It's jolly St. Rick at New Egypt Speedway

NEW EGYPT - With bells jingling and Santa himself rockin' down at New Egypt Speedway (NES), Belle Mead's Rick Grosso frosted the Modified field on Saturday night, winning his first of the year as a gift to his 6-year-old son, during Christmas in July festivities sponsored by Advantage Financial Mortgage Bankers.

"My son [Brandon] told me on the way home last night [after racing Quarter Midgets at Atco] - 'Daddy, I've got two wins in a row, and you've got none.' I had to do it for him tonight," said Grosso, 37, as he accepted congratulations from teammate Jimmy Horton in victory lane. With Horton's wins added in, the Grosso team counts six NES scores on the season. "Mark [Blackwell] has this car dialed in; and with Tony Feil power under the hood, this thing is unbelievable."

Sam Martz was a man on a mission in the early going of the 30-lap Modified main event, until his mount failed him 11 laps in. On the ensuing restart, Grosso, who started 13th, ultimately made the move that made his night, sweeping from fifth to third in one fluid motion. Two laps later he was second; Grosso's No. R24 then got a tremendous bite off turn two to power into the lead on lap 17.

Defending Modified champion Frank Cozze mustered up a valid bid in the late going, almost coming within striking distance in the final two. But it was all Rick Grosso and the checkered, in for his first of the year, the third of his career. Cozze was second, with Ryan Godown finishing third, and Grosso teammate and current points leader Jimmy Horton rallying from 22nd to take fourth. John Keller was fifth.

John Romano Jr., of New Egypt, outclassed the field to win his second of the year in the Sportsman 20. Fast-timer Mike Krachun, Gene Stravinsky, Jack Swain and Billy Tanner IV followed the winner over the line. Gary Butler, who finished ninth, continues to sit atop the point standings.

It took a while to get going, but when it did, the 20-lap Super Stock match was Pat Freiberger's, his second of 2006. Kory Fleming was the heartbreak kid, as his car broke while he was in position to challenge for the lead. At the finish, Freiberger was the man, with current top point-getter George Quinlan, Mick Search, Al Cheney III and Billy Bauer in tow.

When wire-to-wire winner Steve Wilson was found light at the scales and DQ'd, Kevin Nagy, of East Brunswick, picked up the victory in the Haldeman Ford SS Sprint class, his third of the year. Division points leader Art Liedl, Ian Borden, John Snook and Dan Wall took the next four spots.

The Vespia Tire & Auto Care Lightning Lap bonuses for fastest laps in timed dash qualifying went to Mike Krachun (Sportsman, 18.243), Al Cheney III (Super Stock, 19.614) and Kevin Nagy (SS Sprint, 17.245).

Primed by the generosity of Advantage Financial President Gene Stravinsky, fans donated a record-breaking $6,625 in cash and more than 3,975 toys to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive in a wildly successful Christmas in July fundraiser. In return, Stravinsky gave away more than $10,000 worth of big-ticket prizes - including TVs, iPods, DVD and CD players, bicycles, stereo systems, and more - to fans who supported the toy drive. Santa and his elf were on site to issue the Christmas bounty, with the U.S. Marine Corps assisting.

This Saturday, it's Wing Night at New Egypt Speedway, sponsored by Opdyke Lumber. The popular URC Sprint Cars lead the bill, which also features the big-block Modifieds, Sportsman and Super Stocks. Gates open at 4 p.m., with first green at 6:30 p.m. Adult admission is $20, children 7-12 are $6, and kids 6 and under are free. For more information, call the speedway office at (609) 758-1900 or log on to www.newegyptspeedway.net.