JJ Grasso Grabs Third Jersey Rush Win; Pauch Jr. Powers To Modified Victory

Story By: BOB MILLER / THUNDER ON THE HILL – NEW EGYPT, NJ – Two of the region’s most popular racing divisions converged on New Egypt Speedway, this past Wednesday, for Jersey Rush VII presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings. JJ Grasso of Middletown, DE scored the win – and the $5,000 prize money — in the 410 Sprint Car portion of the event, while Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, NJ was victorious in an action-packed Modified feature.

“The set-up on this car was perfect tonight,” Grasso gushed in victory lane. “All I had to do is get behind the wheel and drive – it couldn’t have been more perfect.”

Robbie Stillwaggon and Kyle Reinhardt led the field to the green flag, and kicked off the 30-lap A-Main in fine fashion charging hard on the topside of the 7/16-mile dirt track – it was short lived as Danny Dietrich spun on the second circuit bringing the yellow out for the first time.

Stillwaggon powered ahead on the start, with Grasso moving into the second position. Grasso slid inside Stillwaggon on lap four, with Kyle Reinhardt moving into the second position. The caution flew for the second time on the lap 15 when Mark Bitner’s No. 15 slowed on the front stretch.

It was all Grasso on the restart, pulling away from the field and maintaining a sizable advantage as laps clicked down. Grasso and the No.37 BK Trucking machine would roll on for the win with Kyle Reinhardt coming home in the second position. Lucas Wolfe finished in the third position after an exciting battle with Davey Sammons – who settled for fourth and Ryan Smith rounded out the top-five finishers.

The big-block of three-time defending New Egypt Speedway track champion, Ryan Godown led the field to the start of the 30-lap modified feature event with Danny Bouc on his outside. Godown took the lead on the initial start, but a lap two caution slowed the field.

On the restart, Bouc took the lead with Pauch Jr. following into the second position. Action slowed for the second time on the third circuit.

Pauch Jr. took the lead on the restart with Duane Howard powering the Norm’s Save Station No. 357 into the second spot.

At the halfway point, Pauch Jr. maintained control, while all eyes were fixated on the four-car battle for the second position – with Howard holding off challenges from Bouc, Jeff Strunk, and Brandon Grosso.

Pauch would weave through heavy lapped traffic, maintaining a sizable advantage over the battle for second place, and collecting the $3,000 Jersey Rush VII victory. Howard held on to the runner-up position, while Danny Bouc finished third, Brandon Grosso in fourth, and Jeff Strunk rounded out the top five.

Danny Dietrich claimed the CnB Chubby Quick Time Award with a fast lap of 13.944 in 410 Sprint Car Time Trials.

Oliver Communications Group Heat Race Bonuses went to Robbie Stillwaggon and Davey Sammons in the 410 Sprint Cars and Danny Bouc and Brandon Grosso in the Modifieds.

Pioneer Pole Buildings Jersey Rush VII is a co-promotion between Lenny, Danny, and Davey Sammons along with special events promoter, Bob Miller.

For more information about Jersey Rush visit www.jerseyrushrace.com or www.facebook.com/jerseyrush

PIONEER POLE BUILDINGS JERSEY RUSH VII RESULTS:

410 Sprint Cars

Time Trials — 1. Danny Dietrich – 13.944 2. Ryan Smith – 14.217 3. Kyle Reinhardt – 14.243 4. Lucas Wolfe – 14.306 5. Steve Buckwalter – 14.362 6. Tony Fiore – 14.395 7. Davie Franek – 14.402 8. JJ Grasso – 14.427 9. Joe Kata III – 14.513 10. Davey Sammons – 14.530 11. Robbie Stillwaggon – 14.532 12. Tyler Ross – 14.536 13. Mark Bitner – 14.714 14. Ryan Godown – 15.162 15. Chris Allen, Jr. – 15.235 16. Bill Unglert – 18.568

Heat 1 (10 Laps) – 1. Robbie Stillwaggon 2. Joe Kata III 3. Steve Buckwalter 4. Danny Dietrich 5. Davie Franek
Heat 2 (10 Laps) – 1. Davey Sammons 2. JJ Grasso 3. Ryan Smith 4. Tony Fiore 5. Lucas Wolfe

Feature (30 Laps) – 1. JJ Grasso 2. Kyle Reinhardt 3. Lucas Wolfe 4. Davey Sammons 5. Ryan Smith 6. Robbie Stillwaggon 7. Tony Fiore 8. Steve Buckwalter 9. Joe Kata III 10. Danny Dietrich 11. Tyler Ross 12. Davie Franek 13. Bill Unglert 14. Chris Allen Jr. 15. Mark Bitner 16. Ryan Godown

Modifieds

Heat 1 ( 10 Laps) – 1. Danny Bouc 2. Dominick Buffalino 3. Jimmy Blewett 4. Jimmy Horton 5. Kevin Vaclavicek
Heat 2 (10 Laps) – 1. Brandon Grosso 2. Jeff Strunk 3. Steve Davis 4. Rick Laubach 5. Lou Cicconi

Feature (30 Laps) – 1. Billy Pauch Jr. 2. Duane Howard 3. Danny Bouc 4. Brandon Grosso 5. Jeff Strunk 6. Dominick Buffalino 7. Rich Rutski 8. Mike Gular 9. Jimmy Blewett 10. Rocco Infante 11. Rick Laubach 12. Chris Grbac 13. PJ Oliver 14. Kevin Vaclavicek 15. Pat Wall 16. Steve Davis 17 Ryan Godown 18. Tim Hindley 19. Ricky Wegner 20. Jimmy Horton 21. Lou Cicconi 22. John Pakenham DNS: Frank Cozze