Jordan Watson Nails Down Georgetown Speedway Modified Win Friday Night

Story By: BRETT DEYO / GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY – GEORGETOWN, DE – The bad luck streak is over for Joseph Watson.

On Friday night, the Milford, Del., driver righted seasons of misfortune at Georgetown Speedway with a $3,000 ‘September Showdown’ victory in the L&J Sheet Metal 30-lap feature at the half-mile oval. Watson drove the Blue Hen Speed No. 30 to Victory Lane for the first time in the BD Motorsports Media LLC promotional era at the historic facility, which began in 2016.

The pit area was packed with 140 race cars taking part in the program.

“This place has been tough on us,” offered Watson in Victory Lane to a partisan crowd. “We’ve been fast here and had so much bad luck.”

Watson turned back a talented 29-car field of big-block/small-block Modifieds on a heavy track from significant rainfall in the days leading up to the event.

“We made some adjustments after the heat race,” Watson said. “We had a good car in the feature.”

Watson arrived in second on the seventh lap of the main and one circuit later utilized a double-file restart to unseat Pennsylvania star Jeff Strunk, who led from the outset in Glenn Hyneman’s Keystone Racing No. 126.

While Watson set the pace out front, 10th-starter Danny Bouc drew the attention of fans rim-riding around the extreme outside lane.

Bouc, who had driven up to third and dropped back to sixth, re-emerged in the runner-up spot on lap 17, trailing Watson by nearly a straightaway.

As the lead pair negotiated slower traffic, Bouc drew in on Watson, closing to within three car-lengths at the checkered flag.

Watson, however, held on to become the third First State driver to win a Georgetown Modified main since 2016, joining H.J. Bunting and his brother, Jordan.

Bouc, of Pipersville, Pa., earned a crowd-pleasing $2,000 runner-up payday.

After starting from the pole and suffering a flat tire on the opening lap, Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt marched through the field in his Ron Roberts-owned No. 14W to fill out the podium.

Strunk settled for fourth and Rick Laubach of Quakertown, Pa., completed the front five in Ryan Kerr’s No. 1K.

Georgetown Speedway Modified point leader Billy Pauch Jr. was in contention for the lead before suffering a flat tire on Rick Holsten’s No. 96. He climbed from the rear of the field to finish sixth.

Ad-Art Sign Company $75 Modified heat winners were Joseph Watson, Bouc and Pauch Jr.

Andy Best of Felton, Del., crediting the efforts of longtime mechanic Andy Anderson, picked up the United Racing Club (URC) 360 Sprint Car main event. The URC group brought a stout 23-car field to Georgetown for their only visit of 2020.

Best led laps four and five before turning over the top spot to Tyler Ross. On lap 10, Ross encountered misfortune off the second turn and drew the caution.

Best took over a lead he wouldn’t relinquish on lap 11 and drove on to a $1,500 payday.

Adam Carberry of Bensalem, Pa, rode the outside lane to finish second, completing a final-lap pass of Middletown, Del.’s J.J. Grasso. Josh Weller of Mertztown, Pa., and New York State invader Paulie Colagiovanni.

Heat winners were Best, Curt Michael and Grasso.

Mark Pettyjohn of Milton, Del., took home a cool $1,000 top prize in the RUSH Late Model 20-lap main. Pettyjohn admittedly ran a conservative race early on and took advantage of issues for leaders Amanda Whaley and Kerry King Jr. to put his No. PJ1 in Victory Lane.

Pettyjohn inherited the top spot on the 17th circuit of the 20-lap main. Nick Davis, Trevor Collins, Dana Walker and Kerry King Sr. completed the front five.

Kerry King and his Mello Yellow Cole Trickle No. 51 picked up the Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car victory over a 26-car field. Art Workman was the first Sportsman car across the line in 10th position.

Trailing King across the stripe were Jamie Eicholz, Harold Sylvester, C.J. Schirmer and John Burton.

The Little Lincoln 12-lap main came down to the last turn of the final lap. Joseph Tracy rode the high line past Kirk Lawson to pick up a win that drew a buzz from the crowd. Lawson, Todd Sammons, Matt White and Bunky White completed the front five.

A three-wide drag race to the checkered in the 12-lap Delaware Super Truck feature played into the hands of Shane Clogg, who won by a nose at the line over Jerry Hill. Matthew Smith, Ryan Efford and Nate Benson completed the front five.

Joe Waters dominated the 12-lap Delmarva Charger feature, winning by more than a straightaway. Chris “Tippy” Martinez, Ashley Merritt, Chris Carroll and Chris Myers trailed.

Racing resumes at Georgetown Speedway on Friday, October 2 with Rapid Tire USAC East Coast Sprint Cars, L&J Sheet Metal Modifieds ($3,000 to win), Chesapeake Paving/J.W. Brown Trucking Crate 602 Sportsman, Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Little Lincolns, Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers.

SEPTEMBER SHOWDOWN RACE SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

L&J Sheet Metal Modified Feature Finish (25 laps): JOSEPH WATSON, Danny Bouc, Ryan Watt, Jeff Strunk, Rick Laubach, Billy Pauch Jr., Matt Stangle, Scott Hitchens, Jordan Watson, Kevin Sockriter, Brandon Grosso, Ron Roberts, Billy Lasko, Kevin Gardner, Clay Tatman, Tom Solderich, Ricky Johnson, Ryan Krachun, H.J. Bunting, Jimmy Horton, Greg Nailor, Dave Shirk, Richie Pratt Jr., Norman Short, Roger Manning, Brandon Watkins, Jordn Justice.

Did Not Start: Ryan Riddle, Carson Wright.

Ad-Art Sign Company Heat Winners ($75 each): Joseph Watson, Danny Bouc & Billy Pauch Jr.

URC Sprint Car Feature Finish (25 laps): ANDY BEST, Adam Carberry, J.J. Grasso, Josh Weller, Paulie Colagiovanni, Austin Bishop, Dallas Schott, Ryan Stillwaggon, Ed Aikin, Ryan Watt, Jason Schultz, Zack Burd, Davie Franek, Troy Betts, Robbie Stillwaggon, Tyler Ross, Curt Michael, Mark Van Vorst, Jesse Pruchnik, Stevie Storie, Kevin Darling.

Did Not Start: Todd Gracey, Jake Eldreth.

RUSH Late Model Feature Finish (20 laps): MARK PETTYJOHN, Nick Davis, Trevor Collins, Dana Walker, Kerry King, Ben Scott, David Smith, Joey Warren, Robert Smith, Geoff Carey, Kerry King Jr., Brandon Sturgis, Amanda Whaley-Robinson, Matt Hill, Zac Weller, Jason Dean, Billy Thompson, Charles Shawver, Curtis Reed, Ed Pope, Brian Coe Jr.

Did Not Start: Joe Pete

Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car Feature Finish (12 laps): KERRY KING, Jamie Eicholz, Harold Sylvester, C.J. Schirmer, John Burton, Robert Paczkowski, Dave Parsons, Mike Parsons, Roscoe Clough, Art Workman (Sportsman Winner), David Tucker I, David Tucker II, Terry Chaney, Robbie Roe, D.J. Cameron, Chris Killen, Dave Schamp, Thomas Hughes, Mike Harmon, Don Davidson, Eddie Eicholz, Rob Blann, Glenn Lyon, Todd Miller, Jamie Schirmer, Charlie Moore.

Little Lincoln Feature Finish (12 laps): JOSEPH TRACY, Kirk Lawson, Todd Sammons, Matt White, Bunky White, Jordan Herbert, Wayne Seaton, Scott Calhoun, Brian Piercy, M.J. White, Shawn Smith, Ryan Walsen.

Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): SHANE CLOGG, Jerry Hill, Matthew Smith, Ryan Efford, Nate Benson, Dale Elliott, Kyle Brasure, Adam Smart, T.J. Hazlewood, Kirk Miles Sr., Dick Beauchamp, Bill Dean, Jess West, J.R. Bergman, David Smith, Mark Townsend, Michelle Jackson, Clay Vincent, Thomas ‘Action’ Jackson, Billy Lockwood.

Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): JOE WATERS, Chris “Tippy” Martinez, Ashley Merritt, Chris Carroll, Chris Myers, Randy Merritt, John Bailey, Jay Lowman.