Four in a Row: Pauch Jr. Tops Georgetown Modified Event from 12th Starting Position
GEORGETOWN, DE – Four in a row.
For the fourth consecutive Chesapeake Paving Modified race, Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr. went to Victory Lane Friday night at Georgetown Speedway.
The ‘Kid’s Kid,’ who started from 10th, worked his way to the front on a slick, smooth racing surface. Pauch Jr. outdueled Neshanic Station, N.J.’s Matt Stangle on a mid-race restart to drive away with the $3,000 payday.
“This was not the track we were expecting at all tonight, but we made a big change after hot laps and it worked out… we have such a good car, and it makes my life easy,” said Pauch Jr. of his return to Victory Lane.
Millsboro, Del.’s Ryan Riddle and Hellertown, Pa.’s Rick Laubach occupied the front row for the start of the 25-lap main event.
Laubach raced off the topside to grab the early lead while Stangle rolled the outside from his fourth starting spot and quickly taking second.
An opening-lap yellow gave Stangle a restart alongside the ‘Quaker Shaker,’ and Stangle took advantage of the opportunity. Stangle darted around the outside of Laubach to take the lead.
While Stangle began pulling away, Laubach battled with Broomall, Pa.’s Jim Britt for the runner-up spot, allowing Pauch Jr. to close in.
Before Pauch Jr. could make any attempts to crack the top-three, a yellow came out, giving the ‘Kid’s Kid’ the opportunity he was looking for. Pauch Jr. used his topside momentum to go two-for-one, taking the runner-up spot and locking eyes on Matt Stangle’s No. 6.
While Pauch Jr. chased Stangle, Jim Britt got by Laubach for third, and the Ryan Kerr-owned No. 1K machine was under fire from Oley, Pa.’s Craig Von Dohren and Milford, N.J.’s David Van Horn.
A yellow on lap 13 for a slowing Ryan Krachun was what ultimately changed the complexion of the race for both Pauch Jr. and Stangle.
“I didn’t think we were gonna get Stangle, but he overshot turn one just enough on that restart that I was able to get a nose underneath him,” Pauch Jr. explained of his race winning move on the ensuing restart.
Stangle pushed up the racetrack just enough for Pauch Jr. to slide underneath him and take the lead for good.
Multiple late-race restarts gave Stangle and new challenger Von Dohren opportunities to race with Pauch Jr., but Pauch Jr. was up to every challenge.
Pauch Jr. led the final 12-laps of the race, picking up his fourth consecutive win in his Rick Holsten-owned No. 96.
Stangle held on for second and Von Dohren rounded out the top three in the Bruce Brueche-owned No. 1c. Jim Britt raced to a fourth-place finish and David Van Horn rounded out the top five in the Fred Vahlsing owned No. 323.
Milford, Del.’s Jordan Watson grabbed sixth in his Brent Hall No. 18 and Laubach held on for seventh. Birdsboro, Pa.’s John Willman raced to eighth in his No. 74w – good enough for the $250 Ad-Art Sign Co. Spec Small-Block bonus. West Milford, N.J.’s Jesse Leiby finished ninth in his first Modified start at Georgetown and Laurel, Del.’s James Hill rounded out the top-10 in the Chesapeake Paving No. 1.
Collegeville, Pa.’s Alex Bright won his 11th USAC East Coast Sprint Car feature of the season in the 25-lap main event.
Old Bridge, N.J.’s Chris Allen led the first 24-laps of the race, which went non-stop. A yellow with half-a-lap remaining gave Alex Bright an opportunity to restart right behind Allen.
When the field went back to green, Bright wasted no time, throwing a slide job into turn one and taking the lead for good.
Birdsboro, Pa.’s Kenny Miller III raced to the runner-up spot and Reading, Pa.’s Steven Drevicki rounded out the top three. Billy Pauch Jr. finished in fourth in his double duty night and Stony Point, N.Y.’s Damon Paul rounded out the top five.
Newtown, Pa.’s Joe Toth won his second consecutive Blue-Hen Dispose All Crate 602 Sportsman feature event. Toth started from the pole position, leading all 20-laps, extending his point lead in the Sunoco Championship chase. Toth earned $1,000.
Carney’s Point, N.J.’s Eric Kormann claimed second and Boyertown, Pa.’s Logan Watt rounded out the podium finishers. Chalfont, Pa.’s Greg Humlhanz finished in fourth and Laurel, Del.’s Michael White rounded out the top five.
Harold Sylvester held off Jamie Eichholz to win the Southern Delaware Vintage Modified feature and Glenn Lyon dominated the Southern Delaware Vintage Sportsman feature. Both events were 12 laps in distance.
Todd Sammons made a last lap place of Jordan Herbert to claim the 12-lap Little Lincoln feature. The win was Sammons’ first win of the season. Herbert held on for second and Kirk Lawson rounded out the top three.
J.R. Bergman won the wild 12-lap Delaware Super Truck feature. After starting on the pole, Bergman fell back to sixth, and drove back forward to pick up the win. Jerry Hill claimed the runner-up spot and Bruce Cornelius rounded out the podium finishers.
Ashley Merritt stole the show in the 12-lap Delmarva Charger feature, leading the last two laps to claim the win. Robert ‘Pac-Man’ Paczkowski was the runner-up and Jay Lowman rounded out the top three.
Racing resumes at Georgetown Speedway on Friday, October 29 as the ‘Spec’ 358 Modifieds and RUSH Late Models kick off the ‘Mid-Atlantic Championship’ weekend.
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) takes center stage for the weekend to crown champions for the STSS Modifieds and STSS Crate 602 Sportsman during the Oct. 29-30 event.
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 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 contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).
GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY RESULTS SUMMARY – OCTOBER 1, 2021
Chesapeake Paving Modified Feature Finish (25 laps): BILLY PAUCH JR., Matt Stangle, Craig Von Dohren, Jim Britt, David Van Horn, Jordan Watson, Rick Laubach, John Willman, Jesse Leiby, James Hill, Frank Cozze, Ryan Watt, H.J. Bunting, W.B. James, Matt Smith, Kevin Sockriter, Bruce Hooper, Norman Short Jr., Ryan Krachun, Ryan Godown, Neil Williams, Ryan Riddle, Richie Pratt Jr.
Ad-Art Sign Company Spec Small-Block Bonus ($250): John Willman (eighth)
USAC East Coast Sprint Car Feature Finish (25 laps): ALEX BRIGHT, Kenny Miller III, Steven Drevicki, Billy Pauch, Jr., Damon Paul, Chris Allen, Ed Aikin, Briggs Danner, Christian Bruno, Mark Smith, Brian Spencer, Jason Cherry, Preston Lattomus, Nash Ely, Billy Ney, Bruce Buckwalter.
Blue Hen Dispose-All Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): JOE TOTH, Eric Kormann, Logan Watt, Greg Humlhanz, Mike White, Adam White, Anthony Tramontana, Jimmy Leiby, Scott Hitchens, Sean Metz, Greg Reed, Richie Walls Jr., Nolan Openshanow, William Adams, Tippy Martinez, Tyler James, Tracy Gauger, John Burton, Brian Rogers, Jordn Justice.
Did Not Start: Zac Weller
Southern Delaware Vintage Modified Feature Finish (12 laps): HAROLD SYLVESTER, Jamie Eichholz, Roscoe Clough, Brayden Ritter, Todd Miller.
Did Not Start: D.J. Cameron
Southern Delaware Vintage Sportsman Feature Finish (12 laps): GLENN LYON, Chris Killen, Tazz, Pete Morris, LJ Walbert, Maddy Jefferson, David Tucker, Terry Chancy, Jamie Schirmer, Don Davidson, Dave Schamp, Robert Blann
Little Lincoln Feature Finish (12 laps): TODD SAMMONS, Jordan Herbert, Kirk Lawson, Bunky White, Eric Reed, Dylan Betts, Mel Joseph, Scott Calhoun, Bryan Piercy, John Wothers, Sean Smith, Wayne Seaton, MJ White, James Harmon.
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): J.R. BERGMAN, Jerry Hill, Bruce Cornelius, Matt Smith, Ryan Efford, Bill Dean, Sean Martinez, Zack Phillips, Ronnie Holloway, Jesse West, Dick Beauchamp, Michelle Jackson, Scott Trice, Mike Silva, Thomas Jackson, Andrew Nelson, Kevin Taylor.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): ASHLEY MERRITT, Pacman, Jay Lowman, Deric Swafford, Chris Carroll, Randy Merritt, John Bailey, Geoff Carey, Paul Gary, Joe Waters, Garrett Smith, Jonathan Pitcher.
Sources: Chris Moore/Georgetown Speedway PR