CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — At age 58, Tim Fuller proved he nonetheless is aware of the trail to Tremendous DIRTcar Collection Victory Lane.
The Edwards, N.Y., driver led each lap of Thursday’s Stars and Stripes Spectacular at Land of Legends Raceway, holding off Alex Payne on a number of restarts to attain his thirty seventh collection victory.
“(The) pinnacle at this level in my profession,” Fuller stated. “I’m 58, and I obtained youngsters behind me. And [Payne] there, I knew he was in second the entire time. Simply to have the ability to maintain him off was good in itself.
“To assume I’d come right here and win a collection race a couple of years after the final one is tough to consider.”
Fuller led the sector to the inexperienced within the 60-lap battle, outdueling Land of Legends common Justin Haers to steer the race’s opening lap. Haers challenged Fuller for the primary 5 laps of the race, utilizing the within lane to attempt to wrestle the lead away.
Behind the highest two, Payne began transferring towards the entrance, working the skin lane to storm previous Peter Britten for third on Lap 4.
After the race’s first warning for Mike Trautschold on Lap 6, Payne took benefit of the restart. As Payne battled Haers for second, the Hopewell, NY driver switched lanes to the underside and used momentum exiting Flip 4 to seize second on Lap 9.
Payne adopted Fuller for the subsequent 13 laps however wouldn’t get a possibility on the lead till Gary Lindberg introduced out the race’s second warning on Lap 22.
On the restart, Fuller selected the within lane, and Payne took benefit, nosing forward of the No. 19 as they raced down the backstretch. Nevertheless, the go was negated because of a warning for Ryan Krachun, who stopped in Turns 1 and a couple of.
From there, Fuller selected the skin for the rest of the race, a choice that proved very important to incomes the $6,076 prize.
Regardless of shedding out on the primary alternative, Payne obtained one other likelihood on a restart with 18 laps to go. When the inexperienced got here again out, Payne thundered forward of Fuller and appeared as if he had lastly vanquished his adversary.
However the yellow instantly got here again out, as collection officers deemed Payne jumped the beginning.
Fuller wouldn’t let Payne get that shut once more, although, as he obtained a monstrous run off Flip 4 when the race resumed, pulling forward of the No. 70a for good.
“When my tire cooled down, I assumed I used to be actually good,” Fuller stated. “As soon as it obtained sizzling, it simply form of stabilized out, however I figured they did, too. I’ve watched Alex run right here for the final three or 4 years, and he’s turned it on the final couple. He had my consideration. I peeled off all my tear-offs and stated I’m not simply going handy it over, and we obtained it finished.”
Payne settled for second, incomes his finest Collection end of 2026.
Payne admitted he jumped the restart, and stated he hoped he’d be capable of use Flip 4 to go the veteran.
“That positive wasn’t for an absence of effort,” Payne stated. “Man, that was shut. That was all we had. Simply not a lot I might’ve finished. I assumed the restarts might’ve performed a little bit higher, and the one restart I jumped a little bit bit. However there’s no disgrace to complete second to that man. I’ve obtained about 5 of his Matchbox vehicles in my room.
“Off of (flip) 4, there was actually nothing to seize onto after we fired. And as soon as he realized that, it form of took my shot away.”
Matt Sheppard crossed the road third, incomes his fourth consecutive top-five end.
Alex Yanowski completed fourth after beginning 14th.
“Child Rocket” leaves with a 14-point lead over Mat Williamson, who completed tenth.
Peter Britten earned his second straight prime 5 with a fifth-place end.
Lance Dusett gained the CRSA dash automotive characteristic.
The end:
Characteristic (60 Laps): 1. 19-Tim Fuller[1]; 2. 70A-Alex Payne[4]; 3. 9S-Matt Sheppard[6]; 4. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[14]; 5. 21A-Peter Britten[5]; 6. 2-Jack Lehner[7]; 7. 91-Felix Roy[3]; 8. 3-Justin Haers[2]; 9. 25-Erick Rudolph[12]; 10. 88-Mat Williamson[9]; 11. 12-Darren Smith[8]; 12. 35-Mike Mahaney[20]; 13. 27-Tanner Van Doren[22]; 14. 83X-Tim Sears Jr[10]; 15. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[13]; 16. 4-Anthony Perrego[21]; 17. 15X-Justin Stone[18]; 18. 6-Matt Stangle[16]; 19. 29-Ryan Krachun[19]; 20. 17-Marcus Dinkins[25]; 21. 7M-Paul Mancini[26]; 22. (DNF) 1-Tyler Dippel[23]; 23. (DNF) 32R-Ronnie Davis III[17]; 24. (DNF) 37S-Gary Lindberg[11]; 25. (DNF) 88D-David Allen[24]; 26. (DNF) 28-Michael Trautschold[15]
