Mid-Atlantic Modified Report for Week 7

SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – SOUTH REGION

7/19/20 – Brett Deyo’s series made their annual pilgrimage to BAPS Motor Speedway for the York County Nationals.

David Van Horn and Richie Pratt Jr. led the field to green in the 50 lap feature.  Pratt grabbed the early lead only to have Rick Laubach in the 1K take the lead on a lap 7 restart.  Laubach held the lead at the halfway point but Billy Pauch Jr and the New Yorkers in the 9s and 44F were lurking and stalking.  By lap 33 Pauch Jr made his move on Laubach for the lead and that is where he would stay.  A couple of late yellows made it interesting; but Pauch Jr continued his STSS South Region dominance as he took the checkered flag over Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Craig Von Dohren and Larry Wight.

Billy Pauch Jr has been the dominant car in the South series with two straight wins and two top 5 finishes in 4 starts.   Stewart Friesen is staying close behind with a win and 3 top 5 finishes and only 35 points off the pace.  The top 5 in points is rounded out with Larry Wight, Mike Gular and Tyler Dipple.

All 28 cars in attendance were able to take the green and start the 50 lap feature event. 

Next the Short Track Super Series South Region moves to the Georgetown speedway for the “Blast at the Beach” on Tuesday night August 25 featuring both modifieds and 602 Crates. 

GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

7/18/20 – The 29 car modified 30 lap feature was lead to green by Colt Harris and Justin Grim with Grim grabbing the early lead.   Kevin Hirthler spun on lap 2 and the ensuing pile in wreck collected 12 cars.  Amazingly only Brad Grim could not continue while the other 11 involved were able to stay on track.  Justin Grim held the lead right up to the 3^rd and final caution for another multi car tangle in turn 1.  This tangle took Kevin Hirthler, Brett Kressley, Briggs Danner, Joe Funk and Ryan Grim to the pits and ended their night.  On the final restart of the event it was Mike Gular darting to the lead were he checked out and led the last 20 green flag laps right to the checkered flag and into victory lane.  Justin Grim turned in a very strong 2^nd place run holding the veteran Jeff Strunk off in 3^rd place.

 The top ten was rounded out by Mike Lisowski in 4^th, followed by Craig Von Dohren, Loudon Reimert, Ryan Watt, Dylan Swinehart, Clay Butler and Craig Whitmoyer.

39 cars competed for 29 starting spots on the grid for the 30 lap feature.

The season point battle after four events has 4 cars within 60 points of first place leader Craig Von Dohren.  Craig Von Dohren had another 5^th place finish in the feature which has moved him back into 1^st place in points with Doug Manmiller only 9 points back in second place while Duane Howard, Jared Umbenhauer and Ryan Grim round out the top 5 in modified points.

Coming up this Saturday July 25^th at Grandview Speedway is Modifieds, Sportsman & the Wingless Sportsman with racing starting at 7:30 PM.

BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY

7/17/20 – Big Diamond had the return of the twin 20 modified features with $2,000 to the winner of each twin.

 The first modified twin 20 was lead to green by pole sitter Craig Whitmoyer who was looking strong for 8 laps when he suddenly slowed and pulled off giving the lead to Matt Stangle.  Rick Laubach moved in on leader Matt Stangle on the final lap but Stangle was too far out in front and took his first win of the season.

Rounding out the top 10 for twin # 1 were Rick Laubach in 2^nd, Frank Yankowski, Mike Gular, Billy Pauch Jr, Alex Yankowski, Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Louden Reimert, and Brett Kressley in 10^th.

The top 12 from twin # 1 were inverted for the starting grid of twin # 2 which put Kevin Graver and Nick Rochinski on the front row.  A lap 5 restart went terribly wrong down the front stretch with Brett Kressley contacting another car and bouncing high into the wall sending him back down into a freight train of cars and collecting a total of 12 cars in a turn 1 incident and bring out the red flag.  On lap 5 right off the restart Craig Von Dohren took the lead and quickly looked like twin # 2 was going to his.  But on lap 13 Jeff Strunk made a strong move into second overtaking Nick Rochinski and started to cut down Von Dorhen’s lead every lap.   Strunk pulled side by side on lap 16, attempted low side pass on 17 and made the high side pass on lap 18 for the lead on Von Dohren.  From there Strunk checked out and pulled away for a very impressive win and his first of the 2020 season. 

The top 10 for Twin # 2 was Craig Von Dohren, Nick Rochinski, Alex Yankowski, Louden Reimert, Mike Gular, Billy Pauch Jr., Frank Yankowski, Corey Merkle and Rich Laubach.

8 drivers had top 10 finishes in both of the twins with only Matt Stangle, Brett Kressley, Nick Rochinski and Corey Merkle had solo appearance in the top ten of the two twins.

The season point championship has Von Dohren leading with Strunk and Gular rounding out the top three.

Next up for Big Diamond is Modifieds and a full regular program of racing on Friday July 24 with racing @ 7:45 PM.

PENN CAN SPEEDWAY

7/17/20 – Some nights in racing can be magical and for the unsuspecting Butch Getz tonight was that night.

Butch Getz took the lead early in the 30 lap feature; but had teammate Joey Grammes and Brett Tonkin breathing down his neck for the entire feature.  After carefully negotiating lapped traffic; Getz was in a position to drive right into victory lane for his first career modified win.

Getz not only got his first win of his career; but later found out that his other car piloted by Jeff Strunk also got their first win at Big Diamond tonight.  Getz goes from 0 to 2 wins all in one great night.

The top 5 was rounded out by Brett Tonkin, Joey Grammes, Mike Loney and Byron Worthing.

26 modifieds were on the grounds and all started the feature event.

Penn Can’s next event is on July 24 and racing starts at 7:15 with CRSA Sprint Cars (No Modified) and a full regular program with racing starting at 7:15.

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK

7/18/20 – For the 2^nd time in 4 races Billy Pauch Sr. and Ryan Godown were on the front row of the feature together.  At the drop of the green Billy Pauch Sr. took command of this one and was in control from green to checkered flag.  Dominic Buffalino was making a strong charge to the front and a run at the leader Pauch.  But caution flew on lap 21 and the ensuing restart saw a front stretch contact incident take out 13 of the competitor’s in a violent pile in wreck.  Many cars were completely destroyed and for Buffalino his night ended with the remains of his car returned to the pits in a front end loader.  Tim Buckwalter required medical attention and was transferred for treatment.  On the lap next restart Pauch continued to dominate and checked out from the field and into the winner’s circle for his first win on the “Kingdom of Speed” in 2020.  Pauch is the 3^rd spec 358 to win on the new 4/10 mile at Bridgeport compared to one big Block modified winner at Bridgeport in 4 races.

The top 10 was rounded out by Danny Bouc, Alex Yankowski, Richie Pratt Jr, Cale Ross, Ryan Godown, Matt Stangle, David Crossman, Jim Britt and Brett Ballard. 

28 modifieds attempted to qualify for the 24 car field.  Marcus Dinkins was on hand from NY and was testing and getting an early look at the track for the Super Dirtcar Series event on Wednesday July 29 at Bridgeport.

Next up at Bridgeport Motorsports Park is a regular weekly program on Saturday July 25 with Modifieds, 602 Crates, and Street Stock with racing starting at 7:00.

NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY

7/18/20 – The modifieds had the week off for the Mr. Crate Classic annual race.  For the second straight year Ryan Simmons has won the Mr. Crate Classic title followed by Jim Houseworth & Ryan Heim.

Danny Bouc (102) is still the modified 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 the return of the Modifieds and a full racing program on Saturday July 25 with racing at 7:00 PM.

DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

7/18/20 – HJ Bunting led the first 3 laps of the modified 25 lap feature from his pole position but dropped out on a lap 4 restart due to mechanical issues.   Matt Hawkins held the lead over Jordan Watson until lap traffic bottled up Hawkins and Jordan Watson seized the opportunity to make an underneath pass for the lead which Watson would hold right to the final checkered flag.

The top 5 were rounded out by Matt Hawkins, Ryan Riddle, Kevin Sockriter and Carson Wright.

This was the first race this season that both Watson brothers were not in the top 5.  Jordan and Joe Watson have been 1 /2 or 2/1 all season with exception of night that HJ Bunting won when they were 2/3.  Joe Watson was not in attendance but the other Watson made sure everyone knew one Watson was in the house with his second DIS win of the season.

Delaware International Speedway will be in action on Saturday night July 25^th featuring modified and a 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.