Fuller Flies To Flag-To-Flag Victory In Land Of Legends Series Showdown
Second straight 305 Sprint win at fairgrounds is first career CRSA checkers for Dusett
Canandaigua, NY – July 2, 2026 – Tom Skibinski, Land of Legends Raceway PR
Extreme heat warnings issued throughout the week in the Finger Lakes Region proved no sweat for Tim Fuller and Lance Dusett come Thursday night as the open-wheel veterans dominated the 'Stars & Stripes Spectacular’ presented by Honeoye Auto Parts and Marine Blue at Land Of Legends Raceway.
Former track regular Fuller withstood a half-dozen yellow flags and relentless threats by local favorite Alex Payne to lead the entire 60-lap distance and capture the Super DIRTcar Series showdown for Big-Block Modifieds worth $6,076 while Dusett overtook tour traveler Tyler Graves a quarter way through enroute to a convincing $1,000 victory in the companion 25-lap A-Verdi Storage Containers CRSA 305 Sprint Car A-Main which also marked round three of the DisBatch Brewing Company/Stirling Lubricants Challenge Series.
As the evening’s headline sponsor, Honeoye Auto Parts added to the winning shares with HAP owner Doug Dulen Jr. rewarding the top-three finishing Modified and Sprint drivers. Lucrative gas cards totaled $1,500 for Big-Blocks and $600 for Sprints with Fuller pocketing $600 and Dusett collecting $300.
Mirroring his tour triumph at the same Ontario County oval in July of 2023, although on this occasion officials shortening the feature from 76 to 60 laps due to the scorching temperatures, Fuller once again had his his potent Leahy-powered black #19 St.Lawrence Radiology-G&R Auto Parts-Integra Shocks/Bicknell entry on rails from the drop of chief starter Dave Farney’s initial green flag. Although from lap 10 until the very end, upstart Payne provided him no relief.
“It’s (win) the pinnacle at this point in my career,” remarked Fuller, following the Edwards, NY pilot’s fourth career series win at LOLR and his 15th top-5 finish in 32 tour starts at the historic half-miler. “I’m 58 and I got kids behind me. And Payne there, I knew he was in second the whole time and just to be able to hold him off was good in itself. I’ve watched Alex run here for the last three or four years and he’s turned it on the last couple. He had my attention.”
With a top-notch field of 32 Big-Block teams signed in for the annual holiday happening, Fuller had his hands full of more than the steering wheel as 20 of the top-21 in points were signed in entering round nine of the premier series. Frenchman Felix Roy was quickest (17.931sec., 100.385mph) in the first of two qualifying sessions while Payne was clocked third best as Fuller’s time in group two was only better than half the competition. But come heat time, Fuller finished second then snagged pole-position in the pivotal pre-race draw among the top-8 qualifiers.
Fuller out-dueled front row partner Justin Haers to grab the early lead with fourth-place starter Payne testing the high side to move past last week’s Canandaigua winner Peter Britten for third on lap four. After the first caution flew on lap six for the slowing mount of Mike Trautschold entering turn one, Payne switched lanes back under green to bolt past Haers on lap 10 and set his sights on Fuller.
The top-two remained intact for the next 10 circuits before Canadian invader Gary Lindberg came to a stop on the back chute to incur a second yellow flag 20 laps in. Payne took advantage of Fuller choosing inside for the ensuing restart to inch ahead when green lights flashed yet Fuller returned to the point when Ryan Krachun suddenly stopped between turns one and two forcing scorers to revert to the running order on the previous lap. Lesson learned as Fuller moved up top on the next restart that was conducted single-file as well as after the remaining four caution periods for minor incidents that briefly bunched the pack.
At the midway point Payne continued to chase Fuller followed by Haers, Britten, Jack Lehner and eight-time LOLR Series race winner Matt Sheppard. As the laps clicked off 14th starting Alex Yankowski became the biggest mover, with the current SDS points leader finally cracking the top-10 behind reigning series points king and Canandaigua high-point man Mat Williamson.
On the lap 43 restart Sheppard grabbed fourth from Haers while Yankowski stole ninth from Williamson with neither ‘Super Matt’ nor the ‘Rocket’ Yankowski yet ready to settle. While Sheppard made his final pass of third-place runner Britten on lap 45, Yankowski sped around the high side ultimately charging to fourth just in time for the final checkered flag.
“To think I’d come here and win a Series race a few years after the last one is hard to believe,” added DIRTcar Hall of Famer Fuller, after scoring his 37th career SDS victory (9th all-time), the first since November '24 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte (NC) during World Finals. “When my tire cooled down, I thought I was really good but once it got hot, it just kind of stabilized. But I figured they did, too.”
Shadowing Fuller most of the race, Payne settled for runner-up laurels, his second top-five finish in six series starts.
“That sure wasn’t for lack of effort,” noted Payne, commenting on his short-lived lead before falling victim to the untimely caution. “Man, that was close. That was all we had. Just not much I could’ve done. I thought the restarts could’ve played a little better and the one restart I jumped a little bit. But there’s no shame to finish second to that guy. I’ve got about five of (Fuller’s) Matchbox cars in my room.”
Already the all-time SDS win leader at Canandaigua, Sheppard fell a couple spots shy of taking down a ninth set of checkers in his 31st tour start at the fairgrounds where he owns nine season point championships and 96 career Big-Block wins. DIRTcar Northeast’s Modified Rookie of the Year in 2003, the Waterloo native is also a nine-time Series titlist and ranks second-best with 103 tour triumphs.
Super DIRTcar Series '26 title contenders travel north for a mid-week doubleheader, crossing the border to Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway on Tue. July 7 before the Northeast’s premier Big-Block tour ventures to Mohawk Int’l Speedway in Hogansburg NY on Wed. July 8. The SDS is back at LOLR on Tue. Aug. 18 as the second leg of the Super DIRTcar Series SummerFAST, with another $6,000 on top for the 60-lap victor. LOLR’s own Stirling Lubricants Sportsman fill out the mid-week show presented by Honeoye Auto Parts and DC Rauscher Contractor.
In search of his first series title, Covington Township, Pa. campaigner Yankowski (877) tops the updated tour standings through six points paying events followed by LOLR regulars Williamson (863) and Sheppard (835) while Jack Lehner (818) and Mike Mahney (809) complete the current top-5. ‘26 LOLR regulars Alex Payne (6th-799 pts) and Jimmy Phelps (8th-763) rank among the ten best proving once again Canandaigua boasts one of the best Big-Block fields in the entire Northeast.
While Thursday was highlighted by the 58th Super DIRTcar Series event staged at LOLR since Alan Johnson won the inaugural extra-distance affair in 1976, Dusett made the 26th CRSA race run at the fairgrounds even more special as it was the Lima driver’s first career tour triumph against a stout 25-car starting field.
“We’ve worked really hard to get to this point and I’m ecstatic to get a series win,” said third-year 305 driver Dusett, at age 53 showing plenty of experience mastering a winged machine after becoming the 89th different winner in CRSA’s 21st season. Cracking the Canandaigua winner’s circle 12 times wheeling a Sportsman some 20 years earlier, just five days ago he logged his first 305 win of the ‘26 campaign at LOLR to increase his trophy count to four.
“When we went into the corner (Graves) was slipping a little bit. I was stuck down pretty good and it all worked out in our favor. I was trying to hit my marks or they can drive around me,” figured Dusett, as he described his success in making the winning move then holding on for the duration.
Graves sped past pole-sitter Paul Colagiovanni Sr. as soon as head flagman Tyler Groescup waved the opening green flag to kick off the high-speed finale. Dusett started fifth on the grid and after a handful of laps already had the blue no. 14X Tripodi Racing-Layton Construction-Batzel's Automotive & Hot Rods/Eagle breathing down the back bumper of Graves.
Dusett took advantage of a yellow flag for the spun mount of John Smith on lap seven to storm ahead on the ensuing restart and forge the final lead change. At the halfway mark it was still Dusett over Graves with Timmy Lotz, Alysha Bay and Cameron Moss banking in the front-five although it was Nick Webb charging full-throttle after starting dead-last and breaking into the top-10.
A turn four scramble again finding Smith involved tightened the field once more and on the lap 14 restart Webb rocketed from sixth to third, flying high around the fast half-mile clay oval after not even taking a single lap in heat race qualifying. Meanwhile, with most eyes locked on Webb’s upward assault, 15th starting Dalton Herrick had also found a quicker way around.
The third and final caution came on lap 22 and while Dusett and Graves ran uncontested up front, the battle for third went undecided until the last circuit. At the wire it was Herrick edging Webb to make the podium with Lotz outlasting Moss, the father/daughter team of Darryl Ruggles and Alysha Bay and two-time defending LOLR season champ Bobby Parrow as John Scarborough crossed the line next.
In the current CRSA Championship run through six events, Graves and Herrick are knotted at 916 pts apiece followed by Lotz (847), Colagiovanni (826) and Webb (755). The winged warriors return to LOLR in just two more days while the CRSA Series stars travel south to Penn Can Speedway in Susquehanna PA on July 17 for a Joe's Garage Southern Tier Challenge tour stop.
Check out the most updated info regarding the series, schedule, results and points by visiting www.crsasprints.com throughout the season.
SCHRADERS ENSHRINED ON LOLR WALL OF FAME
The first program of the month kicked off with careers of the late father/son tandem of John & Scott Schrader being commemorated as they were honored as the newest additions to the ever-growing Land Of Legends Wall of Fame. A pair of stalwarts at the Ontario County oval for more than five decades, John took care of business behind-the-scenes in an official capacity while Scott did his talking trackside behind the wheel of a race car just as often. Regardless of their status on race night, each demanded respect from their peers on both sides of the fence long after the final checkered flag ultimately waved.
Long-time residents of nearby Shortsville NY, John passed away in April of 2021 at age 81, while only 62 years of age, Scott was laid to rest in January of 2022. John’s wife Ellie, her brother and former fellow flagman Ron Hinman, Scott’s wife Ruth and daughter Kaylee were among numerous family members, friends, acquaintances and race fans that were present on this festive occasion.
As a veteran Ontario County Fairboard member, John emerged as an integral part of founder Glenn Donnelly’s now nationally renown DIRTcar organization, remaining a solid fixture at the fairgrounds after the sudden departure of Millard ‘Bub’ Benway then untimely passing of Dominick Tantalo; two distinguished area track promoters in the 1970s.
Donnelly staged his first event in 1977 and launched Canandaigua’s first full-season flying the DIRT banner in ‘78, with John securing full-time roles from the outset; assistant flagman, pit road official and backstretch flagger most noteworthy. Along with weekly stints at Donnelly’s charter member DIRT tracks in Weedsport and Elbridge (Rolling Wheels Raceway), it was during Super DIRT Week at the NYS Fairgrounds that John celebrated his birthday every October with flags in hand.
Today, Land Of Legends Raceway is the longest tenured track of any in the DIRTcar-fold nationwide, with the historic half-miler celebrating 50 consecutive seasons of sanction in 2026.
Debuting at the speedway steering an amateur street stock in 1978, Scott went on to register a novice win that first season yet had to wait another four years to return to victory lane, this time in the expert full-fender division. While today’s Sportsman class was introduced on the DIRT circuit in 1987, Schrader waited until ‘89 to go open-wheel racing at the fairgrounds, taking his first checkered flag in September of that initial year at his customary Saturday night hangout.
He chased Mr. DIRT Championship points in 1990, finishing 11th in the final standings before climbing to fifth in ‘91. His 1992 campaign proved to be the best of his career as he fell just one marker shy of capturing the elusive Mr. DIRT crown despite garnering Canandaigua, Weedsport and Paradise point titles along the way. A seven-year run in a Big-Block Modified resulted in his lone win at Canandaigua in August of 1997, before a return to Sportsman competition teamed with Tom Fox in 2004 carried him closer to last call circling his favorite half-miler. By the time Schrader reached the winner’s circle for the final time in 2007, his resume included a pair of Sportsman crowns at Canandaigua where he racked up 18 of his 32 career DIRT wins. A retreat from motorports was only a brief one as he traded oval track racing for time on the drag strip in his later years.
LEGEND LEDGER
Land Of Legends Raceway continues its Independence Day celebration on July 4 with Copart presenting the six-star show of Pepsi Big-Block Modified, Stirling Lubricants Sportsman, DisBatch Brewing Company 305 Sprint Car, Proctor Enterprises Street Stock, Smith Brothers Drywall Hobby Stock and MighTea Boba New Legends Sportsman action.
Continuing to keep alive the memory of the late long-time Canandaigua track official Mike Scoppo, wife Kathy Scoppo has upped the ante by $1,500 for the front-5 finishers in the 30-lap ‘Scoppo Special’ Big-Block finale with the winner pocketing $3,000, 2nd-place $1,500, 3rd-$1,100, 4th-$900 and 5th-$750. Pit gates open at 3:30pm, spectators gain entrance at 5 o'clock, hot laps start at 5:30 and qualifying gets underway at 6:30pm.
SKIDMARKS
Guided by award-winning executive producer Art Rorick, the talented LOLR TV broadcast team boasting production assistant Teara LeGrett, graphics coordinator Mark Rose, camera operators Mike Yawney, Jim & Michelle Mullen, and veteran voice Steve Ovens (PA announcer) and Adam DelGrosso (pit reporter) is once again on-site to provide LIVE video coverage of every event through Land of Legends TV, with LIVE streaming continuing to be offered FREE in 2026. On-line registration at https://landoflegendstv.com for a free account is the only step to take.
Also available for download is the LOLR mobile app found at Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodbarber.landoflegends or
App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/land-of-legends/id1508128970?uo=4 to secure your raceday pass today.
In addition to LOLR's weekly racing being simulcast on Land of Legends Raceway TV, each show will also be broadcast live on DIRTVision and highlighted by the mighty DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds. To watch, sign up for an annual Platinum FAST PASS with DIRTVision and experience every event either online or through the DIRTVision App.
LOWER PRICES PROVIDED WITH SPECIAL 2026 TICKET & PASS PACKAGES
General Admission Ticket and Pit Pass bundles continue to be offered to LOLR fans and race teams while providing a great opportunity to save money in the process. G.A. packs of 20 ($220) or 50 ($475) and Pit bundles of 20 ($700) or 50 ($1700) must be pre-ordered to be used during the upcoming season.
Regular weekly ticket prices remain set at $15 Adults, $13 Seniors, Kids 16 yrs. and under FREE. Pit passes are $40. For those youngsters needing pit access, Child Season Pit Passes are $50 for 2 yrs. & under and $150 for kids 3-13. Camping is FREE at all race events.
To purchase ticket and pit pass bundles, review marketing opportunities available at the track in 2026 or make media credential inquiries and vendor requests, please e-mail manager@landoflegendsraceway.com. Be sure to check out www.landoflegendsraceway.com often as the latest news and season schedule information will be posted right up to raceday.
Land of Legends Raceway is located on County Road 10 at the Ontario County Fairgrounds, just 1-1/2-miles north of Routes 5&20, and is easily accessible from the NYS Thruway (I-90), taking Exit 43 (Manchester, Route 21 South) traveling from the east or Exit 44 (Farmington, Route 332 South) coming from the west.
Land of Legends Raceway Event Summary – July 2, 2026
Honeoye Auto Parts and Marine Blue present Super Spectacular
Super DIRTcar Series Race #9
Pepsi Big-Block Modified “Stars & Stripes 60”
*Feature (60 laps): 1. 19-Tim Fuller ($6,076), 2. 70a-Alex Payne, 3. 9s-Matt Sheppard, 4. 84y-Alex Yankowski, 5. 21a-Peter Britten, 6. 2-Jack Lehner, 7. 91-Felix Roy, 8. 3-Justin Haers, 9. 25-Erick Rudolph, 10. 88-Mat Williamson, 11. 12-Darren Smith, 12. 35-Mike Mahaney, 13. 27-Tanner VanDoren, 14. 83x-Tim Sears Jr., 15. 98h-Jimmy Phelps, 16. 4-Anthony Perrego, 17. 15x-Justin Stone, 18. 6-Matt Stangle, 19. 29-Ryan Krachun, 20. 17-Marcus Dinkins, 21. 7m-Paul Mancini, 22. 1-Tyler Dippel, 23. 32r-Ronnie Davis III, 24. 37s-Gary Lindberg, 25. 88d-Dave Allen, 26. 28-Mike Trautschold.
Honeoye Auto Parts Gas Cards: Fuller($600), Payne($500), Sheppard($400).
Heats (8 laps / 5 qualify / top-2 redraw)
#1: Roy, Lehner, Williamson, Phelps, Davis, VanDoren, Morseman, Swarthout.
#2: Britten, Sheppard, Sears, Yankowski, Stone, Perrego, Allen, Mancini.
#3: Payne, Haers, Lindberg, Trautschold, Krachun, Dinkins, McCreadie, Scagliotta.
#4: Smith, Fuller, Rudolph, Stangle, Mahaney, Dippel, Taylor, Caprara(DNS).
Last Chance Showdown (10 laps / 4 qualify)
#1: Perrego, VanDoren, Dippel, Allen, Dinkins, Taylor, Morseman, Mancini, McCreadie, Swarthout, Scagliotta, Caprara(DNS)
Provisionals: Dinkins, Mancini.
Group Time Trials (2 laps / 32 cars)
#1: Roy 17.931 sec. (100.385 mph), Britten 18.042, Lehner 18.082, Sheppard 18.130, Phelps 18.147, Perrego 18.157, Yankowski 18.171(DSQ), Williamson 18.177, Stone 18.195, Davis 18.232, Sears 18.272, VanDoren 18.619, Allen 18.673, Morseman 18.691, Mancini 18.695, Swarthout 19.148.
#2: Payne 18.046 sec. (99.745 mph), Smith 18.173, Trautschold 18.216, Stangle 18.268, Haers 18.388, Fuller 18.405, Lindberg 18.428, Rudolph 18.459, Scagliotta 18.462, Mahaney 18.493, Krachun 18.564, Dippel 18.670, McCreadie 18.757, Taylor 18.768, Dinkins 18.808, Caprara(-NT-).
DNQ: 8-Rich Scagliotta, 11-Matt Caprara, 11t-Jeff Taylor, 14s-Brian Swarthout, 28m-Jordan McCreadie, 444-Russell Morseman IV.
A-Verdi Storage Containers CRSA Sprint Car Series Race #6 / DisBatch Brewing Company-Stirling Lubricants Challenge Series 305 Sprint Race #3
*Feature (25 laps): 1. 14x-Lance Dusett ($1,000), 2. 25g-Tyler Graves, 3. 29-Dalton Herrick, 4. 27w-Nick Webb, 5. 18-Timmy Lotz, 6. 25-Cameron Moss, 7. 48jr.-Darryl Ruggles, 8. 48a-Alysha Bay, 9. 80-Bobby Parrow, 10. 61-John Scarborough, 11. 10n-Nathan Pierce, 12. 18c-Dan Craun, 13. d9-Dustin Sehn, 14. 17e-Ethan Gray, 15. 81k-Dalton Martin, 16. 410-Jerry Sehn Jr., 17. 121-Steve Glover, 18. 21w-Scott Wagner, 19. 23-John Smith, 20. 10sr-Paul Colagiovanni, 21. 30-Kirsten Dombroski, 22. 9z-Zach Bobbett, 23. 31c-Maverick Coffey, 24. X-Dan Bennett, 25. 2-Randy Years, 36-Mike Stelter(DNS).
Powdertech Powdercoating Hard Charger Award $100: Nick Webb (+21).
Honeoye Auto Parts Gas Cards: Dusett($300), Graves($200), Herrick($100).
Heats (8 laps / all qualify)
#1: Colagiovanni, Parrow, Coffey, Martin, Gray, Moss, Pierce, D.Sehn, Webb(DNS).
#2: Ruggles, Dusett, J.Sehn, Scarborough, Wagner, Herrick, Years, Smith, Dombroski.
#3: Bay, Graves, Bobbett, Lotz, Bennett, Craun, Glover, Stelter.
Elab Smokers Boutique Dash (4 laps): Lotz($100), Martin($75), Wagner($50), Gray($25), Bobbett($25), Scarborough($25).
NEXT EVENT: Saturday Spectacular, July 4 @ 6:30pm; Copart presents ‘Scoppo Special’ Big-Block Modified/Sportsman/305 Sprint/Street Stock/Hobby Stock plus New Legends Sportsman.
Track Instant Info
Website: www.LandOfLegendsRaceway.com
E-Mail: info@LandOfLegendsRaceway.com
Twitter: @LandofLegendsNY
Facebook: @LandofLegendsNY
Instagram: @LandofLegendsNY
Live Stream: https://landoflegendstv.com/
Along with recognizing its weekly 50/50 raffle fund beneficiaries, Land of Legends Raceway is proud to salute several sponsors and corporate partners that continue to help bring its fans the best Saturday night racing show in the Northeast. Listed alphabetically are 2024 division sponsors Eldredge & Sons Scrap Recycling, Lloyd's Contracting, Maguire Ford of Canandaigua, MighTea Boba, Pepsi Geneva Club Beverage, Stirling Lubricants; event sponsors Auto Value Parts Stores, AMS Enterprises, A-Verdi Storage Containers, Busch Light/Lake Beverage, Cargill, Disbatch Brewing Company, DC Rauscher Contractor, Empire Seneca, Ferris Mowers, Honeoye Auto Parts, Hoselton Auto Mall, Jack Howell Properties, iFreeze Storage & Distribution Center, Labatt/Wright Beverage, LSI Solutions, Maguire Ford of Canandaigua, Pepsi/Geneva Club Beverage, Phelps Cement Products, Prouty's Bar & Grill, Regional Truck & Trailer, Rushco Gas Company, Ryan Phelps Auto Sales, Seneca Meadows Landfill, Smith Drywall, Tradition Automotive Group, Wilbert's Premium Auto Parts; promotional partners Always Locked Self Storage, American Woman Designs, Auto Wash Car Wash, Baker's Exterminating, Champion Power Equipment, Close Racing Supply(CRS), Disbatch Brewing Company, Ed's Garage/Krown Undercoating of Ransomville, Elab Smokers Boutique, Elderlee, Emerson Oil Company/Castrol, Fox Pest Control, Hoosier Racing Tire, Legott's Club 86, Mac's Dairy Bar & Mini Golf, Meyer's Finger Lakes RV, Mike Emhof Motorsports, Ontario County Fairboard, On The Rocks Bar & Grill, The "Original" Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Schultz Heating & Cooling, Speed Connection, Stop DWI NYS, Turn 5 Media, VP Racing Fuels, Weedsport Hall of Fame, Wicked Tees.