RICK LAUBACH WINS NJ STATE 358 TITLE
Bridgeport, NJ (11/27/2004) – Under blue skies and temperatures in the upper fifties, 57- 358 Modifieds took to New Jersey’s fastest speedway for the Saturday portion of the Great Turkey Chase. Quakertown, PA ace Rick Laubach took the top laurels in the headliner 25-lap New Jersey 358 Modified feature event. Ken Watson won the thrilling Outlaw Stock 20 lapper.
At the green of the New Jersey 358 Modified Championship race, Bechtelsville, PA driver Ray Sweinhart jumped out the lead over pole sitter Darren McCaughey and fifth starting Wade Hendrickson. Kevin Hirthler brought the action to a halt with a hard hit into the first turn guardrail. Hirthler was shaken but otherwise he was ok.
The early laps a torrid pace at the front seen Newfield, NJ Jimmy Chester take the high road picking off position after position to grab the lead from Sweinhart on the 6th lap. On the next circuit, Sweinhart began to slow as Bridgeport Speedway’s all-time leading Modified feature winner took over the runner up position. As the action was getting hotter in the front, Bill Klingmeyer made contact with the inside track tire in turn one slowing the action.
When the restart was about to be given the 2000 Modified Champ Wade Hendrickson was forced pit side with a flat tire eliminating him from the top five. Chester restarted the event but quickly found Seaford, DE ace Ricky the rocket Elliott hard on the charge. As the leader were motoring down the back straight Elliott powered the Jake Marine small block past Chester for the lead bringing along Horton for the ride. The yellow would fly for a sixth place running Richie Pratt, Jr. slowing in turn four. At the same time third place running Chester would experience a flat tire and retire to the pit area.
The restart on lap 18 had Elliott leading Horton and Quakertown, PA driver Rick Laubach in the Lincoln Auto Body car. One lap later Laubach would move past Horton for second. With the five to go sign Elliot was maintaining a comfortable lead over Laubach and Horton. Suddenly as the leader were going into turn four for the two to go signal, Elliott’s car slowed to a spot handing over the lead to a fast running Laubach in the Dieter Schmidt TEO. The last two lap shootout had Horton give one last shot at Laubach as he held off the challenges to pick up his first NJ 358 Championship win. Horton finished a close second followed by Tommy Beamer, Wade Hendrickson rebounding from his earlier flat tire and Sportsman chauffer Drew Ricco for a fine run of fifth.
The Mighty Modifieds Non-Winners main event seen the field come down for the green flag with Mark Forte, Sr. grabbing the lead followed by Mike Gular and Kyle Strickler. The race was slowed on lap three when Jason D’Allesio made contact with the turn one guardrail. During the caution period Forte, Sr. went pit side with tire troubles.
The race resumed for one lap till Ryan Godown and Joe Pulzella got together in turn two slowing the event. The restart had Strickler lead over Stephan Durand. When action continued Strickler and Durand began to wage a war for the lead till the race was again slowed for debris. As the leaders continued the battle for the top spot, Tommy Beamer and Bob Sarkisian were moving closer in third and fourth respectively.
As the race hit the halfway mark the yellow was waved again for a slowing Forte, Sr. At the same time Sarkisian dropped from his fifth place position. Strickler was still on top over Durand and an invading Norman Short.
The restart had Durand out gun Strickler for the lead and begin to pull away from the field. Short then pulled into third by Tommy Beamer. Lap 15 had Beamer experience problems and drop from the event. Also at the same time Strickler had some trouble and made a pit stop.
As been the case of the event another problem for the front as Short stopped in turn two and then the rains came.
Stephan Durand was awarded the much deserved win over Vince Gagliando and
The Outlaw Stocks had Pat Conaway jump out the early lead over Ken Watson and the newly crowned Champ Joe Trumbetti. Conaway continued to hold a slight lead over Watson. As the leaders entered turn one on lap six Watson tried to get the advantage over Conaway using a lap car as a pick. The move was unsuccessful as Conaway pulled away to a five car advantage at lap 10.
The caution waved for a roof that became dislodged and flew onto the speedway from Trumbetti as he was running in a distant fifth. When the event was restarted, Conaway found some pressure from behind from Watson and Pat Hires in tow. The top three continued to run under a blanket when the action was halted for a roll over by Robert Baird. After the red flag, Conaway continued at the front with Watson right on his tail. As the leaders received the two to go sign Watson moved down low under a lap car and rubbed by Conaway for the lead and motored on for the win.
358 Modifieds
Heat 1 – Pratt, Jr., Hindley, Sheetz, Hughes, Kormann
Heat 2 – VanHorn, J. Chester, Radd, Ricco, Beamer
Heat 3 – Laubach, Horton, Swinehart, Dmchowski, Wescott, Jr.
Heat 4 – Elliott, Hendrickson, McCaughey, Godown, Mills
Consi 1 – Gular, Kline, Strickler, Hirthler, Beltz
Consi 2 – Cozze, Klingmeyer, Haggenbottom, Briggs, Coffey
Feature 25 Laps – RICK LAUBACH, Jimmy Horton, Tommy Beamer, Wade Hendrickson, Drew Ricco, Darren McCaughey, Dave VanHorn, Larry Kline, Kyle Strickler, Jamie Mills, Ryan Beltz, Bill Briggs, Bryan Coffey, Mike Hughes, Donnie Radd, Eric Kormann, Ricky Elliott, Ryan Godown, Frank Cozze, Richie Pratt, Jr., Mike Gular, Sammy Wescott, Fred Dmchowski, Tom Hindley, Tommy Sheetz, Bill Klingmeyer, Ray Sweinhart, Micky Haggenbottom, Jimmy Chester, Kevin Hirthler DNQ- John Pratt, John Townsend, Rob Rotasky, Joe DeMaris, Billy Chester, Mark Forte, Jr., Byrant Brown, Mike Mamanna, Jeff Harrison, Fritz Epright, Frank Holmes, Tom Miller, John Stengle, Jack Hartnett, Scott Holmes, Steve Warner, Jeff Paulson, Mark Schwiebinz, Ken Hammond, Rodney Cerdorey, Keith Brightbill, Tom Hager, Glenn Smith, Ron Roberts, Scott Smith, Lou Farina, III, Jim Falzini
Outlaw Stocks
Heat 1 – Conaway, Trumbetti, Starke, Alley
Heat 2 – Watson, Hayes, Ashland, DeGarmo, Hart
Feature 20 Laps – KEN WATSON, Pat Conaway, Joe Trumbetti, Steve Stark, Jeff Dirkes, Tom Alley, Walter Hayes, Pat Hires, Mike Hires, Robert Baird, John Read, Mike Clark, Frank Ashman, Jesse DeGarmo, Jim Honaker DNS – Dave Williams
Big Block Modified Non-Winners Feature – STEPHAN DURAND