BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Paulie Hartwig III raced to a rousing victory on Friday night at Evergreen Raceway, picking up his second 602 Crate Modified win of the season, beating Jacob Kerstetter by three car lengths.
Hartwig started fifth but wasted little time in zeroing in on front runners Jayden Harman and Kerstetter.
It was polesitter Kerstetter who jumped into the early lead but after a lap two restart he was overtaken by Harman. At the same time Hartwig made it a close three-car battle as the threesome faced off in very close formation.
Just prior to the halfway mark Hartwig and Kerstetter locked horns that almost sent both cars spinning but there was some sharp maneuvering on their parts that enabled them to not only make an impressive save but swap spots as well.
Now second, Hartwig quickly set his sights on Harman and on lap 16 he pulled inside of him as they negotiated turn one and on exit the pass was completed as the new leader emerged.
“He (Harman) just got a little bit loose there and that opened up the door and I was able to take it. We may have knocked the right front out a little bit after contact with the 95 (Kerstetter) but we hung on,” said Hartwig.
Once in command there was no denying the stout performance by the 13-year old sensation as he was on cruise control the rest of the way.
“I love this place and we got two wins so far and the car was really good,” said the two surface star who also competes on dirt. “You can race side-by-side on dirt and it’s a matter of how you hit your marks. This to me is way harder than running on dirt and the track is so different when we race under the lights.”
Kerstetter did come across the line in second but what would have been his best finish in a Modified turned sour when he was placed last in the running order due to a post-race infraction. That elevated Micah Adams to the runner-up spot, equaling his best finish thus far. He and Steve Shultz put on quit the duel too before Adams was able to secure the spot. Harman and point leader Brian Rygielski Jr., competed the top five.
In the Harry’s U-Pull-It Street Stocks Gordie Buchman of Drums, scored only his second victory but this will forever be a signature win.
Johnny Bennett got back into the winning form, shaking off several tough weeks of sub-par results as he proved no match over the rest of the field in leading handily from start to finish in the Himmer Graphics Four Cylinders.
Noah Jensen piloted to his class leading third win of the season with the Rotten-and-Forgotten. In an exciting and very close battle with his brother, Sam Jensen, N. Jensen was able to wrestle the lead away just past halfway. Once in front he competently cruised the rest of the way.