HEARN MASTERS THE TRACK OF CHAMPIONS AGAIN

Last July at the Fonda Speedway Brett Hearn and Tim McCreadie waged one of the best battles ever at the Track of Champions during the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series event. Saturday afternoon at the Track of Champions was no different when the same two drivers raced hard for the win as Ice Jam 2003 opened the season at Fonda.

The 50-lap Big Block/Small Block Shootout series event was a story of lap cars causing problems for the leaders with the outcome of the race not being decided until the final few laps. Hearn ended up winning the event when McCreadie fell upon some bad racing luck while leading with three laps to go. Farrell Oil/Kendall Oil sponsored the day’s activities.

“I want to congratulate Ric Lucia and his track crew for getting this track ready for the race today,” Hearn said in victory lane. “We used the heads up start after out heat race win to our advantage, minded our own business, and got the job done.”

Pat Ward started the event on the pole position with Hearn outside of him in second. When the green flag dropped to start the event Ward took the early lead only to have the caution flag come out for a car that spun on the frontstretch. An original restart ensued with Ward again taking the lead.

When lap traffic came into play on lap seven, the top three of Ward, Hearn, and McCreadie were nose to tail battling for position. Hearn made a bid at the lead at that point in turn two only to have Ward shut the door to the opening and maintain his lead.

Lap cars were being used as picks by both Ward and Hearn as McCreadie tried feverishly to get by Hearn for second while Hearn tried to stay close to Ward for the number one spot. When the yellow flag came out again on lap thirteen, Hearn used the restart to take over the lead. Before that restart, Brett was blocked by lap cars twice in the previous five laps while he was alongside Ward racing for the lead.

McCreadie got by Ward for second on another restart on lap seventeen with Tim Fuller following McCreadie through for the third position relegating Ward back to fourth. One final yellow on lap thirty-eight closed up the field one last time and set up a fantastic finish to the event.

With five laps to go McCreadie got by Hearn for the lead in turn four in lap traffic and it looked as though he may be on his way to his first win at Fonda and also his first win with the Sweeteners Plus Race Team. But unfortunately for him it just wasn’t meant to be.

When McCreadie slowed suddenly in turn one because his left rear tire was going flat, Hearn got by for the lead with only two laps remaining. Fuller also got by for the second spot and pressured Hearn for the victory over the final two laps. Fuller’s bid fell just a little bit short and when the dust settled it was Hearn that was in victory lane again.

“I caught a rut getting by a lap car which allowed Tim to get by me,” Brett said. “I lucked out today when Tim got the flat tire as I would have probably been a second place car today.” Hearn took home $3000 for his efforts.

Jeremy Mathies was the first Small Block across the finish line earning a $500 bonus along with a starting spot for the 358-Modified race at Syracuse this October. “I lost my brakes after seven or eight laps but getting this bonus plus the Syracuse spot is just great,” Mathies said.

Next Saturday the regular season opener takes place at Fonda with Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, and Street Stocks all in action with racing starting at 5:00 p.m.

MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 36 total cars – 5 qualify

HEAT 1 – Pat Ward, Tim McCreadie, Steve Hulsizer, Jeff Trombley, Mike Fusco

HEAT 2 – Brett Hearn, Ryan Odasz, Jack Johnson, Ray Zemken, John McAuliffe

HEAT 3 – Ronnie Johnson, Mike Romano, Dave Lape, Tim Fuller, Bobby Varin

MODIFIED CONSOLATIONS – 5 qualify

CONSI 1 – Alton Palmer, Steve Akers, Jeremy Mathies, Bobby Vedder, Stan Lemiesz

CONSI 2 – Floyd Billington, Craig Criscone, Bruce Sawyer, Bob Sitterly, Josh Pieniazek

MODIFIED FEATURE – 50 laps – BRETT HEARN, Tim Fuller, Tim McCreadie, Pat Ward, Steve Hulsizer, Jeff Trombley, Dave Lape, Bobby Varin, Ronnie Johnson, Mike Fusco, Jeremy Mathies, Bobby Vedder, Stan Lemiesz, Floyd Billington, Ray Zemken, Josh Pieniazek, Steve Akers, Mike Romano, Ryan Odasz, John McAuliffe, Alton Palmer, Jack Johnson, A.J. Romano, Craig Criscone, Chic Chandler, Bob Sitterly, Bruce Sawyer