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02/22/2013 |
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Speedweeks Modified Night 4
02/21/13
New Smyrna Speedway
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by
Polly Reid
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 Night
four at New Smyrna Speedway in the World Series of Asphalt Racing started
with Chuck Hossfeld of Lockport, NY setting fast time but at the checkers,
it was Woody Pitkat of Stafford, CT collecting the victory, his third win of
the series.
The top three inverted for the start putting Earl Paules at the point the
Palmerton, PA driver bringing the field to green for the 35 lap feature
event. Andy Seuss lined up next to Paules with Hossfeld, Pitkat, Patrick
Emerling, Jimmy Zacharias, Ron Silk, Eric Goodale and J.R. Bertuccio the top
ten.
A long green run had Paules warding off the challenges of Chuck Hossfeld and
Andy Seuss who were battling side by side for second the position being
settled temporarily as Hossfeld claimed the spot. At the half, Paules led
Hossfeld, Seuss, Pitkat and Zacharias the top five.
 As
the field settled into single file racing, the action focused on Seuss in
third who made his move for position passing for second with 15 to go. Seuss
capitalized on the momentum and made a run at the leader, challenging Paules,
the duo side by side with Seuss low, Paules high. Coming out of turn four,
still side by side, Paules tagged the wall. The first caution of the night
on lap 26, Paules was done for the night with heavy right front damage.
Becoming the new leader, Seuss lined up with Hossfeld, Pitkat, Zacharias and
Emerling the top five for the double file restart. A scary moment on the
restart when a right front tire went down on the Al Emmarino's modified.
Emmarino hit the turn one outside wall ending his night.
Nine circuits to go, on the restart Seuss brought the field around with
Hossfeld, Pitkat, Zacharias and Eric Goodale the top five the field. Using
the low lane, Pitkat picked off first Hossfeld then set his sights on the
rabbit, chasing down the leader.
Pitkat gave Seuss a run for his money as he moved into the low groove going
into turn three emerging the third and final leader of the night on lap
30.Pitkat, Seuss and Hossfeld broke from the pack and under a blanket put on
a show for the fans with their fierce battle for the lead.
 It
was Pitkat who crossed the strip for the win, his third trip to victory lane
in four nights with Hossfeld and Seuss completing the podium. Zacharias,
Goodale, Silk, Emerling, Bertuccio, Johnny Kay and Jeremy Gerstner rounded
out the top ten.
“We just have an outstanding car,” said Pitkat. “David Hill and Chris Kopec,
they got this thing really going. Like I said last year when I got into this
thing, the car is unbelievable, we just needed some luck. We probably should
have won the Fall Final. This car is really good and it can be even better.
I want to congratulate Andy and Chuck, it was great racing with those guys.”
The string of highly successful runs at New Smyrna has been a big boost for
the 79 Hill Enterprises team. “I kind of get down on myself a lot, trying to
prove myself on the Tour because I’ve won everything else I’ve gotten in to
besides the Tour. I feel like now I’ve got top notch equipment and
everything is gelling- the crew, the car, everything and that’s what you
need, all the things to work, not just one or two things. I think everything
is working and we’re down here building momentum, gel everybody and bring it
up north and hopefully see it
 on
the Tour.”
Hossfeld remained in the heat of the battle for the win narrowly missing a
victory. “Since we’ve got here, the car has been free in the center and I’ve
been trying to fix it. The night we had a really good run with Matt
(Hirschman) was really the best. Tonight I thought it was going to be
better. We were fastest in practice, took the pole in qualifying but came up
a little short in the race. But it was a great race for the fans, that’s
what is kind of cool. We needed a couple more laps and I think we might have
had him.”
Leading the pack mid-way through the feature, Seuss was once again denied a
win. “We came up a little bit short tonight- wish they still had 25
lappers,” smiled Seuss who was indeed the leader at lap 25.
“The car started off awesome, it just got a little bit tight. Last night we
started off loose and it got good but we knew we had to be better early on –
we took a gamble on air pressure, the tires weren’t exactly what we wanted
and it just went a little bit too far. We’re happy- we’re running up front,
we’re leading laps, competing for the wins with these guys- that’s all you
can ask for.” |
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Source: Polly Reid / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted: February
22, 2013 |
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