GROSSO GRABS SECOND WIN OF YOUNG SEASON AT NEW EGYPT

Dave Pratt Photo

GROSSO GRABS SECOND WIN OF YOUNG SEASON AT NEW EGYPT

Coming off an impressive win on opening night, Belle Mead’s Brandon Grosso turned in another flawless performance capturing the thirty lap Vahlco Wheels modified feature at the New Egypt Speedway. The victory was the tenth of his career as a modified campaigner and his seventeenth overall at the tricky Route 539 oval.

Jim Housworth took control of the event at the start of the race with Jack Butler second and Ryan Conrad third. Conrads’s night ended abruptly on lap three as the IHOP sponsored #5C slowed on the backstretch. With Conrad’s machine out for the night, the double file restart saw Housworth remain in the number one position as Kevin Vaclavicek drove into second.

The pace would slow two laps later on lap five when Dakota Kessler lost the handle coming out of turn four and was collected by Danny Bouc and John McClelland. All three cars were unable to continue as Housworth quickly picked up where he had left off leading the event.

A quick caution period on lap seven slowed the pace momentarily, but when the green lights flashed on it was Housworth still in command. Patiently working his way through the field from his eighteenth starting position, Grosso was on the move as he ducked into second on lap eight.

Setting his sights on the 2020 Sportsman/Crate champion, Housworth remained solid and unscathed as the two pulled away from the field. Butler remained a strong third as a good battle for fourth was developing between veteran Frank Cozze and Cale Ross.

By lap twenty, Grosso was ready to make his move, but Housworth answered every challenge and appeared to be headed for his first career win. But the ever-consistent Grosso found the opening he was looking for on lap twenty-seven, ducking under the Housworth #72 to take the lead and the eventual win. Butler turned in a steady performance for a career-best finish of third with Cozze winning the battle for fourth over Ross. Kory Fleming drove a steady race to take home sixth place money with David Van Horn seventh, Mike Butler eighth, Louden Reimert ninth, and Bryan Kuhl tenth.

In the twenty lap Racersguide/Hamilton Auto Clinic main event, it was Joe Toth who won his fourth career feature. Ricky Moran started on the pole and led the first ten laps of the event before Toth took control on lap eleven.

As he did, the pace slowed dramatically for two separate incidents which gave the field time to regroup. The restart gave Justin Grosso the edge he needed as he moved into third on lap twelve and into second one lap later.

Toth though was able to hold a consistent line and capture the big win in the Belmont Garage #9. Finishing behind Grosso was Johnny Bangs with early leader Moran fourth and newcomer Dylan Swinehart fifth. Chris Lilick, Keven Bordan, Tom Princiotta, Dan Fleming, and Jon Meyer rounded out the top ten.

Mick D’Agostino made it two wins in a row capturing the Larry’s Hot Rods and Harleys twenty lap NEWS feature. Following the same format as week one, the young driver took the lead with just two laps remaining. Three-time champion Rich Mellor took the lead on lap two from Shea Wills as D’Agostino moved into second at the halfway point in the race.

A brief caution on lap thirteen slowed what was an extremely fast paced feature, and on the restart, Mellor held the upper hand but knew he would need to drive defensively to hold off the Taunton, Ma driver. Doing his best, Mellor gave way on lap eighteen as D’Agostino recorded career win number four. Heidi Hedin made a smooth last lap move to take second with Mellor,
Wills, and Al Cheney third through fifth.

A strong field of fifteen starters went to the line in the Freedom Firearms Street Stock headliner and when the checkered flag flew fifteen laps later it was Vern McLaughlin in for the win. Second spot went to Brian Ludwig, who led laps one through six, with three-time track champion Bill Liedtka third, Chris Lane fourth, and Spider Ensigner III fifth.

David Miloszar captured the eight lap Crate rookie main event, his second in as many weeks. Logan Starr and Therese Aumick rounded out the top three.

Next week it’s another five-division show featuring the Vahlco Wheels modifieds, Racersguide/Hamilton Auto Clinic Crates, Larry’s Hot Rods and Harleys Sprints, Wash Wagon 4-Cylinders and the Crate Rookies.