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Test of Survival: Stewart Friesen Survives 49-lap Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Marathon, Earning $6,949-Plus

Written by Chris Moore

GEORGETOWN, DE – A field of 46 Bob Hilbert Sportswear
Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds filled the
Georgetown Speedway pit area on Saturday.

After
an event-filled 49-lap main event, Stewart Friesen survived for a $6,949
payday.

Friesen,
of Sprakers, N.Y., bested the 31-car field and a race of tire attrition to win
the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial in front of a packed house at the Sussex County
oval. Friesen edged rival Matt Sheppard to open the STSS Velocita-USA South
Region with a Sunoco checkered flag.

With
strong winds and bright sun, an abrasive track surface was in place for the
opening round of the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision
and Sunglass Central.

Joseph
Watson and Ryan Krachun started on the front row as New Jersey’s Krachun took
the lead and had opened a sizable advantage over the rest of the field.
However, after a yellow on lap eight, Krachun chose the outside, and Anthony
Perrego, in his new Gary Simpson No. 12 STSS South Region ride, gladly took the
bottom and took the top spot.

Drivers
continued trying to make the top side work, and right around the halfway point,
tires began deflating. Pole starter Watson brought out the yellow due to a flat
tire; H.J. Bunting and Krachun both visited the pit area to change tires as
well. One lap later, following another yellow, Billy Pauch (second), Stewart
Friesen (sixth), and Ryan Godown (seventh) all went to the pit area on lap 25.

Things
began to look like the ‘Blast at the Beach’ from last August with Anthony
Perrego and Craig Von Dohren running first and second. However, they both fell
victim to the flat tire wrath shortly after. By lap 29, all but six cars had
been in the pits.

After
Friesen’s tire change, he was able to pick spots off one-by-one, combined with overtaking
drivers who went to the pit area.

By
lap 30, Friesen’s Halmar International-backed DKM No. 44 was back to the lead.

“It’s
a weird deal when it comes to a tire game like that,� Friesen said, reflecting
on his ascent through traffic. “It wasn’t an artistic success, but we got the
win and we will take it. I was definitely nervous about making it to the end.�

On
lap 33, defending STSS Halmar International North Region driver Billy Decker
flipped on the backstretch. At that point, STSS and Georgetown officials opted
to offer teams the opportunity to refuel due to the amount of caution laps run.

Following
the fuel stop, Matt Sheppard and Ryan Watt began to climb their way through the
field, eventually getting to second and third, respectively, within the final
five laps.

Sheppard
and Watt chased Friesen across the line at the finish.

The
win for Friesen was the 13th of his career with the Short Track
Super Series.

“Stew
is too good; he’s not going to mess up,� Sheppard said. “We threw everything at
him that we could. We just ran out of tires.�

Sheppard
had led the race at the lap-27 mark prior to giving it up due to a flat tire.

The
defending winner of the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial race, Boyertown, Pa.’s Watt
started 18th, climbed fifth, got a flat, and drove all the way back
for a third-place finish.

“We
got to third, I thought we had something for those two (Friesen and Sheppard),
but we ran out of tires and I just had to hang on,� the Boyertown, Pa., driver
said.

Billy
Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J., nursed the Pascual Motorsports No. 3 to a
fourth-place finish, edging Milford, Del.’s Jordan Watson, who recovered from
his own tire misfortune to finish fifth in the family owned No. 1J.

Jeff
Strunk of Boyertown, Pa., drove Glenn Hyneman’s Keystone Racing No. 126 from 29th
to finish sixth, earning the $249 cash Hard Charger from Ad-Art Sign Company
and a $50 VAHLCO Wheels certificate. Duane Howard of Oley, Pa., in Norm Hansell’s
No. 357 finished seventh, followed by Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa., in the
Dick Biever No. 14s; David Van Horn Jr. of Phillipsburg, N.J., in Fred Vahlsing’s
No. 323ov; and Sportsman graduate Alex Yankowski of Throop, Pa.

Sheppard
was the Beyea Custom Headers Fast Timer at a lap of 19.213 seconds.

Heat
winners were Sheppard, Bachetti, Krachun, Van Horn and Von Dohren. Wade
Hendrickson, Ryan Godown and Mike Gular took the consolations.

Adam
McAuliffe of Broadalbin, N.Y., put his name on the Georgetown Speedway win
list, taking home the $1,490 top prize to open the six-race STSS Crate 602
Sportsman South Region. McAuliffe’s win came over a packed field of 53
Sportsman on hand for the opener.

The
Crate 602 Sportsman feature had drama in its own right.

Pole
starter Cole Stangle was sent back two after being called for jumping the start
twice. Tighe Sherlock would inherit the lead and controlled most of the events.

Scott
Hitchens, the all-time winningest 602 crate driver at Georgetown, quickly
climbed from 10th to second and was pressuring Sherlock for the
lead. All the meanwhile, Craig Whitmoyer, a Grandview (Pa.) Speedway regular,
was making hay. After starting 19th, the man they call “Hook�, was
working through the field and had gotten to third, right behind Sherlock and
Hitchens.

Things
all changed with five laps to go, as Scott Hitchens went to change a left-rear
tire under yellow.

McAuliffe
was the beneficiary as he shot through the top-five.

“I
found out under one yellow the top was a little better, so I stuck with it,�
McAuliffe said.

The
Empire State driver made the trip down, and put on a show in the late race
restarts, going to the top every time, and making passes every time. With three
laps to go McAuliffe was third when the green flag dropped again. He went to
the top, passed Whitmoyer and got under Sherlock. Sherlock got out of the
groove off of four, and hit the outside wall hard, ending his story book night.

“I
knew we’d be strong at the end,â€? McAuliffe.  

The
Delaware Super Trucks saw 15 vehicles take the green with Jerry Hill and Tim
Quay on the front row. Matt Esham, who started 12th was making moves
early and often. He climbed to second halfway, and was able to take advantage
of the push the 69 of Jeremy Hill had. Hill and David Smith ended up making
contact, giving Hill a flat tire and ending his chances at a win.

Esham
held off the field to pick up his first career win.

A
17-car field of Modifieds and Late Models appeared for the Southern Delaware Vintage
Stock Car feature event. Jamie Eicholz started on the outside of the front row,
and showed the way, as the Late Models ended up with a strong advantage by the
end.

The
top-three were all Late Models, with Eicholz picking up the win, and Todd
Miller finishing second. Miller started in 15th and ended up being
the highest-finishing sportsman finisher in the feature.

Twelve
Delmarva Chargers went at it hot and heavy for their 12-lap feature. By lap
two, they were two by three nose to tail among the first five cars. Geoff Carey
started and seventh and quickly threw his hat in the ring and entered the fray.
He and the No. 51 of Jerry Barker began to run away from the field.

“I
hope he’s not mad, I leaned on him a little bit,� Carey would say of his pass
of Barker for the lead with four laps to go.

Ashley
Merritt, meanwhile, would win a three wide battle to round out the top three.

GEORGETOWN NOTES: It was a big day for growing chassis
builder DKM, sweeping the open-wheel portions of the event with Friesen in the
STSS Modified and McAuliffe in the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman taking victories….

NASCAR
Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison was the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Grand Marshall
and signed autographs throughout the afternoon, while speaking to the crowd
before the National Anthem. Allison rehashed memories of racing Joseph’s No. 49
and his affinity for Dover International Speedway built by Joseph….

The
pit area was filled to overflow, literally, leading to the Delmarva Chargers
and Delaware Super Trucks to be parked in the infield. The total car count was
143….

The two-day event concludes on Sunday with an event comprised of Small-Block
Modifieds racing for $4,049 to win (30 laps) plus RUSH Late Models ($1,049 to
win), Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.

All
gates open at noon on Sunday. Hot laps hit the track at 2 p.m. with racing at 3
p.m.

Sunday
grandstand admission is $25 for Adults, $20 for Seniors (ages 65 and up) and
Students (ages 13-17), $10 for Children ages 9-12 and Kids 8 and under are FREE.

Pit
admission for Sunday is $35 (ages 13 and up), $10 for Kids (ages 6-12) and $2
for Children five and under.

Georgetown
Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the
intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles
from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.

A
website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com.
Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or
contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).

MELVIN L. JOSEPH MEMORIAL RESULTS
SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY MARCH 16, 2019

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track
Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region Event No. 1 Modified
Feature Finish (49 laps):  STEWART FRIESEN, Matt Sheppard, Ryan Watt,
Billy Pauch Jr., Jordan Watson, Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren,
David Van Horn Jr., Alex Yankowski, Demetrios Drellos, Richie Pratt Jr., Mike
Gular, Andy Bachetti, Brandon Grosso, H.J. Bunting III, Allison Ricci, Ryan
Krachun, Matt Stangle, Ryan Godown, Jimmy Horton, Billy Pauch, Wade
Hendrickson, Billy Decker, Joseph Watson, Anthony Perrego, Danny Johnson, Tim
Fuller, Mike Mahaney, Rick Laubach, Danny Bouc.

Did Not Qualify: Michael Maresca, Craig Hanson, Kevin
Sockriter, Roger Manning, Scott Van Gorder, Roger Henion Jr., Kevin Gardner,
Todd Neiheiser, Robbie Emory, Ryan Riddle, Ron Roberts Jr., Mike Franz, Jordn
Justice, Sammy Martz, Bobby DeLeon.

Ad-Art Sign Company Hard Charger
($249): Jeff Strunk(29th to sixth)
American Racer/Lias Tire Company Tire Giveaway (FREE Tire): Alex Yankowski
(10th) & Demetrios Drellos (11th)
ATL Fuel Cells Bonus ($200 Certificate):
Jordan Watson(fifth)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Billy Pauch Jr. (fourth)
& David Van Horn Jr. (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Fast Time ($100): Matt
Sheppard (19.213 seconds)
Bill Brown ‘Move of the Race’ Award ($50): Matt Sheppard (6th-to-second
restart)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate):
Jeff Strunk(sixth)
Henry’s Exhaust System Bonus ($100 Certificate): Demetrios Drellos(11th)
Precision Hydraulic & Oil Halfway Leader ($200): Anthony Perrego
Racing Optics Bonus (Tear-Off Sleeve) Ryan Watt(third)
Sunoco Race Fuels Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Matt Sheppard (second),
Richie Pratt Jr. (12th) & Billy Pauch (22nd)
VAHLCO Wheels Hard Charger ($50
Certificate): Jeff Strunk(29th
to sixth)
WELD Wheels Hard Luck Award (5XL Wheel): Danny Bouc (DNQ)

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602
Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): ADAM McAULIFFE,Robert Bublak, Cole Stangle, Jeff Brown, Scott Hitchens, Michael
White, Jimmy Johnson, Daniel Morgiewicz, Corey Cormier, Walter Hammond, Ryan Macartney,
Jim Housworth, Tim Hartman Jr., Adam White, Stacey Jackson, Craig Whitmoyer,
Tighe Sherlock, Joe Toth, Jeff Taylor, Sammy Martz Jr., Tyler Thompson, Connor
Cleveland, Steve Davis, Hunter Lapp, Tom Moore Jr , Andrew Belmont, Connor
King, Ryan Simmons, Dylan Swinehart, Stephen Kemery.

Did Not Qualify: Jack Butler, Bobby Flood, Samantha
Muller, Kevin Borden Jr., Matt Smith, Anthony Tramontana, Dwayne Crockett,
Brett Belmont, Derrick McGrew Jr, Dan Fleming, Paul Griffin Jr., John
Stevenson, Aaron Doolittle, Jordan Long, Tim Guild, Joel Smith, Sean Metz,
Trent VanVorst, Jake Mason, EJ McAuliffe, Brian Hitz, David Jenkins, Scott
Hulmes

Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car
Feature Finish (12 laps): JAMIE
EICHOLZ,Todd Miller, Robert
Paczkowski, Dave Parsons, Dave Schamp, Joe Walbert, Harold Sylvester, John
Burton, Don Davidson, David Tucker II, Wayne Roth, Art Workman, Robert Blann,
Andy Cassel, Freddie Brightbill, Kelly Putz, Pete Morris.

Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish
(12 laps): MATT
ESHAM,Robert Smith, David Smith,
Dale Elliott, Kurt Miles Sr., George Shupp, Dick Beauchamp, Joe Lopez, Tony
Bowers, Jerry Hill, Bill Dean, Kurt Miles Jr, Ryan Efford, Tim Quay, Thomas Jackson.

Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12
laps): GEOFF CAREY, Jerry
Barker, Ashley Merritt, Chris "Tippy" Martinez, Robert Paczkowski,
Brandon Riefler, Chris Carroll, Joe Waters, John Chandler, Joe Morrel, Randy
Merritt, John Bailey.

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