HEARN DOMINATES FOR SECOND STRAIGHT FLORIDA TOUR TRIUMPH
BARBERVILLE,FL...Sussex, New Jersey superstar Brett Hearn once more took center stage at Volusia Speedway Park as he led all but one circuit to capture his second straight victory in Friday night's 30-lap DIRT Modified main.
Hearn swept around Northeastern nemesis Danny Johnson exiting turn four on the second lap and roared home uncontested to pocket another $2,000 first-place check in the most dominant performance of FLORIDA SWING 2000.
"Any time you can go by Danny on the outside you know your car is hooked up pretty good," said Hearn, following his sixth career win at Volusia. He won two of three features staged at the Barberville oval to claim the 1998 Florida Tour points title.
"We made some good decisions on set-up and the car couldn't have run better. The track wasn't abrasive like last night but once out front I didn't have to move too far away from the inside line," added Hearn, who remains DIRT Motorsports' all-time feature winner with 370(242 big-block) modified victories.
Hearn showed his cards early as he blasted from last to second after just one trip around the smooth half-miler in the first of three qualifying heats. After easily scoring the win, his brand new Budweiser-backed TEO Pro entry lined up third on the 28-car starting grid, directly behind heat one winner Johnson in his own Troyer machine.
While pole-sitter Johnson pulled ahead easily on the initial start, Hearn followed in close pursuit. That order lasted only one time around as Hearn charged past D.J. with New York modified rookie Jason Barney, Pennsylvania veteran Doug Hoffman and first-time Florida traveler Brian Berger settling in behind.
At the midway mark it was the Troyer cars of Johnson and Hoffman battling together for runner-up recognition while Berger and 10th-place starter Alan Johnson diced farther back. Kenny Tremont rallied into sixth after beginning 15th alongside tour points leader Jamie Mills.
Even after the lone yellow flag flew on lap 22 to erase a comfortable advantage, the outcome was already decided. Fourth-place runner Berger tangled with the lapped car of Jim Rasey to slow the action but a clean track ahead on the ensuing restart allowed Hearn to keep his foot to the floor over the final laps.
"The car was so good tonight it really made my job easy," smiled Hearn, 41, after crossing the stripe a straightaway ahead of Danny Johnson and Hoffman. "If track conditions stay the same tomorrow we'll have a good shot at three in a row."
Through three of the four series races scheduled during the 29th annual Winternationals, opening night winner Jamie Mills and Alan Johnson are tied atop the Florida Tour standings with 150 points. Hoffman(144) ranks third while Hearn and Tremont are tied for fourth with 142 points apiece.
Open-wheel action concludes Saturday at Volusia Speedway Park with the $5,000-to-win 50-lap DIRT Modified Championship race highlighting the evening program.
FLORIDA TOUR 2000 RACE RESULTS @ Volusia Speedway Park - Fri., Feb. 18
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
27j
Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld/Troyer/C.C. Performance
3
27
Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA
J & J Shop/Troyer/Feil
4
1p
Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
Pillsbury Doughboy-Beachy Motorsports/Bicknell/Enders
5
115
Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
Emerick Assoc-S&S Asphalt-Fane Concrete/Troyer/Tremont
6
9
Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY
Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame-F.X. Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
7
87
Jason Barney/Constantia,NY
Spruce Grove Marina-Stadium Int'l-Pit Stop/Bicknell/Moshier
8
30
Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
Mills Bros. Markets/Troyer/Myers
9
2gr
Bucky Kell/Hammonton,NJ
Statewide Hi-Way Safety-BGM Motorsports/Olsen/Feil
10
74
J.R. Heffner/Averill Park,NY
A.Colarusso & Son/Olsen/Raspuzzi
11
5
Keith Hoffman/Whitehall,PA
Bashore Trucking-Wenger's Farm Machinery/Troyer/Morrison
12
b1
Kenny Brightbill/Sinking Spring,PA
B&F General Machine-Follweiler's Garage/Olsen/Enders
13
97
Mike Romano/Johnstown,NY
Andy's Speed Shop/Bicknell/Malcuit
14
3d
Matt DeLorenzo/Voorheesville,NY
B.B.L. Construction/Bicknell/Enders
15
3p
Rich Polenz/Flemington,NJ
RAP Auto-Art's Radiator/TEO/Bags-Morrison-Polenz
16
94
Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
Jreck Subs-Syracuse Frame-F.X. Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
17
9t
Tom Moore/West Chester,PA
Doodle's Crew-Quaker State/Olsen/Larkin
18
60
Brian Berger/New Lebanon,NY
Zoom'N Groom-B&B Auto Sales/Olsen/Feil
19
57
Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
Troy's Garage-Bachetti's Auto Sales/TEO/Enders
20
Z
Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
Tittle & Sons Motorsports/Troyer/Fiehls
21
33
Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA
J & L Speed Supplies/Bicknell/Reinford Racing Engines
22
77
Bob Hamm,Jr./Windsor,NY
Hamm Motorsports/Bicknell/Precision
23
24
Jimmy Johnson/Bloomingburg,NY
Clayton Delaney Saloon/Troyer/Precision
24
32
Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
Twin Oaks Services South/Troyer/Rasey
25
m1
Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
B&F General Machine-Follweiler's Garage/Olsen/Enders
26
2
Craig Mullins/Bridgeville,DE
Gene's Auto Sales/Troyer/Feil
27
4
Scott Kania/Ferndale,PA
Hughes Plumbing & Heating/Troyer/Coffey
28
96
Deron Rust/Georgetown,DE
Bodie's Dairy Markets-Delmarva-Dirt-Blasters/TEO/B&G
DNQ
8
Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot/Troyer/Enders
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
110
Rob Ratoskey/Conshohocken,PA
Baldwin Flowers-Janesway Towing/Olsen/Feil
DNQ
1
Jonny Johnston/Cambridge,MD
Ed Brown's Engines-Cambridge Motorsports/Olsen/Brown
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: D.Johnson (1), Hearn (2-30).
CAUTIONS: 1.
HEAT WINNERS: D.Johnson, Barney, Hearn.
CONSI WINNERS: Mullins, B.McCreadie.
TOTAL PURSE: $10,650.
CARS ENTERED: 33.