Hearn invades for New Egypt Bunny Hop win
OTC World of Outlaw comes to town tomorrow night

NEW EGYPT - DIRTcar Modified star Brett Hearn, of Sussex, picked the outside pole in the pre-race draw and led all 30 laps at New Egypt Speedway on Saturday night, winning the track's season-opening event.

The evening's Easter Bunny Hop, sponsored by Agin Signs & Designs of Monmouth Junction, and A-1 Racing Products of Warminster, Pa., saw Hearn beat the cold temperatures and a star-studded field to pick up his fourth career win at the track.

"It was our kind of track, what we're used too, so I think that gave us an advantage," stated Hearn. "The car felt really good; I could go up top and pass whenever I had to," continued Hearn. "I hope the car looked as good as it felt."

Hearn didn't have a whole lot to worry about in the 30-lap Modified main event. Starting on the outside pole, Hearn immediately jumped out front, ahead of Sam Martz, Rick Grosso and defending track champ Jimmy Horton. Keith Hoffman, 2001 champion, seemed to be on the fast track early, until a near tangle with two lapped cars broke his momentum. Matt Sheppard then took up the chase; however, he was no match for Hearn's mastery of lapped traffic. In the end it was all Hearn as he took home the $3,000 first prize by half a straight-away. Sheppard was a strong second, followed by Hoffman, a late-charging Ryan Godown, and Grosso.

After finishing second in last year's opener, Morganville's Mike Howardson finally got the monkey off his back as he picked up his first career victory in the Sportsman 20 lapper. It was a big win for Howardson, as Agin Signs & Designs upped the ante an extra $300, and Chris Bennett Racing added another $200 bonus to the leader of lap 14 (Howardson) to make the victory worth a cool $1,500. Jack Swain was the runner-up, with Art Liedl in third, Willie Osmun crossing the line fourth and John McClelland fifth.

George Quinlan of Brick grabbed the first race of the year in the Super Stock 20. Quinlan notched the ninth of his career at NES by winning the season opener for the second straight year. Mick Search came home a close second, followed by Bryan Reed, Al Cheney and Bill Liedtka.

Four Super Late Models took part in a special practice session, and were rewarded by track owners Bill Miscoski and Fred Vahlsing with a $750 purse for them to race for 12 laps. Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., took home the $500 top prize, winning a crowd-pleasing battle on the final lap with David Pettyjohn.

In the initial race of the Advantage Financial/Cradle Rock Developers Rookie Sportsman series, Danny Bouc of Plumsteadville, Pa., caught leader Bobby Butler in lapped traffic just past the halfway point of the race and then sped to the checkered. Butler, Dan Waisempacher, Joe Systo and Jeff Marcucci trailed Bouc at the finish.

Chris Bennett's Sportsman race team made a nice gesture, putting up a $200 bonus to the leader of lap 14 in each of the three divisions' feature events in memory of his friend Scott Glover Jr. Scott, who drove car No. 14 on the 358 sprint car circuit in central Pennsylvania, passed away suddenly two weeks ago at the age of 17. The three feature winners, Brett Hearn, Mike Howardson and George Quinlan, all picked up the extra cash.

The Vespia Tire & Auto Care Lightning Lap bonuses for fastest laps turned in by the heat winners went to Keith Hoffman (Modified, 18.588), Art Liedl (Sportsman, 19.389) and Mick Search (Super Stock, 20.212).

This week at New Egypt Speedway, it's the 360 OTC World of Outlaw Late Model Tour on Friday night, as the best Super Late Model drivers in the country do battle in the "Cabin Fever 50" paying $10,000 to win. SS Sprints, Outlaw Stocks and Crate 1 Sportsman will join the Late Models on the card. Gate will open at 4:30 p.m. with racing getting under way at 7 p.m.

This Saturday night, April 14, is the "Go Green" event sponsored by Pleasant View Landscaping. On the track: big-block Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stocks & the Advantage Financial/Cradle Rock Developers Rookies. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with first green at 5 p.m. Adult admission is $16, children 7-12 are $5.50, 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.