At The Banquet: Brightbill, Jay Hartman, Buccafusca, & Perchak Crowned Action Track USA Champions
Kutztown,
PA - The first track champions of the renovated facility known as the
JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA, located on the Kutztown
Fairgrounds, were officially crowned last Saturday night during an
awards banquet held inside Building 24 at The Works in Wyomissing, Pa.
Kenny Brightbill (Sunoco USAC SpeedSTR), Jay Hartman (Pioneer Pole
Building Wingless 600cc Micro-Sprints), Danny Buccafusca (NAPA Auto
Parts All Star Slingshots), and Ross Perchak (270cc Micro-Sprints) were
honored as the first point champions under the Action Track USA banner
and co-promoters Rich Tobias and Doug Rose.
Brightbill, the dirt Modified legend who admitted during the awards
festivities that he's been racing for the past 46 years, made his first
season behind the wheel of a SpeedSTR a most memorable one. The former
Shillington Slingshot, now living in Reinholds, thrilled the fans week
in and week out with his patented charges to the front of the field
while utilizing the high side of the clay oval.
Though he was only able to record one feature win, Brightbill registered
an incredibly consistent string of top-five finishes (11 in the 13
races that made up the season at the Action Track USA) to notch the
title by just 30 points over Billy Pauch Jr.
"I've been racing for 46 years, and these cars (SpeedSTR's) are just
like driving those early Modifieds at the Reading Fairgrounds," said
Brightbill as he explained how he adapted to the spec class so quickly.
"You've got to finesse 'em; really work the throttle to get 'em around. I
guess they kind of suit my style of driving."
The veteran wheel-twister also revealed, without any hesitation, that he
will return to defend his title when the 2014 campaign begins at the
JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA.
"Oh yeah, we'll be back to try it again. I really like racing on
Wednesday nights; I get my racing fix and I can still do other things on
the weekend."
A
few second generation racers finished behind Brightbill in the
standings. Pauch Jr., Freddie Rahmer Jr., and Brandon Rahmer occupied
positions two, three, and four, while World of Outlaws Late Model
standout Rick Eckert, who led all drivers with four feature triumphs in
2013, wound up fifth in points.
Flagtown, NJ driver Jay Hartman captured the Pioneer Pole Buildings
Wingless 600cc point title on the strength of two victories and eight
top-five efforts. He charged to the head of the point parade in the
final five events, leap-frogging over Kyle Lick and Brian Carber with
finishes of first, third, fifth and a pair of runner-up placings.
Long known as the set-up man on his brother Jeff's championship winning
team, the 2013 point crown at Kutztown holds a very special meaning for
Jay. "It was great being part of Jeff's titles, but to win this one as a
driver - it's my first Micro-Sprint championship - well, it really
means a lot. And to win it against the caliber of competition that was
at Kutztown every week...it's just an incredible feeling."
Kyle Lick recorded the most wins (three) in the division and finished
runner-up in the standings, just 28 points behind Hartman. Jeff Hartman,
who won the previous three consecutive 600cc titles at the Kutztown
Fairgrounds, finished third in the 2013 chase. Brian Carber and James
Morris completed the top five in points.
Fourteen-year-old Danny Buccafusca, from Montague, NJ, drove the S&S
Speedways No. 55 to the NAPA Auto Parts All Star Slingshot
Championship. The Rockaway Rocket picked up one feature victory during
the season and registered nine top-fives in 12 starts.
It was a come from behind title winning effort for Buccafusca, who
trailed defending track champ Brett Bieber and Larry Raifsnider with
just a couple of races left to run. He finished as the runner-up in the
second-to-last event of the season while Bieber and Raifsnider struggled
and wound up deep in the field. Buccafusca jumped over them to grab the
point lead, then secured his title with a fourth place finish in the
season finale`.
During Saturday's banquet, Buccafusca - who also won a second point
crown at the Hamlin Speedway - tried to put the two championships in
perspective. "The two tracks are kind of polar opposites, but both are
excellent dirt tracks and have terrific fan bases," he noted. "They are
very different, but have one thing in common...they are both run very
well and draw big crowds. It's an honor to win the championship at both
speedways," said Buccafusca, who is moving to the 600cc Micro-Sprint
division for 2014.
Bieber, who secured a third straight National Slingshot title, finished
second in the standings at the Action Track USA. Raifsnider, the opening
night feature winner, ended up third with Travis Bieber and Cody Kline
rounding out the top five in Slingshot points.
There's a reason why he's called "Ross the Boss", as Hazleton's Ross
Perchak earned the fifth track championship of his career at the
Kutztown Fairgrounds in 270cc Micro-Sprint competition.
Perchak, in his familiar Perchak Trucking/ RTS Chassis No. 4P, grabbed a
pair of checkered flags during the campaign and never finished outside
the top five. Three runner-up efforts, combined with four, third-place
finishes were enough to clinch another title for the veteran of the
270cc division, as he beat four-time feature winner and 2012 Kutztown
Champion Jarid Kunkle by 21 points.
"Oh yeah, every championship is special," said Perchak, "because they're
so hard to win and you never know if this might be the last one you'll
win. The competition doesn't get any easier, so each championship is
very enjoyable."
Bobby Butler wound up third in the 270cc standings, with Tommy Kunsman Jr. and Steve Walters finishing fourth and fifth.
A
very special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to George
Goerner, who owns the wingless 600cc Micro-Sprint driven by Billy Ney.
Goerner has been involved in local and regional racing for the past 57
years as a mechanic, car owner, and - on one occasion - as a driver.
He's wrenched and owned Sprint Cars, Midgets, Super Sportsman,
Mini-Sprints, and 600cc Micros, and he's done it on a limited budget.
Goerner is currently battling some serious health issues, but he was able to attend the banquet and receive his award.
Co-promoter Rich Tobias presented an award of appreciation to Brad
Reinert, who was instrumental in securing many of the marketing partners
for the first season of racing at the Action Track USA. It was also
through the efforts of Reinert that Jeffrey Hogue purchased the naming
rights to the speedway, and Tobias wanted every one of the more than 200
banquet attendees to realize the importance of Reinert's contributions
to the success of the race track.
The 2014 schedule is expected to be released at this week's Pioneer Pole
Buildings Motorsports 2014 Show in Oaks, Pa. A May 14 opener is
penciled in as the first event, with the Sunoco USAC Championship
SpeedSTR's once again headlining the Wednesday night menu. They will be
joined by the Pioneer Pole Building Wingless 600cc Micro-Sprints and the
NAPA Auto Parts All Star Slingshots on a weekly basis. The 270cc
Micro-Sprints will race - wingless - on three occasions and the Junior
Slingshots will visit the Action Track USA on six dates.
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