Driver Makes Last Lap Pass On Brett Hearn To Take $35,000 Payday
Story By: FRANK CATIZONE / OCFS MEDIA
Photos By: DAN DEMARCO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
MIDDLETOWN, NY -October 24, 2016- Stewart Friesen brought a packed house to its feet on the final lap of the 2016 racing season as he secured his first Eastern States 200 Modified victory during a heated battle with the event’s all-time winner Brett Hearn Sunday night at the Orange County Fair Speedway.
Friesen, who called OCFS his home for the first time this racing campaign, dove underneath Hearn while racing between the third and fourth turns on the 200th circuit around the five-eighths mile, hard clay oval. Their cars made brief contact while battling for the lead with Friesen coming out on top and Hearn drifting wide towards the outside wall.
Anthony Perrego also was able to slip past Hearn to score an impressive second-place showing in his first race behind the wheel of Bill Pascual’s No. 3 car. Hearn regrouped to place third with Rick Laubach and Kenny Tremont rounding out the top five.
“Brett tried to block the track and I just filled in the gap underneath him,’’ said Friesen about his race-winning move. “I was able to dive down real low and Brett moved too far up. But I knew this was going to be the only chance I had to get past him. We did make some contact, but sometimes you just have to go for it. Things worked out for us this time.”
Friesen, who also captured this year’s Bud Lite 200 during Super DIRTcar week in Oswego, was easily the class of the 44-car field in the early going from his starting pole position. The Sprakers driver was able to lap cars at will as racing was under green conditions until Jimmy Horton came up with a right rear flat with 26 laps completed.
Several other competitors were forced to the pits throughout the race as the abrasive track conditions took its toll during most of the race.
Perrego, in fact, was forced to the pits with a right rear flat after 28 laps were completed. He would rejoin the field just before the mandatory pit stops could begin after 30 laps were scored. Drivers had to take one mandatory stop at any point of the race from the 31st lap on.
Friesen continued to control matters on the race track as he was able to hold a decisive cushion on the field while many of his competitors – including Hearn – made early their mandatory stops early in the race.
Hearn, who was seeking his 12th Eastern States crown, and Tommy Meier were now running first and second as they were in position to produce a repeat of last year’s 200-lapper, which was won by Meier.
“Brett had a real good race car, but I think having fresher tires at the end really helped us,” said Friesen. “We’ve tried all season long to find the right combination at this race track and this race team deserves all the credit for all of their hard work.
“I want to thank Chris Larsen for this opportunity. We’ve struggled to get things right here, but I think we stuck right to our strategy and this was just one heck of a win. It’s something I’ve wanted to achieve for a long time now.”
