Mid-Atlantic Modified Report – Week 16

GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY – Freedom 76er

9/19/20 – The field was led to green by Brigg’s Danner and Bobby Varin in Tom Umbenhauer’s #5 entry.  Varin led the first 24 laps before being overtaken by a hard charging Brett Kressley on lap 25 for the lead.  The top 5 for the remainder of the race was an intense position swapping and battle between Brett Kressley, Jeff Strunk, Bobby Varin, Matt Sheppard and Mike Gular as this group broke away from the rest of the field as they entered into lapped traffic on lap 25.  Kressley was able to hold off Jeff Strunk in second place for nearly 40 laps but on lap 64 Strunk finally got past Kressley into the lead as Kressley started to fade with what appeared to be tire wear.  Jeff Strunk maintained a comfortable lead over Matt Sheppard and into victory lane for Freedom 76er win # 8 and a check for $35,550.

The top 5 was rounded out by Matt Sheppard, Mike Gular, Brett Kressley and Bobbie Varin. 

RACE RESULTS – 50^TH ANNUAL FREEDOM 76 (76-Laps):

Winner – 1. Jeff Strunk, 2. Matt Sheppard, 3. Mike Gular, 4. Brett Kressley, 5. Bobby Varin, 6. Duane Howard, 7. Ryan Godown, 8. Stewart Freisen, 9. Louden Reimert, 10. Frank Cozze, 11. Kevin Hirthler, 12. Jared Umbenhauer, 13. Briggs Danner, 14. Mike Maresca, 15. Andy Bachetti, 16. Danny Bouc, 17. Dylan Swinehart, 18. Ryan Lilick, 19. Justin Grim, 20. John Willman, 21. Dave Dissinger, 22. Max McLaughlin, 23. Frank Yankowski, 24. Brandon Grosso, 25. Keith Hoffman, 26. Richie Hitzler, 27. Mark Kratz, 28. Craig Von Dohren, 29. Ryan Krachun, 30. Andy Perrego, 31. Doug Manmiller, 32. Cory Merkel.

DNQ: Neil Williams, Cory Cormier, Bryan Kuhl, Ryan Beltz, Darrin Schuler, Brett Gilmore, Scott Frack, Joe Funk III, Craig Whitmoyer, Kyle Weiss, Ryan Grim, Steve Young, Kevin Hartnett, Alex Yankowski, Brian Hirthler, Ron Haring Jr., Bobby Trapper Jr., Ron Kline, Eric Kormann, Nate Brinker, Colt Harris, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Dom Buffalino, , Mike Mahaney, Danny Creeden, Billy Decker, Tyler Dippel, Rick Laubach, Kenny Gilmore, Dillon Steuer, Ray Swinehart, Billy Pauch Jr., Mike Lisowski, Brad Brightbill, Matt Stangle and Jordan Henn.

Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20: 1. Mike Maresca, 2. Duane Howard, 3. Max McLaughlin, 4. Keith Hoffman, 5. Ryan Krachun.

Cash Dash (10 Laps): 1. Ryan Godown, 2. Craig Von Dohren, 3. Brett Kressley, 4. Cory Merkel, 5. Mike Gular, 6. Andy Bachetti, 7. Ryan Lilick, 8. Brett Kressley, 9. Frank Yankowski.

Modified Pit Notes

For the last 51 laps it was Kressley, Strunk, Sheppard, Gular and Varin separating from the field and swapping positions in the top 5 until the end of the race.  Kressley lead from lap 25 to 63 but then faded to a 4^th place finish while Strunk moved into the led for the final 12 circuits and a trip into the $35,550 victory lane.

Jeff Strunk won his 8^th Freedom 76er from the 12^th starting position.  His new Bicknell chassis was debuted in August and won at Grandview on the first night it was put on the track.  Strunk’s 126 could run low, middle or high all weekend long.  Strunk stayed within reach of Kressley and later in the race when Kressley’s pace started to fade Strunk moved into the lead to stay on lap 64.

Mike Gular got an automatic redraw position as the 2019 76er defending champion.  Gular drew the 24^th starting position but still managed to work his way through the field to a 3^rd place finish.

Brett Kressley had already won the biggest Grandview race so far this year which was the Forrest Rogers Memorial for $10,000 and was only 12 laps away from making a sweep of Grandview’s biggest events of the season.  Kressley led nearly 40 laps from his 20^th starting position but ended the race with a 4^th place finish.

Ryan Godown had a great Freedom 76er for a guy who only has one spec small block.  Godown lost a motor at the Prelude to the Coalcracker and at that time Searock Motorsports did not have another spec available.  But their spec motor was back in time for the 76er and Godown made the best of it with a heat race win and a $1,000 cash dash win.  Godown finished of his 76er weekend with a solid 7^th place finish from an 11^th starting position in the feature.

Duane Howard season has been on and off all year long.  Howard got a good position in the Minuteman 20 which only turned into a 29^th starting position in the 76 lap feature.  But in typical 357 Howard fashion Howard managed to move forward 21 spots to an 8^th place finish from a 29^th place starting position.  Howard was the hard charger of the night with an 8^th place finish moving 21 places from his 29^th starting position

Stewart Friesen drew 25^th out of 27 positions and then had to pit before green so he started shotgun on the field in 32^nd position.  Nonetheless another methodical drive to the front by Friesen as he posted an 8^th place finish from his 32^nd starting positon.

The 2020 track champion Craig Von Dohren made contact with the wall on lap 18 which retired him from the event for the night.

Louden Reimert came into the 76er after losing a motor the prior week at the final points race and had to resort to a provisional and to the backup car which they had on hand that night.  Reimert used the Friday night test session to shake down the new motor and the 16 team deemed the primary car ready to go for the Saturday 76 lapper.  Reimert’s two prior 76er’s ended in a DNQ and DNF but this year would be a career best with a 9^th place top ten finish.

Briggs Danner qualified for his second Freedom 76er and led the field to green on the pole position.  Briggs led the first lap and feel back to a 13^th place finish due to right rear that was losing air late in the 76 lap feature.

Grandview’s final event of the season is the Thunder on the Hill “Modified Treat or Treat Triple 20’s” and the sportsman division on Saturday October 17 with racing 6:00 PM.

PENN CAN SPEEDWAY

9/18/20 – Alan Barker and Butch Getz led the field to green but it was Barker taking the lead on lap 1 that he would hold right into victory lane through 4 cautions and one red flag for Brian Malcom whose brakes failed sending him over the turn 4 embankment to end his night and he was uninjured in the incident.  Barker claimed his first Penn Can win of the season and the top 5 was rounded out with Kevin Hartnett, Brett Tonkin, Butch Getz, and Corey Costa.

Penn Can’s next event is the King of the Can Weekend on Friday and Saturday September 25 & 26.  Modified practice and a full program of racing on Friday night starting at 7:00.  Saturday is the Short Track Super Series North region Modified point event with a full program of racing starting at 6:00 PM.

Penn Can Pit Notes

Final Penn Can Modified point standings are:

1. Brett Tonkin       1485
2. Brian Malcolm   1371
3. Nick Petrilak       1331
4. Mike Loney         1269
5. Butch Getz          1257

DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

9/19/20 – H J Bunting and Kevin Sockriter lead the field to green with Bunting taking the lead for the first 7 laps with a hard charging Jordon Watson moving into 2^nd and immediately applying pressure on Bunting.  But a lap 7 caution for a fire aboard Trent Van Vorst’s # 12 re-racked the field but without Jordan Watson as he pitted during the caution for a broken radiator and never returned.  On the restart Bunting reclaimed the lead for 5 more circuits until lap 13 when both Richie Pratt and Rickey Elliot passed him at the same time dropping Bunting to 3^rd while Richie Pratt took the lead over a 2^nd place Rickey Elliot.  Pratt held his lead for the final 12 circuits over Rickey Elliot in the 12K to take his 51 entry to the DIS winner’s circle for the first time this season.

The top 5 was rounded out by Ricky Elliott, Joseph Watson, HJ Bunting and Kevin Sockriter.

DIS Pit Notes

A strong field of cars were in attendance with Richie Pratt, JoJo Watson and Rickey Elliot on the grounds.  Richie Pratt got his first win since June from the 7^th starting position.  The 51 team has been running consistently strong in the top 5 every week but have not been able to get the win since early in the season. Pratt is hoping the carry his winning right into the fall special events season starting next week at Bridgeport and then back to Delaware International for the Camp Barnes.

Jordon Watson is rarely out of the top 3 finishers at DIS; but tonight a broken radiator gave Jordon a very rare 16^th place finish.  That was the bad news; but the good news was Jordan Watson still won the 2020 Delaware International Speedway point championship.

Next up at Delaware International Speedway is the Camp Barnes Benefit race on Saturday October 3 with modifieds and a full program of racing starting at 4:00 PM. 

DIS Final Modified Point Standings are:

1. Jordan Watson      935
2. HJ Bunting               775
3. Carson Wright        602
4. Brandon Watkins  545
5. Jordan Justice        538

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK

9/19/20 – Off weekend for racing.

Next event for Bridgeport is the Danny Serrano 100 on September 25-27 with racing on September 25 starting at 7:30 and concluding on Sunday September 27 with a 100 lap modified race.

Bridgeport final modified point standings:

1. Billy Pauch Sr.                    334
2. Alex Yankowski                 302
3. Richie Pratt                         300
4. Ryan Godown                   298
5. Matt Stangle                      231

BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY

9/18/20 – No racing scheduled.

Big Diamond’s next event is on Friday September 25 featuring modifieds and a full program of racing starting at 7:45 PM

Current Big Diamond Modified point standings are:

1. Mike Gular                          1606
2. Craig Von Dohren            1552
3. Jeff Strunk                          1530
4. Alex Yankowski                 1313
5. Rick Laubach                      1240

GEORGETOWN SPEEDAY

9/18/20 – No racing scheduled

Current Georgetown Modified point standings are:

1. Billy Pauch Jr.     432
2. Ryan Watt           384
3. Danny Bouc        349
4. Jordan Watson  293
5. Rick Laubach      280

Georgetown’s next scheduled event is Friday October 2^nd featuring the USAC East Coast Sprints, modifieds and a full card with racing at 7:30.

NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY

9/19/20 – No modified racing.

New Egypt 2020 final modified point standings: 

1. Danny Bouc                        462
2. Mike Butler                         438
3. Ryan Krachun                    418
4. David Van Horn                 406
5. Dominic Buffalino            403

New Egypt’s next event is the All Star Cup Shootout 100 on Saturday October 3 with modified 100 lap feature and a regular program of racing starting at 6:00 PM.