CORNELL SCORES A THRILLING WIN IN THE BURLINGTON COUNTY OVERHEAD DOOR NEWS SPRINT FEATURE AT NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY
Story By: MIKE WIENEWZSKI /NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By: JIM BROWN / RACERSGUIDE.COM
New Egypt, NJ -May 2, 2016 – On Baseball Night at New Egypt Speedway, Johnny Cornell scored a thrilling win in the Burlington County Overhead Door NEWS Sprint feature. Alan Bleacher was victorious in the Sportsman main event. The Crate Modified feature was captured by John Aumick. Bill Liedtka took top honors in the Street Stock race.
At the start of the 20-lap Burlington County Overhead Door NEWS Sprint feature, polesitter Pat Hires bolted to the front with Rich Mellor and Johnny Cornell next in line. The comfortable advantage built by Hires was wiped out by a fourth circuit red flag incident involving Dan Mazy and Heidi Heddin. When action resumed, Hires remained on top with Cornell motoring into second and Neal Williams wheeling into third.
At the halfway point, Hires briefly lost control of his car and Cornell advanced to first with Williams taking the runner-up spot. Following a restart on lap 11, the second red flag of the night was displayed when contact was made between Williams and Hires and the sprint car of Williams flipped several times before landing near the turn one outside wall.
After the track was cleared and green flag racing got back underway, Hires regained the lead with Lou Cicconi advancing into second and Cornell falling back into third. As the race entered the closing circuits, the top three of Hires, Cicconi and Cornell would stay close and in order until lap 18 when Cornell slipped by Cicconi for second. One tour later, these three drivers would cross by the flagger’s stand three abreast with Cornell narrowly in front of Hires and Cicconi.
On the final lap, Cornell would continue on the point to gain the win with Cicconi nipping Hires by a slim margin for second. Brian Spencer wound up in fourth and Wayne Weaver finished in fifth. Rich Mellor and Pat Hires were the heat race victors in the Burlington County Overhead Door NEWS Sprints division.
For the first time in his career, Alan Bleacher visited victory lane after topping the field in the 20-lap Sportsman feature. Derek Krum set the pace for the opening six circuits before the seventh place starting Bleacher took over. Although Bleacher would lead the rest of the way, he was pressured in the final half of the race several times by second place finishing Brandon Grosso.
Third place went to Bob Lineman, Jr. Pat Wall came home in fourth place. Rookie Cale Ross had an impressive run to take fifth. The Sportsman qualifying races were won by Brandon Grosso, JT Trstensky and Bob Lineman, Jr.
John Aumick took the lead from John Criscione on the sixteenth circuit of the 20-lap Crate Modified main event and maintained control in the final tours. Steve Hicks followed Aumick across the finish line but was disqualified following the race for an illegal carburetor. Brandon Grosso, who started the race in last place due to a throttle issue, drove through the field and was awarded the runner-up spot. Billy Osmun, Connor King and Tom Tanner completed the top five. Heat race winners in the Crate Modified division were John Aumick and Shawn Ratchford.
After taking the lead on the ninth circuit, Bill Liedtka stayed in command for the remaining distance to win the 20-lap Street Stock feature. Todd Dige set the pace for the opening eight tours before the twelfth place starting Liedtka took over. Vern McLaughlin inched by Dige at the checkered flag to finish in second. With Dige in third, fourth went to John Meyer. Mick Search completed the event in fifth.
On Saturday, May 7, Moms will be honored on Mother’s Day Night. All ladies in attendance will receive a free flower courtesy of Gasko’s Family Farm and Greenhouses in Monroe Township, NJ. Also, “Paint the Town Pink”, a Meridian Health event, will be at the track on this night to collect donations. New Egypt Speedway is participating in “Paint the Town Pink” and spectators who wear pink to the track during the month of May will receive $2 off general admission. “Paint the Town Pink” helps provide mammograms for women who are uninsured or underinsured. Racing includes the kickoff of the May Modified Madness Series for the 358 Modifieds, Crate Modifieds, Street Stocks and the Lyons Construction/Metal Fab Rookies.
Competitors can begin to enter the pits at 3:00 p.m. and the spectator gates open at 4:00 p.m. Warm-ups get underway begin at 5:00 p.m. and the first green flag waves at 6:00 p.m. Admission to the grandstand is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for teens 12-15, $10 for military personal and their spouses with ID, and no charge for children 11 and under. Pit admission is $30 with a New Egypt Speedway license and $40 with no license.
New Egypt Speedway is located on Route 539 just minutes from Six Flags Great Adventure and the New Jersey Turnpike. A racy 7/16-mile D-shaped dirt oval, New Egypt Speedway serves Garden State race fans with some of the best competition in the country. New Egypt’s state-of-the-art facilities feature daylight-quality lighting and excellent sightlines from any seat in the house. The grandstands are fully wheelchair accessible with wide, clear, and well-groomed walkways. Concession facilities serve up everything from roast beef sandwiches to ice cream treats at family-friendly prices.
