By: Jenna Shotz
NEW EGYPT, NJ (July 8th, 2018)-
In the first ever challenge race between the USAC East Coast Sprint Cars and Northeast Wingless Sprints, it was Eddie Strada who came out victorious. NEWS sprint cars utilize a 602 crate engine package.
From heat races to feature time, the D-shaped New Egypt Speedway produced electrifying results. With 21 wingless sprint cars in attendance, three heat races were completed. The track was racey from start to finish, keeping fans on their feet for each and every lap. Eddie Strada won heat one, Steven Drevicki took home heat two, and Ryan Godown crossed the line first for heat three. Fun fact: All three heat race winners won their respective heat race from the fourth starting position!
After a nine car redraw, previous ARDC Midget Champion, Trevor Kobylarz was the lucky one to draw the pole position. NEWS driver, Heidi Hedin made some very impressive laps and started on the outside pole. Kobylarz was able to rocket away on the first drop of the green, but on lap four, the Buccaneer Classic Car Storage number 19 of Steve Drevicki was able to take the lead. On the same corner of the same lap, Eddie Strada was able to follow Drevicki’s line to take over the second position.
Strada made many attempts on Drevicki, but it seemed like Drevicki came off the corners like no other. On lap 12, Eddie Strada was able to diamond the corner and get an incredible run on Drevicki. Third position now belonged to the Leiby Seal Coating & Line Painting 119 car of Chandler Leiby. A blanket could be thrown of Strada, Drevicki, and Leiby for the next 10 laps.
On lap 18 the leaders began to catch lap traffic, giving both Drevicki and Leiby the opportunity to attempt a pass. Drevicki gave it everything he had to defend himself against the hard hitting Leiby while trying to set Strada up for a pass.
On lap 29 of 30 we had a caution, causing the field to make a green to checkered lap. Drevicki timed his start against the 5G of Eddie Strada almost perfectly, but Strada was able to defend his line and cross the finish line first. Drevicki ended second, Leiby third, Ryan Godown fourth, and Joey Biasi completed the top 5. It should also be mentioned that Ryan Godown came back to the top five after spinning early in the race!
Frank’s Fine Swine and Beef Hard Charger: Joe Biasi (+10)
USAC EAST COAST “FIRECRACKER 30” RESULTS:
FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1.Eddie Strada (#5G Gallagher), 2. Trevor Kobylarz (#14 Kobylarz), 3. Eric Jennings (#32 Neiger/Hamilton), 4. Jermain Godshall (#56 Godshall), 5. Brian Spencer (#62 Spencer). NT
SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Steven Drevicki (#19 Drevicki), 2. Chandler Leiby (#119 Leiby), 3. Heidi Hedin (#3H Hedin), 4. Kark Freyer (#4F Freyer), 5. Rich Mellor (#02 Mellor), 6. Al Cheney (#73 Cheney), 7. Duane Nixon (#74 Nixon). NT
THIRD HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Ryan Godown (#4 Freyer), 2. Bill Unglert (#33B Unglert), 3. Chris Allen Jr. (#71 Allen), 4. Mark Bitner (#15 Bitner), 5. Joey Biasi (#B1 Biasi), 6. Ryan Quackenbush (#5Q RQR Racing), 7. Jonathan Swanson (#17J Swanson). NT
ALSO AT THE TRACK: Larry Drake (#8 Drake).
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Eddie Strada, 2. Steven Drevicki, 3. Chandler Leiby, 4. Ryan Godown, 5. Joey Biasi, 6. Mark Bitner, 7. Trevor Kobylarz, 8. Heidi Hedin, 9. Ryan Quackenbush, 10. Rich Mellor, 11. Jermain Godshall, 12. Karl Freyer, 13. Brian Riccio (#09 Riccio), 14. Eric Jennings, 15. Brian Spencer, 16. Duane Nixon, 17. Chris Allen Jr., 18. Al Cheney, 19. Jonathan Swanson, 20. Bill Unglert. NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Kobylarz, Laps 4-12 Drevicki, Laps 13-30 Strada.
FRANK’S FINE SWINE & BEEF HARD CHARGER: Joey Biasi (15th-5th)
NEW USAC EAST COAST SPRINT POINTS: 1-Drevicki-290, 2-Leiby-274, 3-Strada-261, 4-Biasi-261, 5-Godown-213, 6-Quackenbush-206, 7-Bitner-196, 8-Ryan Greth-165, 9-Kobylarz-146, 10-Carmen Perigo-127.
NEXT USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR RACE: July 17 – Swedesboro, NJ – Bridgeport Speedway – “Three for All”