2/21/2020
Short Track Super Series
Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Boasts Four STSS Modified Winners in Four Years
GEORGETOWN,
DE – Four years, four different
winners.
The Melvin L. Joseph Memorial – honoring a man who excelled in both the
Delaware business and motorsports realms – celebrates its fifth running
Friday-Saturday March 6-7 at Georgetown Speedway, the half-mile oval Mr. Joseph
constructed in 1949 and opened in March 1950.
Annually, the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial at Georgetown serves as the
Northeast opener for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS)
Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds.
This year, the 49-lap main event offers $10,049 to the winner: Delaware’s
richest Modified race! The event also kicks off the championship battle for
the eight-race STSS Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision
and Sunglass Central championship worth $10,000 at year-end.
In four years of the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial, a quartet of drivers
have found STSS Modified glory. Each edition has produced its share of
storylines.
2016: On March
12, 2016 New York’s Anthony Perrego became the first Short Track Super Series
Melvin L. Joseph Memorial winner at Georgetown Speedway. Perrego, driving the
New York Truck Parts No. 55, took over the lead when Jeff Strunk broke a
right-rear axle with 10 laps remaining. Perrego then held off 17th-starter
David Van Horn Jr., early pace setter Andy Bachetti, Ryan Godown and Jordan
Watson to take the $5,229 win.
2016 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial STSS Modified
Feature Finish (49 laps): ANTHONY PERREGO,
David Van Horn Jr., Andy Bachetti, Ryan Godown, Jordan Watson, Craig Von
Dohren, Matt Sheppard, Stewart Friesen, Brett Kressley, Rick Laubach, Ryan
Watt, Billy Pauch Jr., Shawn Ward, Brad Trice, Danny Creeden, Mike Franz, Jamie
Mills, Jimmy Horton, Michael Barone, Billy Pauch, Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller,
Duane Howard, H.J. Bunting III, Richie Pratt Jr., Corey Anderson, Matt Hawkins,
Kevin Sockriter, Craig Hanson, Neal Williams.
Did Not Qualify: Brian Malcolm, Kevin Gardner, Norman Short, Ryan Krachun, Howard
O’Neal, Matt Jester, Eric Vent, Clay Tatman, Kyle Merkel, Steve Davis, Kevin
Hirthler, Beau Wilkins, Scott Van Gorder.
2017: With temperatures in the 30s, Friday night show showers and 25
mile-per-hour winds, the 2017 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial went off as a Saturday
afternoon program on March 11. As the Area
Auto Racing News front page read, “Georgetown Beats the Weather, Jimmy
Horton Bests the Field.� On lap 16, Horton ducked three-wide beneath both Ryan
Watt and Billy Pauch Sr. in turn three to take a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. Horton
went on to win over Watt, Pauch Sr., Duane Howard and 21st-starter
David Van Horn Jr.
2017 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial STSS Modified
Feature Finish (49 laps): JIMMY HORTON, Ryan
Watt, Billy Pauch, Duane Howard, David Van Horn, Tyler Dippel, Jordan Watson,
Frank Cozze, Brett Kressley, Jamie Mills, Andy Bachetti, Rick Laubach, Ron
Roberts, Michael White, Clay Tatman, Billy Pauch Jr., Shawn Ward, Ryan Godown,
Richie Pratt Jr., Jeff Brown, Jim Britt, Craig Hanson, Jeremy Smith, Stewart
Friesen, Danny Johnson, Dillon Steuer, Scott Van Gorder, Kevin Sockriter, Matt
Jester, H.J. Bunting III.
Did Not Qualify: Norman Short, Brian Hitz.
2018: The new progressively banked Georgetown Speedway layout made its debut
on March 17, 2018 for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial and eventual race winner
Ryan Watt utilized every inch of the clay track. With 20 laps to go, Watt’s car
slipped off the top of turn three. Somehow, he lost only one position. Late in
the race, Watt stalked Matt Sheppard in lapped traffic, passing ‘Super Matt’
with only four laps remaining in the 49-lap race. Sheppard settled for second, with
David Van Horn Jr. (up from 11th), Billy Decker and Billy Pauch Jr.
completing the front five.
2018 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial STSS Modified Feature Finish (49 laps): RYAN WATT, Matt Sheppard, David Van Horn, Billy Decker, Billy Pauch Jr., Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren, Billy Pauch, Stewart Friesen, Anthony Perrego, Andy Bachetti, Danny Bouc, Wade Hendrickson, Carson Wright, Dan Creeden, Tyler Boniface, Rick Laubach, Scott Van Gorder, Scott Hitchens, Ron Roberts, Mike Gular, Jordan Watson, Joseph Watson, Jamie Mills, Mark Byram, Ryan Godown, Danny Johnson, Doug Manmiller, Jimmy Horton, Danny Varin, Jim Britt.
Did Not Qualify: H.J. Bunting III, Brett Barrett, Michael White, Matt Stangle,
Jeremy Smith, Matt Janiak, Kevin Gardner, Brian Hitz, Allison Ricci, Russell
Morseman II, Jack Lehner, Brad Trice, Craig Hanson, Norman Short, Jeff Strunk,
Brett Kressley.
2019: Strong winds, bright sun and no humidity made tire wear the story on
March 16, 2019 for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial. Stewart Friesen ducked to the
pit area during a lap-25 caution flag for fresh rubber and watched as his
competitors, one-by-one, dropped off the pace with flat right-rear tires. Just
five laps after his pit stop, Friesen re-assumed the lead and put his name on
the race’s win list. After leading the race at one point, Matt Sheppard rallied
to second, with Ryan Watt, Billy Pauch Jr. and Jordan Watson crossing the line
third through fifth, respectively.
2019 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial STSS 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.
The Melvin L.
Joseph Memorial fires Georgetown Speedway’s ’20 season to life with two nights
of racing.
Friday night
(March 6) gets the weekend underway with a Small-Block Modified (max 370 cubic
inches) main paying $4,049 to win for 30 laps. Also on the docket: RUSH Late
Models (20 laps, $1,049 to win), Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks
both going 12-lap distances.
STSS
Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman will take part in practice rounds with the two
drivers recording the fastest laps in each division guaranteed into Saturday’s
Beyea Custom Headers redraws.
On Friday,
pit gates open at 3 p.m., grandstand gates unlock at 5 p.m., with hot laps 6:20
p.m. and racing gets underway at 7:15 p.m.
Friday grandstand admission is $25 (Adults); $20 for
Seniors (ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17); $10 Kids (ages 9-12); and
Children 8 and under FREE.
Friday pit admission is $35 (ages 13 and up). Kids (ages 6-12) pay $10. Children
5 and under pay $2.
On Saturday
(March 7), the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and
Sunglass Central opener is set for the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds.
The 49-lap main offers a whopping $10,049 plus bonuses and $490 to take the
green flag.
STSS Crate
602 Sportsman competitors kick off their STSS South Region in a 25-lap feature
paying $1,490 to the victor. Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Delmarva
Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks, each running 12-lap features, complete the
program.
Auto racing
icon Ken Schrader will be on hand serving at the Grand Marshal for the Melvin
L. Joseph Memorial.
On Saturday, pit and grandstand gates unlock
at 2 p.m. Hot laps hit the track at 4 p.m., with racing at 5 p.m.
Saturday
grandstand admission is $25 (Adults); $20 Seniors
(ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17); $10 Kids (ages 9-12); and Children
8 and under FREE.
Saturday pit admission is $40 (ages 13 and
up). Kids (ages 6-12) pay $10. Children 5 and under pay $2.
Melvin L.
Joseph Memorial weekend passes are available at $45 (Adult Grandstand), $35
(Senior/Student Grandstand), $15 (Kid Grandstand) and $70 (pit area ages 13 and
up).
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).