WEEDSPORT - Matt Sheppard became the first DIRT big-block driver to bag three wins at The Cayuga County Fair Speedway for the 2005 season Sunday evening, beating Ryan Phelps to the checkered flag in the 35-lap contest.
Sheppard's win in the Randy Ross-owned No. 44 Bicknell chassis broke a deadlock of four different drivers with two wins apiece at the 3/8-mile clay oval: Sheppard, Jeff Brownell Jr., Alan Johnson and Tim Fuller. It was also Sheppard's second win on the weekend, having claimed the 35-lapper at Brewerton Speedway Friday night.
"Ryan was running real good, I got up behind him on the top of the track and we were about the same," Sheppard said in victory lane. "He might have been a little better than us up there. I tried the bottom lane a few times, but it wasn't really the time for that. So I waited a few laps and tried it again, and it seemed to work."
Mike Ward grabbed the early lead in his small-block powered No. 45m and held the point until lap four when Phelps flew by on the top-side of the speedway. Sheppard followed suit, and the top two were racing through lapped traffic a mere four laps later.
Phelps stayed true to his lane choice, only taking to the low-side of the track when stubborn lapped cars occupied his lane. But with the most modifieds running up against the cushion, it was only a matter of time before the lane lost some of its effectiveness.
Sheppard swung down to the low-side of the speedway on lap 23 and worked under Phelps for a couple laps before he made the pass stick on lap 25. Once in front, Sheppard hugged the bottom rail en route to a $2,000 payday.
Phelps finished a strong second in his Big Red's Towing No. 99. His cousin Jimmy Phelps was a half-second behind him in the third spot. Tim Fuller raced from 13th on the grid to snare fourth, getting by Stewart Friesen and Pat Ward in the last two laps of the feature. Friesen and Ward settled for fifth and sixth, respectively.
Gary Tomkins was seventh, followed by Ward in eighth. Justin Haers and Phil Vigneri completed the top-10 finishers.
The modified race went green-to-checkered without a caution flag for the third time this year.
Greg Doust passed Rob Bellinger on lap 16 to win his fourth CCFS sportsman 20-lap feature of the 2005 season. Bellinger was second at the stripe, followed by Roy Bresnahan in the third spot. Kevin Bates recovered from a first-lap spin to finish fourth, and Lance Willix completed the top five.
Dave Mannise won the 12-lap street stock main, his third win at CCFS for the year. Adam Depuy was second, trailed by Brandan Warner in third place.
Don Mack won the 25-lap Pit Stop four-cylinder over Karl Werner and Bill Werner.
The Cayuga County Fair Speedway hosts the final appearance of the popular "mod-lites" for the '05 season Sunday, Aug. 28. The DIRT big-block modifieds, sportsman, street stocks, and four-cylinder enduros complete the card. Race time is 7 p.m.
"Ryan was running real good, I got up behind him on the top of the track and we were about the same," Sheppard said in victory lane. "He might have been a little better than us up there. I tried the bottom lane a few times, but it wasn't really the time for that. So I waited a few laps and tried it again, and it seemed to work."
Mike Ward grabbed the early lead in his small-block powered No. 45m and held the point until lap four when Phelps flew by on the top-side of the speedway. Sheppard followed suit, and the top two were racing through lapped traffic a mere four laps later.
Phelps stayed true to his lane choice, only taking to the low-side of the track when stubborn lapped cars occupied his lane. But with the most modifieds running up against the cushion, it was only a matter of time before the lane lost some of its effectiveness.
Sheppard swung down to the low-side of the speedway on lap 23 and worked under Phelps for a couple laps before he made the pass stick on lap 25. Once in front, Sheppard hugged the bottom rail en route to a $2,000 payday.
Phelps finished a strong second in his Big Red's Towing No. 99. His cousin Jimmy Phelps was a half-second behind him in the third spot. Tim Fuller raced from 13th on the grid to snare fourth, getting by Stewart Friesen and Pat Ward in the last two laps of the feature. Friesen and Ward settled for fifth and sixth, respectively.
Gary Tomkins was seventh, followed by Ward in eighth. Justin Haers and Phil Vigneri completed the top-10 finishers.
The modified race went green-to-checkered without a caution flag for the third time this year.
Greg Doust passed Rob Bellinger on lap 16 to win his fourth CCFS sportsman 20-lap feature of the 2005 season. Bellinger was second at the stripe, followed by Roy Bresnahan in the third spot. Kevin Bates recovered from a first-lap spin to finish fourth, and Lance Willix completed the top five.
Dave Mannise won the 12-lap street stock main, his third win at CCFS for the year. Adam Depuy was second, trailed by Brandan Warner in third place.
Don Mack won the 25-lap Pit Stop four-cylinder over Karl Werner and Bill Werner.
The Cayuga County Fair Speedway hosts the final appearance of the popular "mod-lites" for the '05 season Sunday, Aug. 28. The DIRT big-block modifieds, sportsman, street stocks, and four-cylinder enduros complete the card. Race time is 7 p.m.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.