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02/21/2013 |
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JOHN BLEWETT III MEMORIAL 76
02/20/13
New Smyrna Speedway
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by
Polly Reid
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modifieds were back in action at New Smyrna Speedway Wednesday night for the
annual John Blewett III Memorial 76 lap in honor of a special modified
family member lost too soon. Tonight was indeed special for one particular
team. Wearing a new drivers suit with the III emblem embroidered on the back
as well as sporting a JB III pendant on a gold chain, it was quite fitting
that this driver would be the one to take the checkered flag. Woody Pitkat
of Stafford, CT made the winning move with ten to go with a run on the
backstretch. A heated side by side battle with Chuck Hossfeld, Pitkat
completed the pass and never looked back taking his second victory of the
week in the JB III Memorial 76 lap event at the New Smyrna World Series of
Asphalt Racing.
Starting on the pole after the top six inverted in the field, Pitkat kept
his Hill Enterprises modified out front from the drop of the green keeping
the field behind him including Eric Goodale, Ron Silk, Patrick Emerling and
Andy Seuss.
Ron Silk was on the move and catching Pitkat, became the new leader on lap
10.Pitkat remained in second and using patience kept the pace with Silk as
the long green run continued. The duo of Silk and Pitkat broke from the pack
as the long green run continued. Then just before the half way mark, Pitkat
fired back to take the lead on lap 32. At the halfway mark it was Pitkat,
Silk, Hossfeld, Seuss, and Goodale the top five. A caution on lap 46 reigned
in the field as several teams made the trip down pit row for adjustments
including Ron Silk, Burt Myers, Eric Goodale, Jason Myers and Patrick
Emerling.
On the restart with 29 to go, the lineup was Pitkat on the point, with Chuck
Hossfeld, Seuss, Emerling and Goodale the top five. As Pitkat and Hossfeld
broke from the pack, Hossfeld became the new leader six circuits later.
Hossfeld appeared to have the edge but Pitkat never waived and appeared to
be calculating his next move which came with just ten to go. As the green
flag run continued, Pitkat made the winning move with 10 circuits to the
finish to become the final leader of the night. Hossfeld crossed second with
Seuss third, Emerling fourth, Jimmy Zacharias fifth, Silk, Danny Watts,
Goodale, Jason Myers and J.R. Bertuccio the top ten.
“I wanted to set my own pace,” said Pitkat in victory lane. “Chuck was
setting his own pace and he got away then I could see he was wagging the
tail so I thought I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing- roll on the
throttle, don't push it until you're straight.” Pitkat kept to his game
plan. “On that caution, I knew Chuck was going to be tough- I don't get to
race with him often but I have a huge respect for him. When we went back to
green there was a lot of buildup on the right front I just couldn't get it
 clean
enough so when we went back to green it took a little while to get going. I
was a little too tight in his groove so I started moving down and I found
something and it worked.”
Pitkat took a moment to reflect on what this particular win really means to
him. “This is unbelievable- to win the John Blewett Memorial, I have so much
respect for him- we had such a good time in Las Vegas years back- we were
just talking about that, about racing - he is a loss to the sport.
Obliviously I want to win this one for him.”
A mention of the late Roger Hill, car owner Sandra Hill, crew chief David
Hill and the entire team, Pitkat carries even more momentum heading into the
35 lap feature tonight at New Smyrna Speedway.
Note: After the post-race inspection, Hossfeld’s finish was disallowed
moving Seuss into second and Emerling onto the podium. |
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Source: Polly Reid / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted: February
21, 2013 |
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