SYRACUSE - Billy Decker became a four-time champion of the Eckerd 200 Saturday at the New York State Fairgrounds, conquering the “Moody Mile,” his fellow racers, and mother nature to win the rain-delayed 2005 edition four weeks after it began.
Rain halted the racing action on lap 52 with Decker leading the race on Oct. 9. When the green flag waved on Saturday, Decker resumed command and dominated the remaining 148 laps aboard his Gypsum Wholesalers No.91 to bag the $50,000 payday.
Critical to his win was the call by crew chief Scott Jeffery to pit under green flag conditions on lap 106 for fuel only while leading the race.
Decker pitted, followed by second-place running Danny Johnson, and both resumed racing at the very tail end of the field without losing a lap.
When the caution flag appeared again on lap 142, the balance of the field pitted and Decker assumed the lead. Despite pressure from both Tim McCreadie and second-place finisher Todd Burley late in the race, Decker held the lead and came home the victor for car owners John and Laura Wight.
“I can't say enough about this car and this crew,” Decker said in victory lane. “They gave me a great car and made the right calls, pitted perfectly. I owe it all to them and John and Laura. I'm glad they get to experience this win, because this is what it's all about.
“The green flag stop wasn't in the cards when the day began. Tim Fuller actually mentioned the possibility of it before the race. Then Scott (Jeffery) comes on the radio and says 'Whattaya think about pitting under green?' Fortunately for us, Danny came with us, which bought us some more time. They filled the tank up to the top, so I wasn't too worried about fuel.”
Richie Tobias Jr. assumed the lead when Decker pitted on lap 106.
Tobias electrified the crowd with his charge to the front but had worn out his tires in the process and relinquished the lead to Burley on lap 115.
Burley led until lap 133, when Bobby Varin made his way past him.
Varin led until the caution flag waved for Danny Johnson and Tobias Jr., giving up the lead to Decker when he pitted on lap 144.
Johnson suffered a flat right rear, losing a lap in the process of changing it, while Tobias lost two laps after running out of fuel.
After the pitstops were completed, Decker was trailed by Gypsum teammate Pat Ward, Ronnie Johnson, McCreadie, Kenny Tremont Jr., and Burley.
Ward's mount broke on lap 167, and McCreadie and Burley moved into second and third positions.
McCreadie mounted several challenges to no avail, then lost his left rear wheel on lap 190 just after Burley made the pass for second place.
Burley kept Decker honest over the last six circuits but settled for runner-up honors in his first-ever Eckerd 200 start. Ronnie Johnson finished third, followed by former Eckerd champion Tremont Jr. Varin completed the top-five finishers in the Spraker No. 1j.
Frank Cozze was sixth in the Smith Bros. No. 74, trailed by Stewart Friesen in seventh spot. Three-time Eckerd champion Alan Johnson finished eighth in the Nativepoker.com No. 14j. David Hebert and Ryan Godown completed the top-10 finishers.
Tim Fuller finished off the pace, but virtually clinched the Mr. DIRT 2005 championship. Fuller only needs to start the feature next week at Bridgeport to claim the title.
Brett Hearn failed in his attempt to win the Eckerd 200 as a relief driver for Ricky Elliot, dropping out of the race on lap 87. Gary Tomkins, third in Mr. DIRT points heading into the Eckerd 200, suffered transmission problems on the pace lap and finished well back in the field.
Bridgeport Speedway hosts the last two DIRT series events of the season next weekend, with one race scheduled for both the 358-modified and big-block modified divisions. Alan Johnson needs to finish 22nd or better to assure himself of the 2005 358-modified title.
Critical to his win was the call by crew chief Scott Jeffery to pit under green flag conditions on lap 106 for fuel only while leading the race.
Decker pitted, followed by second-place running Danny Johnson, and both resumed racing at the very tail end of the field without losing a lap.
When the caution flag appeared again on lap 142, the balance of the field pitted and Decker assumed the lead. Despite pressure from both Tim McCreadie and second-place finisher Todd Burley late in the race, Decker held the lead and came home the victor for car owners John and Laura Wight.
“I can't say enough about this car and this crew,” Decker said in victory lane. “They gave me a great car and made the right calls, pitted perfectly. I owe it all to them and John and Laura. I'm glad they get to experience this win, because this is what it's all about.
“The green flag stop wasn't in the cards when the day began. Tim Fuller actually mentioned the possibility of it before the race. Then Scott (Jeffery) comes on the radio and says 'Whattaya think about pitting under green?' Fortunately for us, Danny came with us, which bought us some more time. They filled the tank up to the top, so I wasn't too worried about fuel.”
Richie Tobias Jr. assumed the lead when Decker pitted on lap 106.
Tobias electrified the crowd with his charge to the front but had worn out his tires in the process and relinquished the lead to Burley on lap 115.
Burley led until lap 133, when Bobby Varin made his way past him.
Varin led until the caution flag waved for Danny Johnson and Tobias Jr., giving up the lead to Decker when he pitted on lap 144.
Johnson suffered a flat right rear, losing a lap in the process of changing it, while Tobias lost two laps after running out of fuel.
After the pitstops were completed, Decker was trailed by Gypsum teammate Pat Ward, Ronnie Johnson, McCreadie, Kenny Tremont Jr., and Burley.
Ward's mount broke on lap 167, and McCreadie and Burley moved into second and third positions.
McCreadie mounted several challenges to no avail, then lost his left rear wheel on lap 190 just after Burley made the pass for second place.
Burley kept Decker honest over the last six circuits but settled for runner-up honors in his first-ever Eckerd 200 start. Ronnie Johnson finished third, followed by former Eckerd champion Tremont Jr. Varin completed the top-five finishers in the Spraker No. 1j.
Frank Cozze was sixth in the Smith Bros. No. 74, trailed by Stewart Friesen in seventh spot. Three-time Eckerd champion Alan Johnson finished eighth in the Nativepoker.com No. 14j. David Hebert and Ryan Godown completed the top-10 finishers.
Tim Fuller finished off the pace, but virtually clinched the Mr. DIRT 2005 championship. Fuller only needs to start the feature next week at Bridgeport to claim the title.
Brett Hearn failed in his attempt to win the Eckerd 200 as a relief driver for Ricky Elliot, dropping out of the race on lap 87. Gary Tomkins, third in Mr. DIRT points heading into the Eckerd 200, suffered transmission problems on the pace lap and finished well back in the field.
Bridgeport Speedway hosts the last two DIRT series events of the season next weekend, with one race scheduled for both the 358-modified and big-block modified divisions. Alan Johnson needs to finish 22nd or better to assure himself of the 2005 358-modified title.