BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — He’s called “Boy Wonder” and for good reason as 12-year old marvel Paulie Hartwig III won for the eighth time this season, picking up another victory Sunday afternoon at Evergreen Raceway, coming in the 30-lap 602 Crate Sportsman Modified feature.
Hartwig has now won three times on pavement and five on dirt. Earlier he collected a victory at Evergreen in the Evergreen Mods and was a winner at Mahoning Valley Speedway with the 602 Crate car. On dirt he’s been to victory lane with a 602 Crate Sportsman Modified at Big Diamond Speedway and is a four-time winner and point leader at Bloomsburg Fair Raceway in the same class.
In Sunday’s action Hartwig started second alongside Brian Rygielski but made haste as soon as the initial green waved by out-powering him off the second turn and vaulting into the lead at the end of lap one.
The rest of the way it would be a race for second as no one was able to stay close to the No. 73, who kept growing his lead lap after lap. By the time the race ended Hartwig was over four seconds ahead of runner-up Evan Rygielski.
“This car was on rails today and it would be that way without all the work that my crew chief Bobby Geiger puts into it,” Hartwig said, who collected $1,000 for his effort.
“The competition here is great but we just unloaded with a great car today.”
The late model feature went to Kyle Harvell, while Bobby Kibler Jr. scored the street stock main event. Micah Adams won the 4-cylinder stock feature.
Feature Finish (30 Laps)
1. Paulie Hartwig II, 2. Evan Rygielski, 3. Neil Rutt III, 4. Steve Shultz, 5. James Blewett, 6. Jayden Harman, 7. Brian Rygielski, 8. Mackenzie Adams, 9. Brian Halecki, 10. Jaden Brown, 11. Bobby Jones, 12. Mike Pollack DQ: Nick Baer