David Van Horn Ends Four-Year, 15-Day Short Track Super Series Dry Spell Tuesday at New Egypt, Earns $6,250

David Van Horn Ends Four-Year, 15-Day Short Track Super Series Dry Spell Tuesday at New Egypt, Earns $6,250

Story By: Brett Deyo/SSTS

Photos By: Harry Meeks/RacersGuide.com

NEW EGYPT, NJ – Four years and 15 days.

That’s how long it had been since David Van Horn Jr. reached Victory Lane with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco.

On Tuesday night at New Egypt Speedway, Van Horn picked up his first series win since August 5, 2015 in style, topping the ‘Dirty Jersey 6’ 40-lap main for a $6,250 payday in Round No. 6 of the STSS Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and Sunglass Central.

The win – Van Horn’s second with the series – came at the controls of Fred Vahlsing’s VAHLCO Wheels-sponsored No. 323ov with big-block power between the frame rails.

Van Horn, whose prior checkered flag came at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, Del., felt he brought the right combination to the unique D-shaped 7/16ths – mile New Egypt track.

“It was awesome,” Van Horn, who resides in Ringoes, N.J., reflected. “Even last week, when the track was slick here the car was perfect. Tonight the track had a little more bite. The bottom was the place to be early then the top cleaned off and I moved up.

“It feels good to win one of these (STSS) races again. The competition is always tough.”

Van Horn started third in the main event. From the pole, veteran Wade Hendrickson shot into the lead and paced the opening four circuits before Van Horn took command for the first time.

Hendrickson held second position through a lap-15 restart when Danny Bouc – driving the Craig and Leslie Pondish No. 6 – rolled the extreme outside lane to second after starting ninth.

Bouc continued his drive toward the front, sweeping by Van Horn to take the lead before a caution on the 19th lap.

Bouc picked the outside lane for the restart, but Van Horn was ready. DVH surged off the bottom to lead the Precision Hydraulic & Oil Halfway Lap. Van Horn now changed his line to the outside with Bouc in pursuit.

Bouc’s effort stalled on lap 24 with a flat right-rear tire. Van Horn led Hendrickson and an emerging Brandon Grosso, who started seventh.

Grosso took over the runner-up spot on the 26th lap. Despite four cautions in the race’s final 14 circuits, Van Horn was flawless, powering to a victory at the track where he is the defending champion.

Montgomery, N.J.’s Grosso finished a stout second, collecting the $3,000 payday that accompanied it. Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., righted his New Egypt misfortunes with a third-place result in the Ron Roberts-owned No. 14W. Mike Gular of Boyertown, Pa., raced amidst the top-six for the entire distance and placed fourth with Terry Fasnacht’s No. 2A. Lawrenceville, N.J.’s Hendrickson was fifth in Pat Michael’s No. 51M.

Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., who charged forward after pitting early in the event; 12th-starter Duane Howard of Oley, Pa., in Norm Hansell’s No. 357; Craig Von Dohren, also of Oley, Pa., after starting 15th; track regular Cale Ross of Lambertville, N.J., up from 18th; and a resurgent Bouc of Pipersville, Pa.

Billy Pauch Jr. set the Beyea Headers Fast Time Award with a lap of 16.613 seconds, collecting $100.

Heat winners were Howard, Blewett and Pauch Jr. Anthony Perrego topped the consolation.

The Capitol Renegade United Racing Club (URC) 360 Sprint Cars returned to New Egypt for the $2,000-to-win ‘Turnpike 25’ event. Wantage, N.J.’s Davie Franek took home the cash. After a mid-race challenge from J.J. Grasso (who succumbed to a flat tire), Franek motored away for the triumph on Garden State soil.

Adam Carberry, Josh Weller, Tyler Ross and Ryan Stillwaggon completed the front five.

Steve Davis of Jackson, N.J., led wire-to-wire in the 20-lap STSS Crate 602 Sportsman main event, taking home a $1,500 payday aboard the Howie Finch Jr. Hig Fab Chassis.

The Crate 602 Sportsman drivers completed timed hot laps to set the order for the fourth event of the ’19 South Region. Davis set the fast time and started from the pole. In a fast-paced event slowed just twice by caution flags, Davis led wire-to-wire.

Ryan Simmons finished a stout second, followed by Ryan Heim, Joe Toth and Jim Housworth.

NEW EGYPT NOTEBOOK: The efficiently run program saw the final checkered flag of the night for the URC 360 Sprint Cars waving at 10:10 p.m. with 76 total race cars in the pit area (30 STSS Modifieds, 26 STSS Crate 602 Sportsman and 20 URC Sprint Cars)….

The Chemidlin family presented a $747 Hard Charger Award in the STSS Modified division in memory of late driver and car owner John Chemidlin. Rick Laubach received the extra cash driving from 24th to 13th with members of the Chemidlin family making the presentation….

The STSS Modified podium saw a trio of engine combinations. Van Horn won with a traditional big-block; Grosso a large cubic inch small-block; and Watt a sealed spec engine on gasoline….

Uncharacteristic tough night for Matt Sheppard, who suffered a flat tire running inside the top six, spun once and was collected in a turn-three incident before limping home 16th….

Track conditions were wide and tacky with limited dust for the event, drawing praise from competitors and fans….

Delaware’s Georgetown Speedway hosts the next STSS event with the VAHLCO Racing Wheels ‘Blast at the Beach’ presented by Melon 1 on Tuesday, August 27 (rain date Wednesday, August 28). The event will be recorded for broadcast on MAV-TV and features STSS Modifieds (35 laps, $6,000 to win) in a Velocita-USA South Region event, STSS Crate 602 Sportsman (20 laps, $1,500 to win), Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.

To learn more about the 2019 Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Velocita-USA, Design for Vision/Sunglass Central, Rob Sherlock Roofing, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH Springs, Escape RV, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, MJK Home Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Velocita, WELD Racing & Wilwood.

‘DIRTY JERSEY 6’ RACE SUMMARY – NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY AUGUST 20, 2019

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region Event No. 6 Modified Feature Finish (40 laps): DAVID VAN HORN JR., Brandon Grosso, Ryan Watt, Mike Gular, Wade Hendrickson, Andy Bachetti, Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren, Cale Ross, Danny Bouc, Jimmy Blewett, Jeff Strunk, Rick Laubach, Anthony Perrego, Jordan Watson, Matt Sheppard, Richie Pratt Jr., Mike Butler, Rich Rutski, Billy Osmun, Jeremy Smith, Jimmy Horton, Matt Stangle, Pat Wall, Ryan Krachun, Billy Pauch Jr.

Did Not Qualify: Johnny Guarino, Clay Butler, Dominic Buffalino, Chris Grbac.

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire): Craig Von Dohren (eighth) & Rick Laubach (13th)
ATL Fuel Cells Bonus ($200 Certificate): Wade Hendrickson (fifth)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Card): Mike Gular (fourth) & Cale Ross (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Fast Time Bonus ($100): Billy Pauch Jr. (16.613 seconds)
Bill Brown & Company ‘Move of the Race’ Award ($50): David Van Horn Jr.
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonuses (Wiley X ‘Ignite’ Sunglasses): David Van Horn Jr. (winner), Brandon Grosso (second) & Ryan Watt (third)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Andy Bachetti (sixth)
Henry’s Exhaust System Power Position ($50 Certificate): Jimmy Blewett (11th)
John Chemidlin Memorial Hard Charger ($747): Rick Laubach (24th to 13th)
Precision Hydraulic & Oil Halfway Leader ($200): David Van Horn Jr.
Racing Optics Bonus (Sleeve of Tearoffs): Ryan Watt (third)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Brandon Grosso (second), Jeff Strunk (12th) & Jimmy Horton (22nd)
WELD Wheels Hard Luck Award (FREE 5XL Wheel): Ryan Krachun

Capitol Renegade United Racing Club (URC) 360 Sprint Car Feature Finish (25 laps): DAVIE FRANEK, Adam Carberry, Josh Weller, Tyler Ross, Ryan Stillwaggon, Curt Michael, Chad Layton, Steve Buckwalter, Brian Carber, Austin Bishop, Joe Kata, Jason Shultz, Ed Aikin, Chris Allen Jr., Thomas Radivoy, Art Liedl, Ryan Quackenbush, J.J. Grasso, Troy Betts, Robbie Stillwaggon.

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman South Region Event No. 4 Feature Finish (20 laps): STEVE DAVIS, Ryan Simmons, Ryan Heim, Joe Toth, Jim Housworth, Kevin Borden Jr., Sam Martz Jr., Aaron Weaver, Alex Yankowski, Justin Grosso, Jason Dunn, Howie Finch Jr., Anthony Tramontana, Dan Fleming, Trent Van Vorst, Ryan Macartney, Jimmy Johnson, John Meyer, Tom Princiotta, Jordan Cox, Corey Cormier, Andy Walko, Ryan Krushinski, Samantha Muller, Zachary Merola, Dylan Swinehart.