TREMONT TRIUMPHS IN MR. DIRT TRACK, USA RACE AT LEBANON VALLEY

AUGUST 6, 1998

WEST LEBANON, NY- Kenny Tremont, of West Sand Lake, NY, took home the win in

the 98-lap Mr. Dirt Track, USA event. It was Tremont's second win in the

prestigious event. This race was part of the Skoal Super Dirt Series for big

block modifieds. Jeff Heoztler was awarded the guaranteed starting spot for

Super DIRT Week.

Rich Ricci Jr. drew the pole for the start of the 98-lap event and

was the early race leader. Brett Hearn, who started fifth in the event, was

up to the second spot by lap four. Kenny Tremont started fourteenth in the

feature and was on the move early. Tremont was up to tenth by lap six. Ricci

began to encounter lapped traffic by lap 12. Hearn would catch Ricci and the

two would battle for the top spot on lap 12. Tremont would be up to seventh

by lap 15.

The first yellow flag of the event flew on lap 16. Billy Decker's

night ended early as the brakes went away on lap 18. Decker would continue

running at the back of the field but would drop out for good late in the

race. Bobby Varin had a good run; he was seventh by lap 22. Good side by

side battle from seventh on back as all the drivers were scrambling for

positions. Tremont would take fourth by lap 24. Ricci and Hearn would run

side by side for first on lap 24. Hearn would grab the lead on lap 26.

Tremont would battle Hewitt for third on lap 26, with Tremont taking third

on lap 27.

The yellow flag flew again on lap 29 for Tim Fuller. Tremont would

battle Ricci for second on the restart. Tremont would take the second spot

on lap 35. Danny Johnson was steadily moving through the field; he was up to

tenth by lap 36. Hearn and Tremont would pull away from the pack as the race

reached the midway point. Varin would grab eighth on lap 41. Dickie Larkin's

night ended on lap 41 with a right rear flat tire. Jimmy Horton raced with

Hewitt for fourth on lap 44. Ricci's good run ended on lap 45 with mechanical

difficulties. Hearn would catch the back of the field by lap 45. Tremont

caught Hearn by lap 47 and took the lead on the next lap.

As the field crossed the stripe for lap 50 the top five was Tremont,

Hearn, Hewitt, Horton, and Alan Johnson. Horton would grab third on lap 53.

Heotzler was charging in the mid-stage of the event taking fifth on lap 55

and fourth by lap 59. Varin took sixth on lap 60. Tremont opened up a 20-car

lead by lap 63. Hearn and Horton battled for second on lap 68. Varin raced

Hewitt for the fifth position on lap 69, Varin grabbed fifth on lap 70.

The top five began to stretch out in the last twenty laps of the

race. Donnie Corellis saw a good finish fade by lap 80 as he went pitside.

Hearn looked like he was closing in towards the end of the event, but lost

Tremont in heavy lapped traffic. Horton would catch Hearn and make the pass

for second on lap 94. This allowed Tremont to pull out a full straightaway

lead on second place. Tremont cruised home for his second career Mr. Dirt

Track, USA event. It was also Tremont's ninth win of the season at Lebanon

Valley. Horton was second, Hearn third, Heotzler fourth and Varin fifth.

Rounding out the second half of the top ten were Alan Johnson sixth, Danny

Johnson seventh, Hewitt eighth, Chris Moore ninth and Chuck McKee tenth.

A full field of fifty-one modifieds attempted to qualify for this

event. Thirty-eight modifieds started the event with twenty-two cars taking

the checkered flag. The win was worth $17,500 to Tremont. Tremont now has a

103-point lead over Hearn in the race for the Valley modified point crown.

1998 Mr. DIRT Track USA Results

1) 115 KENNY TREMONT JR, 2) M1 Jimmy Horton, 3) 3 Brett Hearn, 4) 33 Jeff

Heotzler, 5) 35 Bobby Varin, 6) 24 Alan Johnson, 7) 6 Danny Johnson,

8) 24 John Hewitt, 9) 10 Chris Moore, 10) 265 Chuck McKee, 11) 10 Richie

Eurich, 12) 98 Eddie Marshall, 13) 1 Doug Hoffman, 14) 2G Tim McCreadie,

15) S Guy Sheldon, 16) 47 Todd Wilkinson, 17) 60 J.R. Heffner, 18) 32C Vic

Coffe, 19) 77X Dale Planck, 20) 97 Don Ackner, 21) 1 Dave Leckonby,

22) 33 1/3 Tom Meier, 23) 00 Chris Kokosa, 24) 57 Donnie Corellis,

25) 91 Billy Decker, 26) 19B Kenny Brightbill, 27) 55R Rich Ricci Jr.,

28) 111 Jeff Trombley, 29) 99 Dickie Larkin, 30) 75 Mike Ricci,

31) 8 Jack Cottrell, 32) 43 Tom Hager, 33) 57B Andy Bachetti,

34) 18 Bud Christmann, 35) 74 Robby Green, 36) 19 Tim Fuller,

37) 78M Manyard Forrette, 38) 1S Chris Soltis