FRIESEN HEATS UP TO WIN MARCH MADNESS MELTDOWN AT NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY
Story By:MIKE WIZNEWESKI / NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By:ACE LANE Jr. and PETE MACDONALD / RACERSGUIDE.COM
New Egypt, NJ -March 20, 2016 – At New Egypt Speedway’s March Madness Meltdown, Stewart Friesen took the victory in the fifty lap Modified feature while Bob Lineman, Jr. captured the checkered flag in the thirty lap Sportsman main event.
Starting from the pole, Friesen grabbed the lead as the extra distance event began for the Modifieds with Duane Howard, Billy Pauch, Sr., Danny Creeden and Jeff Strunk in tow.
Just after the first circuit of fifty was completed, the caution flag appeared for a multi-car tangle in turn one. When action resumed to start a long period of green flag facing,
Friesen remained in command with Howard in second and Ryan Godown advancing three positions into third place. Although in front, Friesen’s first challenge for the lead came on the eleventh lap as Howard unsuccessfully tried an inside move for the top running position.
With sixteen circuits recorded, the top two of Friesen and Howard were knifing their way through traffic with Howard in close pursuit of Friesen.
Behind the front runners, a heated battle for fourth place was in progress between Pauch, Sr. and Strunk. By the twenty-first circuit, Strunk had gained the spot. Billy Pauch, Jr., who had started the event in nineteenth, was continuing his movement forward and took fourth place from Strunk on lap twenty three. As the event entered the second half,
Friesen withstood two strong challenges from Howard for the lead on laps twenty-seven and thirty-two with Godown and Pauch, Jr. next in line. A slowing Pauch, Sr. brought out the second yellow flag of the feature on the thirty-seventh lap.
Friesen kept his lead as the race restarted with Howard still in second and Pauch, Jr. slipping by Godown for third.
A right rear flat on Mike Franz’s ride caused the yellow lights to illuminate the immaculate racing surface with ten laps remaining. On the ensuing restart, Friesen maintained his lead with Pauch, Jr. getting by Howard for second. As the race was entering the final five tours, Friesen was fending off Pauch, Jr. when a spin by John Keller brought out the yellow flag.
Green flag action returned for two laps before a final caution period took place for debris on the race track. When racing got back underway, Friesen held off Pauch, Jr. to claim the first place prize of $5000. With Pauch, Jr. taking second, Howard came home in third. Fourth place went to Godown. Tyler Dippel’s consistent run resulted in a fifth place finish. Dom Buffalino, Dippel, and Pauch, Sr. were victors in the heat races for the Modifieds. The consolation contest was taken by Pauch, Jr.
In the Sportsman feature, Bob Lineman took the lead from Brandon Grosso on the seventh circuit of thirty and went unchallenged the remaining distance to take home the $1,000 first place check. Ryan Grim took the runner-up position with John Aumick finishing in third. Grosso and JR Fulper completed the top five. The Sportsman qualifying events went to Grosso and Fulper.
On Saturday, March 26 at New Egypt Speedway, an open practice session for all divisions will take place. The pit gates will open at 10:00 a.m. with practice slated to start at noon. An Easter Egg Hunt will occur in the picnic area for children at 1:00 p.m. Grandstand admission is free for all. The regular season of racing gets underway on Saturday, April 2 with 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, NEWS Wingless Sprints, and Street Stocks on the agenda.
Pit gates will open at 2:00 p.m. on opening night with grandstand turnstiles unlocking at 4:00 p.m. Hot laps crank up at 5:15 with the first race starting at 6:00 p.m.
New Egypt Speedway is located on Route 539 just minutes from Six Flags Great Adventure and the New Jersey Turnpike. A racy 7/16-mile D-shaped dirt oval, New Egypt Speedway serves Garden State race fans with some of the best competition in the country. New Egypt’s state-of-the-art facilities feature daylight-quality lighting and excellent sightlines from any seat in the house.
The grandstands are fully wheelchair accessible with wide, clear, and well-groomed walkways. Concession facilities serve up everything from roast beef sandwiches to ice cream treats at family-friendly prices.
For more information, visit online: www.newegyptspeedway.net, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newegyptspeedwayofficial, or follow us on Twitter @nesspeedway.
NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY RESULTS – MARCH MADNESS MELTDOWN – SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016
Modifieds
Heat 1 – 1. Dom Buffalino 2. Danny Creeden 3. Ryan Watt 4. John McClelland 5. Mike Sabia 6. Mike Franz
Heat 2 – 1. Tyler Dippel 2. Jeff Strunk 3. Ryan Godown 4. Frank Cozze 5. Neal Williams 6. Jimmy Horton
Heat 3 – 1. Billy Pauch, Sr. 2. Duane Howard 3. Stewart Friesen 4. Willie Osmun 5. Mike Butler 6. John Keller
Consolation – 1. Billy Pauch, Jr. 2. Danny Bouc 3. Doug Manmiller 4. Clay Butler 5. Mark Bitner 6. Eric Engstrom
MODIFIEDS – 50 LAPS FEATURE
1. STEWART FRIESEN 2. Billy Pauch, Jr. 3. Duane Howard 4. Ryan Godown 5. Tyler Dippel 6. Jeff Strunk 7. Neal Williams 8. Frank Cozze 9. Doug Manmiller 10. Dom Buffalino 11. Jimmy Horton 12. Danny Creeden 13. Mike Butler 14. Clay Butler 15. John McClelland 16. Mark Bitner 17. Mike Franz 18. John Keller 19. Eric Engstrom 20. Billy Pauch, Sr. 21. Mike Sabia 22. Danny Bouc 23. Willie Osmun 24. Ryan Watt
DNQ: Heidi Heddin, Chris Grbac
Sportsman
Heat 1 – 1. Brandon Grosso 2. Ryan Grim 3. Jimmy Amato 4. Matt Stangle 5. Shaun Ratchford 6. Adam Cox
Heat 2 – 1. JR Fulper 2. Bob Lineman, Jr. 3. John Aumick 4. Joe Funk 5. Marty Resnick 6. Pat Hires
SPORTSMAN – 30 LAPS FEATURE
1. BOB LINEMAN, JR. 2. Ryan Grim 3. John Aumick 4. Brandon Grosso 5. JR Fulper 6. Jim Housworth 7. Shawn Ratchford 8. Adam Cox 9. Matt Stangle 10. Pat Hires 11. Cale Ross 12. Dakota Kessler 13. Joe Funk 14. Marty Resnick 15. Jimmy Amato 16. Ebby Ridge 17. Derek Krum
DNS: Bill Liedtka
