NEW EGYPT, N.J. – Davey Sammons earned his third New Egypt Speedway modified victory of the year by leading all 30 laps on Saturday night at the New Jersey dirt track.
Sammons and Dakota Kessler led the 30-Lap Vahlco Wheels Modified feature to the green. Sammons would jump out the early lead and led the first six laps when Johnny Guarino, Cale Ross and Wade Hendrickson tangled in turn three.
Sammons jumped back out to the lead on the ensuing restart with Kessler in tow. The second caution of the event waved on lap 10 when Kevin Vaclavicek, Dominick Buffalino and Blaine Bracelin got together in turn four.
Sammons would again take command of the field on the restart. Brandon Grosso would take over the runner-up spot from Kessler after starting 10th on lap 13.
The only slight hiccup that Sammons had was on lap 15, when his right side sail panel came loose and folded over, but it didn’t phase him one bit as he continued to set a torrid pace.
Billy Pauch Jr., who started 12th, was now in the third position as he and Grosso battled for second while they chased after Sammons. Reigning track champion David VanHorn raced up from 13th while he and Mike Butler put on a crowd-pleasing duel for fourth.
They were all no match for Sammons, however, as he led wire-to-wire for his third Vahlco Wheels Modified main event win of 2019 at New Egypt Speedway.
Grosso came home second, with Pauch Jr. third, VanHorn fourth and Butler completing the top five.
“Two weeks ago we changed something on the car and had a motor issue; we got everything back in time for last week and found out we had a bent valve,” said Sammons. “We found something and it took us two weeks to run it. I drove as hard as I could. The track was really fun, I’ve won races where I had to run the bottom and it’s nice to win one where you have to get up on the wheel.
“We fought for this and we’re just happy to be here.”
After clinching the 2019 Vahlco Wheels Modified title the week prior, Pauch was officially crowned champion this week, his second championship in three years and the fourth straight season where he hasn’t finished worse than second in points.
“It was a tough and challenging year, but we really got going there,” said Pauch. “We really wanted to win tonight but hats off to Davey (Sammons), Our guys are great; this means a lot. I grew up here as a kid; we’ve had a good couple of years here and it’s a lot of fun.”
Brian Spencer picked up his second straight Larry’s Hot Rods & Harley’s Northeast Wingless Sprint Car feature win over Rich Mellor, Larry Drake, Duane Nixon and Heidi Hedin.
With his second place finish, Mellor has clinched the 2019 Larry’s Hot Rods & Harley’s Northeast Wingless Sprint Car championship.
Robbie Holzwarth scored his second Crate Modified win of 2019 and the second of his career over Ryan Heim, Sammy Martz Jr., Matt Miller and Johnny Bangs.
The point battle is closer than ever with Joe Toth leading Johnny Bangs by just two points and Ryan Simmons 10 out of the lead in third heading into next week’s final points race.
The Crate Modified results are currently unofficial.
Rob Longo won the 15-lap feature for the Mike’s Performance Center 4-Cylinders over point leader Mike Fox, Joe Garey Sr., Dom Antonelli and Scott Dunn.