New Egypt Speedway 1999-07-17

Topless Brightbill Tops New Egypt Field Again

New Egypt, NJ (July 17) -- "Mr. Excitement" Kenny Brightbill worked race traffic with relative ease as he came from 17th to the lead in eight laps, scoring his ninth Modified feature win of the season in an open cockpit Modified on Topless Night at New Egypt Speedway.

"I'm really on a heck of a roll right now," said Brightbill, who's won seven of the last eight races at New Egypt. "You've got to enjoy it while you can because you never know when it's going to end."

Polesitter Tom Carberry took charge at the drop of the green in the 30-lap main before Rick Grosso Jr. powered out front. Grosso remained in front through several cautions as Carberry held off Johnny Leach for second. On a lap 10 restart for a Scott Van Gorder spin, Modified points leader Kenny Brightbill came from third to the lead between turns 1 and 2. Lap 11 saw six-time winner Billy Pauch exit to the pits with motor trouble. A very strong Grosso kept pace with Brightbill for a short run; however, the #19 opened up a commanding lead following a lap 17 restart when Larry McVay spun in turn 2. As Brightbill continued to build his advantage and race through traffic, Tim Tanner Jr. began to chase Grosso for second. Brightbill's topless Modified cruised under the checker first, with Grosso turning in a super run for second, and Tanner Jr. taking third. Carberry and Leach hung in for fourth and fifth.

In a barnburner of a race that went right down to the wire, Belle Mead, NJ's Matt Papiez, from a fourth starting spot, brought home his first Sportsman win in two years after a hard-fought battle with Bob Worthington. "I've got to thank everyone -- my sponsors, my crew, family and fans," said Papiez, who became the 13th different Sportsman winner in 15 races at New Egypt. Worthington gave it all he had from start to finish for a strong second place with Scott Singley third, Mickey Kessler fourth and Rich Scagliotta fifth.

Howell, NJ's Richie Byrne captured his second Street Stock victory of '99, starting 10th and taking the lead before six laps were complete in the 15-lap main. "I've got to thank Rick Grosso for making the track so great tonight -- it was awesome!" Byrne informed from Victory Lane. Evan Berardi chased Byrne to the finish trailed by division point leader Billy Bauer, Nick Giris and Pat Conaway.

Prior to the feature events, fans took a parade lap around the speedway in their classic convertibles, which remained on display in the parking area. The nightly 50/50 was worth $1,365 to one very happy fan. The Mid-State Communications Cash Dash for Street Stocks was taken by Kyle Wright for $268.

This Saturday it's Fun Fest Night at New Egypt with Speedo the Clown on hand to entertain and delight with his wacky antics. Gates open at 4 pm, warm-ups are at 6 and the first heat goes green at 6:30 pm. Adult admission is $14, children 7-12 are $4, and kids 6 and under are free.

7/17/99 MODIFIED RESULTS 1st Heat: 1. Carberry 2. Laureno 3. Hager 4 . Bauma 5. Drayton 6. Adams 2nd Heat: 1. Tanner Jr. 2. Brightbill 3. Singley 4. Van Gorder 5. Hendershot 6. Janiszewski 3rd Heat: 1. Bitner 2. Grosso Jr. 3. Tanner Sr. 4. Epright 5. Leach 6. Velenger 'B' Main: 1. Bohn 2. Pauch 3. Cranmer 4. McVay 5. Butler 6. Grbac (Fan's Prov: Kline) Feature (30 laps): 1. Kenny Brightbill 2. Rick Grosso Jr. 3. Tim Tanner Jr. 4. Tom Carberry 5. John Leach 6. Eddie Cranmer 7. Fritz Epright 8. Eddie Bohn 9. Tim Tanner Sr. 10. Larry McVay 11. Gary Butler 12. Todd Singley 13. Gary Velenger 14. Mark Bitner 15. Bob Bauma 16. Billy Pauch 17. Larry Kline 18. Art Adams 19. Chris Grbac 20. Roger Laureno 21. Scott Van Gorder 22. Stan Janiszewsi 23. Tom Hager 24. Bob Drayton 25. Mike Hendershot DNQ: Jim Hawkes, Art Liedl.

SPORTSMAN RESULTS 1st Heat: 1. Infante 2. Brown 3. Nicholas 4. Koczon 5. Eppolite 6. Brightbill 2nd Heat: 1. Kessler 2. Singley 3. Reid 4. Roth 5. Ely 6. Coffey 3rd Heat: 1. Gareis 2. Archer 3. Papiez 4. Lippincott 5. Harris 6. Worthington 'B' Main 1: 1. Marra 2. Scagliotta 3. McIntyre 4. Dixon 'B' Main 2: 1. Swain 2. Sarvis 3. Dallett 4. Holsten (alternates: Taylor Jr. and Tomasko) Feature (20 Laps): 1. Matt Papiez 2. Bob Worthington 3. Scott Singley 4. Mickey Kessler 5. Rich Scagliotta 6. Keith Brightbill 7. George Gareis 8. Ron John Koczon 9. Rocco Infante 10. Jim Dallett 11. Tom Eppolite 12. Larry Lippincott 13. Kenny Roth 14. Tom Tomasko 15. Wayne Nicholas 16. Scott Reid 17. Lee Taylor Jr. 18. Larry Archer 19. Paul Marra 20. Jack Swain 21. Bryan Coffey 22. Brien Ely 23. Joe Sarvis 24. Keith McIntyre 25. John Dixon 26. Jim Harris. DNQ: Bryant Brown, Tim Burke, Bob Burlew, Chuck Flesch, Rick Holsten, Brian Lamparter, Lewie Parker, Rob Pfister, Larry Reed, Joe Szwed, Mike Toth, Chris Wasson.

STREET STOCKS RESULTS 1st Heat: 1. Hammond 2. Conaway 3. Hewitt 4. Wright 5. Cheney 6. Carpenter 2nd Heat: 1. Nixon 2. Quinlan 3. Byrne 4. Wagner 5. Dallackiesa 6. Fleming 3rd Heat: 1. Bauma 2. Giris 3. Berardi 4. Morrison 5. Guyer 6. Gargiulo 'B' Main: 1. Bauer 2. Flores 3. Search 4. Mongiello 5. Bifulco 6. Haines Cash Dash: 1. Wright ($268) Feature (15 laps): 1. Richie Byrne 2. Evan Berardi 3. Billy Bauer 4. Nick Giris 5. Pat Conaway 6. Bill Bauma 7. Mike Nixon 8. George Quinlan 9. Keith Flores 10. Jeff Carpenter 11. Ralph Gargiulo 12. Kyle Wright 13. Kenny Guyer 14. Al Cheney III 15. Joe Dallackiesa 16. Mick Search 17. Steve Mongiello 18. Dale Haines 19. Jim Hewitt 20. Blair Guker 21. Kory Fleming 22. Ken Hammond 23. Kevin Bifulco 24. Brian Wagner. DNQ: Chuck Barker, Jim Gerber, Phil Horner, Allen Hurley, Kevin Marosovitz, Jay Morrison, Len Riley.