Wild Last Lap Sends Anthony Perrego To Victory Lane In Georgetown’s ‘Blast At The Beach’

Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – GEORGETOWN, DE – With MAV-TV cameras on site, Tuesday night’s VAHLCO Racing Wheels ‘Blast at the Beach’ at Georgetown Speedway produced a made-for-television conclusion.

After a slide job and ensuing crossover move on the final lap, Anthony Perrego edged Craig Von Dohren for the 35-lap big-block/small-block Modified victory in the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region Event No. 5 contested before a large crowd at the Sussex County half-mile oval.

For Middletown, N.Y.’s Perrego and the Superior Remodeling team, the victory was his first of 2018 on the STSS and third career Georgetown victory.

“I didn’t know if I had anything for Craig (Von Dohren),” Perrego said after climbing to the roof of his Teo-Pro car and receiving the one-of-a-kind surfboard trophy. “When he went off the bank, I knew I had my chance if I hit my marks.”

Perrego pocketed $6,070 for his efforts including lap money and a $500 winner’s bonus posted by Holly Hill Farms.

The event will air on MAV-TV on October 10 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

A special 5-lap Jones Racing Products What Drives You® Dash set the first eight starting positions for the STSS Modified main event. Rick Laubach won the dash in the Ryan Kerr-owned No. 1K and led the field to Warren Alston’s green flag.

Laubach’s time out front lasted three laps before Von Dohren – driving the Dick Biever-owned No. 14s – charged into the top spot.

Once in front, Von Dohren raced masterfully at the front of the field, while rim-riding around the top of the speedway.

Laubach, meanwhile, anchored the second-place battle through lap 19 before Perrego, who started from ninth, utilized a restart to rally into second.

Perrego chased Von Dohren through a race-changing moment on lap 28. Von Dohren’s car momentarily crested the speedway’s banking, breaking his momentum and allowing Perrego to shoot into the lead.

Hard on the throttle, Von Dohren looked to correct his mistake by chasing down Perrego.

On the final lap, entering turn three, Von Dohren drove hard into the corner, pulling a slide-job on Perrego. CVD momentarily held the lead, but as his car washed up the track, Perrego crossed to the bottom and reclaimed the top spot en route to the checkered as the crowd rose to its feet.

Oley, Pa.’s Von Dohren was a disappointed runner-up finisher, collecting $3,000 from the payout and an additional $250 in lap money.

“I got over the top (of the track) there and it cost me,” Von Dohren said.

Methodically moving forward on the low groove while many competitors utilized the top side, Duane Howard of Oley, Pa., finished third in the Norm Hansell No. 357 after starting 10th. Howard praised the multi-grooved racing surface and ability to make moves through the field.

After starting 24th following rear-end and carburetor issues early in the night, David Van Horn of Harmony, N.J., charged through the field to claim a hard-fought fourth-place finish and the Hard Charger Award which consisted of $200 cash from Precision Hydraulic & Oil, a $50 VAHLCO certificate, a $200 Beyea Headers certificate and a $50 QA1 certificate.

Van Horn was added to the field as the third-place finisher in the consolations with the fastest lap time, an additional starter sponsored by Ken Bruce of Bill Brown & Company Inc.

Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., thrilled the crowd by driving back to fifth-place after overturning his Ron Roberts-owned car on the 19th lap in turn three, firing the engine and rejoining the field.

Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, N.Y., who pitted with brake issues early in the race but rallied back to finish sixth in the Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply No. 9s; Ryan Godown of Ringoes, N.J., in the Lincoln Auto Body No. 5; 20th-starter Brandon Grosso of Montgomery, N.J.; Danny Bouc of Pipersville, Pa., who rolled off the grid 19th in the Craig and Leslie Pondish No. 6; and Ryan Krachun of Branchburg, N.J.

Sheppard was the overall fast timer in hot laps earning $100 cash from Beyea Custom Headers with a lap of 19.757 seconds.

Heat winners received $250 each from Tow Boat US and $50 from Beyea Custom Headers. Taking the four 8-lap qualifiers were Joseph Watson, Billy Pauch Jr., Laubach and Von Dohren.

Consolation victories went to Grosso and Mike Gular.

Drivers finishing sixth through 15th, respectively, each received a $100 cash bonus courtesy of Taylor & Messick ‘The Long Green Line’ of Harrington, Del.

A very healthy late-August field of 42 STSS Modifieds checked into the Georgetown pit area.

Frankford, Del.’s Scott Hitchens took home $1,000 in the L&J Sheet Metal Crate 602 Sportsman What Drives You® 20 event, race No. 4 of the STSS South Region. Hitchens appeared destined for a runner-up finish to New York invader David Schilling until a red flag on the 17th lap of the event.

Hitchens shot to the bottom of Schilling on the 18th lap. Entering turn three, real estate ran short and Schilling dropped off the top of the speedway, while Hitchens motored to the $1,000 win.

Tom Moore Jr., fresh off a victory on Saturday at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway, finished second. Joe Toth of Newtown, Pa., climbed from 20th on the grid to finish third, with Delaware’s David Jenkins and Schilling, of East Greenbush, N.Y., in tow.

STSS Crate 602 Sportsman heat winners were Adam McAuliffe, Schilling, Adam White and Corey Cormier. Rodney Cordrey topped the consolation.

A wild 12-lap Delaware Super Truck main went to David Smith over Jerry Hill, Matt Esham, Robert Smith and Kirk Miles Sr.

The Delmarva Charger feature went green-to-checkered caution-free with Robert ‘Pac-Man’ Paczkowski taking a hard-earned triumph over a fast-closing Jerry Barker. Chris ‘Tippy’ Martinez, Ashley Merritt and Derek Swafford trailed.

BEACH BLAST BITS: The Georgetown Speedway was abuzz with 42 STSS Modifieds, 32 STSS L&J Sheet Metal Crate 602 Sportsman, 16 Delaware Super Trucks and nine Delmarva Chargers for a total of 99 race cars on hand. A very healthy midweek crowd took in the action….

A wild flip on the second lap of the STSS Modified feature saw Brett Kressley get turned off the backstretch and into the tree-line. The Orefield, Pa., driver fortunately walked away uninjured….

Rear-end issues sidelined Billy Pauch Jr.’s Daniel Sommeling No. 51 during the 5-lap Dash. The ‘Kid’s Kid’ started the feature in a second car from the Hurlock Auto & Speed stables….

Joseph Watson impressively won a heat race but couldn’t start the 5-lap Dash due to a broken header. His team worked to make repairs and he started the main….

To combat 90-degree-plus heat, track crews applied extra moisture to the speedway. Once the track was run in, conditions provided three-wide racing throughout the night….

The midway was an active area with VAHLCO Racing Wheels hosting an autograph session, Sunglass Central/Design for Vision giving away sunglasses, Bob Hilbert Sportswear handing out promotional items, Melon 1 distributing watermelon samples and 97.1 The Wave broadcasting live for two hours….

Sponsorship support for this event came from VAHLCO Racing Wheels, Melon 1, Jones Racing Products, Taylor & Messick, Holly Hill Farms, The Farm Stand at the Givens, Bill Brown & Company Promotional and Printing Products, Scott Hitchens Enterprises, All-County Garage Door, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Hurlock Auto & Speed and Earth Movers LLC.

Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.

A website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).

Next up for the Short Track Super Series is the seventh Halmar International North Region Modified event at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y., on Sunday, September 23 with the ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ paying $5,000 to win for 50 laps. Also on the card are STSS Crate 602 Sportsman ($1,000 to win) and Street Stocks.

The STSS Velocita-USA South Region resumes on Friday, October 12 at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway with the ‘Speed Showcase’ featuring $5,000-to-win Modifieds and $4,000-to-win 410 Sprint Cars.

To learn more about the 2018 Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco, Velocita, Weld & Wilwood.

VAHLCO WHEELS ‘BLAST AT THE BEACH’ RACE SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY AUGUST 28, 2018

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region Event No. 5 Modified Feature Finish (35 laps): ANTHONY PERREGO, Craig Von Dohren, Duane Howard, David Van Horn, Ryan Watt, Matt Sheppard, Ryan Godown, Brandon Grosso, Danny Bouc, Ryan Krachun, Mike Gular, Frank Cozze, Joseph Watson, Rick Laubach, Jim Britt, Scott Van Gorder, Jeff Strunk, Andy Bachetti, Wade Hendrickson, Neal Williams, Kevin Sockriter, Jordn Justice, Jimmy Horton, Billy Pauch Jr., Matt Stangle, Brett Kressley, Jordan Watson.

Did Not Qualify: H.J. Bunting, Ricky Elliott, Kevin Gardner, Sammy Martz, Ron Roberts, Robert Dutton, Jeremy Harrington, Brad Trice, Roger Manning, Bobby Watkins, Kyle Fuller, Brandon Watkins, Amanda Whaley, Brian Hitz, Justin Grim.

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire): Brandon Grosso (eighth) & Jim Britt (15th)
ATL Fuel Cells Bonus ($200 Certificate): Ryan Watt (fifth)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Card): David Van Horn (fourth) & Danny Bouc (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Fast Time Award ($100 cash): Matt Sheppard (19.757 seconds)
Beyea Custom Headers Heat Winners ($50 Certificates): Joseph Watson, Billy Pauch Jr., Rick Laubach & Craig Von Dohren
Beyea Custom Headers Hard Charger ($200 Certificate): David Van Horn (24th to fourth)
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses: Anthony Perrego, Craig Von Dohren & Duane Howard
Earth Movers LLC Lap Money Breakdown: Rick Laubach ($30), Craig Von Dohren ($250) & Anthony Perrego ($70)
Fast Axle ($50 Certificate): Matt Sheppard (sixth)
Henry’s Exhaust System Power Position ($50 Certificate): Mike Gular (11th)
Holly Hill Farms Winner’s Bonus ($500): Anthony Perrego
Precision Hydraulic & Oil Hard Charger ($200 cash): David Van Horn (24th to fourth)
QA1 Hard Charger ($50 certificate): David Van Horn (24th to fourth)
Racing Optics Bonus (Sleeve of Tearoffs): Duane Howard (third)
Sunoco Race Fuel/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Craig Von Dohren (second), Frank Cozze (12th) & Jordn Justice (22nd)
Tow Boat US Heat Winners ($250 cash): Joseph Watson, Billy Pauch Jr., Rick Laubach & Craig Von Dohren
VAHLCO Wheels Hard Charger ($50 certificate): David Van Horn (24th to fourth)
WELD Wheels Hard Luck Award (FREE Wheel): Brett Kressley (26th)
Wilwood ‘Lucky 7 Award ($50 Certificate): Ryan Godown (seventh)

Jones Racing Products What Drives You® Modified Dash Finish (5 laps): RICK LAUBACH ($500), Craig Von Dohren ($300), Ryan Watt ($200), Ryan Krachun ($100), Brett Kressley ($75), Ryan Godown ($50), Billy Pauch Jr. ($50), Joseph Watson ($50).

L&J Sheet Metal Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco South Region Event No. 5 ‘What Drives You® 20’ Feature Finish (20 laps): SCOTT HITCHENS, Tom Moore Jr., Joe Toth, David Jenkins, David Schilling, Adam White, Wayne Weaver, Cory Cormier, Adam McAuliffe, Jim Gallagher Jr., Jim Housworth, Matt Hill, Sammy Martz Jr, Stephen Kemery, Brad Roberts, Ryan Riddle, Tommy Collins, Rodney Cordrey, Freddy Massey , Jason Rush, Dylan Swinehart, Ryan Macartney, Tommy Wilkins, Bobby DeLeon, Mike Hough, Michael White

Did Not Qualify: Jordan Long, Samantha Muller, Duane Rust, Paul Griffin Jr., George Richardson, Trent Van Vorst.

Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses: Scott Hitchens, Tom Moore Jr. & Joe Toth

Hurlock Auto & Speed Lap Money Breakdown: David Schilling ($180) & Scott Hitchens ($20)

Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): DAVID SMITH, Jerry Hill, Matt Esham, Robert Smith, Kirk Miles Sr., Dick Beauchamp, Jake Nelson, Park Abrams, Dale Elliott, Mike Kennedy, Kirk Miles Jr., Bobby Reed, Thomas ‘Action’ Jackson, Bill Dean, Mike Stratton.

Did Not Start: T.J. Williams

Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): ROBERT PACZKOWSKI, Jerry Barker, Chris “Tippy” Martinez, Ashley Merritt, Derek Swafford, Randy Merritt, Joe Morrell, John Bailey, Joe Waters.