On Hammer Companies Night at New Egypt Speedway, Rich Rutski raced to his first career 358 Modified feature win. The Hammer Sportsman contest was taken by Bob Lineman, Jr. Ryan Godown took top honors in the Northeast Wingless Sprint Cars main event, with Connor King capturing the checkered flag in the Crate Modified feature.
As the 30-lap 358 Modified feature began on Aug. 5, polesitter Bryan Kuhl rocketed to the lead with Rutski and Steve Davis in pursuit. After back-to-back cautions on the second circuit, Rutski passed Kuhl to take command of the field as action resumed.
On lap four, the caution lights illuminated for the third and final time for DJ Ruppert. On the ensuing restart, Rutski, who chose the outside lane, outgunned Kuhl to remain on top with Davis in third, David VanHorn in fourth and Godown in fifth.
On lap nine, Davis worked his way past Kuhl to assume the runner-up position. As the event reached the halfway point, Rutski built himself a half straightaway advantage over Davis with Kuhl in third and VanHorn holding off Willie Osmun and Godown in a good battle for fourth. With 10 laps remaining, Rutski was approaching slower competitors, and Davis was edging closer to him.
By the 23rd tour, Rutski began to reconstruct his margin, as he had lapped one of his rivals to put a car between him and Davis. During the final circuits, Rutski maintained his advantage and crossed the finish line ahead of the pack to become the seventh different winner in the last seven features at New Egypt Speedway.
A strong run by Davis netted him the runner-up spot. Third place was nabbed by Kuhl. After fourth place was swapped several times in the final five laps, Godown outdueled VanHorn for the position. Kuhl, Davis and Lou Cicconi scored wins in the 358 Modified heat races.
In the 20-lap Hammer Sportsman feature, Lineman led every circuit to claim his first checkered flag of the season. The victory was his 12th career win.
TJ Lilly finished in second place, with Cale Ross completing the race in third. Tenth-place starting JT Trstensky came home in fourth, with JR Fulper taking fifth. The Hammer Sportsman heat races were captured by Fulper and Ross.
For the seventh time in 2017, Godown won the Northeast Wingless Sprint Car main event. In the non-stop, 20-lap event, Jermain Godshall paced the field for the first two circuits before Lee Nardelli grabbed the lead.
On lap 12, Godown, who won the qualifying contest, worked his way past Nardelli for the top running spot and led the remaining distance. With Nardelli finishing second, Eric Jennings took third. Godshall and Rich Mellor rounded out the top five.
King headed his rivals for all 20 revolutions to claim his third victory of the year in the non-point Crate Modified feature. Tommy Tanner crossed the finish line behind King. Eric Palmer drove up from his 12th-place start to take third. Fourth went to Ryan Simmons, while John Aumick finished in fifth. Frank Dorry, Jr. and George Gareis, Jr. won the Crate Modified qualifying races.
New Egypt Speedway is located on Route 539, just minutes from Six Flags Great Adventure and the New Jersey Turnpike. A racy 7/16-mile D-shaped dirt oval, New Egypt Speedway serves Garden State race fans.
For more information, visit online at www.newegyptspeedway.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newegyptspeedwayofficial or on Twitter @nesspeedway.