HEARN BLISTERS TRACK AND TIRES, REBOUNDS FOR VOLUSIA VICTORY
BARBERVILLE, FL...Brett Hearn found his way to the front for the second straight race as DIRT Motorsports returned to Volusia Speedway Park for competition during FLORIDA SWING 2000.
Despite his car showing blistered tires all around, the Sussex, New Jersey standout remained ahead on Thursday as he posted a convincing victory in the 30-lap DIRT Modified feature.
"The track was much harder and drier than Tuesday but I knew it was going to be that way," said Hearn, 41, following his 241st DIRT big-block triumph. The '98 Florida Tour points champion pocketed $2,000 after his fifth win in the Sunshine State.
"It looked like the track hadn't been reworked since last time. The surface needs to be dug up to get some moisture in or there's no way we can last 50 laps on Saturday. We ran the hardest tires we had and they're junk right now," Hearn added.
Hearn collided with a lapped car after charging from 17th to first on Tuesday and placed 21st. The handicapping system allowed him to file in near the front en route to victory in the first of three heat race qualifiers and give him the pole-position start.
The four-time Hoosier Tire/Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT champion jumped out early although front row partner Brian Berger caught a wheel in turn two to bring out the first of three yellow flags. Danny Johnson charged from sixth to second by the fourth circuit yet could never offer a serious challenge.
Orange County Fair Speedway regular Jimmy Johnson suffered a broken mount on lap five to require a tow truck while Pennsylvanian Ray Swinehart slowed to incur the third caution period on lap 26. Top-10 runner Tim Fuller was also forced pitside with a blown tire with just four laps to go.
On the final restart Johnson's motor sputtered and he quickly exited the track to foil any victory lane appearance. Under green flag conditions Hearn ran uncontested aboard his potent red no. 3 Budweiser Racing-WLR Construction-Cavallaro Produce/TEO machine to win by two car-lengths ahead of veteran Alan Johnson in the popular blue no. 1 Pillsbury/Bicknell entry.
"The car ran just as strong on Tuesday but more importantly this time we finished the race," said Hearn, who scored his 500th career win last February to rank fourth in the final Florida Tour point standings. "I ran hard enough to open a lead then backed off just to save the tires. It wasn't fun but the job got done."
New York veteran Bob McCreadie crossed the line third ahead of son Tim McCreadie while opening night winner Jamie Mills from Delaware increased his points lead with a second top-five tally. Bucky Kell, Mike Romano, Rich Polenz, Doug Hoffman and Kenny Tremont filled in behind.
Through two of the four series races scheduled at Volusia, Mills (108) tops the current Florida Tour standings followed by Alan Johnson(100), Tremont(94), Doug Hoffman(92), brother Keith Hoffman(84) and Hearn(82).
Open-wheel action continues Friday at Volusia with a 30-lap DIRT Modified main headlining the 29th Winternationals program.
FLORIDA TOUR 2000 RACE RESULTS @ Volusia Speedway Park - Thu., Feb. 17
DIRT Modified Feature (30L)
FIN
CAR#
DRIVER
TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
1
3
Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
Budweiser-WLR Const-Cavallaro Produce/TEO/Feil-Enders
2
1p
Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
Pillsbury Doughboy-Beachy Motorsports/Bicknell/Enders
3
9
Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY
Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame-F.X. Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
4
94
Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
Jreck Subs-Syracuse Frame-F.X. Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
5
30
Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
Mills Bros. Markets/Troyer/Myers
6
2gr
Bucky Kell/Hammonton,NJ
Statewide Hi-Way Safety-BGM Motorsports/Olsen/Feil
7
97
Mike Romano/Johnstown,NY
Andy's Speed Shop/Bicknell/Malcuit
8
3p
Rich Polenz/Flemington,NJ
RAP Auto-Art's Radiator/TEO/Bags-Morrison-Polenz
9
27
Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA
J & J Shop/Troyer/Feil
10
115
Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
Emerick Assoc-S&S Asphalt-Fane Concrete/Troyer/Tremont
11
5k
Keith Hoffman/Whitehall,PA
Bashore Trucking-Wenger's Farm Machinery/Troyer/Morrison
12
57
Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
Troy's Garage-Bachetti's Auto Sales/TEO/Enders
13
Z
Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
Tittle & Sons Motorsports/Troyer/Fiehls
14
87
Jason Barney/Constantia,NY
Spruce Grove Marina-Stadium Int'l-Pit Stop/Bicknell/Moshier
15
60
Brian Berger/New Lebanon,NY
Zoom'N Groom-B&B Auto Sales/Olsen/Feil
16
3d
Matt DeLorenzo/Voorheesville,NY
B.B.L. Construction/Bicknell/Enders
17
32
Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
Twin Oaks Services South/Troyer/Rasey
18
27j
Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld/Troyer/C.C. Performance
19
m1
Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
B&F General Machine-Follweiler's Garage/Olsen/Enders
20
33
Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA
J & L Speed Supplies/Bicknell/Reinford Racing Engines
21
74
J.R. Heffner/Averill Park,NY
A.Colarusso & Son/Olsen/Raspuzzi
22
96
Deron Rust/Georgetown,DE
Bodie's Dairy Markets-Delmarva-Dirt-Blasters/TEO/B&G
23
2
Craig Mullins/Bridgeville,DE
Gene's Auto Sales/Troyer/Feil
24
4
Scott Kania/Ferndale,PA
Hughes Plumbing & Heating/Troyer/Coffey
25
b1
Kenny Brightbill/Sinking Spring,PA
B&F General Machine-Follweiler's Garage/Olsen/Enders
26
24
Jimmy Johnson/Bloomingburg,NY
Clayton Delaney Saloon/Troyer/Precision
DNQ
8
Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot/Troyer/Enders
DNQ
46
Kayle Robidoux/St-Constant,QUE
BERT Transmission/TEO/Bert
DNQ
77
Bob Hamm,Jr./Windsor,NY
Hamm Motorsports/Bicknell/Precision
DNQ
9t
Tom Moore/West Chester,PA
Doodle's Crew-Quaker State/Olsen/Larkin
DNQ
110
Rob Ratoskey/Conshohocken,PA
Baldwin Flowers-Janesway Towing/Olsen/Feil
DNQ
30+
Mike Frost/Factoryville,PA
High Power Performance-Conklin Motors/Troyer/Frost
DNQ
97
Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY
D.P. Barlett & Sons Plumbing Heating & AC/Olsen/Bow-Tie
DNQ
1
Jonny Johnston/Cambridge,MD
Ed Brown's Engines-Cambridge Motorsports/Olsen/Brown
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADER: Hearn (1-30).
CAUTIONS: 3.
HEAT WINNERS: Hearn, Berger, T.McCreadie.
CONSI WINNERS: Brightbill, DeLorenzo.
TOTAL PURSE: $10,250.
CARS ENTERED: 34.