From Bob Miller
New Egypt, N.J. — (June 1, 2013) — Art Liedl of Flemington, NJ not only survived a wild night of racing, he came home the winner of the twenty-five lap Rislone URC Sprint Series feature at the New Egypt Speedway on Saturday night. Liedl ran a race of patience, running second from the start of the feature event and following race leader JJ Grasso. With twenty-three laps in the books, race leader JJ Grasso tangled with a slower car and flipped in turn three. Grasso walked away uninjured but with less then two laps remaining, lost the chance of scoring his second URC win of the season. Liedl inherited the lead at that point and led the final two laps on his way to his first URC win of the season and his second career URC win.
A field of thirty-two URC sprint cars turned out for their third race of the Rislone URC sprint series with heat race victories going to JJ Grasso, Art Liedl and Scott Lutz as Ryan Bohlke won the Bar’s Leaks “B” Main. There were many tributes during the night to remember URC official, Driver, Owner and friend Midge Miller who passed away unexpectedly during the week as a result of complications following a surgery. URC driver Joe Zuczek raced with the Midge Miller #8 wing on his sprint car and paced the field for the parade lap of the feature event. On the pace lap, the eighth place starting position was left open and the race fans saluted the field on the parade lap with an eight finger salute. Midge’s wife Patti was on hand and the entire night was emotional just showing tribute to this key figure of the sport.
In the twenty-five lap feature, JJ Grasso set the pace at the drop of the green with Art Liedl in second, followed by Scott Lutz. A yellow flag on lap three for Eddie Wagner regrouped the field once again. Grasso remained the man in control with Liedl second as Kevin Darling moved into the top three.
On lap nine, the yellow was displayed for Jimmy Stitzel and the field was brought together once again. JJ Grasso remained the leader, maintaining a healthy advantage over second place.
At the hallway mark, Grasso was still the leader followed by Liedl, Kevin Darling, Brian Carber and Andy Best.
Dave Ely flipped in turn three after a tangle with another car on lap seventeen. Ely walked away uninjured.
As the field passed for the two lap sign, Grasso was the man to beat followed by Liedl, Darling, Carber and Best. As Grasso entered turn three, he tangled with a slower car and flipped to the high side of the speedway displaying the red flag. Grasso was not injured but was unable to continue the race.
With just two laps to go, Liedl now had to fight off a determined Kevin Darling. Third place runner Brian Carber closed in to challenge Darling for the runner-up spot. As the two battled for second, Liedl opened a slight advantage and easily took the checker flag with Darling second, Carber third, Andy Best fourth and Davie Franek fifth.
Josh Weller turned in a great ride finishing seventh, advancing seventeen spots in the feature. Defending champion Robbie Stillwaggon had a mechanical issue forcing him to make a pit stop. Stillwaggon restarted the race in last and delivered a solid tenth place finish.
Engler Tool & Machine—JJ Grasso
Brad Penn Oil- – -Art Liedl
Pioneer Pole Buildings:–Scott Lutz
Bar’s Leaks “B” Main- – -Ryan Bohlke
Todd Wise Fast Time- – -JJ Grasso
Fred’s Trailer Parts Hard Charger- – Josh Weller advanced 17 spots in the feature.
FEATURE FINISH: Art Liedl, Kevin Darling, Brian Carber, Andy Best, Davie Franek, Tim Kelly, Josh Weller, Randy West, Karmer Williamson, Robbie Stillwaggon, Scott Lutz, Mark Bitner, Troy Betts, Jonathan Swanson, Joey Biasi, Dan Mazy, Jimmy Stitzel, J.R. Berry, Joe Zuczek, JJ Grasso, Dave Ely, Keith Prutzman, Steve Downs, Ed Wagner, Ryan Bohlke. DNQ- – Chad Trout, David Swanson, Billy Pauch Jr., ,Mike Haggenbottom, Mike Kostic, Jeff Fithian, Ryan Wilson
Next Event: Friday, June 7 Williams Grove Speedway
2013 RILSONE URC SPRINT SERIES SCHEDULE
| APRIL |
26 |
Big Diamond |
Robbie Stillwaggon |
| MAY |
11 |
Selinsgrove Jack Gunn |
JJ Grasso |
| MAY |
18 |
Delaware International |
Rain Out |
| JUNE |
1 |
New Egypt | Art Liedl |
| JUNE |
7 |
Williams Grove |
$2,200 To Win |
| JUNE |
15 |
Grandview |
$2,000 To Win |
| JUNE |
21 |
Bedford |
$2,000 To Win |
| JUNE |
22 |
Winchester, VA |
$2,000 To Win |
| JULY |
6 |
New Egypt |
$2,000 To Win |
| JULY |
26 |
Potomac |
$2,000 To Win |
| AUG |
2 |
Williams Grove–Rislone |
$4,000 To Win |
| AUG |
3 |
Lincoln |
$2,000 To Win |
| AUG |
9 |
Black Rock |
$4,000 To Win |
| AUG |
10 |
Selinsgrove |
$2,000 To Win |
| AUG |
23 |
Williams Grove |
$2,200 To Win |
| AUG |
24 |
Port Royal |
$2,000 To Win |
| AUG |
31 |
Delaware International |
$2,000 To Win |
| SEPT |
7 |
Utica Rome–non-points |
$7,000 To Win |
| SEPT |
14 |
New Egypt |
$2,000 To Win |
| SEPT |
28 |
Selinsgrove 40 Laps |
$8,000 To Win |
| OCT |
4 |
Carolina Gastonia, NC |
$2,000 To Win |
| OCT |
5 |
Cherokee, Gafney, SC |
$2,000 To Win |
| OCT |
19 |
Grandview |
$2,000 To Win |
| Indicates Friday Night |
|
URC FACTS: (Statistics maintained by Steve Barrick)
65 URC Seasons beginning in 1948 – 2012
Presented 1,500 Feature events
Visited 137 Different Speedway
Delivered 257 Different Feature Winners
Single season with the most different feature winners: 2007 (20 different winners)
Driver with the most URC feature wins: Glenn Fitzcharles (81)
Track Hosting the Most URC events: Delaware International (176), Bridgeport (145), Flemington (113) Grandview (87), Middletown (68)
Driver with the most consecutive URC feature wins: Hank Rogers (9) 1961-1962
There have been 4 Photo Finishes: 7-3-54 Hatfield, PA Bert Brooks/Tony Romit (T)
9-12-59 Selinsgrove, PA Al Chamberlain/Dave Humphrey (T)
7-29-61 Owego, NY Jim Maguire/Don Gillette (T)
9-1-69 Flemington, NJ Dick Tobias/Earl Halaquist (T)
Longest Running Tour Sponsor: Bar’s Leaks 18 years