(July 10, 2021): Pat Wall won for the first time since May 1st as he captured the fifth annual 40 lap Mr. Crate Classic at New Egypt Speedway. Wall took the lead from Will Protinick just past halfway and then held off the challenges of Anthony Tramontana to score his fifth career victory. Wall also completed the non-stop 40 lap event in a record time of 12:30.
Protinick and Wall brought the field to the start of the extra distance event with Protinicj grabbing the early advantage. Wall chased after him but Protinick was hooked up and had every one covered thru the opening laps. Sixth starter Anthony Tramontana quickly moved into third and methodically ran down the front running duo challenging Wall for second by lap 12. As Wall and Tramontana battled they quickly closed in on the leader and the fans suddenly had a three car battle for the lead to watch. Tramontana grabbed second from Wall and almost got by Protinick with the same move, when suddenly Wall came back by both of them for the lead. Lapped traffic began to come into play as Tramontana finally slipped by Protinick and went back after Wall. STSS Crate winner Johnny Bangs and the winner of the race the last 2 years Ryan Simmons now entered the top five and were battling for fourth half of a straightaway behind the leaders. At the front Wall held off the persistent Tramontana thru lapped traffic to post his 4th win of the season. Tramontana was a close second with Bangs grabbing third in the closing laps. Protinick finished his great run in fourth followed by Simmons. 5-time winner Justin Grosso, Tom Princiotta, Ryan Heim, Will Dupree and Jon Meyer completed the top ten,
The Vahlco Wheels 30 lap Modified feature saw Brandon Grosso start 11th and work his way to the front quickly, as he took the lead from Chris Grbac on a lap 7 restart. David Van Horn, who started next to Grosso on row 6 followed him thru into second as point leader Mike Gular and Billy Pauch Jr. moved into the top five. Over the final 23 laps Grosso had the field covered as 4 time winner Pauch Jr. battled with Gular for the runner up spot. Gular held off Pauch to race home second, followed by Pauch Jr.,Van Horn and young David Burns, with his best Modified finish in just five starts.
Larry’s Hot Rods & Harley’s NEWS Wingless Sprint Car 20 lap feature event saw Brian Spencer charge by the top two drivers in points, Mick D’Agastino and Rich Mellor and post his
7th career win. Mellor and D’Agastino finished second and third, chased by Heidi Hedin and Eric Jennings at the checkered.
The John Blewett, Inc. 4-cylinders 15 lap feature once again was won by defending co-champ Justin Dunn, his first in a month and 7th of the season. Dunn held off his father Scott Dunn for the win, with last weeks winner Rich Page finishing third.
Next Saturday, July 17th, the Vahlco Wheels Modifieds will be in action, joined on the card by the Recersguide.com Crate Modifieds and the Street Stocks. Gates will open at 5pm (Pit gates at 4pm) Warm-ups will be at 6pm, with the first race hitting the track at 7pm.
Then coming up on Tuesday evening July 20th it will be the Summer Sizzler, a 60-lap Modified Special paying $6000 to the winner, $1000 for tenth, and $400 to start. NES regulars Billy Pauch Jr., Mike Gular, David Van Horn, Brandon Grosso, Rick Laubach, Louden Reimert and many others will take on the top drivers in the tri-state area like Dominick Buffalino, Jeff Strunk, Frank Cozze, Matt Stangle, Ryan Godown, Danny Bouc to name a few.
New Egypt Speedway 7/10/21 – 5th Annual Mr. Crate Classic
Racersguide.com Crate Modified Feature Results (40 Laps):
1.) PAT WALL 2.) Anthony Tramontana 3.) Johnny Bangs 4.) Will Protinick 5.) Ryan Simmons 6.) Justin Grosso 7.) Tom Princiotta 8.) Ryan Heim 9.) Will Dupree 10.) Jon Meyer 11.) Dan Fleming 12.) Paul Mancini 13.) Matt Miller 14.) Jordon Cox 15.) Nick Stephan 16.) Brandon Shipley 17.) Kevin Borden 18.) Bob Rambone 19.) George Gareis Jr
DNS: Nick Van Wickle, Jeremy Martino, Glenn McIntyre, Robby Dunn
Heat Race Winners: Will Protinick & Dan Fleming
Vahlco Wheels Modified Feature Results (30 Laps):
1.) BRANDON GROSSO 2.) Mike Gular 3.) Billy Pauch Jr 4.) David Van Horn 5.) David Burns 6.) Dakota Kessler 7.) Chris Grbac 8.) Louden Reimert 9.) Cale Ross 10.) Kory Fleming 11.) Rick Laubach 12.) Jack Swain 13.) Frank Venezia 14.) Bryan Kuhl 15.) JR Fulper 16.) John Aumick 17.) Kevin Vaclavicek 18.) Blaine Bracelin 19.) DJ Hunt 20.) Nick Keefe 21.) PJ Oliver 22.) Mickey Kessler 23.) Jim Housworth
DNS: Mike Butler
Heat Race Winners: Mike Gular, Cale Ross & David Van Horn
Larry’s Hot Rods & Harley’s Northeast Wingless Sprint Car Feature Results (20 Laps):
1.) BRIAN SPENCER 2.) Rich Mellor 3.) Mick D’Agostino 4.) Heidi Hedin 5.) Eric Jennings 6.) Shea Wills 7.) Stan Ploski 8.) Larry Drake 9.) Rob Ward 10.) Ken Nealis 11.) Eric Miller 12.) Walter Fletcher 13) Gary Huston
DNS: Al Cheney, Steve Kyser
Heat Race Winners: Rich Mellor & Brian Spencer
John Blewett Inc 4-Cylinder Feature Results (15 Laps):
1.) JUSTIN DUNN 2.) Scott Dunn 3.) Rich Page 4.) Kyle Hurley 5.) Joe Garey Sr 6.) John Ciallella 7.) Chris Gall 8.) Joe Garey Jr 9.) Brian Barker 10.) Dominick Antonelli 11.) Jim Tinnes 12.) Mike Fox 13.) Robby Dunn