KENNY TREMONT CAPTURES FIRST ECKERD 300 BY CAR-LENGTH
BY: KEN KUHLMAN
SYRACUSE,NY...For the fourth consecutive year the Eckerd 300 headliner of Super DIRT Week XXVIII on Sunday at the New York State Fairgrounds produced a first-time winner.
This time around the prestigious honor of winning "The World's Richest DIRT Track Race" went to West Sand Lake, NY's Kenny Tremont, who earned more than $86,000 for his 29th open-wheel victory of the season.
An additional $5,000 cash has been promised from Lebanon Valley promoter Howie commander for Tremont being the first driver from his track to come away with the biggest victory in the world of dirt track modified stock car racing.
Tremont also mirrored the success of last year's winner Billy Decker as his first Eckerd 300 triumph also locked up his first-ever Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Modified Series title. Tremont claimed Advance Auto SDS for 358-Modifieds in both 1993 and '94.
Tremont's 18th year of trying to conquer the Syracuse "Moody Mile" proved a successful one as he took the lead on the 116th lap of 188 which made up the Eckerd 300. From there he had to hold off several challenges issued from Busch Series standout Dave Blaney and former Syracuse winner Kenny Brightbill to come away with top honors.
Just a car-length spelled the difference of victory for Tremont over Brightbill under the final checkered flag. Prior to Sunday, Tremont's finest Syracuse showing was a second-place behind Brett Hearn in 1993.
Following a three-hour rain-delay, pole-winner Blaney assumed command of things over the fastest Super DIRT Week starting field in history. Blaney remained in front until choosing to make one of two mandatory pit stops on lap 54. That turned the top spot over to Waterloo, NY's Steve Paine, who stayed there through the 73rd go.
When Paine headed for his mandatory pit visit, Tremont inherited the top spot for the first time on lap 75 yet would relinquish it to Rochester, NY's Danny Johnson 20 laps later. Johnson would go on to take the Lap 100 Budweiser bonus of $5,000.
Johnson's teammate Vic Coffey of Leicester, NY became the fourth driver to inherit the top spot and he too turned it over on lap 116 when he pitted at the first sign of rear-end trouble.
Tremont was in the right place to take over the lead and when runner-up Blaney brushed the turn two wall on lap 150, Sinking Spring, PA veteran Brightbill moved into position for a final challenge. Yet despite three more caution periods keeping the field tight, Brightbill had to settle for second in his first finish at Syracuse since winning the 1988 Eckerd Championship.
In the final Advance Auto SDS big-block standings, Tremont(1292) came from third-place in the double-points finale to overtake Decker(1216), six-time champion Brett Hearn(1183), Alan Johnson(1163) and Doug Hoffman(1159) to collect a $15,000 top prize.
Extending his contract with car owner Bob Faust one more year, Tim Fuller of Edwards, NY turned in his finest effort in this event with a close third. Second-generation driver Ronnie Johnson from Duanesburg, NY garnered Freihofer Rookie of the Race honors in fourth while two-time Eckerd champ Alan Johnson of Phelps, NY rounded out the front-five in the debut of the blue no. 1 Pillsbury entry.
Sixth-place went to Bethel, PA's Jeff Strunk, with race rookie Todd Wilkinson of Sheffield, MA settling into seventh ahead of Jimmy Horton, Jr. of Neshanic Station, NJ, Tim Dwyer of Cobleskill, NY and Newfield, NJ's Jimmy Chester.