Hoffman beats Stewart and Blaney at New Egypt

JERRY WOLKOWITZ Tony Stewart completes an interview following a warm-up lap at New Egypt Speedway last Thursday. The Winston Cup star, along with fellow Cup driver Dave Blaney, attracted a capacity crowd at the race track, although they didn’t fare too well in the 100-lap feature.

Doug Hoffman of Allentown, Pa., made his second win at New Egypt Speedway a big one, beating NASCAR Winston Cup stars Tony Stewart and Dave Blaney and a bevy of the Northeast’s best short-track stars to hit for a $6,500 score before a capacity crowd in Thursday night’s Down & Dirty 100, sponsored by CARQUEST Auto Parts.

"It’s really hard to beat the home track advantage here but Dieter (Schmidt) gave me a perfect car," said Hoffman, an infrequent New Egypt competitor who last won at the central Jersey half-mile in 1999. "Halfway through the race, it looked like the middle groove was starting to turn brown again. So I tried it and was able to drive by everyone, running the middle of the track. Man, was that car perfect."

Sam Martz and Keith Brightbill, in Bucky Kell’s no. 2GR, jockeyed back and forth for the early lead until defending track champ Keith Hoffman assumed the point on lap 16. Brother Doug Hoffman, meanwhile, was pressing in third and on lap 24 it became the Hoffman brothers’ show, with Doug usurping the lead and Keith holding second. In a side-by-side sibling battle, the top two reversed positions on lap 39, with Frank Cozze briefly demoting Doug to third. But Doug would have none of it, and on lap 56 Doug found that golden middle groove and got out in front to stay. With everyone battling behind him, Doug stretched his advantage to as much as a full straight in the last half, while Jimmy Horton (driving Rick Grosso’s backup car) and Cozze, Keith Hoffman and Keith Brightbill swapped spots. At the double checkers, it was all Doug, followed by Horton, Keith Brightbill, a late-blooming Tim Tanner Jr. and Billy Pauch in the Biever no. 114, rebounding from a lap five pileup. Brian Weaver, Kenny Brightbill, Keith Hoffman, Roger Laureno and Rick Grosso completed the top 10.

The night’s big draws, Tony Stewart and Dave Blaney, didn’t fare as well. Starting 15th and 16th on the grid, both were eliminated in different crashes — Blaney on lap 39 and Stewart five laps later.

JERRY WOLKOWITZ Winston Cup’s Dave Blaney drives his Modified around the half-mile oval at New Egypt Speedway last Thursday.

A field of 43 Modifieds from six states competed in the night’s activities. Heat races were won by Keith Brightbill, Billy Pauch, Frank Cozze and Doug Hoffman. Rick Grosso and Tom Hager took the pair of consolation races. Fastest time trialer was Kenny Brightbill.

The night’s companion Super Stock Invitational was won by Somerset’s Mario Page, his eighth win of the year. Brother Rich Page, Al Cheney III, Ron Coverly and Brian Wagner chased the invincible Mario to the stripe.

Despite the threatening forecast, New Egypt Speedway management made a courageous attempt to pull off a complete program Saturday night, but their efforts were ultimately defeated by inclement weather.

Following the qualifying heat races, the Sportsman C main and the Super Stock consolation, severe thunderstorms forced cancellation of the AMSOIL-sponsored show at 8:45 p.m. It was the fourth rain out of the year at the central Jersey dirt track.

Rain checks from the August 24 event will be honored for the remainder of the season. Next week, Aug. 31, it’s Twins Night once again at New Egypt Speedway, sponsored by the International Masonry Institute. Fans will be seeing double, for sure, on the holiday weekend: twin 20s on the track for the big-block Modifieds, plus all twins coming in together with proof of birthday will be admitted free at the front gate. Gates open at 4 p.m., and the first race goes green at 6. Adult admission is $16, children 7-12 are $5, and kids 6 and under are free.