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FRED'S TRAILER PARTS NEW SERIES CONTINUES AT NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY. . . .
THE "JERSEY JET" JJ GRASSO UPSETS URC FIELD FOR FIRST CAREER WIN
SATURDAY NIGHT
NEW EGYPT, NJ The "Jersey Jet" JJ Grasso of Pedricktown, NJ was
the star of the show on Saturday night at the New Egypt Speedway when
the URC BAR'S Leaks Sprint Series presented their twenty-third show of
the season. Grasso was the man to beat all night, winning his heat
race, setting the LikeWise Construction fast time then leading the
twenty-five lap URC sprint feature wire-to-wire, collecting the $2,000
first prize. Grasso keeps the streak of different and first time
winners alive, becoming URC's seventeenth different feature winner of
the season and URC's ninth first time ever feature winner.
And still another strong field of thirty URC sprints turned out for the
program that is part of the Fred's Trailer Parts New Series. Heat race
events were won by JJ Grasso, Becca Anderson in the BAR'S Leaks
sponsored sprinter and Kramer Williamson is his familiar "Pike Panther"
#73. The Don Ott "B" Main winner was Jimmy Stitzel.
Twenty-five URC sprint cars took the green flag to start the 25 lap
feature event with JJ Grasso immediately gunning to a commanding lead as
Kramer Williamson and Becca Anderson followed in the chase. On lap
four, the first caution of the event was displayed when Mares Stellfox
slowed in turn one. On the restart, The "Jersey Jet" blasted away from
the field, leaving Williamson and Mark Bitner now in a tug of war for
second. Bitner made the pass for second on lap eight and he began his
chase on the leader. On lap twelve, the second caution of the race was
displayed when Joey Biasi slowed dramatically going down the
backstretch.
When green flag racing resumed, Grasso again checked out to run and hide
from the rest of the field. At the halfway point of the race, Grasso
was setting a blistering pace followed by Mark Bitner, Kramer
Williamson, Michael Carber and fifth place runner Lucas Wolfe, who
started fifteenth.
With just eight laps remaining, Bitner starting reeling in Grasso as
lapped traffic started to play a factor for the leader. Also on a
charge was Michael Carber in the Bill Gallagher owned sprinter. Carber
was now up to third with Lucas Wolfe in fourth. In the closing laps,
Grasso remained in solid command of the lead as Bitner now had to hold
off Carber.
At the drop of the checker flag, Grasso earned the win, his first ever
under the URC banner. In a photo finish, Michael Carber edged out Mark
Bitner for second and Lucas Wolfe finished fourth as Kramer Williamson
made up the top five. In the top ten were Mike Haggenbottom, Jason
Clauss, Brook Weibley ,Ed Aikin and Chris Coyle
Key Notes: Rookie driver Andrew Hannula returned from Charlotte where
he is attending college to compete in the New Egypt URC show. Late in
the week some mechanical problems developed and fellow competitor Scott
McClure assisted so the Hannula team could compete this weekend. Heat
race crashes took their toll with Dave Ely, Davey Sammons and Brian
Seidel all involved in a pair of different accidents. No drivers were
injured and Davey Sammons was able to continue. New Egypt driver Art
Lidel took part in the URC event and qualified for the feature event.
Lucas Wolfe, 410 sprint car driving sensation finished a strong fourth.
Turning in a great ride was Mike Haggenbottom who rallied home in
sixth. Returning to the racing wars was the Eldreth Construction #25
with driver Brook Weibley with this team delivering a strong eight.
Steady Ed Aikin pull off another strong run, finishing ninth and
advancing eight positions in the feature event.
DON OTT "B" MAIN WINNER- - JIMMY STITZEL
LIKEWISE CONSTRUCTION FAST TIME OF THE NIGHT- -JJ GRASSO
FRED'S TRAILER PARTS HARD CHARGER- - ED AIKIN ADVANCED 8 SPOTS IN THE
FEATURE
FEATURE FINISH: JJ GRASSO, MICHAEL CARBER, MARK BITNER, LUCAS WOLFE,
KRAMER WILLIAMSON, MIKE HAGGENBOTTOM, JASON CLAUSS, BROOK WEIBLEY, ED
AIKIN, CHRIS COYLE, CURT MICHAEL, JIMMY STITZEL, BECCA ANDERSON, RANDY
WEST, KEVIN WELSH, SCOTT PURSELL, DAVEY SAMMONS, ART LIDEL, JAMIE BODO,
ROBBIE STILLWAGGON, ANDREW HANNULA, JEFF DAVIS, IAN BORDEN, JOEY BIASI,
MARES STELLFOX. DNQ- - DAVE ELY, BRIAN SEIDEL, JOE ZUCZEK, KYLE PURKS,
TREVOR LEWIS.
URC BAR'S LEAKS SPRINT SERIES REMAINING RACE DATES
22 Delaware Intl
6 Rolling Wheels *$3K Shoot Out at the Wheels
13 New Egypt
20 Grandview
3 Delaware Intl
8 60th Anniversary Awards Banquet- -Lancaster Host
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