11/3/2019
Short Track Super Series
Jordan Watson & Ross Robinson Post $7,000 Victories to Conclude 2019 Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend
Written by Chris Moore
GEORGETOWN, DE – On the final night of the Georgetown
Speedway season, the hometown kid, Jordan Watson, won his second career Bob
Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modified
feature event.
Milford, Del.’s
Watson survived the war of attrition in the 40-lap Velocita-USA presented
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central South Region finale for the STSS. Watson
took home the $5,000 Mid-Atlantic Championship victory, and after posting the
$100 Stockley Materials “Gambler’s Fee� at the beginning of the night, added
$2,000 to his winning total.
The two-day
event brought 231 race cars through the Georgetown Speedway gates.
After a
back-and-forth night for Watson, he took advantage of the misfortune of
multiple drivers in front of him to take starter Joe Kriss’ Sunoco checkered
flags. Watson earned a total of $7,400 including Taylor & Messick lap money
for his efforts in the Brent Hall No. 18.
Watson had
previously won the STSS-sanctioned ‘Blast at the Beach’ at Georgetown Speedway
in 2015.
Keystone
State drivers Craig Von Dohren of Oley and Mike Gular of Boyertown led a 26-car
L&J Sheet Metal Modified starting field to the green flag.
Von Dohren
jumped out the lead in his Dick Biever-owned No. 14s, while Gular struggled in
the early going. Phoenix, N.Y.’s Larry Wight quickly slipped by Gular to take
the runner up spot on lap six.
After a
couple of yellow flags, Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen was the man to watch,
going from his seventh starting position into the top-three behind Von Dohren
and Wight before a lap-14 yellow.
On the
ensuing restart, Friday night’s small-block winner, Billy Pauch Jr., went from
sixth to third with a bold move, before relinquishing the third running spot
back to Friesen.
At the lap
20, halfway point, the race flipped upside down in the blink of an eye. Billy
Pauch Jr.’s, Rick Holsten No. 96 motor went up in smoke, ending his night.
After a
couple attempts the restart, the last one would change the race. Larry Wight
and Craig Von Dohren made slight contact, causing both cars to have terminal
rear end damage.
At the blink
of an eye, Friesen had inherited the lead, and Watson pulled up alongside.
Friesen chose the inside lane on the next restart, and Watson took advantage.
Watson would
take the lead and began to pull away until the leaders caught lap traffic.
Friesen reeled in Watson and made the pass with six laps to go.
It appeared
Friesen was on his way to his second Georgetown win of 2019, but coming to the
two-to-go sign, Friesen came up lame, a result of running out of fuel.
Watson would
lead the final two laps and defend the home turf. “I grew up in the grandstands
here and at Delmar… this one means a lot to us,� and elated Watson said in
Victory Lane.
Savannah,
N.Y.’s “Super Man� Matt Sheppard needed only to take the green to secure the
south region STSS title. After qualifying through the consi, Sheppard would
bring his Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s home in seventh and $57,500 richer,
winning the Insinger Performance Grand Championship consisting of the STSS
North and South Region along with the American Racer Cup.
Despite an
ill-handling racecar, Mike Gular brought the Terry Fasnacht No. 2A to a runner
up finish. Hellertown, Pa.’s Rick Laubach came to life in the late stages of the
race, bringing the Ryan Kerr-owned No. 1K home third. Montgomery, N.J.’s
Brandon Grosso used the outside to go from sixth to fourth on the last lap and
grab a fourth-place finish. Bechtelsville, Pa.’s Jeff Strunk had another quiet
night that resulted in a solid fifth-place finish.
Milford,
N.J.’s David Van Horn finished in sixth position, Matt Sheppard came home
seventh. Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt took home the Roberts Racing No. 14W with
an eighth-place finish after an up-and-down night. Sewell, N.J.’s Richie Pratt
Jr. came from 20th position to grab ninth in the Dan Sommeling-owned
No. 51. Friesen rebounded to grab the 10th position.
Ross Robinson
won his first Sunoco Super Late Model feature of 2019 at the Georgetown
Speedway, in the 40-lap event.
Robinson,
like Jordan Watson, posted the $100 JD Shuckers Georgetown “Gambler’s Fee� and
turned $5,000 into $7,000 for the win.
Robinson, of
Georgetown, Del., started in the second row, and Rick Eckert and Donald Lingo
led the field to green. Lingo quickly shot from the outside, to the lead and
set sail.
Robinson
pressured Eckert for the second spot until a lap 11 caution came out. Under
yellow, Eckert pulled to the pits and would not return, allowing Robinson to
inherit the runner up spot.
On the
following restart, Lingo chose the outside. Robinson got a great jump and threw
a slider on Lingo into turn one. Lingo and Robinson made contact, causing Lingo
to roll to a stop before heading pit side.
Robinson
would battle with a hard charging Mark Pettyjohn for several laps until they
caught a now lap car, Donald Lingo.
Lingo and
Robinson would again make contact on lap 20. Robinson went over the bank in
turn two and continued forward motion. Lingo was parked for the night.
After the
yellow, Robinson was dominant and relatively unchallenged for the top spot.
Mark
Pettyjohn’s good run would be cut short on lap 31, as he pulled to the infield
under green.
Millsboro, Del.’s
Amanda Whaley would come home in the runner up position. After falling back to
eighth in the early going, the “Wild Child� battled back to a second-place
finish.
Trevor
Feathers of Winchester, Va., made the long tow worthwhile, coming home with a
third-place finish. Danny Snyder battled for a fourth-place result and Maryland
star Dale Hollidge completed the front five.
Scott Hitchens
of Dagsboro, Del., won his 20th career Chesapeake Paving/J.W. Brown
Trucking Crate 602 Sportsman feature at the Georgetown Speedway. After battling
for much of the first 10 laps with Brad Trice, Hitchens would ultimately make
the pass and take the win worth $1,500.
Trice would
hold on for a second-place run. Tim Buckwalter came all the way from his 21st
starting position to come home third. Tom Sherby, a Georgetown winner this
season, grabbed the fourth spot. Dylan Swinehart rounded out the top five in
the Hitz Racing No. 32H.
The battle
for the STSS 602 Crate Sportsman was thrilling all the way to the checkered.
Jim Housworth and Joe Toth entered the night first and third in points, both
would have their night cut short due to damage.
New Jersey’s Cole
Stangle would cross the line in sixth and hold off Jimmy Johnson for the $1,500
STSS South Region title.
The Delaware
Auto Exchange Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS) were at Georgetown for their
lone appearance of 2019. Jeff Geiges led all 20 laps to grab his fourth win of
the season. Andy Best climbed through the field for a runner up finish.
Tom Carberry
had a solid showing, coming home in third. Ricky DiEva came fourth, good enough
to secure the MASS Series Championship for 2019 in his rookie season. C.J.
Faison, in just his fourth race of the season rounded out the top-five.
Sean Smith
won a wild Little Lincoln feature for his first victory of 2019. The top five
came to the line nose-to-tail in a thrilling ending. Smith made a last-lap pass
to take the win. Danny Martin would hold on for second.
Matt White
came home third, right behind the side-by-side battle for the win. Jordan
Herbert and Todd Sammons rounded out the top-five.
The Delmarva
Chargers were back for the second night on Mid-Atlantic Championship weekend.
This time, it was Brandon Reifler going wire-to-wire to from the front row to
grab the 12-lap victory. Ashley Merritt followed Friday night’s win with a
runner up on Saturday night. Jarrett Chandler rounded out the top three.
The Southern
Delaware Vintage Stock Car Club saw Andy Cassel grab his first win of the
season. Cassel was able to unseat Freddie Brightbill and C.J. Schirmer, who had
been the two dominant cars all season. Brightbill and Schirmer would round out
the top three in the 18-car field.
The 2019
season has now concluded for both the STSS and Georgetown Speedway. Keep posted
for news and updates regarding the 2020 season in the coming days and weeks.
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).
MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
RESULTS SUMMARY – NOVEMBER 2, 2019
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track
Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region Event No. 8 Modified
Feature Finish (40 laps): JORDAN
WATSON, Mike Gular, Rick Laubach, Brandon Grosso, Jeff Strunk, David Van Horn,
Matt Sheppard, Ryan Watt, Richie Pratt Jr., Stewart Friesen, Erick Rudolph,
Jimmy Horton, Andy Bachetti, Kevin Sockriter, Brad Trice, Ron Roberts Jr., H.J.
Bunting, Ryan Riddle, Matt Stangle, Craig Von Dohren, Larry Wight, Billy Pauch
Jr., Danny Bouc, Shawn Ward, Duane Howard, Ryan Krachun.
Did Not Qualify: Bobby DeLeon,
John Willman, Jeremy Harrington, Billy Pauch Sr., Kevin Gardner, Norman Short,
Jordn Justice, Brian Hitz.
Stockley Materials “Gambler’s Bonus�
($2,000): Jordan
Watson
Taylor
& Messick Lap Money Breakdown ($1,000): Craig Von Dohren ($525); Jordan
Watson ($400); Stewart Friesen ($75)
Ad-Art Sign Company Hard Charger
($250): Matt Sheppard (21st to seventh)
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Ryan Watt
(eighth) & Andy Bachetti (13th)
ATL
Fuel Cells Bonus ($200): Jeff Strunk (fifth)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses
($50 Gift Cards): Brandon Grosso (fourth) & Richie Pratt Jr. (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Fast Time Bonus
($100): Rick Laubach (19.170 seconds)
Bill Brown & Company Move of the
Race ($50): Billy Pauch Jr.
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 certificate):
David Van Horn Jr. (sixth)
Henry’s Exhaust System Bonus ($50
Certificate): Erick Rudolph (11th)
Precision Hydraulic & Oil/Holly Hill
Farms Halfway Leader Bonus ($700): Craig Von Dohren
Racing Optics Bonus (Tear-Off Sleeve):
Rick Laubach (third)
Sunoco Race Fuels Bonuses ($50
Certificates): Mike Gular (second), Jimmy Horton (12th) & Billy
Pauch Jr. (22nd)
WELD Wheels Hard Luck Award (FREE 5XL
Wheel): Craig Von Dohren
Wilwood ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($50
Certificate): Matt Sheppard (seventh)
Sunoco Super Late Model Feature Finish
(40 laps): ROSS ROBINSON, Amanda Whaley, Trevor Feathers, Danny Snyder, Dale
Hollidge, Kyle Lear, Derek Magee, David Dill, Kellie Lewis, Mark Pettyjohn,
Donald Lingo Jr, Dan Stone, Rick Eckert, Robbie Emory, Kelly Putz.
Did Not Start: Andy
Anderson, Jamie Lathroum
JD Shuckers Georgetown “Gambler’s
Bonus� ($2,000): Ross
Robinson
Kruger Trailers Hard Charger ($250): David Dill
(15th to eighth)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track
Super Series Fueled By Sunoco South Region Event No. 6 Crate 602 Sportsman
Feature Finish (20 laps): SCOTT HITCHENS, Brad Trice,
Tim Buckwalter, Thomas Sherby, Dylan Swinehart, Cole Stangle, Michael White,
Sammy Martz Jr., Jimmy Johnson, Johnny Bangs, Tom Moore Jr., Marshall Hurd,
Samantha Muller, Matt Smith , Justin Grosso, David Jenkins, Jeff Brown, James
Hill, Jason Smythe, Jeff Coffey, Trent Van Vorst, Sean Metz, Adam White, Jim
Housworth, Joe Toth, John Stevenson.
Did Not Qualify: Greg Humlhanz, Sean Weiss, Zachary Merola, Rocky
Whitley, Ted
Reynolds, Paul Griffin Jr, Jordan Long.
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series Feature
Finish (20 laps): JEFF GEIGES, Andy Best, Tom Carberry, Ricky DiEva, C.J.
Faison, Larry McVay, Tim Tanner Jr., Dave Brown, Scott Frack, Dom Melair, Eddie
Wagner, Keith Andersen, John Brenflec, Josh Bricker, Kevin Nagy, Joe Kay.
Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car
Feature Finish (12 laps): ANDY CASSEL, Freddie Brightbill, C.J. Schirmer, Josh
Smith, David Schamp, David Tucker I, Todd Lapp, David Tucker II, Art Workman, Robert
Paczkowski, Charlie Moore, Kelly Putz, Todd Miller, Terry Cheney, Don Davidson,
Ronnie Paulsen, Harold Sylvester, Robert Blann, John Burton.
Little Lincoln Feature Finish (12
laps): SEAN SMITH, Danny Martin, Matt White, Jordan Herbert, Todd Sammons, Scott
Calhoun, Bryan Piercy, Wayne Seaton, Kirk Lawson, Mel Joseph Jr., Bunky White,
John Wothers.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12
laps): BRANDON REIFLER, Ashley Merritt, Jarrett Chandler, Tippy Martinez, John
Bailey, Greg Nailor, Randy Merritt, Chase Robinson, Bill Smith, Jimmy Waters.