Series Drivers Build Momentum for Friday’s 358-Modified Time Trials and Twin 20s
ELBRIDGE, N. Y – Oct. 5, 2012 – Second place just wasn’t good enough for Brett Hearn. The Vernon, N. J., native took the runner-up spot at Wednesday’s 358-Modified Series race at Cayuga County Fair Speedway, but Thursday’s 75-lap series race at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park gave him the second chance he needed to make it to victory lane.
“We finished the deal tonight,” said Hearn, who fought hard for first in Weedsport Wednesday, but finished second to World of Outlaws Late Model Series star Tim McCreadie. “We didn’t give it away at the end.”
Despite success in qualifying events, making fast time in time trials and winning his heat, Hearn’s redraw put him in the 11th starting spot. Pole-sitter Lee Gill took the early lead, but Hearn was able to make his way up and challenge Gill in lap 16, passing in lap 18. The two raced neck-and-neck for several laps, Gill getting the chance to reclaim the lead off a double-file restart in lap 35. However, Hearn took the top spot back in lap 48 and sped along “The Fast Track” to build a hefty lead over his follower.
“We had to get through a lot of cars to get to the front,” Hearn said. “I had a little scare there with the 7 car went by me on that one restart, but after my tires got hot again everything was good.”
A yellow flag with six laps to go put another obstacle on Hearn’s path to victory lane, especially with “the Doctor” Danny Johnson, last year’s small block winner at Rolling Wheels, at his tail. Hearn kept pace and powered ahead, keeping his lead through the checkered flag.
Johnson, also interested in improving his performance at Cayuga County Fair Speedway, was not disappointed with a run that took him from 17th on the starting grid to second at the finish line.
“The car ran a lot better than it did at Weedsport,” said Johnson, who finished fourth at Wednesday’s 358-Modified Series event. “The crew did a great job getting the thing ready and making the right decisions.”
Early race leader Lee Gill stayed strong, finishing third. Rounding out the top five are Danny O’Brien in fourth and Tim McCreadie in fifth.
NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLI continues Friday with time trials for the 358-Modified division, Futures races and Twin and Triple Twenties Under the Lights.
For more information about NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLI, visit www.superdirtweekonline.com. Follow @SuperDIRTWeek on Twitter or “like” the Super DIRT Week Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series, Round 10 – Statistical Report
Rolling Wheels Raceway Park – October 4, 2012
A-Main (75 laps): 1. 20 Brett Hearn; 2. 27J Danny Johnson; 3. 7 Lee Gill; 4. 17d Danny O’Brien; 5. 4* Tim McCreadie; 6. 3b Chad Brachmann; 7. 89b Todd Burley; 8. 55x Frank Caprara; 9. 6m Mat Williamson; 10. 66x Carey Terrance; 11. 007 Roy Tarbell; 12. 77x Dale Planck; 13. 1R Jeff McGinnis; 14. 55 Perry Francis; 15. 12Y Yannick Ledoux; 16. 71 Mike Bowman; 17. 53 Shane Donath; 18. 38 Ryan Susice; 19. 007x John Lazore; 20. 22c Mario Clair; 21. 26 Rick Richner; 22. 45 Mike Ward; 23. 9s Matt Sheppard; 24. 37s Tommy Flannigan; 25. 7F Vic Coffey; 26. 25R Erick Rudolph; 27. 93 Richie Vinson; 28. 117 Alex Tonkin; 29. 113 Eldon Payne; 30. 74 Matt Billings
Heat 1: 1. Coffey; 2. Gill; 3. Planck; 4. Vinson; 5. Burley; 6. Donath; 7. Francis; 8. Roger Chrysler; 9. Dagenais; 10. Jones
Heat 2: 1. Clair; 2. Caprara; 3. Rudolph; 4. Terrance; 5. Johnson; 6. Susice; 7. Tonkin; 8. Rauscher; 9. White; 10. Randy Chrysler
Heat 3: 1. Hearn; 2. McCreadie; 3. O’Brien; 4. Lazore; 5. Williamson; 6. Richner; 7. Payne; 8. McGinnis; 9. Chevalier; 10. Kane; 11. Aubertine
Heat 4: 1. Bowman; 2. Brachmann; 3. Tarbell; 4. Sheppard; 5. Ward; 6. Ledoux; 7. Billings; 8. Papineau; 9. Flannigan; 10. Venuto
B-Main: 1. Donath, 2. Susice, 3. Francis, 4. Tonkin, 5. Jones, 6. Flannigan, 7. Randy Chrysler, 8. Dagenais
B-Main: 1. Ledoux; 2. Payne; 3. Richner; 4. Billings; 5. Chevalier; 6. Papineau; 7. McGinnis; 8. White; 9. Aubertine; 10. Rauscher; 11. Kane