BRETT HEARN HOLDS OFF DECKER IN BREWERTON SKOAL STOP
BREWERTON, N.Y.-7/30/98-It was a "Bud Blast" at the Skoal Bandit Racing Super DIRT Series '98 at the Brewerton Speedway as Brett Hearn brought his Budweiser sponsored machine to victory lane as he held off the race long challenges of Billy Decker. Meanwhile, Georg!
e Cantanzano passed teen sensation Frank Caprara Jr. on the final turn of the final lap for the 20-lap IMCA victory.
A full house viewed an action packed event which provided keen competition for spots throughout the field. Hearn scored his fifth Skoal win of the season after winning previous races at Fonda, Tri-City, Susquehanna and Grandview to boost his point lead to!
49 points over current runner up Decker.
Tim Fuller and Pat Ward brought the field down for the green and immediately the "Pat Ward Show" as he roared to the high side to grab the early lead. Hearn, starting in fourth alongside Decker, slid into second on the sixth lap as he powered low under Ful!
ler with Decker following him through. Ward was content to run the high lane around the fast third of a mile track while Hearn ran the low side. It was break-out time for Ward, Hearn and Decker as the perfectly groomed track provided a multitude of racing !
lanes.
On the 22nd lap Gary Tomkins lost his brakes on the front stretch and slammed head on into the first turn wall as the 84 did a wheel stand and was out of action for the night. On the ensuing restart it was time for Hearn to make his move as he powered low !
to lead off the fourth turn. Moments later Decker roared into second place and with 25 laps in it was Hearn and Decker pulling away with Ward in third followed by Steve Paine and Tim Fuller. Fans were keeping an eye on action throughout the pack and Danny!
Johnson along with Bob McCreadie were making their moves with consistency toward the front.
Hearn and Decker continued to run wheel to wheel and bumper to bumper. At the halfway point the lead duo was trailed by Ward, Paine, Dan Johnson, Alan Johnson, Doug Hoffman, Ken Brightbill, Tim Fuller and Bob McCreadie. "The Doctor" was operating toward th!
e point and on lap 52 powered into the fourth place after a battle with his brother Alan.
The "Bugchaser" Decker became the "Budchaser" and on the sixty-second lap as he drew alongside. Decker failed to complete the pass and continued to be the pursuer. The top five pulled away, but the battle for sixth included Alan Johnson, Bob McCreadie, Dou!
g Hoffman, Steve Paine, and Jimmy Horton.
With 74 laps in and the yellow out for Steve Hulsizer's mechanical woes, Hearn told the crowd over the public address system, "I have got my hands full with Decker." During the closing lap Hearn was able to gain a slight edge over Decker and he roared acro!
ss the line for the victory. Decker finished second followed by Dan Johnson, a late charging Alan Johnson and Ken Brightbill. Sixth through tenth were Bob McCreadie, Doug Hoffman, Jimmy Horton, Steve Paine and Tim Fuller as 17 cars completed the entire dist!
ance.
Hearn noted, "I saw his nose a couple of times as he got in there, and this was a fantastic race and to win these Skoal events is something special.." Decker said, "We ran pretty good, but Brett was really firing better on the restarts."
In the companion IMCA modified main event a very competitive field of cars were led to the flag by John Bell and Don Alvord as the duo swapped the lead on the first lap. Alvord set the pace, but he was facing a still challenge from Caprara, Catanzano, Bel!
l and Ron O'Neil. Caprara took over on the fifth lap as the leaders raced out of the fourth turn and it appeared he was enroute to the feature win. However, Catanzano refused to give up. With ten laps in it was Caprara, Catazano, Bell, Dane Keller, O'Neil,!
L.D. Bezner and Sean Lias leading the way. While Caprara and Catazano pulled away the keen battle was for third.
Laps ticked down and the leaders raced side by side. Meanwhile, Lias moved rapidly through the field and was third with five laps to go. With one lap left Caprara and Catazano went past the grandstand glued together. They came upon a lapped car and Frank !
got caught with Catanzano sliding by for the win as the pair raced out of the fourth turn. The misfortune provided Lias with a shot at second as the Caprara had to settle for third. Rob Keller and Dane Keller completed the top five.
Bud Blast 98-Brett Hearn, Billy Decker, Danny Johnson, Alan Johnson, Kenny Brightbill, Bob McCreadie, Doug Hoffman, Jimmy Horton, Steve Paine, Tim Fuller, Scott Prentice, Bob Varin, Dale Plank, Vic Coffey, Kenny Tremont, Bill Gill, Chuck Bower, Jeff Rudala!
vage, Ray Blis, Tim McCreadie, Bill Tanner, Pat Ward, Jim Garbriel Jr., Roger Phelps, Steve Hulsizer, Bob Melone, Tom Sears, Jim Phelps, Gary Tomkins, Jack Johnson, Frank Cozze.
IMCA Mods Feature -George Catanzano, Sean Lias, Frank Caprara, Rob Keller, Dane Keller, John Bell, Bob Bradt, Ron O'Neil, Don Alvord, Jim Evans, Brent Matzel, Coleen Finch, Randy Hall, Larry Bezner, Richard Michael Jr., Dave McKane, Tony Finch, Jeff Cardin!
ale, Carmen Vona, Dick Weiland, Les Hubbard. Scott Zipprich (DNS).
Pit Notes-Heats went to Brightbill, Hoffman, Tomkins, and Frank Cozze with consis captured by Horton and Coffey. IMCA qualifiers went toRandy Hall, Rob Keller and Frank Caprara...Racing was completed shortly after 10 p.m...Next Skoal Bandit stop is August!
6 at Lebanon Valley and August 13 at Delaware...Rain throughout the day disappeared just before race time...A huge crowd on hand...A perfect night for one of the biggest shows of the year.