“Dirty Jersey 60” Co-Promoter Stewart Friesen Takes Second after Starting Fifteenth
NEW EGYPT, N. J. – Thursday, June 20 – It seemed like nothing could stop Pennsylvania’s Rick Laubach, who led a tough 60 laps at New Egypt Speedway Wednesday, June 19, staying ahead of a highly competitive field and fending off late-race charges from the series point leader to claim a Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified victory.
“I just got the lead, and I know this place,” said Laubach, out of Quakertown, Penn. “I’ve run here — not in the past two years, but, prior to that, three years in a row. I know the lines, and what to do, and it worked out.”
Laubach’s No. 7 leapt ahead at the green flag, from the third starting position to first, and gained a such a significant lead — by mid-race, he was nearly a half-lap ahead of then-runner up Danny Johnson on the 7/16-mile oval. However, some late-race cautions tightened the field in the last 10 laps, opening an opportunity for Stewart Friesen, who by then had passed Johnson for second, to challenge for the lead. Laubach stayed strong, and pulled off an impressive win over the race co-promoter at the Pioneer Pole Buildings, Inc. “Dirty Jersey 60.”
“It was going real nice until all the yellows started flying at the end, but that’s the part of it that makes it so exciting,” Laubach said. “The yellows started to fly, so the nerves started to build a little bit.”
Although Laubach is no stranger to the Super DIRTcar Series Victory Lane — he took a win when the Big-Block Modified tour traveled to Volusia Speedway Park for UNOH DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment in February — the odds seemed against his favor earlier this month. Motor failure the week before the Series’ Northeast opener, the DIRTcar Hall of Fame 60 at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, kept Laubach’s team from traveling north to the Elbridge, N. Y., speedway.
“We have just one motor and one car right now, but we just couldn’t miss this,” Laubach said of Wednesday’s race at New Egypt Speedway. “We figured we’d come to this one — it’s so close to home. And it paid off. We’ll get the other motor back, and then we can commit to more DIRTcar races.”
The first visit of the Super DIRTcar Series to New Egypt Speedway since 2007 was a strong night for several Pennsylvanian and Jersey drivers, with Billy Pauch (Frenchtown, N. J.), Eric Kormann (Vineland, N. J.), David VanHorn, Jr. (Harmony, Penn.), Neal Williams (Pittsgrove, N. J.), and Sammy Piazza (Lawrencetown, N. J.) all making fast time in their groups. A stout 45-car field made it a challenge for local racers and series stars alike to qualify for the feature.
However, two-time NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week Big-Block Modified Champion Friesen seemed to have no problem getting in. The Canadian Big-Block Modified star, originally of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, not only finished third in his heat and charged to a second-place finish in the feature, but also did so while responsible for promoting the race. Friesen teamed up with Brett Deyo late last year to form Friesen-Deyo Promotions and promote Wednesday’s “Dirty Jersey 60” at New Egypt Speedway.
“We did pretty well with this show, and we’re pretty proud of it,” said Friesen, who, despite his family’s renown in race promotion was a rookie promoter for Wednesday’s race. “We’ll take this and learn from it, and hopefully do it again.”
Friesen started the feature from the 15th spot on the grid, but aptly maneuvered his way forward. Several strong restarts early in the race helped him gain an edge over his competitors. After cautions in laps 3, 7, and 8, Friesen was able to make it to the tenth spot, avoiding a turn 4 pile-up in lap 7 and a turn 2 tangle in lap 8.
He continued to move forward through a lap 15 caution and then gained momentum through a series of green laps. In lap 22, Friesen broke the top-five, and then, in a stunning three-car-wide maneuver in lap 34, the race co-promoter charged to second.
“It was a lot of fun tonight. We started quite a ways back — fifteenth — and we charged on through,” Friesen said. “We were hanging there at the beginning, kind of slipping and sliding, but the track widened out pretty nicely and we were able to pick off some cars.”
Friesen battled Danny Johnson through lapped traffic, losing his spot to “The Doctor” in lap 45, but regaining it in lap 50 off a lap 49 restart. Another yellow flag in lap 54 brought Friesen close to the lead with just six to go, and he fought with Laubach through the checkered flag, just narrowly missing out on the win.
Danny Johnson finished third after starting fifth and Ryan Godown, of Ringoes, N. J., charged from 17th to fourth. Class of 2013 Dirt Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Frank Cozze went from 13th in the starting grid to fifth at the finish line.
Duane Howard, who broke the top five in lap 10 after starting 11th, lost a spot late in the race to finish sixth. After gaining ground from the 21st spot on the grid, going so far as to challenge Danny Johnson for third in lap 25, Matt Sheppard, of Waterloo, N. Y., fell back to finish seventh. Polesitter Jimmy Phelps, of Baldwinsville, N. Y. finished 9th. Rounding out the top ten are Eric Kormann, who started sixth and finished ninth, and Rocco Infante, who started 12th and finished 10th.
The Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series moves north of the border for its third race this season, taking on Cornwall Motor Speedway in Cornwall, Ontario, for a Canada Day special Sunday, June 30.
For more information about the Super DIRTcar Series, visit www.superdirtcarseries.com. Follow @SuperDIRTcar on Twitter or DIRTcar Racing on Facebook for the latest news about the premier Big-Block Modified traveling tour.
Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series, Round 6 – Statistical Report
New Egypt Speedway – Pioneer Pole Buildings, Inc. “Dirty Jersey 60”
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
A-Main (60 laps):
1. 7 Rick Laubach – Quakertown, Penn. ($6,000)
2. 1F Stewart Friesen – Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
3. 5* Danny Johnson – Rochester, N. Y.
4. 747 Ryan Godown – Ringoes, N. J.
5. 357 Frank Cozze – Wind Gap, Penn.
6. 126 Duane Howard – Oley, Penn.
7. 9s Matt Sheppard – Waterloo, N. Y.
8. 98h Jimmy Phelps – Baldwinsville, N. Y.
9. 901 Eric Kormann – Vineland, N. J.
10. JR1 Rocco Infante – Robinsville, N. J.
11. 673 Gary Tomkins – Clifton Springs, N. Y.
12. 66 Bobby Varin – Johnstown, N. Y.
13. 71 David VanHorn, Jr. – Harmony, Penn.
14. 88c Doug Manmiller – Shoemakersville, Penn.
15. 20 Brett Hearn – Sussex, N. J.
16. 49 Billy Dunn – Watertown, N. Y.
17. 323 Neal Williams – Pittsgrove, N. J.
18. 5 Jimmy Horton – Neshanic Station, N. J.
19. 10J Alan Johnson – Middlesex, N. Y.
20. 1 Billy Pauch – Frenchtown, N. J.
21. 62 Matt Jester – Milford, Del.
22. 21a Pete Britten – Brisbaine, Queensland, Australia
23. 27 David Hunt – Bridgewater, N. J.
24. 8 Rich Scagliotta – Hillsborough N. J.
25. 14s Ryan Watt – Boyertown, Penn.
26. 4* Jeff Strunk – Pottstown, Penn.
27. 1c Craig VonDohren – Boyertown, Penn.
28. 7z Dale Planck – Cortland, N. Y.
29. 34 Andy Bachetti – Great Barrington, Mass.
30. 3 Justin Haers – Phelps, N. Y.
31. 29 Sammy Piazza – Lawrenceville, N. J.
Did not qualify:
2B Dominick Buffilino
7F Mark Forte
10c Tim Currier, Auburn, N. Y.
10V Billy VanInwegen, Sparrowbush, N. Y.
13X P. J. Oliver
30 Tommy Sheetz Jr.
R40 Ryan Forte
44 Lance Willix II, Theresa, N. Y.
48T Dave Rauscher, Waterloo, N. Y.
74 Matt Billings, Brockville, Ontario
76 Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N. J.
83 Dale Hawkins
88x Dave Dissinger
176 Brett Tonkin
B-Main 1 (10 laps): 1. 9s Matt Sheppard; 2. 673 Gary Tomkins; 3. 7z Dale Planck; 4. 10v Billy VanInwegen; 5. 20 Brett Hearn; 6. 83 Dale Hawkins; 7. 10c TIm Currier; 8. 2b Dominick Buffalino; 9. 88x Dave Dissinger; 10. 176 Brett Tonkin; 11. 3 Justin Haers; 12. 7F Mark Forte, Jr. DNS: 8 Rich Scagliotta
B-Main 2 (10 laps): 1. 88c Doug Manmiller; 2. 5 Jimmy Horton; 3. 13x P.J. Oliver; 4. 34 Andy Bachetti; 5. 10J Alan Johnson; 6. 48T Dave Rauscher; 7. 76 Jimmy Blewett; 8. 74 Matt Billings; 9. R40 Ryan Forte; 10. 8 Rich Scagliotta; 11. 44 Lance Willix II; 12. 49 Billy Dunn. DNS: 30 Tom Sheetz, Jr.
Qualifying Heats (8 laps, top 4 transfer, top 2 to redraw)
Heat 1: 1. 1 Billy Pauch; 2. 21a Pete Britten; 3. 126 Duane Howard; 4. 4* Jeff Strunk; 5. 20 Brett Hearn; 6. 88c Doug Manmiller; 7. 3 Justin Haers; 8. 48T Dave Rauscher; 9. 10c Tim Currier
Heat 2: 1. 901 Eric Kormann; 2. 7 Rick Laubach; 3. R1 Rocco Infante; 4. 747 Ryan Godown; 5. 76 Jimmy Blewett; 6. 7z Dale Planck; 7. 5 Jimmy Horton; 8. 10v Billy VanInwegen; 9. 74 Matt Billings
Heat 3: 1. 66 Bobby Varin; 2. 71 David VanHorn, Jr.’ 3. 357 Frank Cozze; 4. 27 David Hunt; 5. 2b Dominick Buffalino; 6. R40 Ryan Forte; 7. 7F Mark Forte, Jr.; 8. 44 Lance Willix II; 9. 88x Dave Dissinter
Heat 4: 1. 98H Jimmy Phelps; 2. 323 Neal Williams; 3. 14s Ryan Watt; 4. 1c Craig VonDohren; 5. 34 Andy Bachetti; 6. 673 Gary Tomkins; 7. 13x P. J. Oliver; 8. 83 Dale Hawkins. DNS: 10J Alan Johnson
Heat 5: 1. 29 Sammy Piazza; 2. 5* Danny Johnson; 3. 1F Stewart Friesen; 4. 62 Matt Jester; 5. 9s Matt Sheppard; 6. 49 Billy Dunn; 7. 8 Rich Scagliotta; 8. 30 Tom Sheetz, Jr. DNS: 176, Brett Tonkin
Time Trials: 1. 901 Eric Kormann, 16.675; 2. 323 Neal Williams, 16.870; 3. 29 Sammy Piazza, 16.893; 4. 5* Danny Johnson, 16.972; 5. R1 Rocco Inffante, 17.085; 6. 7 Rick Laubach, 17.111; 7. 1F Stewart Friesen, 17.172; 8. 1 Billy Pauch, 17.222; 9. 76 Jimmy Blewett, 17.223; 10. 98h Jimmy Phelps, 17.272; 11. 71 David Van Horn, Jr., 17.366; 12. 21a Pete Britten, 17.378; 13. 4* Jeff Strunk, 17.413; 14. 126 Duane Howard, 17.498; 15. 66 Bobby Varin, 17.597; 16. 357 Frank Cozze, 17.607; 17. 2b Dominick Buffalino, 17.632; 18. 747 Ryan Godown, 17.635; 19. 1c Craig Von Dohren, 17.707; 20. 14s Ryan Watt, 17.718; 21. 8 Rich Scagliotta, 17.748; 22. 62 Matt Jester, 17.759; 23. 13x P. J. Oliver, 17.774; 24. 49 Billy Dunn, 17.779; 25. 7z Dale Planck, 17.807; 26. 5 Jimmy Horton, 17.840; 27. 24 Andy Bachetti, 17.846; 28. 9s Matt Sheppard, 17.865; 29. R40 Ryan Forte, 17.916; 30. 88c Doug Manmiller, 17.931; 31. 10v Billy VanIngewen, 17.968; 32. 74 Matt Billings, 17.971; 33. 673 Gary Tomkins, 18.002; 34. 20 Brett Hearn, 18.004; 35. 27 David Hunt, 18.051; 36. 48T Dave Rauscher, 18.096; 37. 7F Mark Forte, Jr., 18.198; 38. 83 Dale Hawkins, 18.244; 39. 176 Brett Tonkin, 18.267; 40. 10c Tim Currier, 18.297; 41. 30 Tom Sears, Jr., 18.353; 42. Lance Willix II, 18.566; 43. 10J Alan Johnson, 18.678; 44. 3 Justin Haers, 18.721; 45. 88x Dave Dissinger, 18.926
2013 Super DIRTcar Series points, as of Thursday, June 20:
No. Driver Total Series Bonus Diff Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts
1 1F Stewart Friesen 201 201 0 0 1 2 2 2
2 9s Matt Sheppard 162 162 0 -39 0 1 2 2
3 84 Gary Tomkins 156 156 0 -45 0 1 1 2
4 98H Jimmy Phelps 146 146 0 -55 0 0 2 2
5 5* Danny Johnson 139 139 0 -62 0 1 1 2
6 26 Ryan Godown 139 139 0 -62 0 1 1 2
7 20 Brett Hearn 138 138 0 -63 0 1 1 2
8 10J Alan Johnson 124 124 0 -77 0 0 1 2
9 49 Billy Dunn 122 122 0 -79 0 0 1 2
10 66 Bobby Varin 118 118 0 -83 0 0 0 2
11 21a Pete Britten 108 108 0 -93
