Cook wins for third time in 2000 at Wall Stadium Hoffman wins 100th at East Windsor

By tim morris

Cook wins for third time in 2000 at Wall Stadium
Hoffman wins 100th
at East Windsor

Russ Cook raced to his third Street Stock win of the season at Wall Stadium Saturday night.

The Howell driver overtook pace-setter Scott Parkstrom of Manalapan in lapped traffic at the half-way point of the 20-lap feature and rode away from the field to collect the win.

Parkstrom was second at the line followed by Dan Kirshner of Millburn. Parlin’s Larry Thompson, who leads the points race, was fourth followed by Anthony Crimaldi of Port Monmouth.

In the Modified Division, Dan McLaughlin Jr. of Toms River put aside all of the bad racing luck he has encountered this summer from flat tires to minor mechanical troubles and scored his first win of the 2000 campaign.

McLaughlin was in contention from the start and raced to the front early. Barnegat’s Tom Mauser, fresh off his win in the Garden State Classic, moved up to challenge McLaughlin. Soon, Tim Arre of Toms River joined the fray and it was a three-way battle for the checkered flag. McLaughlin would have racing fortune on his side this time and held off his challengers to take the 30-lap headliner. Arre would finish second with Mauser third. Dave Michel of Manahawkin was fourth and fifth went to Harry Reed of Freehold.

It was another night at the office for Pro Stock defending champion Ray Gastelu of Jackson. He picked up his fourth win of the season with some late-race dramatics. With three laps remaining in the 20-lap feature, Gastelu used the inside lane to pass Farmingdale’s Jim Vogt for the lead. Vogt fought Gastelu all the way, but the veteran was not to be denied.

Wall’s Mike Shea was third followed by Kenny Schneider of Brick and Wally LaCicero of Lavallette in fourth and fifth.

It was a night to remember for Jerry Stanzione of Keansburg as he picked up his first-ever feature win at Wall Stadium. Stanzione captured the 15-lap Truck Series main event followed by Absecon’s Phil Naylor and Englishtown’s Glenn Higgins. Defending points champion Tim Buckley of Marlboro, was fifth.

The Legends’ 20-lap main event was won by Del George Jr. of Denville. It was his second win of the year. Points leader Tim Henry of Schencksville, Pa., was third behind runner-up Jason Rochelle of Hacketstown and George.

The Pro Stocks will take center stage Saturday night at the Shore speedway with a 50-lap championship race. All of the other stock car division will race their regular feature distance. There will be a special time trial session at 6:30 p.m. for the Pro Stock drivers (the eight fastest will automatically qualify for the final) with racing starting at 7 p.m.

East Windsor Speedway

Doug Hoffman is a five-time track champion at East Windsor with titles in 1982-84, 1993 and 1995 (sharing title with Frank Cozze) who is accustomed to garnering feature wins. But no matter how familiar he may be with victory lane, Friday night’s win in the 25-lap Small-Block Modified Division feature is one the Allentown, Pa., driver won’t forget.

It was his 100th career triumph at the half-mile clay oval and one that he had to earn as East Windsor’s best drivers took turns going after him. But as he has so often, Hoffman resolved to hold them off.

Kenny Brightbill of Sinking Springs, Pa., Hoffman’s recent rival, was there pushing hard at the end and finished second followed by Fred Dmuchowski of Neshanic Station. It was Dmuchowski who raced side by side with Hoffman for the lead early in the race.

Hoffman’s first win at East Windsor came on May 7, 1982. He has averaged close to six wins a year since then and has claimed his five track championship to go along with his 100 checkered flags.

John Oliver of Holland Township took the inside groove to get around Manalapan’s John Dixon late in the race to win the 20-lap Sportsman Division feature. Dixon would end up fourth as Scott Flammer of West Milford and Ryan Godown of Ringoes also passed him on their way to second and third place.

Art Bifulco of the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick wrestled with Wall’s Rob Ormsbee for several laps before Ormsbee got the checkered flag in the 15-lap Street Stock final. However, Ormsbee’s car failed the post-race technical inspection and that gave the win back to Bifulco with Al Cheney of Cranbury, second, and Lest Miller of New Egypt, third.

All three stock car divisions will be in action against this Friday with action starting at 7:30 p.m.

New Egypt Speedway

Frenchtown’s Bill Pauch earned his 10th win of the season at New Egypt Speedway Saturday night and has him looking forward to tonight’s Super Dirt Series special that will have all the region’s top dirt track drivers at New Egypt hoping to cash a big pay day.

"Hopefully this was a tune-up for Wednesday," Pauch said after the win.

Bob Drayton was very strong at the start of the race taking the lead on the fourth lap. He wasn’t in charge for long as Pauch moved up to second place on lap 10. Pauch and Drayton thrilled the crowd with some side-by-side driving, but on the 15th lap, Pauch was able to get clear of Drayton and once he had the track to himself, pulled away from the field.

Drayton held on for second with Allentown’s Mark Bitner, third. Bob Worthington of Mount Laurel was fourth, and Kenny Brightbill of Sinking Springs, Pa., was fifth.

New Egypt’s top Modified drivers will be going up against the best from the Eastern Region (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) in tonight’s Super Dirt series 100-lap race. Call (609) 758-1900 for additional information on the race.

Rich Scagliotta of Bound Brook captured Saturday night’s double-points 25-lap Sportsman Division headliner. It was his second win of the year and he led for all but the first lap.

Mike Toth of Hellertown, Pa., and Hightstown’s Mike Lyons were second and third; rookie Mike Reutter Jr. of Howell was eighth.

The Street Stock drivers raced a pair of 15-lap features. In the make-up for the June 17 rain-out, Evan Bernardi of Blauvelt, N.Y., took the checkered flag while Flemington’s Billy Bauer won the regularly scheduled feature.

This Saturday night, all three Stock Car divisions will again be in action. It is Banner Night as fans will bring posters of their favorite drivers to put on display. The first race will go off at 6:30 p.m.