LAUBACH REBOUNDS FOR CAREER WIN NUMBER EIGHTEEN
Harry Meeks Sr. Photo
LAUBACH REBOUNDS FOR CAREER WIN NUMBER EIGHTEEN
Three weeks ago, two time track champion, Rick Laubach was headed for his first win of the season. Unfortunately, with four laps remaining in the twenty five lap feature, the red flag was needed for a turn two incident. While sitting on the speedway awaiting the restart, track official notified Laubach that fluid was leaking from the H Blinderman and Sons Inc #7. Not wanting to litter the speedway with liquid, which was coming from a faulty water pump, he pulled into the pit area while the red lights were still lit.
Under NJ state laws, no driver on the speedway can move under red flag conditions. This led to his disqualification which resulted in a loss of purse money and standing points but not his handicapping points. Effecting his handicapping in a positive way, Laubach started the thirty lap feature on the pole. The drawback to this scenario was the fact that sitting to his right was the current point leader Brandon Grosso. Knowing he would need to be perfect on the restart, Laubach was that and much more as he quickly pulled away from Grosso and his fellow competitors taking the well deserved win.
At the drop of the green Laubach charged into the lead as Wade Hendrickson dropped into third with Jim Housworth fourth. Able to move into second on lap two, Housworth appeared to have a good line around the tricky new surface as Kevin Vaclavicek was showing his hand early moving into fourth on lap three. Meanwhile making his way through the field from his thirteenth starting spot was Danny Bouc. Coming off a very impressive heat race win, Bouc cracked the top five on lap ten and was eagerly looking to improve his position with twenty laps remaining.
Not one to waste time, the 2020 champion occupied the number three slot at the halfway point of the race as Laubach was taking full advantage of the green flag racing stretching out his lead with every lap scored. With lapped traffic separating the top three drivers, the race within the race was for fourth as Housworth and Bryan Kuhl were wagering quite a battle for the position.
With the laps winding down, Laubach enjoyed his six second lead over Grosso to bring home his first win of the season. Bouc was closing in on Grosso, but simply ran out of time taking third with Housworth edging out Kuhl for fourth.
Turning in a solid outing for sixth place money was Vaclavicek as Hendrickson, Louden Reimert, John McClelland, and Justin Grosso rounded out the top ten.
In the Oliver Communications & Construction Match Races, the final shootout boiled down to one between Danny Bouc and Louden Reimert. With this two lap race paying $500, Reimert outran Bouc to take home the big cash prize.
Round six of the High Gear Towing Crate Select Series, saw Joe Toth winning the twenty lap feature. It was the current point leader’s third win in the seven event series. The final race of this highly successful series headed by former driver George Gareis is scheduled for October 1st. That event will carry with it double points.
Will Dupree took the field of twenty four into battle with Tom Princiotta second and Will Protinik third. By lap five, Toth had joined the top three and the race for the lead was no doubt a heated one. David Burns was another player in the fight for first and made a bold move to take over the top spot on lap seven. But on lap nine Toth showed his strength to take the lead.
The race slowed momentarily for back to back cautions on lap thirteen, but when it restarted it was Toth who held off Burns for the top honors. Princiotta crossed the line in third with Ryan Simmons fourth and Nick Stephen fifth.
No stranger to open wheel racing, Brendan Hyers, making just his fourth start of the season, used the outside groove to his advantage winning the twenty lap Larry’s Hot Rods and Harleys NEWS feature. Coming off a big win a few weeks back, Shea Wills lead the field for the first eight laps before giving way to Hyers on lap nine. Defending track champion Rich Mellor, and six time feature winner this year, Mick D’Agostino tried their best to track down Hyers but to no avail.
Following Mellor and D’Agostino across the finish line were Larry Drake and Al Cheney.
In a photo finish, Spider Ensinger Jr nosed out defending champion Bill Liedtka in the Freedom Firearms Street Stock main event. Vern McLaughlin lead laps one and two but spun going into turn two bringing out the caution flag. Ensinger Jr. grabbed the lead on the restart and held off the late challenge of Liedtka to take his first career win.
Current point leader Brian Ludwig was third with Gary Klimczak fourth, and Spider Ensinger Sr. Fifth.
Next up on the schedule is 1st Responders Night/Modified Championship Night. The Vahlco Wheels modified champion will be crowned in a thirty lap feature. Joining the modifieds will be the Crates, NEWS, and Wash Wagon 4 Cylinders. In addition, Oliver Communication & Construction will sponsor match races for the Crate division competitors.
