiadlo, Russ Hefti, Kyle Lewis, Brett Tonkin, Chris Shultz, Roger Chrysler, Frank Cozze, Chuck Bower, Justin Haers, Rob Bellinger.

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.