Friesen pits, rallies, wins at Ransomville
Passes Tim Fuller with 4 laps left for 2nd straight Super DIRTcar Series win
RANSOMVILLE, N.Y. – September 2, 2015 – Stewart Friesen reeled in Tim Fuller with four laps to go and won the Alex Friesen Summer Nationals 100 at Ransomville Speedway after pitting under caution while running second to change a tire on lap 83.
Fuller, the polesitter, led the first 96 laps as heavy attrition from tire wear kept shuffling the field behind him. Pat Ward, along with Fuller one of the few drivers who never pitted, finished third. Erick Rudolph (from 30th) was fourth, followed by Randy Chrysler.
Friesen was driving the Petruska Racing Atlas Paving No. 66. It was his second straight Super Dirtcar Series win and his third of the season.
The final 15 laps were caution-filled as other contenders, including Brett Hearn, Matt Sheppard, Larry Wight, Billy Decker, Jimmy Phelps and Gary Tomkins had tires go down.
“We’ve had some great luck on our side lately,” Friesen said. “Fuller saved his tires great, but this Teo car was phenomenal. This is super special for me. I’ve got to thank my mom and dad for everything along the way, and my uncle and my whole family for everything they put into this place. It’s awesome coming back here.”
Fuller turned his fastest lap of the race on lap 77. “After seeing everyone having trouble, the best thing to do was hold it straight and smooth,” he said. “Stewart Friesen did a great job. He’s got some laps around this place and he really made it exciting for everybody.”
After choosing the high side on two early restarts, Fuller began to opt for the inside. He distanced himself from his closest pursuers, Brett Hearn and Pat Ward, after working hard to put Rich Scagliotta and Peter Britten a lap down and he made a temporary getaway in traffic before Friesen arrived at the halfway mark.
Ryan Susice, running sixth, and Friesen in second, both pitted under the fifth yellow with 17 to go. Five laps later, Friesen was back in the top ten. When Billy Decker slowed with six laps left, Friesen was third on the restart. He shot past Ward on the outside and caught Fuller soon after.
“We run pretty well here,” Ward said. “We pulled a good number. Starting up front (4th) helps. At the end I was torn between trying to put it on to catch Tim or save tire. I rode it out.”
Positions 6-10 went to Danny Johnson, who pitted on lap 75, Robbie Krull, Peter Britten, Keith Flach and Matt Sheppard.
The Super DIRTcar Series resumes tonight at Rolling Wheels Raceway for the Bud Light 100. Qualifying heats begin at 7 p.m.
Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series Statistical Report; Ransomville Speedway; September 2, 2015
“Alex Friesen Summer Nationals 100”
A-Main (100 laps): start in (*)
1. 66 Stewart Friesen – Sprakers, NY (8)
2. 19 Tim Fuller – Edwards, N.Y. (1)
3. 42p Pat Ward – Genoa, N.Y. (12)
4. 25 Erick Rudolph – Ransomville, N. Y. (30)
5. 21k Randy Chrysler – Tuscarora Nation (28)
6. 27J Danny Johnson – Rochester, N.Y. (10)
7. 123 Robbie Krull – Cambria, N.Y. (13)
8. 21a Peter Britten – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (12)
9. 43 Keith Flach – Ravena, N.Y. (15)
10. 9h Matt Sheppard – Waterloo, N.Y. (3)
11. 20 Brett Hearn – Sussex, NJ (2)
12. 99L Larry Wight – Phoenix, N.Y. (11)
13. 7z Mat Williamson – St. Catharines, ON (7)
14. 8 Rich Scagliotta – Bound Brook, N.J. (23)
15. 38 Ryan Susice – Ransomville, N.Y. (5)
16. 98h Jimmy Phelps – Baldwinsville, N.Y. (6)
17. 91 Billy Decker – Unadilla, N.Y. (9)
18. 26 Rick Rickner – Niagara Falls, N. Y. (19)
19. 93 Gary Tomkins – Clifton Springs, N.Y. (18)
20. 13 Rich Regalski – Slippery Rock, PA. (21)
21. 42 Pete Bicknell – St. Catharines, ON (14)
22. 165 Rex King Jr. – Bristolville, Ohio (19)
23. 88 Shayne Pierce – St. Catharines, ON (17)
24. 777 Tyler McPherson – St. Catharines, ON (24)
25. 12 Brian Sage – Brockport, N. Y. (22)
26. 19w Justin Wright – York, N.Y. (16)
27. 678 John Smith – Niagara Falls, N. Y. (27)
28. 7k Scott Kerwin – Newfane, N. Y. (26)
29. 2rj Ronnie Johnson – Duanesburg, N. Y. (25)
30. 37s Tommy Flannigan – Port Robinson, ON (29)
DID NOT START
3B Chad Brachmann
56 Scott Schumacher
21 Kenny Wills
1r Jeff McGinnis
Qualifying Heats (8 laps, top 5 transfer, top 3 redraw)
Heat 1: Wight, Friesen, Williamson, Krull, Pierce, Rickner, Smith, Regalski
Heat 2: Sheppard, Susice, Fuller, Bicknell, Tomkins, Sage, Wills, Brachmann
Heat 3: D Johnson, Hearn, Ward, Flach, King Jr., R Johnson, McPherson
Heat 4: Decker, Phelps, Britten, Wright, Flangan, Kerwin, Scagliotta, Rudolph
Consi: Sage, Regalski, McPherson, Scagliotta, R Johnson, Smith, Flannigan, McGinnis, Brachman
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, Pole Position Raceway and Dig Safely New York. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, FX Caprara, Fox Shox, Impact Race Products, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Mobil 1, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Racing Electronics, Superflow, TNT Rescue and Wrisco Aluminum.