By NICK SCHWIEN

nschwien@dailynews.net

There was no jumping up and down and pumping a fist in the air.

Instead, Matt Fabrizius unbuckled, took his helmet off and got a big hug from his brother, John.

On Friday night at RPM Speedway in Hays, that hug was just what the doctor ordered for the WaKeeney modified driver.

After a year of struggles with his car, Fabrizius finally had things fall into place, earning his first modified feature win of the season.

"It was definitely a win we needed," Fabrizius said Monday night. "We've had so much trouble with the car and getting it running right. ... It was definitely worth it."

Fabrizius started on the pole of the 20-lap feature, but he didn't necessarily blow away the field. Instead, the race played out just like we would have hoped.

He was challenged early by Dylan Sherfick and later by Jason Schoenberger. But in the end, Fabrizius took the checkered flag.

"It helps (starting on the pole)," Fabrizius said. "The car was pretty good already, but it helps starting on the pole because you're not in traffic as much. Dylan Sherfick passed me early and let me know what pace I needed to set. ... And Jason Schoenberger, we raced side-by-side for awhile..

"I watched Schoenberger in his heat, and he won it and ran good. I knew he'd be a contender. I'd rather win a race like that that we earned than run away from everyone."

Schoenberger, who has the most modified wins at RPM this summer, finished second, followed by Jeremy Zorn, who is in contention to win a points title in Hays.

So Fabrizius had to earn the victory against some stiff competition. And he had to outlast the field after three yellow flags, too.

"Just winning that one race made the whole season to us," Fabrizius said. "Some guys win five or six, and it almost seems routine to them. Something like winning that makes our whole season."

Fabrizius has been racing a modified since 1998, minus the 2005 and '06 seasons when finances kept him from competing.

He won a pair of races late last season, but continued struggles this year had him wondering what was happening.

"If you're not having success, you wonder if you're capable of doing it," he said. " ... We've never had that money other guys have had, but we knew what we were capable of.

"I know we can run with them, even on a small budget. But when you struggle and don't get it done for a while, you question yourself and ask if you can get it done."

Those struggles had him turning to those who know him best.

"It's kind of like NFL football: When things aren't going so well, you find out who your true supporters are," Fabrizius said. "My brother (John) turned wrenches on the car and threw money into the car. Without him, I probably wouldn't be racing."

Hence the celebratory mood displayed by both Friday night.

"He and I shed a few tears, felt relieved," Fabrizius said. "We got over the hump and knew we where back to where we could be."

Which gives him renewed hope for the final two regular-season races at RPM on Sept. 3 and 17 before the $5,000 payout race at the Fall Nationals on Oct. 15 and 16.

Fabrizius didn't compete at the nationals last year, but his brother did. John finished in the top 30 but failed to make the A-main -- although that still was better than nearly half of the rest of the field.

With a win under his belt, Fabrizius has high hopes for the final two months.

"Like I told him, we're both so excited," Fabrizius said. "If we can get this stuff laid down now, we can do this more. We're looking forward to the Hays nationals. There's two races left and then nationals."