NJ-PA Area Drivers Set Plans For Thursday’s ‘Hard Clay Finale’ At Orange County

Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Conjuring up memories of days gone by and the Tri-Track Series encompassing Orange County Fair Speedway and the now-closed Flemington (N.J.) and Nazareth (Pa.) Speedways, New-Jersey-Pennsylvania area racers are gearing up for Thursday night’s Behrent’s Performance Warehouse ‘Hard Clay Finale’ event.

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP Modifieds invade Orange County Fair Speedway Thursday night to conclude the nine-race STSS Halmar International North Region and kick off the 56th annual Eastern States Weekend.

STSS Modified competitors will battle for a purse structure of $30,900 total: $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $500 to take the green flag. Other bonuses sweeten the pot further for racers.

Billy Pauch Jr. brings his famed family name back to Eastern States Weekend at Orange County Fair Speedway. The third-generation Milford, N.J., star will pilot the Daniel Sommeling-owned No. 51 in the 50-lap STSS-sanctioned program.

Another renowned family will be represented by David Van Horn Jr. who will be at the wheel of Fred Vahlsing’s No. 323ov. Van Horn is a past Orange County Fair Speedway champion who now races regularly at New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway. His grandfather, of course, is the late legend Carl ‘Fuzzy’ Van Horn.

The ‘Wizard’ of Wind Gap, Pa., Frank Cozze has the Dave Renaldo-owned No. 401 at the ready for Thursday night’s inaugural event. Cozze has been stout in the Renaldo mount in recent STSS South appearances.

The ‘Ringoes Rocket’ Ryan Godown is set for a Thursday night fight driving the Dieter Schmidt-owned No. 5 with sponsorship from Escape RV. Godown said the team has completed repairs to the car from a heavy impact at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway.

Young gun Brandon Grosso excelled in the Sportsman ranks. This August, Grosso moved into big-block competition and plans to make his Modified debut at OCFS on Thursday night.

Fresh off a podium finish at the Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway STSS-sanctioned ‘Dirty Jersey 5’ Somerville, N.J., driver Sammy Martz has set plans to tackle the OCFS five-eighths-mile for the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ event.

Orange County’s 2017 champion Jimmy Horton is no stranger to PA/NJ action and sits atop the all-time win list at Bridgeport. Horton will have his Halmar No. 43 at the ready, outfitted with sail panels, for Thursday night’s STSS visit.

Excitement continues to build for the first-time ‘Hard Clay Finale’ happening on Thursday night with support from Behrent’s Performance Warehouse and Escape RV!

Teams will be permitted to enter the facility beginning on Wednesday (October 18). A Thursday pit pass, however, will be required for entry in the pits beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Drive-in gates will be unlocked at 4 p.m., with grandstand gates opening at 5 p.m.

Cars will hit the track at approximately 5:45 p.m., with the first heat race rolling off at 6:30 p.m.

General admission is $25 for Adults, $23 for Seniors and $5 for Kids 12 and under. Reserved seats (Rows H-O of the covered grandstand) are available for $30 by calling the speedway at 845.342.2573.

Pit admission is $35 with no license required.

Complete STSS Modified rules and race information can be found on the web: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/hard-clay-finale-rules-prices-general-information/

Street Stocks, under Orange County rules, will complete the doubleheader racing for $200 to win (no car entry fee).