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Billy Decker Wins 5 Mile RoC North Event.

posted on 07/07/12 by BrettDeyo

Decker RoCs Night of Qualifiers at Five Mile Point
By Ryan Lepre

Five Mile Point Speedway played host to the Race of Champions Dirt Modifieds for a 60 lap event on Monday night. The Night of Qualifiers event had 13 guaranteed starting spots for some of the biggest upcoming Modified races in the Northeast.

2011 RoC Champion Billy Decker of Unadilla, NY collected the $5,000 victory in the Gypsum Wholesalers No.91 Bicknell. Decker and Shaun Walker battled side by side for most of the first eight circuits before Decker forged ahead. Walker chased Decker for most of the event before he slowed on lap 51 with a right rear flat tire.

This handed second to Stewart Friesen in the Marty Burdick No.85 but Friesen was unable to seriously challenge Decker over the final nine laps. Third place went to Modified rookie and former RoC Sportsman Champion Jeff Crambo in the Dwayne Robbins No.30RC. Fourth was Kevin Bates who steadily worked forward from 14th and finished right behind Crambo at the checkers. Danny Johnson finished fifth after a lap one tangle placed him at the back of the field.

Jamie Batzel and Shaun Walker led the field to the green flag with Walker taking the lead over Billy Decker. The caution flew after one lap for a tangle between Jeff Strunk and Danny Johnson. Walker and Decker started a torrid seven lap battle for the lead on the restart. Decker moved to the lead on a lap eight restart. On lap ten Decker was the leader over Walker, Jeff Crambo, Batzel and Jerry Higbie. Decker started to distance himself from the field while the best battle was for third between Crambo, Batzel and Higbie.

The caution was out on lap 15 for a spin by Nick Rochinski under the yellow Ryan Godown headed to the pits. Higbie moved to fourth past Batzel then Batzel spun in turn one to draw a yellow. The caution was back out when sixth place Neal Williams spun off turn four and collected Jimmy Phelps, Doug Manmiller and Richard Smith while Jimmy Horton gets damage but continues on. The order at lap 25 was Decker, Walker, Higbie, Crambo and 16th starter Larry Wight while 14th starter Kevin Bates and 15th starter Stewart Friesen were just outside the top five.

On the restart Friesen was on the move as he was up to fourth on lap 30 then bypassed Higbie for third on lap 33. The best race was for fifth between Higbie and Wight when Decker entered lapped traffic on lap 40. The tight race for fifth continued side by side while Friesen was tracking down second place Walker in lapped traffic. Walker suddenly slowed on lap 51 with right rear flat tire ending his stellar run. With two lapped cars between Decker and Friesen the leader pulled to a quick advantage while second place Friesen dealt with the traffic.

Decker’s lead was a half straightaway when the final yellow flew, with six to go Decker led Friesen, Crambo, Wight and bates. Decker pulled away again on the restart while his teammate Wight started smoking or steaming and was forced to pull in from the fourth place. Decker of Unadilla, NY went on to win by half a straightaway over Friesen of Niagara on the Lake,ON. Crambo of Throop, PA finished 3rd just ahead of Bates who resides in Lake Ariel, PA rounding out the front five was Johnson of Rochester, NY. Sixth to tenth was Phelps, Higbie, Joey Grammes, Justin Holland and Jimmy Horton.

Heat winners for the 37 Modifieds were Holland, Williams, Decker, Dan Vauter and Batzel while Consi wins went to Manmiller and Tyler Siri.
Eddie Sites dominated the IMCA Empire State Series 25 lapper as he led every circuit to take the win over a stout field. FMP regular Gary Roberts made a late charge to finish second ahead of Kevan Cook, Kevin Cole and Scott Bennett. In other action Dave Simms won for the third time in a row in the Lightning Cats while George Brown was the Factory Stock winner.

RACE OF CHAMPIONS NORTH REGION OFFICIAL MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30): BILLY DECKER, Stewart Friesen, Jeff Crambo, Kevin Bates, Danny Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Jerry Higbie Jr., Joey Grammes, Justin Holland, Jimmy Horton, Pat Ward, Danny Tyler, Jeff Strunk, RyanWatt, Shaun Walker, Ryan Godown, Randy Chrysler, Tyler Siri, Nick Rochinski, Larry Wight, Mike Colsten Dan Vauter, Mike Mahaney, Dan Creeden, Neal Williams, Richard Smith, Doug Manmiller, Jamie Batzel, Brett Tonkin.

NIGHT OF QUALIFIERS GUARANTEED STARTERS DISTRIBUTION: Billy Decker (BPG Racing Freedom 76 – Grandview Speedway), Stewart Friesen (Wade Decker Memorial I-88 Speedway), Jeff Crambo (Outlaw 200 – Fulton Speedway), Kevin Bates (Short Track SuperNationals – Five Mile Point Speedway), Danny Johnson (Southern Tier 100 – Five Mile Point Speedway), Jimmy Phelps (Hurricane 100 – Brewerton Speedway), Jerry Higbie (62nd Anniversary Special – Five Mile Point Speedway), Joey Grammes (Friends of Mike Race – New Egypt Speedway), Justin Holland (King of the Can – Penn Can Speedway), Jimmy Horton (King of the Catskills – Accord Speedway), Pat Ward (Battle at the Border – Ransomville Speedway), Danny Tyler (RoC at the Rock – Black Rock Speedway), Jeff Strunk (Alex Friesen Summer Nationals – Ransomville Speedway).

IMCA EMPIRE STATE SERIES OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (25): EDDIE SITES, Gary Roberts, Kevan Cook, Kevin Cole, Scott Bennett, Matt Roberts, Chris Fleming, Dan Searls, Dale Schweikaft, Sonny Terry, Mike Smith, Jared Keeney, Curt Spalding, Nick Griest, Eric Palski, Mike Wilmot, Matt Cole, George Fultz, Bud Phillips, Mike Stoddard, Rich McNeal, Jason Tuttle, Lou Levea, Sr., Tanner Harpell, Charlie Gilbert, Joel Batzel. DNS – Bumps Scott.

LIGHTNING CAT OPEN OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH: DAVE SIMMS, Tucker Harpell, Duane Kinne, Adam Gilbert, Damian Bausenwein, Gary Kinne, Bill Titus, Jeff Hayes, Jason Colwell, Andy Brigham.

FACTORY STOCK OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH: GEORGE BROWN, Matt Sisenstein, Rob Warner, Lance Albanese, Buck Mills, Jessie Velez, Tom Garren, Gary Cleveland, Alan Carnwright, Randy Richards, Chuck Culbertson, Fred Velez.