VERNON, NY- Willy Decker, from Vernon, passed Todd Burley on the final lap of the Modified feature event to score hi s first win of the season in exciting fashion to score the popular $2,000 victory on New York Central Mutual night. Utica-Rome Speedway regular Jeff Leslie would dominate the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Sportsman Series win, while Tom Denton would survive a last lap charge to score the Pro Stock win. Ron Hawker took the Pure Stock main event in convincing fashion.

At the drop of Matt Burdick’s green flag, Ted Lamb would grab the early from his third starting spot, a lead he would on to for the first nine circuits. Charging from his eighth starting spot, Todd Burley moved into the top spot as the first third of the event was being completed. While Burley was pacing the field, the battle for position was being waged in the middle portion of the field between Bobby Varin, Pat Ward, Ronnie Johnson, Stewart Friesen, and Mitch Gibbs.

Ninth place starter Willy Decker was on the move during the long green flag period, moving into second by lap 13 and setting after Burley. At the halfway point, it was Burley, Decker, Lamb, Bob Henry Jr., and Bobby Varin out front. Burley survived several restarts just past the halfway mark to continue setting the pace with Decker in hot pursuit. The final caution period of the 30 lap event would slow the field on lap 26; allowing Decker to close up on Burley’s back bumper.

The restart saw Decker remain glued to the leader’s rear deck lid looking for his chance to get by. When the white flag flew, Decker executed a perfect slide job in turns one and two to grab the lead from Burley exiting turn two. As the pair raced into turns three and four, Burley tried to return the favor with a slide job of his own but he couldn’t clear the rim riding Decker. Decker would race off to his first win of the 2009 season with Burley, Friesen, Vari n, and Ronnie Johnson in pursuit. Ward, Brian Weaver, Danny Varin, Paul Kinney, and Henry rounded out the top ten.