NEW EGYPT, NJ – Second generation driver, Justin Grosso, powered the Grosso Homes #J24 to victory Saturday Night in the thirty lap modified feature at the New Egypt Speedway. The victory was his first of the year and the second of his career as a modified campaigner with his first win coming on August 6, 2022.
Not having the season he was hoping for, Clay Butler started on the pole and quickly led the first three laps before the first caution flag flew for a spinning John McClelland.. Able to refire the Reid Sod Farm #44 and rejoin the field, the green lights blinked on and it was Paul Mancini who outran Butler to lead the event. It was the third week in a row that the young driver had the lead in the feature and looked stronger than ever pulling away from Butler and company. Increasing his lead with each lap recorded, Mancini unfortunately encountered problems entering turn three on lap sixteen spinning the Mancini Homes #7M.
This set the stage for an action packed restart in which Justin Grosso now found himself in the number one position as Clay Butler and Jack Butler held down positions two and three. Breaking up the Butler family on lap nineteen was Louden Reimert as he darted into third. Not one to waste an opportunity, Reimert used a lap twenty restart to jump into second and now begin to set his sights on leader Grosso.
The final ten laps were run under green flag conditions and it was Brandon Grosso who lit up the number three spot on the pylon when lap twenty two was scored. Adding to the action and looking for a podium spot were last week’s feature winner, Danny Bouc and current point leader Ryan Godown, who started the race in eighteenth.
Reimert and company tried their best to track down the Belle Mead resident, but to no avail, as Grosso took home the winners trophy and a check for $3,000. Finishing behind Reimert and Grosso were Danny Bouc and Godown. Billy Pauch turned in another solid performance taking sixth with Jack Butler, Matt Stangle, Clay Butler, and Ryan Godown Jr. rounding out the top ten.
In the twenty lap Sportsman Crate 602 main event, it was defending champ and current point leader, Joe Toth in for the win. Lining up in the number ten position at the start of the event, it did not take the driver of the Belmonts Garage/Hessert Chevrolet #917 long to show his hand as he was in the runner up position when lap five was recorded.
Ryan Simmons led the field of twenty five for the first eight laps, but on a restart it was all Toth who took control of the event and scored his second win of the season. Coming home second was David Burns with Dan Fleming fourth and Matt Ellery fifth.
Current point leader Vern McLaughlin continued his consistent driving at the Route 539 oval, winning the fifteen lap street stock headliner. In the five events presented this season, McLaughlin has not finished lower than third. Spider Ensinger led the first seven laps before giving way to Ron Pavia. Pavia’s reign lasted for two laps before McLaughlin made his move. Chris Lane finished second with Pavia, Ensinger, and Brian Ludwig rounding out the top five.
It appeared as though Kyle Hurley was about to score his second 4-Cylinder win of the season in the fifteen lap feature, but on lap thirteen, a lapped car decided to cut in front of the leader, exiting the speedway. This gave second place runner Rich Page the opening he needed to win his second feature in a row. Hurley did rebound for second with Robby Dunn third, Mike Fox fourth and defending track champion Justin Dunn fifth in his first appearance of the season.
Isaac Elsner led the eight lap Flemington Department Store Rookie feature from start to finish capturing his second victory of the year. Current point leader Ryan Maher was second followed by Duncan Molesworth, Tim Franks, Zach Cook, Caleb Van Noordt, and Glenn Borden.
Taking home the lion’s share of the Oliver Communications Modified Match Race portion of the show was defending track champion Brandon Grosso. His total for the night was $600.
Next up on the schedule will be another five feature program as the Modifieds, Sportsman Crate 602’s, NEWS, 4- Cylinders and Rookies will all be in competition. In addition, the vintage cars will be making their third appearance of the season. Green flag racing begins promptly at 7 PM.
Modified Feature (30 Laps): 1.) JUSTIN GROSSO 2.) Louden Reimert 3.) Brandon Grosso 4.) Danny Bouc 5.) Ryan Godown 6.) Billy Pauch Jr. 7.) Jack Butler 8.) Matt Stangle 9.) Clay Butler 10.) Ryan Godown Jr. 11.) Kevin Vaclavicek 12.) Bryan Kuhl 13.) John McClelland 14.) Anthony Tramontana 15.) Steve Davis 16.) Chris Grbac 17.) Will Dupree 18.) Kevin Borden 19.) Dakota Kessler 20.) Wade Hendrickson 21.) Paul Mancini 22.) DJ Hunt 23.) Jim Housworth 24.) Tim Apgar