Nick Fillman/USAC East Coast Sprint Cars
Georgetown, DE, July 26th, 2019.
Steven Drevicki of Reading, Pennsylvania was able fight off the rest of the field in a thrilling inaugural feature event for the Rapid Tire, USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series at the Georgetown Speedway.
Drevicki made it into the redraw for the feature event, by virtue of finishing in the second place position in his heat race event. Drevicki would pull the number two pill and start along side pole sitter Chris Allen for the start of the feature event.
As the field went green on the initial start of the feature event Allen would jump out the early race lead. When the field dove into turns three and four, Tim Buckwalter would catch the right rear of Chandler Leiby’s car and go for a massive series of flips out of turns three and four. Buckwalter would be ok, but the Gallagher Racing 5g entry was completely destroyed.
When the field went green on the ensuing restart Christopher Allen would again jump out to the early race lead over Drevicki, Leiby, Joe Biasi and Ryan Quackenbush. Drevicki would be hot on the heels of Allen and the two would be side by side for the race lead by lap three. Drevicki would get by Allen as they came to the line on lap three with Allen not far behind. Drevicki would lead lap four, before Christopher Allen was able to get by Drevicki yet again with Chandler Leiby on the tail tanks of both leaders.
Meanwhile, Joe Biasi had accidentally hopped over the banking in turns three and four and lost a number of positions, but had regained his speed and was just outside the top five. The top four drivers would continue to go at it, tooth and nail for the top spots with side by side action.
By the halfway point, Allen had the lead in a tight battle with Drevicki, and Chandler Leiby doing everything in his power to work by the top two drivers. Eddie Strada had worked his way up into the fourth spot from his eighth starting spot and was trying to throw his hat into the ring for the feature event win.
On lap fourteen Drevicki would finally get by Christopher Allen after an intense side by side battle for the top spot. Leiby would still run in the third spot trying everything he could to work by Allen and Drevicki, with Strada on the bumper of Leiby. Joe Biasi had worked his way into the top five and was trying to reel in the top four with less than half the race to run.
Drevicki would pull away from Allen and the rest of the field with only five to go as the leaders worked their way into lapped traffic. Allen would hold strong in second, with Strada moving into third and Leiby settling into the fourth spot.
As the field came to the checkers, it would be all Steven Drevicki as he would collect his second straight win, and fourth of the season. Christopher Allen would hold off Strada in a drag race for second and third, with Leiby and Joe Biasi rounding out the top five.
South Carolina driver Connor Leoffler would have his best run with the USAC East Coast Series yet as he came across the line in 6th.
Drevicki has been extremely fast all season long, and still is the only driver on the tour this season who has finished in the top 5 in every single main event this year which is no easy feat.
In his first start on his back up car, Ryan Quackenbush rebounded for a solid top 10 finish after a hard crash ended his night last week at the Big Diamond Speedway. A great rebound for the RQR Team in their first ever wingless start with their usual winged car.
A pair of drivers made their first ever start with the USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series on Friday night. Zach Berghof who has previous starts in 270cc micro sprint action, made his first ever sprint car start and ended up finishing in the 16th position. Lee Nardelli also made his first ever start in a wingless 360. Nardelli is a veteran of micro sprint, crate modified, crate sprint car, and ARDC midget competition. Nardelli has informed USAC officials he will be back in action in September when the series returns to action at the Delaware International Speedway.
Up next for the Rapid Tire, USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series is the series first trip of the year to the Bedford Speedway on August 16th.
Heat 1: (8 laps, All Qualify, 3 Redraw): 5g Tim Buckwalter, 19 Steven Drevicki, 5q Ryan Quackenbush, 11 Austin Bishop, 32 Eric Jennings, 3h Heidi Hedin, 8 Larry Drake, 812 Zach Berghof, 85 Lee Nardelli.
Heat 2: (8 Laps, All Qualify, 3 Redraw): 119 Chandler Leiby, 71 Christopher Allen, B1 Joey Biasi, 22 Connor Leoffler, 42e Eddie Strada, 5z Zack Burd, 117 David Swanson, 11a Craig Pellegrini, B1x Paul Matsago.
Feature Finish: 1. 19 Steven Drevicki, 2. 71 Christopher Allen Jr, 3. 42e Eddie Strada, 4. 119 Chandler Leiby, 5. B1 Joey Biasi, 6. 22 Connor Leoffler, 7. 5q Ryan Quackenbush, 8. 11 Austin Bishop, 9. 32 Eric Jennings, 10. 117 David Swanson, 11. 3h Heidi Hedin, 12. 5z Zack Burd, 13. 8 Larry Drake, 14. 85 Lee Nardelli, 15. 11a Craig Pellegrini, 16. 812 Zach Berghof, 17. B1x Paul Matsago, 18. 5G Tim Buckwalter.
Lap Leaders: Chris Allen Jr: 1-3, 5-13. Steven Drevicki: 4, 14-25.
Scotty Signs Hard Charger $100: Eddie Strada (8th to 3rd) +5
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger $50 Certificate: Eddie Strada
Vahlco Wheels Hard Charger $50 Certificate: Eddie Strada
Ultra-Shield Race Products 2nd Place $50 Certificate: Chris Allen Jr
Keizer Wheels 3rd Place $50 Certificate: Eddie Strada
Wilwood Brakes 4th Place $50 Certificate: Chandler Leiby
ATL Fuel Cells 5th Place $100 Certificate: Joey Biasi
King Racing Products 6th Place $25 Certificate: Connor Leoffler
Ultra-Shield Race Products 8th Place $50 Certificate: Austin Bishop