Tim Fuller wins at first ever Memorial Cup at Mohawk International Raceway

Tim Fuller of Edwards, NY decided to take a little detour from his grueling World of Outlaw Late Model tour and make a stop at Mohawk International Raceway this past Saturday night and it paid off for the Edwards, NY native as he managed to win his first ever Memorial Cup at the big track.

The 18th Running of the event sponsored by Frenchie’s Chevrolet of Massena saw Fuller and another invader, Dale Planck of Homer, NY, start on the front row.  At the drop of the green, it was Planck who grabbed the early lead followed by Fuller, Delbert LeGrow, Jamie Martin and Carey Terrance.  Planck seemed to dominate the first half of the race and to many looked like a shoe-in for the Cup.  Fuller stayed close throughout remaining about five car lengths off the leader.  Behind them their teammates Carey Terrance and John Lazore were beginning to close in with Roy Tarbell, who started 13th on the grid rounding out the top five at the end of the first 25 laps.

On lap #26, Terrance got by Fuller to take over second and it looked like teammate Terrance might be off to a Memorial Cup one, two finish, but hold on, this is the memorial Cup and anything can happen and usually does.  On lap #29, Planck’s #66 pulled up to the high side of the race track with motor problems and ending Dale’s chances of winning his first Cup.  Carey Terrance inherited the lead from his teammate and held off a persistent Tim Fuller until lap #24 when problems arose for Terrance sending him backwards through the field and ruining any chance at the cup.

 Fuller inherited the lead on lap #34 and held off teammate John Lazore for the win and the first ever one, two finish by a team in Memorial Cup history.  Roy Tarbell ended up third but drove a tremendous race to get there after struggling in the early going.  Kyle Jacobs finished fourth with DIRTcar 358 Modified rookie Clayton Benedict rounding out the top five.  The Coors Light sponsored DIRTcar 358 Modifieds put on a great show for the fans and made it a Memorial Cup to remember for sure.

In the Mohawk Bingo Palace Victory Lane, Track Announcer Jamie Davis asked Fuller the big question whether or not he would return for the second leg of the Triple Crown sponsored by CKON-FM in June and Fuller replied that if his schedule permitted with the World of Outlaw Late Models, that he would like to.

In the Action Race Parts UMP/DIRT Pro Stocks part of the program, a very competitive field took to the track for the 8th running of the Veteran’s Trophy with Ricky Thompson and Allen Peters grabbing the early lead but it was short lived as Alymer, Quebec’s Denis Gauvreau hustled up from his fourth starting spot and made short order of the front two cars in one lap.  Peters was not about to give in though and stayed close to Gauvreau throughout the race, but the 72 car was just too quick for this field and Denis cruised home the victor making it his first ever Veteran’s Trophy Victory.  Allen Peters picked up second, while Louie Jackson had a great run coming from his 6th starting spot to finish third after a tough battle with Stephane Lebrun and Jody Swamp who round out the top five.

In the Pecore Performance and Transmissions Semi Pros, Harvey Arquette, Jr. continues his winning ways but not before Mike Allen mounted a serious challenge.  It looked like the two long time rivals would go right down to the wire together but Allen developed problems with about three laps remaining but still managed to hold on for second.  Kevin Fetterly, Jr. held on to the third spot holding off fourth place finisher Ryan Phillips and Stuart Mossow who rounded out the top five.

In the Helm’s Salvage and Trucking Bandits division, Claudia Tarbell made it three for three but not after Joey Foster gave her a run for her money throughout the race.  Foster pulled along side the popular Tarbell a couple of times but still could not get by the speedy Akwesasne lady driver and settled for second.  Bob Ray got up for third with Eli Gilbert and Mike Benedict rounding out the top five.

In the Bash Brothers Motorsports Enduros, it was Todd Marlow taking his first trip of the season to the Mohawk Bingo Palace Victory Lane in a race shortened event that saw a bad accident with two laps remaining.  Kevin Thompson took second with Wayne Jock, Bennett White and Dillon Cole rounding out the top five.  Next Saturday night May 31st, Parkway Auto Group sponsors a full card of racing plus it’s Coors Light DIRTcar 358 Modified Autograph night at the speedway.  The main event of the evening will be the 2nd running of the Parkway Auto Group 25 for the Coors Light DIRTcar 358 Modifieds with $1,000.00 going to the winner.  The Action Race Parts UMP/DIRT Pro Stocks, Pecore Performance and Transmissions Semi Pros, Helm’s Salvage and Trucking Bandits and Bash Brothers Motorsports Enduros will also be on the cars.

Pit gates open at 5:00 p.m., main grandstand at 6:00 p.m., race time 7:00 p.m. sharp.  Mohawk International Raceway is located just off Route 37 on Frogtown Road in Hogansburg (Akwesasne), NY.  For more information visit us online at http://www.mohawkintraceway.com.  Mohawk International Raceway, “The Best Kept Secret on DIRT”.

COORS LIGHT DIRTCAR 358 MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH:  Tim Fuller, John Lazore, Roy Tarbell, Kyle Jacobs, Clayton Benedict, Mitchell Jock, Carey Terrance, Perry Francis, Tom Jock, Jr., Tim Smythe, Casey Swamp, Billy Cook, Jamie Martin, Dale Planck, Jeff Marshall, Delbert LeGrow, Josh Brockway, Roy Delormier and Robbie Grant.

ACTION RACE PARTS UMP/DIRTCAR PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH:  Denis Gauvreau, Allen Peters, Louie Jackson, Stephane Lebrun, Jody Swamp, David Papineau, Russ, Schroth, Ricky Thompson, Billy Woodward, Jr., Steve Bressett, William Adams, Morgan David, Junior Barnes and Travis Back.

PECORE PERFORMANCE AND TRANSMISSIONS SEMI PRO FEATURE FINISH:  Harvey Arquette, Jr., Mike Allen, Kevin Fetterly, Jr., Ryan Phillips, Stuart Mossow, Mike White, Mike Pecore, Jay Montour, Brandon Snyder, Brent Kelsey, Kevin Clement and Steve Bushey.

HELM’S SALVAGE AND TRUCKING BANDIT FEATURE FINISH:  Claudia Tarbell, Joey Foster, Bob Ray, Eli Gilbert, Mike Benedict, Scott Mere, Gage Bigtree, Ryan Helm, John Wolfe, Glenn Stretton, Leland Green and Dudes Thompson.

BASH BROTHERS MOTORSPORTS ENDURO FEATURE FINISH:  Todd Marlow, Kevin Thompson, Wayne Jock, Bennett White, Dillon Cole, Cory Helm, Joey Jock, Konkie Lazore, Francis Thompson, TJ Herne, David Eseltine, #08, #25R, Keith Helm and #24K.