ELBRIDGE - After an almost 1,000-mile round trip to Virginia Motor Speedway this past Thursday to open the Advance Auto Parts, Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series, the tour returned to the Northeast Sunday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park.
When the dust settled, Billy Decker and Dale Planck found victory lane in a pair of 50-lap main events sponsored by Dig Safely New York and Ferris Mowers. After time trials and a redraw for the top-12 starting positions, Hearn and Decker brought the 30-car starting field down to the starter's green flag. From the outside Decker grabbed the lead from the start. Decker's Gypsum Wholesalers No. 91 jumped out to a 10 car-length lead and looked to dominate.
Just when Decker was getting into lapped traffic and trying to hide, the first yellow of the race flew on lap one. Shannon Whaley spun off the track in turn three but was able to return to the action.
On the restart, again Decker was able to pull away from Hearn and by lap 15 he built up a two second lead on the field. Behind the top two was Matt Sheppard, the winner Thursday night in Virginia, Jimmy Phelps and Ryan Phelps. By the halfway point Decker was running away from the field, leading by half a straightaway. Hearn was trying to use lapped traffic to wheel in Hearn for the top spot, but couldn't make any progress.
At this point Sheppard, using traffic to his advantage, was able to reel in Hearn and make the race for second the best race on the track.
On lap 31, Sean Beardsley shredded a right rear tire on the back straight to bring out the yellow and erase the huge lead Decker enjoyed.
On the restart Decker once again took off and built up a sizable lead over Hearn with Jimmy Phelps now moving into third place to join the leaders.
With nine laps remaining the final caution came out when Billy Dunn, of Watertown, slowed in turn three with heavy smoke coming from under the hood. Dunn would be pushed to the pits ending his night.
Over the final laps nobody was going to deny Decker the victory. Hearn settled for runner-up with Jimmy Phelps, Gary Tomkins and Matt Sheppard completing the top five. “Having the good starting spot really helped,” said Decker from victory lane. “The outside line was the preferred line tonight. We got a good run off of four and carried that momentum, we feel like we got away with one.” Decker said he would make some small changes to the car between races as the track would no doubt change after the Sportsman Modifieds ran a 25-lap feature before their second 50-lap main.
After Decker won, he drew No. 12, the number of cars that would be inverted for the second 50-laps.
Alan Johnson and Steve Paine would make up the front row with Paine taking command right from the start, building up a quick two second lead over Johnson.
While Paine was out front looking to do what Billy Decker did earlier, all eyes were on the battle for second between brothers Alan and Danny Johnson and Dale Planck. On lap 15 Planck was able to get by Danny and change the complexion of the race.
On lap 25, the halfway point, Paine was still out front working his way through lapped cars but enjoying a comfortable lead. On the following lap, Planck was able to get by Johnson and set sail for the leader. Planck finally caught Paine and used Kevin Bates as a pick, diving under Paine, taking the lead in turn one.
Even with a couple quick yellow periods over the final laps nobody was going to get by Planck. If anything, the cautions helped the Cortland native as it allowed him to cool his tires and have a clear race track ahead of him. On the restarts, Planck was able to pull away and grab his first ever Rolling Wheels win.
Paine held on for second followed by Danny Johnson, Hearn and Jimmy Phelps.
“Man, I can't believe it, every time this track slicks up we seem to go backwards and just can't seem to get going,” Planck said. “I think I'm going to wake up here and it's just all a dream.”
Planck couldn't thank his crew, tire guy, engine builder and car owner Carey Terrance enough for the cars they have given him for the 2008 season.
In the 25-lap Sportsman Modified feature, sponsored by Westbury Lumber, it looked like Auburn's Tim Currier was going to pick up his first ever Rolling Wheels win. Currier led the first 23 laps before Canadian James Michael Friesen was able to slip by and grab his first win at the speedway. A yellow with one lap to go gave Currier one last shot at the win. Currier was able to draw slightly ahead going into turn one but Friesen had enough momentum on the top side to grab the win. Jipp Ortiz, Dan Weisner, Eric Gigure were third through fifth.
“He's a good racer, he raced me clean,” Friesen said of Currier. “We were the two fastest cars, it was fun running with him.”
Just when Decker was getting into lapped traffic and trying to hide, the first yellow of the race flew on lap one. Shannon Whaley spun off the track in turn three but was able to return to the action.
On the restart, again Decker was able to pull away from Hearn and by lap 15 he built up a two second lead on the field. Behind the top two was Matt Sheppard, the winner Thursday night in Virginia, Jimmy Phelps and Ryan Phelps. By the halfway point Decker was running away from the field, leading by half a straightaway. Hearn was trying to use lapped traffic to wheel in Hearn for the top spot, but couldn't make any progress.
At this point Sheppard, using traffic to his advantage, was able to reel in Hearn and make the race for second the best race on the track.
On lap 31, Sean Beardsley shredded a right rear tire on the back straight to bring out the yellow and erase the huge lead Decker enjoyed.
On the restart Decker once again took off and built up a sizable lead over Hearn with Jimmy Phelps now moving into third place to join the leaders.
With nine laps remaining the final caution came out when Billy Dunn, of Watertown, slowed in turn three with heavy smoke coming from under the hood. Dunn would be pushed to the pits ending his night.
Over the final laps nobody was going to deny Decker the victory. Hearn settled for runner-up with Jimmy Phelps, Gary Tomkins and Matt Sheppard completing the top five. “Having the good starting spot really helped,” said Decker from victory lane. “The outside line was the preferred line tonight. We got a good run off of four and carried that momentum, we feel like we got away with one.” Decker said he would make some small changes to the car between races as the track would no doubt change after the Sportsman Modifieds ran a 25-lap feature before their second 50-lap main.
After Decker won, he drew No. 12, the number of cars that would be inverted for the second 50-laps.
Alan Johnson and Steve Paine would make up the front row with Paine taking command right from the start, building up a quick two second lead over Johnson.
While Paine was out front looking to do what Billy Decker did earlier, all eyes were on the battle for second between brothers Alan and Danny Johnson and Dale Planck. On lap 15 Planck was able to get by Danny and change the complexion of the race.
On lap 25, the halfway point, Paine was still out front working his way through lapped cars but enjoying a comfortable lead. On the following lap, Planck was able to get by Johnson and set sail for the leader. Planck finally caught Paine and used Kevin Bates as a pick, diving under Paine, taking the lead in turn one.
Even with a couple quick yellow periods over the final laps nobody was going to get by Planck. If anything, the cautions helped the Cortland native as it allowed him to cool his tires and have a clear race track ahead of him. On the restarts, Planck was able to pull away and grab his first ever Rolling Wheels win.
Paine held on for second followed by Danny Johnson, Hearn and Jimmy Phelps.
“Man, I can't believe it, every time this track slicks up we seem to go backwards and just can't seem to get going,” Planck said. “I think I'm going to wake up here and it's just all a dream.”
Planck couldn't thank his crew, tire guy, engine builder and car owner Carey Terrance enough for the cars they have given him for the 2008 season.
In the 25-lap Sportsman Modified feature, sponsored by Westbury Lumber, it looked like Auburn's Tim Currier was going to pick up his first ever Rolling Wheels win. Currier led the first 23 laps before Canadian James Michael Friesen was able to slip by and grab his first win at the speedway. A yellow with one lap to go gave Currier one last shot at the win. Currier was able to draw slightly ahead going into turn one but Friesen had enough momentum on the top side to grab the win. Jipp Ortiz, Dan Weisner, Eric Gigure were third through fifth.
“He's a good racer, he raced me clean,” Friesen said of Currier. “We were the two fastest cars, it was fun running with him.”
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