OFFICIAL DECISION: DOUG HOFFMAN WINNER OF BILL NICHOLS MEMORIAL AT EAST WINDSOR SPEEDWAY FRIDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDSOR, N.J. ~ Defending Modified driving champion Doug Hoffman of Allentown, Pa. won a feature race Friday night that was not only in doubt during the competition, but had to be settled by an official decision after the checker flag had waved.
The action on the track had emotions at a fever pitch as Hoffman, Wade Hendrickson, Kenny Brightbill and Jimmy Horton wrestled for the lead lap after lap with each nosing to the front at one time or another. As the race neared the end, Brightbill and Horton raced side-by-side at the head of the field down the front stretch when they touched and went spinning.
While Horton and Brightbill headed to the pit are with damage, the field was reassembled for one final lap with Hoffman leading the entire circuit to the checker flag. That final circuit was in question, however, due to a communications mix-up. That final lap sparked debate after the race was concluded.
An official decision that said that the first driver under the checker flag was the winner settled the debate, so the victory was awarded to Doug Hoffman. Hendrickson was second, with early leader Darren McCaughey, third, Mike Franz, fourth and Fred Dmuchowski, fifth.
Mike Lyons of Hightstown took the victory in the Sportsman main event, while Al Cheney III of Cranbury was the Street Stock winner and Mark Bitner of Allentown was tops in the Windsor Outlaw Sprint Car feature.
Friday night racing continues weekly at the East Windsor Speedway with the first green flag waving at 7:30 p.m. This Friday evening, May 31, the Modifieds battle in a 25-lapper, with the Sportsman cars racing 20-laps and the Street Stocks competing in a 15-lapper. The Limited Sprint Cars will also return to action. All of the stock car divisions will be racing in the open competition, "Run What Ya Brung" format.
More information can be obtained by calling the speedway hotlines at 609-448-8510 or 732-521-0910. The speedway website is www.ewspeedway.com.
EAST WINDSOR SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS
May 24, 2002
MODIFIED
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Kerr; Radd; Cox
FEATURE - 25 Laps - 1. DOUG HOFFMAN, ALLENTOWN, PA.; 2. Wade Hendrickson; 3. Darren McCaughey; 4. Mike Franz; 5. Fred Dmuchowski; 6. Tad Cox; 7. Donny Radd; 8. John Oliver; 9. Larry McVey; 10. Mike McAleer; 11. Scott Flammer; 12. Art Adams; 13. Rich Rutsky; 14. Steve Moss; 15. Kenny Brightbill; 16. Jimmy Horton; 17. Art Taylor; 18. Bruce Hooper; 19. Mark Tranquilli; 20. Jeff Scaccio; 21. Jeff Parker; 22. Fritz Epright; 23. Ryan Godown; 24. Ryan Kerr
SPORTSMAN
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Stout; Nonnemacher; Pratt; CONSOLATION: Holsten
FEATURE - 20 Laps - 1. MIKE LYONS, HIGHTSTOWN; 2. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 3. Keith Nonnemacher; 4. Brian Pearson; 5. John Romano; 6. Darrel Delnaro; 7. Art Liedl, Jr.; 8. Rich Stinson; 9. Rich Holsten; 10. G.R. Smith; 11. Barry Christ; 12. Jeff Acolia; 13. John Spiegel; 14. Rob Shuster; 15. Dave Van Dyke; 16. Gene Stravinsky; 17. Rob Gallmayer; 18. Chris Christ; 19. Jim Rossell; 20. Joey Tinnes; 21. Keith Fleming; 22. John Scheideler; 23. Paul Marra, Sr.; 24. Brian Godown; 25. Dom Buffalino; 26. Jack Amundsen; 27. Richard Stout
STREET STOCK
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Cooke; Whitehouse
FEATURE - 15 Laps - 1. AL CHENEY III, CRANBURY; 2. Carol Whitehouse; 3. Phil Retter; 4. Kim Cooke; 5. Korey Fleming; 6. Richie Byrne; 7. Whitey Miller; 8. Al Burdge; 9. Don Shipley; 10. Tom Lainhart; 11. Jeff Nelson; 12. Kevin Bifulco; 13. Pat Freiberger; 14. Bryan Reed; 15. Steve Biles; 16. Art Bifulco; 17. George Quinlan; 18. Frank Dorry; 19. Chip Grant; 20. Paul Marra, Jr.; 21. Rob Ormsbee; 22. Rob Melton; 23. Greg Buchanon; 24. Pete Fogarty
WINDSOR OUTLAW SPRINT CARS
FEATURE - 15 Laps - 1. MARK BITNER; ALLENTOWN; 2. Jeff Taylor; 3. Ron Janney; 4. Tom Wychoff; 5. Bill Miller