Mid-Atlantic Modified Report – Week 6

NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY

7/11/20 – Great weather conditions greeted a full field of modifieds looking to knock off last week’s winner and current point leader Danny Bouc.

Pole sitter PJ Oliver led the first 20 laps with his big block powered 13XXX entry with Billy Pauch running a close second.  On lap 21 Oliver broke on the back stretch and pulled into the infield while Pauch drove past for the race lead.  On lap 24 Pat Wall got center punched in turn one and the car barrel rolled across the track bringing out the red flag.   Wall was not injured but the car will be keeping team Wall busy for the next week or so.  On the restart Billy Pauch jumped to the lead and the defending NES champion keep a half of straight away lead right into victory lane over 2^ND place Mike Butler.

Pauch has turned his title defense around in one week.  Last week it was Pauch giving up the lead on lap 20 due to mechanical issues and pulling off the track.  One week later he’s taking the lead from a breaking P.J. Oliver who was the one pulling as the track this week while Pauch Jr motored into the NES winner’s circle for the first time this season.

2^nd place Mike Butler also had a turnaround from last week were he broke on the final lap to getting a 2^nd place finish this week.

The top 10 for the night was rounded out with Ryan Krachun, Brandon Grosso, JR Fulper, David Van Horn, Jimmy Blewett, Danny Bouc, Dakota Kessler and Cale Ross.

 Danny Bouc (102) is still the point leader followed by Ryan Krachun (94), Billy Pauch Jr (90), Dakota Kessler (88) and Jimmy Blewett (88), Brandon Grosso (88) and Mike Butler (88).  4 drivers are tied for 4^th place in points at 88.  Danny Bouc has only 32 point lead over the top 11 drivers.

The next event at New Egypt Speedway is 4^th annual Mr. Crate Classic along with Modifieds and a full racing program on Saturday July 18 with racing at 7:00 PM.

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK

7/12/20 – The modified feature looked like an Alex Yankowski run away for 22 laps as he had checked out on 2^nd place Rick Laubach by nearly 3 seconds but then the 1^st yellow of the night came out and everything changed.  Laubach’s big block powered # 7 entry took command on all of the 4 restarts from lap 22 to 27.   Richie Pratt was running in 2^nd but fell to the back of the field after a spin in turn 2 on lap 26.  Alex Yankowski couldn’t fire on the final restart and had to pull off.  The final 4 laps turned into a three car battle between Laubach, Watt and Pauch as they traded positions coming out of turn 2 and 4 but Laubach powered to the lead down the straight away on all 4 laps.  Rick Laubach collected the first big block win on the Kingdom of Speed.

The top 10 was rounded out by Ryan Watt, Billy Pauch Sr., Ryan Godown, Tim Buckwalter, Craig Von Dohren, Ryan Krachun, Matt Stangle, Neal Willams and Louden Reimert.

The top two finishers were big blocks.  The top 10 was made up of 5 small blocks and 5 big blocks.

Next up at Bridgeport Motorsports Park is a regular weekly program on Saturday July 18 with Modifieds, 602 Crates, Mass 305’s and Street Stock with racing starting at 7:00.

GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

Dylan Swinehart was scheduled to start outside pole but was moved to pole sitter when Joe Funk opted to the back on the start.  Swinehart lead the first 9 laps.  On lap 10 Jeff Strunk came from his 9^th starting position and made the pass on Dylan Swinehart for the lead.  Brett Kressley moved into second behind Strunk on lap 15 and got within 2 tenths of a second and was threatening Strunk for the lead but Kressley contacted a lapped car and broke an axle on lap 27 ending his night and brought out caution # 2 of the event.  With Kressley falling out of second place this put the red hot Timmy Buckwalter in second for a lap 27 restart.  Buckwalter put the car underneath Struck and on the white flag lap Buckwalter had the lead by .03 on Struck.  Strunk and Buckwalter battled into turn 1 on the final lap and just as Buckwalter started to pull away contact from Strunk took both cars around bring out caution # 3 while Dylan Swinehart weaved past them and into the lead on lap 29.   Swinehart looked like an old pro on the green/white flag restart and keep Jared Umbenhauer at bay to take his 2^nd career trip to victory lane.

The top ten was round out with 2^nd place Jared Umbenhauer, Brad Grim, Duane Howard, Doug Manmiller, Ryan Gram, Kyle Weiss, Rick Laubach, Craig Von Dohren, and Joe Funk.

39 cars competed for 28 starting spots on the grid for the 30 lap feature.

Week 3 finds Jared Umbenhauer claiming into the points lead with a second place finish 2 weeks in a row.  Manmiller sits second in points only 20 points behind followed by Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren and Ryan Grim to round out the top 5 in points.

Coming up this Saturday July 18^th at Grandview Speedway is Modifieds, Sportsman & URC Sprints with racing starting at 7:30 PM.

BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY

7/10/20 – First rainout of the season. Next up for Big Diamond is Modified Twin 20’s and a regular program with $2,000 to win for each twin 20’s on Friday July 17 with racing @ 7:45 PM.

PENN CAN SPEEDWAY

First weekly rainout of the season. Penn Can’s next event is on July 17 and racing starts at 7:15 with Modifieds and a full regular program of racing on Fan Appreciation night.

DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

7/11/20 – No racing scheduled. DIS will get back to action on Saturday night July 18^th featuring modfieds and full card of regular classes with racing starting at 7:15.

GEORGETOWN SPEEDAY

7/10/20 – Georgetown’s next scheduled event is Friday July 24^th featuring USAC sprints, Modifieds, 602 Crates, Crate Late Models and full card of Georgetown support classes.