GROSSO REBOUNDS FOR FEATURE WIN NUMBER SIX; MR CRATE CLASSIC WIN GOES TO BANGS
Dave Kovacs Photo
Encountering engines issues the last event run at the New Egypt Speedway which saw his #32G retired for the night, Belle Mead’s Brandon Grosso came roaring back to win the thirty lap Vahlco Wheels modified feature Saturday night. The win was the current points leaders sixth of the 2022 campaign.
Starting in the number one position, Bryan Kuhl lead the field of twenty four into battle with Justin Grosso second and Kevin Vaclavicek third. With three laps in the books, the yellow lights flashed on for two separate occasions with the second the more severe as eleven cars were involved in a turn four restart incident.
As the field realigned, the green flag flew and making a bold move was Brandon Grosso as he went from fifth into third, but it was brother Justin who outran Kuhl to now lead the event. Lap five saw Dakota Kessler encounter mechanical issues entering two resulting in another caution period. With the field doubled up for the restart, it was Brandon Grosso who began to show his hand moving into second on lap six. The caution lights would blink on again on lap seven for a spinning Mike Butler.
Butler refired the Short Load Concrete #04 and fell in at the rear of the field as Justin knew he would have his hands full trying to hold off his older brother. Wasting no time, Brandon became the third different leader of the race on lap thirteen as former track champion Rick Laubach was running his strongest race of the season sitting in third.
Once out front, Brandon began to stretch his lead with every lap scored, but it was Matt Stangle who was the big mover cracking the top five on lap twenty one after starting in eighteenth. With time rapidly running out, Justin could not keep up with his teammate as the Grosso Homes #32 machine made yet another trip to victory lane.
Following Justin across the line were, Laubach, Danny Bouc, and Stangle with rookie Anothony Tramontana sixth, Jack Butler seventh, John McClelland eighth, Mike Butler ninth, and early leader Kuhl tenth.
Coming from a big win in the third round of the High Gear Towing Crate Series event, Johnny Bangs backed it up with an even larger victory, winning the Hamilton Auto Body sixth running of the Mr. Crate Classic.
The forty lap race saw second generation driver, George Gareis Jr., lead the first five laps before giving way to Bangs on lap six. With ten laps recorded, Joe Toth had worked his way into the runner up position with current point leader Ryan Simmons third. Back to back caution periods on laps thirteen and fourteen momentarily slowed the race, and it was on the restart, that Toth began to apply heavy
pressure to the #JB1. Not one to waste time, the 2019 champion used the high groove to become the new leader when lap fifteen was recorded
Opening up a small but comfortable lead over Bangs, it appeared as though Toth was on route to his fourth win of the season. But with five laps to go, Bangs found that little bit more he was looking for to grab the lead on lap thirty six and the eventual win.
Simmons managed to hold off a challenging Steve Davis for third as Tom Princiotta rounded out the top five.
In the twenty lap NEWS main event, it was defending and three time track champion, Rich Mellor, who prevailed for his third win of the season. Shea Wills led laps one through seven before giving way to Mellor with current point leader and four time feature winner this season, Mick D’Agostino in third.
The Massachusetts driver passed Wills for second on lap eleven, but had his work cut out for him as Mellor had built up a substantial lead. His cushion though would be erased on lap fifteen as Brad Schaale encountered problems on the speedway necessitating a caution period.
The single file restart gave Mellor the slight advantage he needed to hold off D’Agostino and notch career win number nineteen. Recording his best finish of the season, Larry Drake crossed the line in third followed by early leader Wills and Heidi Hedin.
In the fifteen lap Wash Wagon 4 Cylinder feature, it was Justin Dunn in for his fifth win of the season. Taking second place money was Scott Dunn with Richie Page third, Mike Fox fourth, and Bob Johnson fifth.
Next up on the schedule, Saturday, July 16th, is Jeep Night #2 featuring the Vahlco Wheels modifieds, the fourth round of the High Gear Towing Crate Select Series, the MASS 305’s, the Wash Wagon 4 Cylinders, and the Vintage cars.
