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JJ GRASSO WINS BATTLE OVER DAVEY SAMMONS & BECCA ANDERSON FOR SECOND
CAREER URC WIN SATURDAY NIGHT AT NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY
The New Egypt Speedway beat all odds with bad weather moving into the
area but still completed a big night of racing on Saturday night. For
the Rislone URC Sprint Series, thirty-one cars took part in the program
with JJ Grasso of Pedricktown, NJ scoring his first win of the season
and second career URC victory. His first win also came at the New Egypt
Speedway in the fall of 2007. Grasso led the entire twenty-five lap
distance although there were numerous challenges from runner-up finisher
Davey Sammons driving the Palladino #99. Becca Anderson, driving the
Bar's Leaks sprint car #17, put on a show the entire night to finish a
strong third.
Three heat race events were necessary to qualify the field of URC sprint
cars on a night sponsored by Fred's Trailer Parts Center. Heat race
victories went to Tim Hogue (who turned in a strong run to win the first
heat over Davey Sammons), JJ Grasso and Kevin Welsh. In the twelve lap
"B" Main sponsored by Don Ott, Todd Rittenhouse was the winner.
The Rislone URC sprint feature got off to a wild start when Jason Clauss
and Kyle Purks tangled on the homestretch with Billy Pauch (driving a
second Fred Kennedy entry) getting caught up and flipping down the
homestretch. All drivers walked away uninjured. On the restart, Todd
Rittenhouse and Mares Stellfox tangled in turn two displaying the
caution once again.
The third restart was the charm with JJ Grasso passing Tim Hogue going
into turn one to set the early pace. Kevin Welsh followed moving into
second with Davey Sammons third. Also on a charge was Houston, DE's
Becca Anderson who was in the top five before lap four. Davey Sammons
was not about to waste any time and he quickly moved into second by lap
three.
A caution flag was displayed on lap six when Brett Schonely spun. On
the next restart, Dave Ely and rookie driver Chuck Palmucci tangled in
turn two with Palmucci taking a slow role, displaying the red flag.
When green flag racing resumed, Grasso had a solid lead with Brian
Seidel now on a strong run. With ten laps complete, Grasso was the
leader followed by Sammons, Seidel, Robbie Stillwaggon and Becca
Anderson all close in the chase.
With the field passing for the halfway sign, the top five remained
unchanged as Grasso set a commanding pace and now racing with lapped
traffic. The caution flag was again displayed on lap sixteen for Todd
Rittenhouse who came to a stop in turn four. On the restart, Grasso now
had to contend with Sammons and Brian Seidel who were applying the
pressure. Mark Bitner, who started twenty-third, moved into the top
five on lap seventeen and two laps later, Anderson was back in fourth.
Five laps remained in the feature event with Grasso, Sammons, Seidel,
Anderson and Bitner making up the top five with Chris Coyle and his BPG
sponsored sprint car racing in sixth.
The caution flag was again waiving, this time on lap twenty-two for
Scott Pursell who stopped in turn three. With just three laps
remaining, Sammons again took another run at taking the lead from Grasso
but at the same time, Becca Anderson went to the far outside lane and
made a strong run as well. Grasso settled back into the lead as Sammons
had to hold off Anderson in the closing laps.
With just one lap remaining, the caution flag was displayed for Ed Aikin
who hit the wall but actually kept moving. The field quickly regrouped
and took the green flag for the final lap and run to the checker flag.
Grasso, Sammons and Anderson held their line as did fourth place runner
Brian Seidel. On the run down the backstretch, Coyle did pass Mark
Bitner to finish fifth.
Grasso turned in an outstanding run along with Sammons and Anderson. In
post race teching, a motor infraction was found on the Mark Bitner
sprinter, disqualifying him from the event. Making up the top ten were
Curt Michael, Randy West, Dave Betts, Robbie Stillwaggon and Jason
Clauss.
FEATURE FINISH: JJ Grasso, Davey Sammons, Becca Anderson, Brian Seidel,
Chris Coyle, Curt Michael, Randy West, Dave Betts, Robbie Stillwaggon,
Jason Clauss, Tim Hogue, Ed Aikin, Joe Zuczek, Adam Gordon, Brett
Schonely, Jimmy Reppert, Mares Stellfox, Scott Pursell, Todd
Rittenhouse, Dave Ely, Chuck Palmucci, Kevin Welsh, Kyle Purks, Billy
Pauch.
DQ - -Mark Bitner.
DNQ- -Jamie Bodo, Joey Biasi, Art Liedl, Dom Buffalino, Rory Janne,
Scott McClaren.
Fred's Trailer Center Hard Charger Award- - Chris Coyle - -advanced 9
spots
LikeWise Construction Fast Time of the Night- - -Tim Hogue
Don Ott "B" Main winner- - -Todd Rittenhouse
COMING URC EVENTS FOR THE MONTHS OF MAY
Saturday, May 10 Delaware International Speedway
Saturday, May 17 Selinsgrove Speedway $3,500 to win Jack Gunn
Memorial
Saturday, May 24 Bridgeport Speedway
Saturday, May 31 Delaware International Speedway
www.urcsprints.com- - Visit us for more information.
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