NEW EGYPT — A pair of Pennsylvania drivers split a twin 20 program for the Modifieds Saturday at New Egypt Speedway, with new face Kyle Strickler of Sinking Spring winning in only his fourth appearance at the track, and Whitehall’s Keith Hoffman scoring his second in the past three weeks during a doubleheader sponsored by Dirt Wheels Race Cars & Speed Shop.

“I always loved this place,” said Strickler, a 21-year-old mid-season newcomer at New Egypt. “It doesn’t get any better than this — dicing it out with the best in the business, lap after lap. I’m so glad I got my first win here this year.”

When early leader Jim Scherer tangled with a lapped car on lap 14 in the first Modified 20, young Strickler was right there to pick up the pace. Storied short-track legends like Jimmy Horton, Frank Cozze and Billy Pauch were all snapping at his heels, but Strickler kept his composure, holding a solid line that led straight to victory lane. At the flags, it was Strickler, in for his first win in the state of New Jersey, over Modified champions Horton, Cozze and Pauch, with Darren McCaughey taking fifth.

“It’s a little bit late in the year — but better late than never,” said Hoffman, who emerged from an early season slump to record his second win in his last three tries in the second 20.

The Modified nightcap looked to be a sizzler between June 18 winner Tim Tanner Jr. and 2004 Superstars Series champion Ryan Godown — that is, until the two tangled on lap 7, with Tanner ending up in the fourth-turn wall and Godown being sent to the rear of the field for overaggressive driving. That put Hoffman on the point and he made the most of the opportunity. With the triumvirate of Pauch, Horton and Cozze in hot pursuit, Hoffman still held sway, to take number two on the season over Pauch, Horton, Cozze and Ron John Koczon.

In the Sportsman 20-lap feature, Gary Butler, of Phillipsburg, held off a last-ditch bid by Jack Swain to win for the second time in 2005. With a third-place finish, Rich Rutski remains the current division points leader. Billy Pauch Jr. and Rich Scagliotta completed the top five.

It was an off night for the two top guns, but it was a great night for Bayville’s Spider Ensinger Jr. in the Super Stock ranks. While Ensinger was sailing in for the first victory of his career, the field was going berserk behind him. Rob Ormsbee’s overanxious misstep buried him in the back of the pack on lap 12 of the 20-lapper, while Jake Roveda was never a contender for the flag. At the finish, it was Ensinger over a hard-charging Pat Freiberger, with Kory Fleming, Roveda and Mick Search following. Ormsbee, who managed to carry himself back to 10th, remains the division points leader over Roveda.

With an off weekend on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit, New Jersey native son Ray Evernham came back home to visit friends at New Egypt. Evernham, celebrated team owner of the Dodge stock cars driven by Kasey Kahne, Jeremy Mayfield and Bill Elliott, climbed in Rick Grosso’s back-up car and proceeded to get back to his racing roots, duking it out in big-block Modified competition.

“I just want to thank the Grosso family for having this beautiful facility and supplying me with such a great car tonight. The car I’m driving is so much better than I am out there,” Evernham good-naturedly kidded with the crowd. “But this is just great — coming home and racing a Modified again. These cars are still the sexiest race cars going. We’re so limited with what we can do with the Cup cars. This is just all out. And it’s a lot of fun.”

Evernham legitimately qualified for the twin Modified features, finishing fifth in a consolation race. He considerately pulled off when the leaders passed him in the first 20, then handed the reins back to Rick Grosso, who needed his back-up car for the second race.

This Saturday at New Egypt Speedway The Wine Room of Bound Brook presents the track’s annual Sportsman Winner’s Challenge, an extra-distance race featuring bonus bucks, double points and a whole bunch of twists in the format. Modifieds, Super Stocks and the Haldeman Ford SS Sprints are also on the night’s bill.