223 Entries Filed For Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend: Pennsylvania Stars Stone, Laubach & Howard Lead Winners
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Astounding 223 Entries Filed For Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend: Pennsylvania Stars Dan Stone (Super Late Model), Rick Laubach (Big-Block Modified) & Duane Howard (Small-Block Modified) Lead Winners
Story By: Brett Deyo/Georgetown Speedway – Photos By: Pete MacDonald/RacersGuide.com
GEORGETOWN, DE – Three Pennsylvania drivers stole the Delaware limelight at Georgetown Speedway during the Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend.
Dan Stone (Super Late Model), Rick Laubach (big-block Modified) and Duane Howard (small-block Modified) led the list of winners during the Friday-Saturday Season Finale at the historic half-mile oval. An astounding 223 entries were filed by competitors during the weekend.
Stone, of Thompson, Pa., led from green-to-checkered in the 40-lap Super Late Model event presented by Campbell’s Collision and Bi-Rite Auto Sales. Stone received $5,000 from the posted purse and another $400 in lap money courtesy of Georgetown Pizza Palace.
Stone was strong in Friday qualifying, winning one of three Super Late Model heat races. By virtue of a Saturday redraw, the driver known as ‘Big Brother’ picked the pole for the 40-lap main.
Stone outgunned June Georgetown Ultimate Super Late Model Series winner Dale Hollidge at the outset of the main. Stone faced the challenges of several restarts, first with Hollidge at his flanks and later with Central PA star D.J. Troutman alongside.
During a long stretch of green-flag racing in the race’s second half, Troutman, eighth-starting Austin Hubbard and Hollidge closed, thrilling the crowd with a four-car battle in lapped traffic.
Stone negotiated the slower cars flawlessly and cruised to the win. Troutman exploded a right-rear tire on the final lap, allowing Hubbard to steal second and Hollidge third. Troutman limped across the line in fourth and Shaun Jones, who started 14th, finished fifth.
Donald Lingo Jr. earned the Ad-Art Sign Company Hard Charger Award with his drive from 26th to finish eighth.
Super Late Model heat winners were Stone, Glenn Elliott and Ricky Elliott.
*****
Conservation, luck and a steady Gary and Lori Herrmann-owned No. 7 landed Rick Laubach in Victory Lane following the 40-lap big-block Modified main. Laubach, who started from the pole and lost the lead to Ryan Godown, regained the top spot with nine laps remaining.
It was an emotional victory for the Hellertown, Pa., driver, who dedicated the win to Lori Herrmann, who is battling health issues.
Laubach shot into the lead at the start of the event and led through lap 16, when Godown swept to the top spot. Meanwhile, Danny Johnson (up from eighth) and Howard, moved in for an intense battle for second.
The race’s complexion changed on the 31st lap. Howard’s Norm Hansell-owned No. 357 dropped off the pace on the backstretch. Under the ensuing yellow flag, Godown took his Bill Hewlett No. 901 to the pits with a punctured right-rear tire.
Laubach led the final nine laps, picking up $5,240 including lap money posted by Taylor & Messick.
Johnson, the Rochester, N.Y., invader, placed second in the Chris Gennarelli-owned No. 27J. Johnson complimented the facility improvements since his most recent visit to the track.
Making a late rally in the Halmar International No. 43, New Jersey legend Jimmy Horton finished third after starting 12th. Neal Williams completed a steady weekend effort in the Sal DeBruno-owned No. 0W by placing fourth. Richie Pratt Jr. picked up $250 as the race’s Blue Hen Dispose-All Hard Charger, driving forward from 22nd on the grid to finish fifth.
$50 Taylor & Messick heat winners were Jamie Mills, Jimmy Horton and Duane Howard.
*****
A flawless performance resulted in Duane Howard scoring the small-block Modified victory in Friday night’s 30-lap main event. Howard picked the pole via the redraw and led every lap driving the Norm Hansell Motorsports No. 357. He received $3,000 from the posted purse, $300 in lap money, $100 from Scotty’s Speed & Diesel as the Halfway Leader and another $50 from Taylor & Messick as the heat winner.
Howard, the Oley, Pa., driver who has admittedly struggled this season, complimented the Hansell team for their support in Victory Lane.
Ryan Godown, driving his own No. 26, chased Howard across the line as the runner-up, followed by Delaware’s Jordan Watson, Grandview (Pa.) Speedway champion Craig Von Dohren and Delaware International Speedway champion H.J. Bunting.
Howard and H.J. Bunting won the two heats, receiving $50 from Taylor & Messick.
*****
Mike Wharton of Greenwood, Del., took home a $2,000 payday in the Crate Late Model 20-lap main run on Saturday. Wharton inherited the lead when a pair of race leaders spun from contention, handing a top spot he would not relinquish. Wharton held Delaware hot-shoe Matt Hill at bay in the final laps.
Hill placed second, with Zac Weller in third, earning the $100 cash bonus as the first Crate 602 engine across the line. John Imler and Tyler Reed completed the front five.
*****
In perhaps the race of the weekend, Brett Ballard of Pennsville, N.J., outdueled fellow Garden State racer Brandon Grosso in a back-and-forth battle for Crate 602 Sportsman supremacy. Ballard and Grosso swapped the lead on several occasions before Ballard took command and survived a yellow with one lap remaining to score a $1,200 payday including lap money.
Grosso settled for second, followed by Steve Kemery, Scott Hitchens and Adam White.
*****
Little Lincoln and Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car events took place on Saturday.
Kirk Lawson of Georgetown, Del., capitalized on the issues of Mel Joseph Jr. to win the 12-lap Little Lincoln feature. Joseph’s car went up in smoke three laps from the finish and Lawson made an evasive move to take command.
In the 12-lap Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car Racing Club main, Dwayne Heck registered the win, holding off Richie Pratt Sr. Dave Parsons was the Sportsman division winner.
*****
Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks competed in features on both days.
In Delmarva Charger competition, Friday night’s 12-lap event was won by Scott Calhoun, who took advantage of a flat right-rear tire on the Tanner Marvel No. 22M. Calhoun won the event over Chuck Hudson, Bud Sipple, Marvel and Ashley Merritt.
Jerry Barker checked out on the competition in the Saturday 12-lap main, pulling away to a commanding lead over Calhoun, Bud Sipple, Jay Sipple and Merritt.
The Friday night Delaware Super Truck 12-lap event went to Robert Smith after the initial victor was disqualified for being light on the scales. Smith was credited with the win over Robert Reid, Matt Long, Thomas LeCates and Dale Elliott.
By virtue of Delaware Super Truck rules, Smith was forced to start dead last in the Saturday feature as the most recent winner. He drove from the rear to win the 12-lap main over Matt Long, Billy Cropper, Jerry Hill and Cory Sapp.
MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND NOTES: The Georgetown Speedway pit area was jammed to capacity with 223 unique entries filed over the nine divisions in two days of racing. The facility was alive with activity, campers and a festive Hurlock Auto & Speed after-party held after the racing activity on Friday night….
A wide geographic cross section of competitors ranging from Massachusetts to Virginia took part in the program….
Both programs were efficient despite the large congregation of race cars. Action was done before 11 p.m. Friday and at 8:38 p.m. Saturday. The Modified and Super Late Model events on Saturday were completed prior to 8 p.m. in rapid fashion…
The 2017 Georgetown Speedway Season Opener is scheduled for Saturday, March 11 with the two-day Melvin L. Joseph Memorial event….
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A new website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact Brett Deyo at 845.728.2781 during business hours for more information.
MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY RESULTS SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Big-Block Modified Feature Finish (40 laps): RICK LAUBACH, Danny Johnson, Jimmy Horton, Neal Williams, Richie Pratt Jr., Brad Trice, H.J. Bunting, Jordan Watson, Kevin Sockriter, Ryan Godown, Andy Bachetti, Dillon Steuer, Shawn Ward, Norman Short, Scott Van Gorder, Kevin Gardner, Steve Young, Howard O’Neal, Duane Howard, Jamie Mills, Carson Wright, Mike White, Clay Tatman, Dale Hawkins, Robert Dutton.
Did Not Start: Matt Jester, Westley Smith.
Super Late Model Feature Finish (40 laps): DAN STONE, Austin Hubbard, Dale Hollidge, D.J. Troutman, Shaun Jones, Kyle Hardy, Mark Pettyjohn, Donald Lingo Jr., Danny Snyder, Nick Davis, C.J. Faison, David Pettyjohn, Joey Warren, Rob Schirmer, Dylan Evans, Amanda Whaley, Jason Dean, Glenn Elliott, Ross Robinson, Geoff Carey, Mark Williams, Zac Weller, Ricky Elliott, Dan Green, Bob Geiger, Dave Troutman.
Crate Late Model Feature Finish (20 laps): MIKE WHARTON, Matt Hill, Zac Weller, John Imler, Tyler Reed, James Sutphin, Allen Brannon, Matthew Tarbox, Brent Bordeaux, Jamie Eicholz, Scott Hitchens, Robert Smith, Geoff Carey, Chuck Bowie, Cody Dawson, Kelly Putz, Billy Thompson, Matt Glanden, Ben Bowie, Charles Schawver, Ross LeCates.
Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car Feature Finish (12 laps): DWAYNE HECK, Richie Pratt Sr., C.J. Schirmer, Freddy Brightbill, Ron Myer, Mark Williams, Dave Schamp, Dave Parsons, John Burton, Todd Lapp, Don Davidson, Todd Miller, Chris Loveland, Andy Cassel, Kirk Lawson.
Little Lincoln Feature Finish (12 laps): KIRK LAWSON, John Stevenson, Landy Adams, Matt White, Tom Elliott, Jordan Herbert, Ronnie Wilson, Joe Watsten, Mel Joseph Jr., Bunky White, Joe Tracey, Rick Loveland.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): JERRY BARKER, Scott Calhoun, Bud Sipple, Jay Sipple, Ashley Merritt, Tippy Martinez, Randy Merritt, Derek Swafford, Butch Hudson, Earl Truitt, Andrew Hertz, Keith Lewis, Tanner Marvel.
Did Not Start: Chuck Hudson.
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): ROBERT SMITH, Matt Long, Billy Cropper, Jerry Hill, Cory Sapp, Brian Meisenholder, David Smith, Matt Esham, Rocky Whitley, Tim Quay, Michelle Jackson, Rick Beauchamp, Dale Elliott, D.J. Voss, Mike Lewis, Noah Vincent, Matthew Smith, Kara Klink, Luke Weidman, Zeth Jarvis, Shannon Lewis, Action Jackson.
Disqualified: Shane Clogg.
MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY RESULTS SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Small-Block Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): DUANE HOWARD, Ryan Godown, Jordan Watson, Craig Von Dohren, H.J. Bunting III, Brad Trice, Dillon Steuer, Kevin Sockriter, Matthew Peck, Scott Van Gorder, Andy Bachetti, Trent Willey, Richie Pratt Jr., Randy Green, Duane Rust, Kevin Gardiner, Jimmy Horton, Ray Swinehart, Steve Young.
Did Not Start: Danny Johnson.
Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): BRETT BALLARD, Brandon Grosso, Steve Kemery, Scott Hitchens, Adam White, Chuck Sayres, Mike Hough, Brian Nailor, Duane Rust, Dwayne Crockett, Trent Van Vorst, Nick Alberti, Trey Hicks, Gary Langenstein, Andy Hammond, Jeff Marker, Tim Trimble, Trevor Collins, Jeff Brown, Matt Smith, Jordn Justice, Bobby Bracall, Brian Hitz, Matt Stangle, Ted Reynolds, Jeremy Harrington.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): SCOTT CALHOUN, Chuck Hudson, Bud Sipple, Tanner Marvel, Ashley Merritt, Tippy Martinez, Derek Swafford, Tim Quay, Keith Lewis, Andrew Hertz, Butch Hudson, Randy Merritt, Earl Truitt, Jerry Barker, Geoff Carey, Jay Sipple.
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): ROBERT SMITH, Robert Reid, Matt Long, Thomas LeCates, Dale Elliott, Matthew Smith, Luke Weidman, Rocky Whitley, Tim Quay, Noah Vincent, Kara Klink, Action Jackson, Matt Esham, Michelle Jackson, Jerry Hill, Brian Meisenholder, David Smith, Cory Sapp, Shane Clogg, Ryan Zeth, Shannon Lewis, Mike Kennedy, D.J. Voss.
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