Tracks: Alan Johnson is fastest at Fonda in Super Dirt Series
21 July 2000
Fonda, NY: Alan Johnson of Phelps, NY drove the Mitsubishi/Beechy Motorsports No. 1 to victory in the 100 lap Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series event at Fonda Speedway on Wednesday. Budweiser/Bartyzel of Amsterdam, NY sponsored the special mid week event at the "Track of Champions".Chris Morris of Poestenkill, NY was the winner of the 20 lap Pro Stock main event.
The night's racing began with time trials for the 56 modifieds on hand looking for the win at the "Track of Champions." Pat Ward of Genoa, NY set the fastest time followed by Steve Paine, Brett Hearn, Billy Decker, Tim McCreadie and Jack Johnson to complete the six fastest time trialers. Only 0.256 seconds separated the top six.
The 100 lap main event was run without major incident and only four yellow flags. The yellow flew first for a lost wheel on the No. 9 of Tim McCreadie; then for Brett Hearn and Ronnie Holmes when they stopped on the track. The final yellow of the event was for the No. 74 of J. R. Heffner when he slowed in turn one with a flat tire.
As the field came to the green Alan Johnson sat on the outside pole next to Jack Johnson who took the early lead. Jack Johnson, Alan and Billy Decker battled up front for the next 15 laps. Decker was able to grab the lead from Jack on the backstretch on lap 16.
By lap 20 Decker had put five car lengths between himself and Jack Johnson. Alan was close behind. At this early stage in the event only Ronnie Johnson in the Coors No. 21 separated the top three and Mike Romano who had made his way to the top five from his sixteenth starting spot. The battle up front continued.
Decker was now in the lead and quickly gaining on the slower cars in the back of the field. On lap 32 Decker was bogged down behind a lap car and Alan Johnson and Mike Romano stole under him on the frontstetch to take the top two spots.
With Alan Johnson now in the lead and pulling away, this left Mike Romano and Decker in a battle for second. Jack still sat fourth and now Pat Ward had moved into the top five ahead of Steve Paine and Ronnie Johnson. Jimmy Horton, Bobby Varin and Danny Johnson completed the top ten at the halfway point.
Alan Johnson began to pull away put he could not shake the duo of Mike Romano and Billy Decker.
The final caution came out on lap 72 for J. R. Heffner. This put Decker and Romano on the bumper of Johnson. Neither of the two had enough to get by Johnson before the checker flew. Pat Ward move to fourth, followed by Steve Paine now sitting fifth.
The race now moved back to Jimmy Horton and Jack Johnson who were in a strong battle for the sixth position. With only ten laps remaining Horton finally got past the Nice N Easy No. 20 of Jack Johnson.
As the checker flew with Alan Johnson the winner, Billy Decker, Mike Romano, Pat Ward and Steve Paine followed him to the line to complete the top five.
As the series moves to the Can-Am Speedway in the North Country, the Advance Auto Parts Series points show Steve Paine in the lead with 618, followed by Alan Johnson with 617 and Danny Johnson with 616.
Qualifiying event wins went to Jimmy Horton, Alan Johnson, A. J. Romano, Kenny Tremont, and Ronnie Johnson. The three consi winners were Jim Gabriel, Jr., Bobby Albert and J. R. Heffner.
The six lap Exiss Trailer Dash win went to Steve Paine of Waterloo, NY.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Modified finish (100 laps) 1. ALAN JOHNSON, 2) Billy Decker, 3) Mike Romano, 4) Pat Ward, 5) Steve Paine, 6) Jimmy Horton, 7) Jack Johnson, 8) Bobby Varin, 9) Kenny Tremont, 10) Danny Johnson, 11) Ronnie Johnson, 12) Dave Camara, 13) Tim Fuller, 14) Dave Lape, 15) Steve Poirier, 16) Gary Tompkins, 17) Tim Clemons, 18) Doug Hoffman, 19) A. J. Romano, 20) Vic Coffey, 21) Frank Hoard, Sr., 22) Chuck Bower, 23) Bobby Albert, 24) Andy Bachetti, 25) Craig Criscone, 26) Jeff Trombley, 27) J. R. Heffner, 28) Jim Gabriel, Jr., 29) Ronnie Holmes, 30) Todd Milton, 31) Brett Hearn, 32) Ron Smoker, 33) Bob Savoie, 34) Tim McCreadie.
Pro Stock finish (20 laps) 1. CHRIS MORRIS, 2) Ken Gates, 3) Bubba Tanner, 4) Steve Welch, 5) Hondo Carpenter, 6) Rob Noviczski, 7) Phlan Hart, 8) Nick Stone, 9) Jim Duncan, 10) Bryan Jordan, 11) Jim Burton, 12) Dave Viall, 13) Kerry Jordan, 14) Mark Sullivan, 15) Chuck McSpirit, 16) Luke Klob, 17) Paul Roger, 18) Tom LaPlante, 19) Eddie Relscott, 20) Joe DeSieno, 21) Jim Darling, 22) Steve Jazebowski, 23) Steve Cosselman, 24) Jeff Patrick.