Mid-Atlantic Modified Report – Week 11

                Week 11 (8/11 – 8/16/20)

SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – SOUTH @ Delaware International Speedway

8-11-20 – The Short Track Super Series modified 50 lap feature had Ryan Watt and Billy Pauch Jr on the front row with the New Yorkers (Friesen and Shepard) back in 7^th and 8^th starting position.  By lap 13 Watt had faded to 6^th place leaving Billy Pauch Jr. surrounded by the New Yorkers with Shepard in front of him and Friesen directly behind him in 3^rd.  By lap 14 it was the New Yorkers in first and second with Shepard being pursued by Friesen.  On lap 23 Friesen took the lead used both high and low lines to negotiate lap traffic on the way to his second STSS win in a row.

The top 10 was rounded out by Matt Shepard, Jimmy Horton, Andy Bachetti, Danny Bouc, David Van Horn, Jordan Watson, Ryan Watt, Jeff Strunk and Tyler Dipple.

38 modifieds were on the premises of which 15 were DIS weekly regulars.  7 of the Delaware locals qualified for the 50 lap feature and Jordan Watson got the best finish of the local contingent with a 7^th place finish.

Stewart Friesen is the point leader with a 13 point edge over Billy Pauch who had a DNF after leading the DIS race.  Matt Shepard, Tyler Dipple and Mike Gular round out the top 5 in points and all are within 90 points of the leader Stewart Friesen.

Diamond State 50 Results – 8/11/20

STEWART FRIESEN, 2. Matt Sheppard, 3. Jimmy Horton, 4. Andy Bachetti, 5. Danny Bouc, 6. David Van Horn Jr., 7. Jordan Watson, 8. Ryan Watt, 9. Jeff Strunk, 10. Tyler Dippel, 11. Richie Pratt Jr., 12. Carson Wright, 13. H.J. Bunting, 14. Ryan Riddle, 15. Danny Hieber, 16. John Willman, 17. Joseph Watson,        18. Brandon Watkins, 19. Robert Dutton, 20. Ray Swinehart, 21. Mike Gular, 22. Billy Pauch Jr., 23. Matt Stangle, 24. Ryan Godown, 25. Rick Laubach, 26. Norman Short.

Did Not Qualify: Scott Ambruster, Kevin Gardner, John Bailey, Austin Hubbard, Ricky Johnson III, Jordan Justice, Kevin Sockriter, Matt Smith, Matt Hawkins, Larry Wight, Neal Williams, and Brandon Grosso.

The Short Track Super Series next event is Tuesday August 25^th featuring the STSS Blast at the Beach with modifieds and 602 Crate Sportsman on the card with racing at 7:15.

NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY

8/15/20 – Brandon Grosso got his first win of the season in dramatic fashion and became the 6 different modified winner in 6 events at New Egypt.  Grosso led 28 laps but it was far from the typical runaway feature win.  Grosso’s motor began to lose power and got passed by Steve Davis on the last lap only to have Grosso execute a crossover and drive his way to victory by ½ a car length over Steve Davis.

 Pole sitter Steve Davis took the early lead but it was short lived as Brandon Grosso took over on lap 3 and Davis assumed 2^nd.  Davis pressured the leader Grosso until lap 11 when Grosso pulled away to a 1.5 second and 8 car length lead on Davis and the field.  But on lap 27 Grosso visibly started to slow and Davis started reeling in Grosso.  A last turn last lap slider by Davis took the lead for a moment but Grosso responded with a crossover which put him back in the lead at the checkered flag by half a car length for the win.  Then Grosso’s motor let go and it was the push truck to the scales and to victory lane for Brandon Grosso to celebrate his first win of the season.

The top five was rounded out by Steve Davis, Billy Pauch Jr., Dakota Kessler and Ryan Krachun.

After 2 weeks of DNF’s and a flip Brandon Grosso rebounded in a big way with his first win of the season.  Timing is everything as Grosso motor went away just as he took the win but he has a whole week to get ready for the Ron John Koczon Memorial next week.

Billy Pauch broke a rear in the heat race and ended up dead last in the heat and starting 23^rd in the feature.  The Pauch team executed a quick rear change for the feature and Pauch Jr made it pay off with a 3^rd place finish from a 23^rd starting position.

Ryan Krachun continues his top 10 streak with a 5^th place finish making the top 10 in all 6 of the point races this season.

Dakota Kessler continues an outstanding 2^nd season of modified racing with his 3^rd top 5 in 6 races.

The current top 5 in season points is Billy Pauch Jr., Danny Bouc, Mike Butler, Ryan Krachun and Dakota Kessler with less than 30 points separating 1^st and 5^th.

8/15/20 -Feature (30 laps):

1. Brandon Grosso 2. Steve Davis 3. Billy Pauch Jr. 4. Dakota Kessler 5. Ryan Krachun 6. John McClelland 7. Mike Butler 8. Danny Bouc 9. David Van Horn 10. Danny Creeden 11. Cale Ross 12. Jim Maher 13. Jeff Quackenbush 14. Dominick Buffalino 15. JR Fulper 16. Wade Hendrickson 17. Kory Fleming 18. PJ Oliver 19. Chris Grbac 20. Blaine Bracelin 21. Frank Venezia 22. Bucky Kell 23. Davey Sammons 24. Frank Cozze

Heat Winners:  Brandon Grosso, David Van Horn, Dominick Buffalino

The next event at New Egypt Speedway is Ron John Koczon Classic with modified 77 lap & $7,700 to win feature with a full program of racing on the card for Saturday August 22 starting at 7:00 PM.

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK

8/15/20 – Stan Frankenfield led the modifieds to green with Jojo Watson taking the lead on lap 1.  Matt Stangle was running a strong second behind Watson when fuel issues retired Stangle to the pits for the night.  On lap 10 Billy Pauch Sr. moved into second while 16 year old Alex Yankowski moved into 3^rd from a 19^th starting position. On lap 11 the 4^th caution of the event came out for a Billy Pauch Sr.’s flat tire from contact with Yankowski.  From lap 12 to lap 19 Watson continued to lead Yankowksi but an intense battle of sliders and counter crossovers developed in turn 2 until Yankowski hit the wall in turn 3 allowing Watson separation and to open up a lead.  By lap 25 Horton and Pauch Sr had moved in on second place and as Yankowksi’s tires faded Horton and Pauch moved into 2^nd and 3^rd past Yankowski.   Nothing really matter to JoJo Watson as he had a 3 second plus lead and clean air as he drove right into the Bridgeport victory lane for his first Bridgeport win of the season.

The top 5 was rounded out with Jimmy Horton, Billy Pauch Sr., Alex Yankowski and Richie Pratt Jr.

Heat race winners were Stan Frankenfield, Neal Williams and JoJo Watson.

JoJo Watson had the thrill of a lifetime not only getting his first win on the high banked 4/10 of a mile but also being the first driver besides Billy Pauch to win a point race on the Kingdom of Speed.  In addition Watson had 2 legends on the podium with him – Jimmy Horton and Billy Pauch Jr.

Billy Pauch Sr. had a flat tire on lap 11 and still came back through the field for a 3^rd place finish in the feature.

Alex Yankowski had racing contact with Ryan Godown during his heat race which spun him out of 2^nd place to a 7^th place finish.  Yankowski subsequently started the feature in 19^th position but by lap 12 Yankowski was in 2^nd place behind leader JoJo Watson.  On the final 3 laps; the 16 year old Yankowski faded a bit and fell to a 4^th place finish.  Still a great run considering the two guys who past him have 1,204 feature wins between them and are considering racing living legends – Jimmy Horton in 2^nd and Billy Pauch Jr in 3^rd.  The 16 year old racing future and racing legends all on the track together at the same time.   In the pits back at the trailer Yankowksi noted “Yeah that fading in the end was my tires going away and it was all my fault and I didn’t use my head and used my tires up a bit early.  This race was my first time in our new Bicknell big block car and the 1^st time I have ever driven a big block.” 

Matt Stangle had a very strong run going in second place when fuel problems retired Stangle for the night.  It’s just been one thing after another for the Stangle team.  Friday night at Big Diamond Stangle was on a 3^rd place run only to fall out of contention due to a flat tire.  Earlier in the week at Brett Deyo’s Short Track Super Series race in Delaware Stangle had a top 10 run going only to have a flat tire take them out of contention.  

Billy Pauch Sr. continues to lead the points followed by Alex Yankowski, Richie Pratt, Tommy Beamer and Ryan Godown.

Next up at Bridgeport Motorsports Park is a regular weekly program on Saturday August 22 with Modified, 602 Crates, and Street Stock and racing starting at 7:00 PM

GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

8/15/20 – The modified field was led to green by Darron Schuler and Bobby Gunther Walsh.  A couple of early yellows for tangles on the restarts with Kyle Weiss and Brent Gilmore involved but both were able to continue while Brad Grim and Mike Lisowski saw an early end to their night.  Darron Schuler lead early but Ray Swinehart used to high line to take the lead on lap 4 with his grandson Dylan Swinehart right behind him moving into 2^nd and putting pressure on his grandfather.  But the Swineharts domination was interrupted by a resurgent Jeff Strunk who took the lead on lap 11 as he stormed through the field from his 12^th starting position on the grid.  Strunk quickly gained separation of about 2 seconds from second place Ray Swinehart but heavy lap traffic keep things interesting and close for the time being.   When Mike Gular moved into second at lap 23 Strunk started to emerge from lap traffic and really checked out on 2^nd place Gular and the field.  Strunk took the checkered flag with nearly a straightaway lead and a 7 second margin on second place Mike Gular.  Strunk first win of the season at Grandview comes in his the debut of a brand new Bicknell car.

The top five was rounded out by Mike Gular, Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren and Dylan Swinehart.

37 modifieds were on the grounds competing for 28 starting spots on the grid for the 30 lap feature event.

Ryan Grim continues to produce weekly top 10 results with an 8^th place finish this week.   Some contact with the wall in the heat race and a bent front end sent Ryan to the consolation which he won from the 5^th starting position.  In the feature Grim had another strong back to front run getting an 8^th place finish from a 21^st place starting position.

 Dillion Steuer returned for his second week behind the wheel of the Zubi 17Z.  Steuer ran to a strong 10^th place finish from a 26^th starting position in the feature and the 17Z team appears well on their way on working on their 76er setup.

Point standings continue to be led by 1.) Craig Von Dohren, 2.) Doug Manmiller, 3.) Duane Howard, 4.) Jared Umbenhauer, 5.) Jeff Strunk.

T. P. Trailers Modified Feature (30-laps) August 15, 2020:

1. Jeff Strunk, 2. Mike Gular, 3. Duane Howard, 4. Craig Von Dohren, 5. Dylan Swinehart, 6. Jared Umbenhauer, 7. Doug Manmiller, 8. Ryan Grim, 9. Brett Gilmore, 10. Dillon Steuer, 11. Ray Swinehart, 12. Louden Reimert, 13. Craig Whitmoyer, 14. Ron Kline, 15. Kyle Weiss, 16. Briggs Danner, 17. Carroll Hine III, 18. Kenny Gilmore, 19. Darrin Schuler, 20. Rick Laubach, 21. Bobby Gunther Walsh, 22. Dan Waisempacher, 23 Bobby Trapper Jr., 24. Ron Haring Jr., 25. Justin Grim, 26. Colt Harris, 27. Brad Grim, 28. Mike Lisowski.

DNQ: Mike Tyson, Ron Myers, Mark Levy, Mark Kratz, Joe Funk III, Richie Hitzler and Eric Biehn.

 DQ: Brent Kressley & Kevin Hirthler

Next up at Grandview is a 2 division program with modified & sportsman on Saturday August 22 with racing starting at 7:30 PM.

BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY

8/14/20 – Ray Swinehart led the modified 25 lap feature for the first 7 laps until a flat tire retired him to the back of the field giving the lead to Kevin Beach who was quickly overtaken by a hard charging Jared Umbenhauer.   Mike Gular moved into 2^nd place and on lap 17 did a perfect crossover move coming out of turn 2 for the lead which he quickly extended to a 2 second margin until 2 late cautions for flat tires.  Gular choose the high side for the late restarts and he easily charged away from Umbenhauer and the field for his second Big Diamond win of the season.

The modified top 10 was rounded out with Jared Umbenhauer in 2nd, Craig Von Dohren, Billy Pauch Jr, Brett Kressley, Alex Yankowski, Louden Reimert, Rick Laubach, Kris Graver and Kevin Beach in 10th.

Alex Yankowski had a tire explode on the last lap of his heat race sending him to last in the heat race and an 8^th place starting position in the consolation but he was able to qualify for the feature in the 22^nd starting position.  Yankowski worked his way through the field to a 6^th place finish to add another top 10 finish to his two wins in the last 2 weeks.

Dillion Steuer arrived at Big Diamond the first time this year in the Zubi 17Z.  Steuer started last in the consolation and qualified for the feature in the 24^th starting position.  In the feature Steuer had an early flat tire but still came home with an 11^th place finish in his first diamond outing and his 2^nd outing in the 17z small block entry.    

Mike Gular has worked his way into the point lead with his second win of the season and is followed by Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Alex Yankowski and Rick Laubach.

Big Diamond Modified 25 lap Feature Results – 8/14/20:

1. Mike Gular, 2. Jared Umbenhauer, 3. Craig Von Dohren, 4. Billy Pauch Jr, 5. Brett Kressley, 6. Alex Yankowski, 7. Louden Reimert, 8. Rick Laubach, 9. Kris Graver, 10. Kevin Beach Jr, 11. Dillon Steuer,      12. Cory Merkel, 13. Kevin Graver Jr, 14. Jeff Strunk, 15. Frank Yankowski, 16. Duane Howard, 17. Dan Hineline, 18. Alan Barker, 19. Doug Hendricks, 20. Shawn Fitzpatrick, 21. Matt Stangle, 22. Ray Swinehart, 23. Jordan Henn, and 24. Craig Whitmoyer.

Did Not Qualify – Shawn Light, Scott Albert, Andy Burkhart and Jim Bobbitt.

Racing action continues at Big Diamond Speed with the Prelude to the Coalcracker on Friday August 21 featuring $4,000 to win in modified and a full program of racing starting at 7:45.

PENN CAN SPEEDWAY

8/14/20 – The 26 car modified feature was brought to green with Mike Walsh and Nick Pecko.  An early 9 car tangle found Butch Getz retiring for the night on the hook while all of the 8 other cars involved were able to return to racing.   Mike Loney in the 17D entry took the lead on a lap 3 restart and never looked back.  4 additional restarts presented little problem for the 33 year veteran as Loney pulled away from the field on each restart to drive into Penn Can’s victory lane.

 The top 5 was rounded out with Nick Pecko, Byron Worthing, Brett Tonkin and Alex Tonkin.     

Brett Tonkin continues to lead the modified point standing with winner Mike Loney moving into 2^nd followed by Brian Malcolm, Nick Petrilak and Leo McGurrin.

Penn Can’s next event is CRSA 360 sprints (No modified) and a full regular program of racing on Friday August 21^th starting at 7:15.

DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

8/15/20 – Rainout.

Next up at Delaware International Speedway are the super late models and modifieds along with a full program of racing on Saturday night August 22 starting at 7:00 PM.

GEORGETOWN SPEEDAY

8/15/20 – No scheduled racing event.

Current Modified point standings are:

1. Billy Pauch Jr.     261
2. Ryan Watt           236
3. Danny Bouc        210
4. Jordan Watson  188
5. HJ Bunting           170

Georgetown’s next scheduled event is Tuesday August 25^th featuring the STSS Blast at the Beach with modifieds and 602 Crate Sportsman on the card with racing at 7:15.