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FULTON, NY July 3, 2010 (By Dave Medler) – Coming off a rough Friday night at Brewerton Speedway, Matt Sheppard out of Waterloo, NY took the lead on lap 32 from race long leader Willy Decker and then went on to win the DIRTcar Big Block Modified,13th annual Showdown At Sundown Saturday night at the Fulton Speedway. For Sheppard, it was his first win of the 2010 season on the high banks after a late race battle with Pat Ward.

Other winners on the night were, Tim Sears Jr. SUNY Canton Sportsman, AJ Kingsley NAPA Late Models, Matt Emmons E&V Energy Novice Sportsman and Skip DeGroff Gladiators. There were also makeup features from June 19 for the Novice Sportsman and Gladiators that were won by Doug Cook and Mark Johnston .

Mike Mahaney out ran the 24 car starting field to lead the opening lap of the 45 lap Big Block Modified feature. Mahaney’s lead would be short lived, as Willy Decker running the cushion would be scored the leader on lap two.

With 5 laps on the lap counter, Decker still led as Mahaney ran in his tire tracks in 2nd, Roy Bresnahan ran alone in 3rd with Michael Storms and Dale Planck showing in the top-five.

On lap 10, Decker built up a half a straightaway lead, Mahaney and Bresnahan were having a tight battle for the runner-up position.

When the SUNY Canton scoreboard read 15 laps, Mahaney cut Decker’s lead in half as they started catching back markers. Just behind the top-two, Bresnahan, Storms and Chuck Bower fought for top-five positions.

The yellow would fly on lap 23 when 2nd place running Mahaney suddenly looped his car exiting turn two, Mahaney would continue at the rear of the field. On the restart this would put the two fastest cars on the track, Pat Ward and Matt Sheppard right on Decker’s back bumper.

When they came across the line on lap 30, Decker, Sheppard and Ward almost went under the starter three-wide. Bresnahan and Billy Decker ran a distant fourth and fifth.

Once Sheppard took over 2nd he started working on Decker running the extreme bottom of the speedway. Then on lap 32 Sheppard would be scored the new leader by a narrow margin. Ward would also get by Decker on lap 36, setting up a two-car battle for the win.

The last caution would come out on lap 40 for 4th place running Billy Decker, Decker suddenly slowed to a stop at the top of turn-four ending his top-five run.

Over the final laps Sheppard was able to pull away for his first Fulton Speedway way win of the year. Pat Ward, Jimmy Phelps, Tom Sears and Willy Decker rounded out the top-five.

“I thought we had them covered two weeks ago but we had an overheating issue, I didn’t want to cook the motor so I pulled in with two go,” Sheppard said after exiting his Xtreme Lubricants No.9 Bicknell. “We had enough car tonight that we could move around in traffic. Once we got to the front I was lucky enough to run with Pat (Ward) for awhile so I knew what he was going to do, where he was good and where I was good. I figured once I got clear of him I could go to the top and make him try to drive underneath me in one and two.” Sheppard also related that his car from his hard hit at Brewerton Speedway was pretty much a total loss as the frame was bent in the front and the rear of his Bicknell.

In the 20 lap SUNY Canton Sportsman feature, Jason Occhino would grab the lead from Jason Parkhurst on lap five. Once in the lead Occhino was on rails increasing his lead lap after lap as he looked to be heading to his first ever victory. With one lap to go mechanical gremlins would strike Occhino as he suddenly slowed and headed pit side ending his bid for the win. This would hand the lead over to Tim Sears Jr. who go onto his 2nd Fulton Speedway win of the year. Jeremy Pitcher, Jason Parkhurst, Bobby Holland and Ryan Jordan would round out the top-five. Pitcher would pick-up the $100.00 SUNY Canton Hard Charger award.

In the 20 lap NAPA Late Model feature, AJ Kingsley picked up his first ever win. During the first half of the race Kingsley would battle up front with Alan Fink and Dale Caswell while running the top of the speedway. Over the final laps Kingsley would survive a late caution and challenge from Gordy Button to land in victory lane. Gordy Button, Gus Schmidt, Tim Devendorf and Donnie Wetmore Jr. rounded out the top-five.

The E&V Energy Novice Sportsman ran a pair of 15 lap features. Doug Cook picked up the win from the feature rained out back on June 19th, and Matt Emmons won the July 3rd feature.

The Gladiators also ran a pair of features with Mark Johnston and Skip DeGroff picking up 20 lap wins.

Coming this Saturday, July 10th TK 99 and Camping World present, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, SUNY Canton Sportsman, NAPA Late Models, Gladiators plus 1 on 1 Spectator Races. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $12 with everyone 18 years old and younger FREE.

For more information please go on line to www.fultonspeedway.com. The track office number is 315-593-6531 with the race line reached at 668-RACE. The track is located at 1603 County Route 57 in Fulton. Free parking and overnight camping is offered for all regular season events.

(DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds Showdown At Sundown 45 Laps) - MATT SHEPPARD, Pat Ward, Jimmy Phelps, Tom Sears, Willy Decker, Michael Storms, Ryan Phelps, Roy Bresnahan, Chris Hile, Rich Scagliotta, Dale Planck, Jim Witko, Chuck Bower, Larry Wight, Alan Johnson, Brian Murphy, Johnny Hill, Brian Sage, Chad Phelps, Tony Steiner, Billy Decker, Roy Shields, Mike Mahaney, Tim Harris.

(DIRTcar SUNY Canton Sportsman 20 Laps) - TIMMY SEARS JR., Jeremy Pitcher, Jason Parkhurst, Bobby Holland, Ryan Jordan, Matt Hulsizer, Jordan Bennett, Beth Schneider, Bob Bennett, Katelyn Kane, Gregg Carner, Sean McCarthy, Stewart Garrison, Andrew Ferguson, Jason Occhino, Jon Tesoriero, Christine Martin, Tim Schneider, Joe Kline, Rich Townsend, Gregg Kimball, Billy Clark, Sammy Reakes IV, Joe Harrington.

(NAPA Late Models 20 Laps) - AJ KINGSLEY, Gordy Button, Gus Schmidt, Tim Devendorf, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Alan Fink, Shayne Tenace, Joe August Jr., Dale Caswell, Jim Spouthard, Harry Halliday.

(E&V Energy Sportsman 15 Laps) - MATT EMMONS, Doug Cook, Josh Blackwell, John Lincoln, Jim Graham, Brian Thomas, Brian Freese, Scott Kline, Justin Thompson, Colton Donath, Ed McCarthy Jr.

(E&V Energy Novice Sportsman From 6/19 – 15 Laps) – DOUG COOK, Matt Emmons, Colton Donath, Jim Graham, Scott Kline, Justin Thomson, Josh Blackwell, John Lincon.

(Gladiators 20 Laps ) - SKIP DEGROFF, Eric M Zirbel, Terry Royce, Mark Johnston, Jeremy Scaggs III, Chris Bonofski, Josh Zirbel, Keith Zirbel, Dale Fiske, Roland Fiske.

Gladiators From 6/19 – 20 Laps ) – MARK JOHNSTON, Keith Zirbel, Skip DeGroff, Josh Zirbel, Terry Royce, Eric M Zirbel, Jeremy Scaggs III, DNS Les Baker, DNS Jacob Palmatier.