DECKER DECKS STELLAR DIRT FIELD AT NEW EGYPT

New Egypt, NJ (June 21) - Former Mr. DIRT champion Billy Decker of Unadilla, NY, finally got the handle on his new ride and rode home $6,000 richer in New Egypt Speedway's Advance Super DIRT Series Garden State Gunfight, sponsored by Haldeman Ford of Hamilton, NJ, on Thursday night.

"I can't thank car owner Randy Ross and the crew enough. We all worked our tails off all spring, trying to get this new PMC chassis straightened out," Decker said in victory lane. "I had a lot of fun out there, racing with Billy and Timmy. I sure hope it was as exciting for the fans as it was for me!"

Fast timer Ricky Elliott led the charge in the 100 lap event, with Tim McCreadie and track kingpin Billy Pauch hot on his heels. Young McCreadie grabbed the point on lap 9, with Pauch right beside him like a parallel presence, lap after lap. Five laps later, eighth-starting Decker made it an intense three-way, splitting the low-riding McCreadie and the high-flying Pauch to give the fans their money's worth. The trio battled three-wide right around the track, lap after lap, never surrendering an inch, until Decker finally found a slight advantage and edged into the lead on lap 31. Pauch shadowed Decker through lapped traffic for another 30 laps, until Decker gave it the juice and checked out. The final third was all Decker. The New Yorker won the 6 grand by a straightaway. Steve Paine, then Tim McCreadie overtook a fading Pauch in the final laps. At the line, it was the three DIRT boys -- Decker, Paine and McCreadie - leading Pauch. Danny Johnson crossed the line fifth but was penalized two positions for jumping on the last restart. His brother, Alan Johnson, inherited fifth.

A stellar field of 59 Modifieds entered the event. Heat winners were Decker, Alan Johnson, Brett Hearn and Bobby Varin, with brothers Keith and Doug Hoffman acing the consolations. The JE Pistons Quick Qualifier Award for fast time went to Ricky Elliott. Tim McCreadie was the Exiss Cash Dash winner, and Decker won the $250 Halfway Bonus posted by Holley Performance.

Drivers generously donated their time to take part in a helmet drive through the grandstands, to raise money for three-year-old Gary Bozowski, son and grandson of the track's infield team, who is battling leukemia. The fans contributed a total of $3,614.86 to offset the family's medical bills. As part of the fund drive, Sportsman driver Gene Stravinsky raffled off a 32-inch TV to further help the cause.

Racing returns to New Egypt on Saturday night, June 23, when Art's Radiator presents Topless Night at the central Jersey half-mile. The big-block Modifieds and Sportsman cars will strip off their roofs for some real open-cockpit competition. Street Stocks fill out the card with an extra-distance event awarding double points, and fans are invited to display their classic convertibles in the parking lot pre-race. In addition, Cream Ridge Golf Club will do a delayed Dad's Appreciation Night, with big-ticket giveaways for the fathers in the crowd and a putting contest for the drivers. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m., with gates opening at 4 p.m. Adult admission is $13, children 7-12 are $4, and kids 6 and under are free. For more information, call the track at (609) 758-1900.

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIED SUPER DIRT SERIES RESULTS

Feature (100 laps): 1.Billy Decker, Unadilla, NY 2.Steve Paine, Waterloo, NY 3.Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY 4.Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ 5.Alan Johnson, Phelps, NY 6.Jack Johnson, Duanesburg, NY 7.Danny Johnson, Rochester, NY 8.Ricky Elliott, Seaford, DE 9.Brett Hearn, Sussex, NJ 10.Frank Cozze, Wind Gap, PA 11.Tim Fuller, Edwards, NY 12.Tim Tanner Jr., Ivyland, PA 13.Pat Ward, Geneva, NY 14.Bobby Varin, Sharon Springs, NY 15.Keith Hoffman, Whitehall, PA 16.Jimmy Horton, Neshanic Station, NJ 17.Kenny Tremont, West Sand Lake, NY 18.Gary Butler, Phillipsburg, NJ 19.Steve Moss, Flemington, NJ 20.Chuck Bower, Lansing, NY 21.Ron John Koczon, New Egypt, NJ 22.Jimmy Chester, Newfield, NJ 23.Kenny Brightbill, Sinking Spring, PA 24.Vic Coffey, Leicester, NY 25.Carmine Infante, Cream Ridge, NJ 26.Chip Slocum, Ewing, NJ 27. Brian Weaver, Windsor, NY 28.Doug Hoffman, Allentown, PA 29.Rocco Infante, Hamilton Square, NJ 30.Darren McCaughey, Oldwick, NJ.

EVENT SUMMARY:

LAP LEADERS: Elliott (1-8), McCreadie (9-10), Pauch (11-17), McCreadie 18-30), Decker (31-100)
CAUTIONS: 6 for 15 laps
HEAT WINNERS: Decker, A. Johnson, Hearn, Varin
CONSI WINNERS: K. Hoffman, D. Hoffman
EXISS DASH WINNER: Tim McCreadie
SYRACUSE ECKERD 200 QUALIFIER: Billy Decker
HOLLEY PERFORMANCE HALFWAY BONUS: Billy Decker
BERT HARD CHARGER: Pat Ward
JE PISTONS QUICK QUALIFIER: Ricky Elliott
TOTAL PURSE: $34,900
CARS ENTERED: 59

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