Billy Pauch Jr. Takes $5,000 Stockley Tavern Small-Block Modified Victory to Kick Off Mid-Atlantic Championship
Written by Chris Moore
GEORGETOWN, DE - Billy Pauch Jr. continued his winning ways on Night No. 1 of the Georgetown Speedway Mid-Atlantic Championship weekend. Pauch Jr. collected the $5,000 small-block Modified win, after posting the $100 Stockley Tavern “Gambler’s Fee” at the beginning of the night, adding $2,000 to his winning paycheck.
After spending the first 20 of the race’s 30 laps running in second, Milford, N.J.’s Pauch Jr. took advantage of a restart, getting a great off of turns one and two, setting up the winning move in turns three and four.
Pauch Jr. dove to the inside of Phoenix, N.Y.’s Larry Wight to take the lead away for good. “I knew I had to try something on that restart… he (Wight) was a little tight through the middle. I thought if I could get door to door with him, I could get him,” “The Kid’s Kid” would go on to say in victory lane.
141 cars packed the pit area, and the infield, on a cool southern Delaware night to kick off the Georgetown Speedway 2019 weekend finale.
34 small-block Modifieds signed in for the night with 26 scheduled to take the green.
After the top 12 drew for their starting positions, Larry Wight and Ransomville, N.Y.’s Erick Rudolph were scheduled for the front row. However, problems arose for the Jeff Brown-owned No. 9 machine, prohibiting Rudolph from taking the green.
From the drop of the green, Wight and Pauch Jr. were joined by Sprakers, N.Y.’s, Stewart Friesen, as the top-three set a scorching pace for the rest of the field to maintain.
Every sustained green-flag run, the top-three would separate themselves from the rest of the field, but never separating from each other. Behind the lead trio, action was aplenty, specifically on restarts.
Drivers were losing and gaining positions three and four at a time on every restart. On one restart, Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt gained five positions and then lost two immediately following.
Oley, Pa.’s, Duane Howard had a scare on the lap-20 restart. After sliding in front of Friesen for third, Howard got a little sideways and collected multiple cars, but everybody was able to continue on, including Howard, but not after losing several positions.
The yellow with 10 laps remaining was where the race was won, as Billy Jr. got a great run off of turn two and pulled alongside Wight for the lead, before ultimately outdueling Wight into turns three and four and driving away with the win.
It was the New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway champion’s second win of 2019 at the Georgetown Speedway.
Larry Wight held onto a second place finish in a rare appearance for him at the southern Delaware half-mile. Stewart Friesen rounded out the podium. Bechtelsville, Pa.’s, Jeff Strunk had quiet, steady night to come home fourth, and Ryan Watt drove from his 11th starting position to a fifth-place finish.
Rounding out the top-10 respectively were, Duane Howard, who rebounded for a sixth place finish, Sewell, N.J.’s Richie Pratt Jr. seventh, Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard brought home an eighth-place finish, Pipersville, Pa.’s Danny Bouc finished ninth, and Somerville, N.J.’s Ryan Krachun crossed the line 10th.
Matt Hill was another driver who continued his red hot 2019, picking up the $1,000 RUSH Late Model win. It was his second win at Georgetown, this season. Hill had it out with Joe Warren as the two battled to the finish for the win.
The Delaware Late Model power couple, Ross Robinson and Amanda Whaley finished third and fourth, respectively, while David Pettyjohn rounded out the top five.
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Modifieds ran four heat races, Craig Von Dohren, Rick Laubach, Larry Wight, and Jordan Watson were the winners.
The Sunoco Super Late Models also ran their heat races, with Ross Robinson and Rick Eckert winning the two heat races.
Ryan Efford won a thrilling Delaware Super Truck feature, his first win of the year. David Smith finished runner-up in his bid for win number two of the year. Ronnie Holloway, Robert Smith, and Jerry Hill rounded out the top five.
Ashley Merritt won her second Delmarva Charger feature event of the season. Merritt held off a hard charging Tippy Martinez, who was looking for his second consecutive win. Greg Nailor, Scott Calhoun, and John Bailey finished out the top five.
Racing resumes for Day No. 2 of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend on Saturday (today).
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region Championship Round – 40 Laps, $5,000 to win, $400 to start
$6,000 to win with $50 Gambler’s Fee – $7,000 to win with $100 Gambler’s Fee – presented by Stockley Materials
Sunoco Super Late Model Championship – 40 Laps, $5,000 to win, $400 to start
$6,000 to win with $50 Gambler’s Fee – $7,000 to win with $100 Gambler’s Fee – presented by JD Shuckers of Georgetown
STSS Crate 602 Sportsman South Region Finale – 20 Laps, $1,500 to win, $100 to start
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series – 20 Lap Championship
Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars (12 Laps)
Little Lincolns (12 Laps)
Delmarva Chargers (12 Laps)
Pit & Grandstand Gates: 3 p.m. – Hot Laps: 5 p.m. – Racing: 6 p.m.
Saturday Adult Admission: $25 – Seniors (ages 65-plus) & Students (ages 13-17): $20 – Kids 9-12: $10 – Children eight and under FREE
Saturday Pit Admission: $40 – Kids (ages 6-12): $10 – Children five and under: $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).
MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND RESULTS SUMMARY – NOVEMBER 1, 2019
Small-Block Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): BILLY PAUCH JR., Larry Wight, Stewart Friesen, Jeff Strunk, Ryan Watt, Duane Howard, Richie Pratt, Matt Sheppard, Danny Bouc, Ryan Krachun, Louden Reimert, David Van Horn, Brad Trice, Ron Roberts Jr., Norman Short Jr., Billy Pauch Sr., Craig Von Dohren, John Willman, Andy Bachetti, Frank Cozze, Dylan Swinehart, Sean Weiss, Johnny Bangs, Trent Van Vorst, Jared Umbenhauer, Erick Rudolph
Did Not Qualify: Tom Moore Jr., Jordan Long, Jason Smythe, Zachary Merola, Matt Stangle, Mike Gular, Terry Chaney, Bobby DeLeon
Short Track Super Series Modified Heat Winners (8 laps): Craig Von Dohren, Rick Laubach, Larry Wight & Jordan Watson
Sunoco Super Late Model Heat Winners (8 laps): Ross Robinson & Rick Eckert
RUSH Late Model Feature Finish (20 laps): MATT HILL, Joe Warren, Ross Robinson, Amanda Whaley, David Pettyjohn, Billy Thompson, Jonathon Raley, Kerry King, Joe Pete, Mike Wharton, Mike Roland, Austin Bussler, Robert Smith, Brian Coe Jr., Kelly Putz, D.J. Elzey, Richard Harden, Nick Love, Derek Magee, Mike Puckett, Andrew Hopkins, Zac Weller, Nick Davis, Ben Scott.
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): RYAN EFFORD, David Smith, Ronnie Holloway, Robert Smith, Jerry Hill, Dale Elliott, Kirk Miles Sr, Cole Neibert, Cory Sapp, George Ralph, Zach Phillips, Greg Nailor, Thomas 'Action' Jackson, Dick Beauchamp, Jonah Vincent, Billy Lockwood, Trent Marine, J.R. Bergman, Eric Thompson, Bill Dean, Michelle Jackson.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): ASHLEY MERRITT, Tippy Martinez, Greg Nailor, Scott Calhoun, John Bailey, Pacman, Randy Merritt, Jimmy Waters, Jarrett Chandler, Brand Riefler, Billy Smith.