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Stewart Friesen Scores Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Victory for $10,049-Plus at Georgetown Speedway

Written by Chris Moore

GEORGETOWN, DE - Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen
became the first driver to be a repeat champion of the Melvin L. Joseph
Memorial at the Georgetown Speedway. The $10,049-plus conquest was Friesen’s 20th
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco win.

Friesen
mentioned the word “fast� several times in victory lane. He and Boyertown, Pa.’s
Ryan Watt set a blistering pace for much of the 49-lap affair in the Northeast
Modified 2020 Season Opener.

The
49-lap race began with Ryan Watt and First State driver Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ Watson
on the front row in the STSS Velocita-USA presented by Design for Vision South
Region opener.

It
was Watson, who used the outside to jump out the initial lead. The lead was
short-lived however, Watson’s night would end four laps in due to a broken rear
end. The beneficiary would be Watt, who inherited the lead.

The
first 10 laps went caution-free, as Watt and Friesen battled through lapped
traffic while Rick Laubach, of Hellertown, Pa., quickly climbed to the third
spot and was beginning to reel in the leaders. Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch
Jr. was putting on a show as well, coming from 14th to seventh in
the short 10 laps.

The
ensuing restart however would end Laubach’s charge as his engine expired as
well with 11 laps in.

A
lap-14 restart would end the night for several top-running cars, including
Milford, N.J.’s David Van Horn, Middletown, N.Y.’s Anthony Perrego, and Oley, Pa.’s
Duane Howard. Others were involved but returned to action.

Following
the multiple restarts between laps 10 and 15, a long green-flag run allowed
Watt and Friesen to flex their muscle as the two pulled away from the rest of
the field. However, they never left each other, with Friesen staying within
five car-lengths of the leader.

Right
at the 30-lap mark, things began to change. Watt’s car began to push through
the corners, ultimately coming the on lap 35. Watt washed up the track hard in
turns three and four, allowing Friesen to drive underneath Watt and drive away.

Watt’s
push persisted until the front end, along with Watt’s night, ultimately went by
the wayside on lap 42 due to a broken bolt on the Ron Roberts-owned No. 14W.

The
remaining seven laps undoubtedly belonged to Friesen, as he pulled away from Oley,
Pa.’s Craig Von Dohren, who took a back-and forth night to a runner-up finish
in his self-owned No. 1c big-block-powered ride.

Wallkill,
N.Y.’s Tyler Dippel, making his first run at a full-time STSS schedule, kicked
it off with a third place run. Billy Pauch Jr. continues to be strong at
Georgetown after a great 2019 at the speedway, grabbing a fourth-place finish
in his Rick Holsten-owned ride. Pipersville, Pa.’s Danny Bouc, in his Craig
Pondish-owned No. 6, rounded out the top five.

Phoenix,
N.Y.’s Larry Wight rebounded from heat race troubles to a sixth-place finish
aboard the Gary Simpson No. 12K. Jordan Watson, of Milford, Del., also had heat-race
that he parlayed into a seventh-place run after taking a series provisional and
starting 29th. Neshanic Station, N.J.’s Jimmy Horton fought hard for an eighth-place
finish. Sewell, N.J.’s Richie Pratt Jr. was involved in a restart pile-up but
fought back to a ninth-place run and former Georgetown Speedway Sportsman
winner Alex Yankowski rounded out the top-10.

In
the Crate 602 Sportsman feature, Pennsylvania’s Jim Housworth avenged his
heartbreak from last November at the Georgetown Speedway. Housworth lost a
close battle for the STSS championship in the finale.

This
time, Housworth bested a 47-car field to get his first Georgetown win and the
$1,490 payday. Scott Hitchens, would follow Housworth closely, but never quite
could catch the leader, ending in a runner-up finish.

Joe
Toth would kick off his 2020 season with a podium run, while Sammy Martz Jr.,
and Jeff Brown rounded out the top-five.

Chris
“Tippy� Martinez dominated the Delmarva Charger feature, his second consecutive
Georgetown win, dating back to November. Ashley Merritt and Chris Carroll would
round out the podium.

Andy
Cassel won the modified portion of the Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car Club
in the 12-lap feature. David Tucker I was also a winner, being the highest finishing
sportsman driver and fifth overall.

Dale
Elliott finished off opening night, winning a hotly contested Delaware Super
Truck Feature. Jerry Hill, and Clay Vincent were the podium finishers.

The
fifth Melvin L. Joseph Memorial concludes Sunday with a complete Small-Block
Modified program (30 laps, $4,049 to win), RUSH Late Models (20 laps, $1,049 to
win), Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.

On
Sunday, pit and grandstand gates open at 12:30 p.m. with hot laps at 2:30 p.m.
and racing gets underway at 3:30 p.m.

Sunday
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.

Sunday
pit admission is $35 (ages 13 and up). Kids (ages 6-12) pay $10. Children 5 and
under pay $2.

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 RACE SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY MARCH 7, 2020

Bob
Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South
Region Event No. 1 Modified Feature Finish (49 laps): STEWART FRIESEN, Craig Von Dohren,
Tyler Dippel, Billy Pauch Jr., Danny Bouc, Larry Wight, Jordan Watson, Jimmy
Horton, Richie Pratt Jr., Alex Yankowski, Brandon Grosso, Andy Bachetti, Ryan
Watt, H.J. Bunting, Michael Maresca, Matt Sheppard, David Van Horn Jr., Anthony
Perrego, Duane Howard, Mike Gular, Kyle Fuller, Kevin Sockriter, Danny Tyler,
Danny Hieber, Rick Laubach, Clay Tatman, Billy Dunn, Joseph Watson, Jeff
Strunk.

Did
Not Qualify: Ryan
Godown, Allison Ricci, David Schilling, Matt Stangle, Dylan Swinehart, Brad
Trice, Josh Delea, Norman Short, Marshall Hurd, Carson Wright, Ryan Krachun,
Billy Shantel Jr., Scott Van Gorder, Ryan Riddle, Jeff Brown.

Melvin
L. Joseph Lap Money ($2,401 Total):
Billy Pauch Jr. - $392; Stewart Friesen - $343; Danny Bouc - $343; Craig Von
Dohren - $294; Tyler Dippel - $294; Ryan Watt - $294; Larry Wight - $98; Rick Laubach

• $98; Jordan Watson - $49; Jimmy Horton - $49; H.J. Bunting - $49; Richie
  Pratt Jr. - $49; Joseph Watson - $49.

American
Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Alex Yankowski (10th) &
H.J. Bunting (14th)
Beyea Custom Headers Hard Charger ($100): Jordan Watson (29th to
seventh)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bucks ($50): Tyler Dippel (seventh to first)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Billy Pauch
Jr. (fourth) & Richie Pratt Jr. (ninth)
Bill Brown & Company Heat-Race Hard Charger ($50):
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Larry Wight (sixth)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Brandon Grosso (11th)
Racing Optics Bonus (Tear-Off Sleeve): Tyler Dippel (third)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Craig
Von Dohren (second), Andy Bachetti (12th) & Kevin Sockriter (22nd)
Wilwood Brakes Bonus ($75): Jordan Watson (seventh)

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602
Sportsman South Region Event No. 1 Feature Finish (25 laps): JIM HOUSWORTH,
Scott Hitchens, Joe Toth, Sammy Martz Jr., Jeff Brown, Tim Hartman Jr., Adam
White, Michael White, James Hill, Anthony Tramontana, Cole Stangle, Kevin
Chaffee, Payton Talbot, Justin Grosso, Greg Humlhanz, Eric McKinney, Tanner Van
Doren, Samantha Muller, Charlie Tibbitts, Craig Whitmoyer, David Jenkins, Ryan
Godown Jr., Tom Princiotta, Thomas Van Vorst, Dan Fleming, Grant Hilfiger, Sean
Weiss, Tom Moore Jr., Bryan Brobst.

Did
Not Start: Bobby
Flood

Did
Not Qualify: Jeff Coffey,
Todd Buckwold, Ray Swinehart, Shawn McPhee, Ryan Higgs, Paul Mancini, Steve
Lary, Steve Kemery, Kevin Borden, Vinnie Troia, John Stevenson, Rocky Whitley,
Garrett Given, Jordan Long, Ted Reynolds, Greg Nailor, Sean Metz.

Evergreen
Fuels Inc. Low Temperature Bonus ($37): Jim Housworth
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire Certificate): Michael White
(eighth)

Southern
Delaware Vintage Stock Car Feature Finish (12 laps): ANDY CASSEL, Jamie Eicholz, Jeff
Paulsen, Charlie Moore, David Tucker I (Sportsman Winner), Harold Sylvester,
Roscoe Clough, David Schamp, Art Workman, Don Davidson, Terry Chaney, David
Tucker II, Glenn Lyon, Jamie Schirmer.

Delaware
Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): DALE
ELLIOTT, Jerry Hill, Clay Vincent, Kirk Miles Sr., Ronnie Holloway, Kirk Miles
Jr., J.R. Bergman, Zach Phillips, Trent Marine, Dick Beauchamp, Danny DiGrazio,
Bill Dean, Ryan Efford.

Delmarva
Charger Feature Finish (12 laps):
CHRIS ‘TIPPY’ MARTINEZ, Ashley Merritt, Chris Carroll, Tommy Weese, Paul Gary,
Brandon Riefler, Joe Waters, Chris Myers, Randy Merritt.

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