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AJ OUTGUNS MCCREADIE IN NEW EGYPT DIRT SHOWDOWN




New Egypt, NJ ­ He had young Tim McCreadie taking aim from every angle imaginable -- but defending DIRT champion Alan Johnson of Phelps, NY, was utterly unflappable Tuesday night in New Egypt Speedwayıs Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Garden State Gunfight, sponsored by Haldeman Ford of Hamilton, NJ, and kept the kid at bay to take home the $6,000 top prize.

"Timmy just drives the wheels off it. Keeping him behind me is a heck of a chore. He really does a heck of a job" Johnson, 45, said of the race against his DIRT series rival, which played out amidst a misty drizzle. "Even though we lost some laps (to caution) with the rain, we couldnıt have asked for a much better racetrack. It was great."

The light rain didnıt dampen the action in the Super DIRT Series 100: right from the start, Tim McCreadie and Alan Johnson squared off and began a lead-swapping tango that continued the entire distance. Their deadly dance was worth the wet and the price of admission. Half the time, it was McCreadie on the point with AJ pressing; half the time, it was Johnson out front with McCreadie having fits behind him. It was a great race between two professionals, dance partners who knew all the right moves and none of the missteps. The last 20 laps, young Tim, DIRTıs 29-year-old star from Watertown, NY, threw everything but the kitchen sink at the leader ­ top, bottom, crisscross, sideways slide ­ to get Johnson to blink. But Johnson was as characteristically solid as a rock. With McCreadie working the cushion like a madman to gain one final shot, Alan smoothly held his line to barely win his third Super DIRT Series event of the season, the 35th of his career. McCreadie came up a wheel shy of bragging rights, finishing second, earning him the guaranteed starting berth in DIRTıs big Eckerd 200 at Syracuse in October. DIRTıs Gary Tomkins was third, with Billy Pauch, rebounding from a lap 29 accident to take fourth, the first New Egypt regular across the line. Danny Johnson, finishing fifth, was a show in himself: after the DIRT series ace failed to qualify his own #27J, he was added as a provisional, jumped into Jimmy Reppertıs #7JR, started tail on the field and ran the wheels off a car heıd never seen before, at a track he visits once a year. Billy Decker, Tim Tanner Jr., Sam Martz, Rick Grosso Jr. and Kenny Brightbill completed the top 10.

A stellar field of 67 Modifieds from four states entered the event. Heat winners were Jimmy Horton, Brett Hearn, Tim Fuller, Tim McCreadie, Billy Pauch and Sam Martz. Pat Ward, Tim Tanner Jr. and Scott VanGorder took the consolations. The JE Pistons Quick Qualifier Award for fast time went to Steve Paine. The Holley Performance Halfway Bonus was won by Tim McCreadie. The Bert Hard Charger Award went to Danny Johnson.

The final race of the Mid-State Communications Rookie Sportsman Series, twice rained out, was finally run as a prelude to the Super DIRT doings. Scott Merritt of Phillipsburg, NJ, started the series as he began it: in the winnerıs circle. Merrittıs three wins in six series races earned him the title of Rookie champion for 2003, worth $500. Mike Howardson, Bobby Dmuchowski, Pat Williams and Lee Perley completed the top five in the extra-distance Rookie finale.

Racing returns to New Egypt this Saturday night, June 21, when Vespia Tire & Auto Care presents the inaugural King of the Crew Chiefs pitstop competition, along with Cream Ridge Golf Clubıs rain-delayed Senior Masters Challenge, featuring dads of drivers in invitational match races. Also on the June 21 card: big-block Mods, Sportsman, Super Stocks and SS Sprints. Gates open at 3:30 pm, with first race at 5:30. Adult admission is $16, children 7-12 are $5, and kids 6 and under are free. For more information, call the speedway office at (609) 758-1900.

DIRT MODIFIED RESULTS

Time Trials: 1. Steve Paine, Waterloo, NY (17.399) 2. Ryan Kerr, Stockton, NJ (17.417) 3. Jimmy Horton, Neshanic Station, NJ (17.437) 4. Brett Hearn, Sussex, NJ (17.458) 5. Tim Fuller, Edwards, NY (17.484) 6. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY (17.556) 7. Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ (17.592) 8. Sam Martz, Whitehouse Station, NJ (17.618) 9. Bucky Kell, Hammonton, NJ (17.724) 10. Gary Tomkins, Clifton Springs, NY(17.735)

1st Heat: 1. Jimmy Horton 2. Alan Johnson 3. Donny Radd
2nd Heat: 1. Brett Hearn 2. Gary Tomkins 3. Rick Grosso
3rd Heat: 1. Tim Fuller 2. Frank Cozze 3. Jimmy Chester
4th Heat: 1. Tim McCreadie 2. Billy Decker 3. Mark Bitner
5th Heat: 1. Billy Pauch 2. Jamie Mills 3. Doug Hoffman
6th Heat: 1. Sam Martz 2. Ryan Godown 3. Kenny Tremont

1st B Main: 1. Pat Ward 2. Darren McCaughey
2nd B Main: 1. Tim Tanner Jr. 2. Matt Sheppard
3rd B Main: 1. Scott VanGorder 2. Jerry Higbie
Provisionals: Chuck Bower, Keith Hoffman, Bobby Varin, Danny Johnson, Vic Coffey, Bucky Kell, Butch Tittle, Kenny Brightbill

Feature (100 laps): 1. Alan Johnson 2. Tim McCreadie 3. Gary Tomkins 4. Billy Pauch 5. Danny Johnson 6. Billy Decker 7. Tim Tanner Jr. 8. Sam Martz 9. Rick Grosso 10. Kenny Brightbill 11. Brett Hearn 12. Chuck Bower 13. Vic Coffey 14. Jimmy Horton 15. Kenny Tremont 16. Jerry Higbie 17. Tim Fuller 18. Matt Sheppard 19. Butch Tittle 20. Pat Ward 21. Bobby Varin 22. Jimmy Chester 23. Donny Radd 24. Mark Bitner 25. Ryan Kerr 26. Jamie Mills 27. Frank Cozze 28. Scott VanGorder 29. Ryan Godown 30. Steve Paine 31. Darren McCaughey 32. Keith Hoffman 33. Bucky Kell 34. Doug Hoffman

EVENT SUMMARY

Lap Leaders: McCreadie (1-4), A. Johnson (5), McCreadie (6-8), A. Johnson (9-23), McCreadie (24), A. Johnson (25-28), McCreadie (29-77), A. Johnson (78-100)

Cautions: 9 for 37 laps.

DNQ: Doug Manmiller, Jimmy Reppert, Tom Hager, Shawn Reimert, Keith Fleming, Ricky Elliot, Bob Worthington, Mike Reutter, Bob Lineman, Gene Stravinsky, Jeff Strunk, Kyle Strickler, Tad Cox, Ryan Watt, John Dixon, Mark Tranquilli, Craig VonDohren, Wade Hendrickson, Steve Hulsizer, Art Adams, Rich Scagliotta, Jack Johnson, David VanHorn, Mike Lyons, Matt Papiez, John Romano, Ron John Koczon, Larry Archer, Gary Velenger, Doug Liedl, G.R. Smith, Gary Hager

Rookie Sportsman Feature (12 laps): 1. Scott Merritt 2. Mike Howardson 3. Bobby Dmuchowski 4. Pat Williams 5. Lee Perley 6. Rich Taylor 7. Frank Irber 8. Rich Beatty 9. Herman Solderich 10. Bob Hendershot 11. Justin Hoffman 12. Fred Dmuchowski Jr. 13. James Hobbs 14. Sean Carman