Pauch Jr., Franek Lead Winners Before Packed House at Georgetown
Billy Pauch Jr. Wins First Event In Delaware Friday Night Before Huge Crowd; Davie Franek Scores URC Triumph; Bobby Wilkins Honored
GEORGETOWN, DE – Billy Pauch Jr. can add another line to his resume.
The third generation of the famed Pauch family made the long drive from his home in Milford, N.J., worthwhile with his first-ever victory in the state of Delaware on Friday night at Georgetown Speedway. The ‘Kid’s Kid’ earned $2,500 plus lap money for his efforts in the 25-lap big-block/small-block Modified feature.
“This is my first win ever in Delaware,” Pauch Jr. said. “It’s cool to come down here and race in front of a big crowd.”
The season’s largest crowd took in the event which featured the Modifieds and the only 2017 appearance by the United Racing Club (URC) 360 Sprint Cars.
Wantage, N.J., star Davie Franek kept his URC momentum up at Georgetown, after sweeping the events on the half-mile oval a year ago, Franek ran down Chris Coyle to win the 20-lap main event.
First State legend Bobby Wilkins was the ‘guest of honor’ at the speedway. Wilkins signed autographs early in the night and addressed the crowd at intermission. Speedway management surprised Wilkins; the first-turn grandstand will be named in his honor.
Pauch Jr., driving the Daniel Sommeling-owned No. 51, started from outside the front row after a redraw of top qualifiers following a pair of heat races. Pauch Jr. darted into the lead at the outset over pole starter Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ Watson.
Watson chased Pauch Jr. for 14 laps before invader Duane Howard in the Norm Hansell-owned No. 357 utilized the race’s only restart to emerge in second spot.
With Pauch Jr. and Howard setting the pace, all eyes were on Craig Von Dohren.
Fighting his Dick Biever-owned No. 14s in the opening laps, Von Dohren had fallen to 16th on the second tour of the half-mile oval.
CVD cracked the top 10 on lap seven. He utilized the lap-14 restart to burst from eighth to fourth.
On lap 16, Von Dohren arrived in third place and began to pressure second-running Howard. He took second with two laps remaining, but time ran out and Pauch Jr. steered to victory.
Oley, Pa.’s Von Dohren ended up second following his charge through the field. Howard, also of Oley, Pa., was third, with Delaware drivers Jordan Watson and H.J. Bunting, both of Milford, completing the front five.
For the first half of the 20-lap URC Sprint Car feature it appeared Chris Coyle would meet starter Warren Alston in Victory Lane. Coyle led from the start. Franek, however, had other ideas. Franek took second from Davey Sammons on lap six.
At that point, Franek was over a straightaway behind Coyle. By the time a yellow flag flew on lap 14, Franek had erased Coyle’s advantage.
On the double-file restart Franek outgunned Coyle from the high lane and never looked back. J.J. Grasso rode the extreme outside of the speedway to second in the waning laps, with Coyle, Sammons and Delaware’s Curt Michael filling out the front five.
Dagsboro, Del.’s Scott Hitchens took home a $600 victory in the L&J Sheet Metal Crate 602 Sportsman 20-lap event.
Hitchens started the main from third position. Joseph Tracy, launching off the outside pole, jetted into the lead at the outset. Hitchens pressured Tracy until lap six when he worked past Joseph.
The race was far from over, however.
Tracy mounted a charge in the final laps. With two laps remaining, the leaders momentarily became entangled in turn two. Hitchens maintained the advantage but Connor King, who started eighth, swept to the outside to take second.
King chased Hitchens across the line with Tracy, Brett Ballard and Jordn Justice in tow.
The outside line was Dwayne Heck’s road to victory in the 12-lap Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car Racing Club main. Heck held off C.J. Schirmer, Mark Williams (recovering from a spin), David Parsons (the Sportsman winner) and Josh Smith.
A wild, four-car battle for the top spot resulted in Joseph Tracy topping the 12-lap Little Lincoln feature. Tracy was able to clear Kirk Lawson and hold off the advances of Melvin Joseph Jr. and Landy Adams.
After 12 laps of Delaware Super Truck racing, Jerry Hill held off David Smith by just a fender! Smith, who had charged from the rear after a mid-race penalty, pulled side-by-side with Hill on the final lap but couldn’t complete the pass.
Sparks flew in the 12-lap Delmarva Charger feature as Tanner Marvel and Robert Paczowski battled for the lead. In the end it was Marvel passing Paczowski and then holding off his advances for the win.
Racing resumes at the speedway on Thursday, August 17 with the first-ever appearance by the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series paying $10,000 to win for the ‘Fulton Bank 40’ plus Delmarva Chargers, Delaware Super Trucks and Little Lincolns. This event carries a rain date of August 18.
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A new website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or by contacting the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).
FRIDAY NIGHT FODDER: A week’s worth of track work – including the use of discs to till the track’s clay – led to a heavy, dust-free surface despite seven divisions of racing on the half-mile oval….
Jordan Watson (Modified) and Davey Sammons (URC Sprint Car) signed autographs and displayed their cars in the grandstand area prior to the start of racing….
Scary moment for Jim Britt in Modified qualifying when he spun into the pit entrance at full speed and sent the protective tire barrier flying. Britt returned and earned a top-10 finish….
Brandon Watkins (rear-end issues) and Dillon Steuer (engine) were done for the night after hot laps….
Stockley Tavern sponsored all 25 laps of the Modified main at $20 per lap (rotating through top-five). Recipients were Howard ($120); Pauch Jr. ($100); Jordan Watson ($80); Joseph Watson ($60); Matt Jester ($60); H.J. Bunting ($40); and Craig Von Dohren ($20)….
Eight bicycles were given away as part of a Youth Night promotion allowing all those 12 and under admitted free of charge to the grandstand….
GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY RESULTS SUMMARY – JULY 21, 2017
Big-Block/Small-Block Modified Feature Finish (25 laps): BILLY PAUCH JR., Craig Von Dohren, Duane Howard, Jordan Watson, H.J. Bunting, Joseph Watson, Jimmy Horton, Neal Williams, Jim Britt, Shawn Ward, Kevin Sockriter, Eric Vent, Carson Wright, Matt Jester, Jamie Mills, Michael White, Robert Dutton, Rick Laubach.
Did Not Start: Brandon Watkins, Dillon Steuer.
United Racing Club (URC) 360 Sprint Car Feature Finish (20 laps): DAVIE FRANEK, J.J. Grasso, Chris Coyle, Davey Sammons, Curt Michael, David Quackenbush, Christopher Allen Jr., Troy Betts, Kris Lilick, Josh Weller, Bill Unglert, Brent Shearer.
L&J Sheet Metal Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): SCOTT HITCHENS, Connor King, Joseph Tracy, Brett Ballard, Jordn Justice, David Jenkins, Bob Bracall, David Crossman, Frank Holmes, Steven Kemery, Adam White, Mike Hough, Nick Alberti, Daniel Johnson, Sean Metz, Trent Van Vorst, Duane Rust, Jason Rush.
Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car Feature Finish (12 laps): DWAYNE HECK, Mark Williams, C.J. Schirmer, David Parsons (Sportsman winner), Josh Smith, Geoff Carey, Todd Miller, Kelly Putz, Dave Schamp, Don Davidson, Chris Loveland, Robert Blann.
Little Lincoln Feature Finish (12 laps): JOSEPH TRACY, Mel Joseph Jr., Landy Adams, Kirk Lawson, Bunky White, Dave White, Matt White.
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): JERRY HILL, David Smith, Matthew Smith, Dale Elliott, Scott Calhoun, Bobby Reed, Mike Kennedy, J.R. Bergman, Rocky Whitley, Shane Clogg, Jim Hillman, Kirk Miles, Thomas Jackson, Dick Beauchamp, Robert Smith.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): TANNER MARVEL, Robert Paczowski, Randy Merritt, Don Knotts, Scott Calhoun, Ashley Merritt, Earl Truitt, Derek Swafford.
Sources: Brett Deyo/Georgetown Speedway PR