HOGANSBURG, N.Y. – On a night that started looked like Mother Nature would take over and wash it out, Tim Fuller ultimately starred to take down the 358 Modified victory at Mohawk Int’l Raceway.
It was Chris Raabe taking the early lead over Billy Dunn, Carey Terrance, Lance Willix and Michael Maresca as the 50-lap feature got underway.
It didn’t take long before Dunn would drive by and take over the top spot, however, doing so on lap three and leaving Raabe in a battle with Lance Willix for second.
Once in the lead, Dunn showed how much he remembered how to drive this track as he ran away to a straightaway lead by lap 10. After a lap 12 caution, which saw Preston Forbes slide off turn two, the restart saw a new challenger in the top five in the form of Fuller.
After starting ninth, the two-time and defending track champion made his way to third as he got by Raabe and Maresca, and quickly closed in on the top two drivers.
A near-miss occurred on lap 23, as Fuller and Willix battled for second. The pair came into contact with Corbin Millar, sending him spinning in turn one and bringing out a yellow flag.
When the race returned to green, Dunn continued in front, but Fuller was right there to challenge. As the field raced down the backstretch, the night was over for Raabe, who headed pitside while running fourth.
Meanwhile, Dunn and Fuller continued their battle which has gone on for the last couple of weeks. Fuller took the lead on lap 30 as the track began to take on rubber, making the inside lane the fast way, but lapped cars would not make that very easy.
With 10 to go Fuller had the lead over Dunn, Willix, Maresca and Jordan McCreadie. As the laps wound down, Fuller was staying put to the bottom and Dunn knew the high side was his only chance.
On the final lap heading into turn three, Fuller was trapped behind a lapped car as Dunn charged to the high side. Despite drawing even with Fuller in turn three, it was not to be as Fuller played it perfect for his first Twin Leaf Stores 358 Modified win of the season and fourth of his Mohawk career.
Dunn settled for second, with Maresca, Willix and McCreadie completing the top five.
Thomas Cook (Sportsman), Preston Forbes (Mod Lite), Gavin Riddell (Novice Sportsman) and Matt Zira (Bandit) also won in their respective divisions at Mohawk on Friday night.
The finish:
Tim Fuller, Billy Dunn, Michael Maresca, Lance Willix, Jordan McCreadie, Kyle Dingwall, Corey Wheeler, Ryan Arbuthnot, George Foley, Jeff Sykes, Carey Terrance, Demetrios Drellos, Brian McDonald, Joey Ladouceur, Tyler Meeks, Mike Stacey, Matt Woodruff, Louie Jackson Jr., Mike Trapp, Preston Forbes, Corbin Millar, Ryan McLean, John Mulder, Chris Raabe, Madison Mulder, Tommy Jock Jr.