From Bob Miller
Georgetown, DE — (September 4, 2011) — That one word pretty much tells the story of the Rislone URC Sprint Series race Sunday night at the Georgetown Speedway. JJ Grasso lived up to his name the “Jersey Jet” and thrilled hundreds of race fans by starting seventeenth and winning the 25 lap feature event. The race had just one caution flag, that came out on lap seventeen when race leader Joey Biasi blew a tire and stopped in turn one. Grasso was third on the restart , then caught Tim Hogue for second on lap twenty-one. With the white flag waiving, Grasso passed Josh Weller for the lead and went on to score his fourth URC win of the season. The fans went absolutely wild. Just several weeks back, Grasso lost the ride in the potent Palladino #99 and quickly pieced together his family owned car to sustain his second place ranking in the URC season long point chase.
URC heat race events were won by Joey Biasi, Denny Garl and Josh Weller. The LikeWise fast time of the night was set by Biasi during the running of the first heat race.
In the twenty-five lap feature event on Taylor & Messick Night at Georgetown Speedway, Joey Biasi and Denny Garl made-up the front row and at the drop of the green flag, Biasi blasted to the lead. Josh Weller, moved into second with Eddie Wagner in third and Tim Hogue fourth. Biasi maintained a solid lead with Weller holding down second. On lap ten, Tim Hogue moved into third and at the same time, front wing damage was noticeable on the Weller sprint car.
JJ Grasso who started seventeenth was now in the top five, blasting his way through traffic on a mission. At the halfway point of the race, Biasi was the leader with Weller second followed by Tim Hogue, Grasso and Eddie Wagner.
The leader was now approaching slower traffic and Weller and Hogue were closing in on the leaders as Grasso was chasing down all the front runners.
The turning point of the race came on lap seventeen when a right rear tire blew on the Biasi sprint car, displaying the yellow flag. It was an unfortunate turn of events for Biasi who had a great run well in hand.
On the restart, Weller had the pole with Tim Hogue and Grasso making up the top three. Curt Michael, who started ninth was now running in fourth. With the drop of the green flag, Weller took off but it was Tim Hogue who found a burst of power and challenged Weller for the lead on the long run down the backstretch. Grasso was watching it all unfold and actually gave-up a few car lengths to the leaders.
Grasso turned up the heat and began to reel in the leaders once again and suddenly, it was a three car race for the lead. On lap twenty-one, Grasso made the pass on Hogue for second and began the task of reeling in his former ride, with Josh Weller at the wheel.
With two laps to go, Weller now had Grasso on his bumper and down the backstretch, Grasso made the pass for the lead. Weller challenged back entering turn three but Grasso held the advantage out of turn four to take the white flag. Grasso was not contested the final lap and the storybook finish was a reality for JJ Grasso. Weller finished second with Tim Hogue scoring a strong third with Curt Michael fourth and rookie driver Troy Betts scoring a career high fifth place finish.
After the checker flag, Betts and Randy West tangled on the backstretch with Betts flipping. There were no injuries in the post checker flag crash.
FEATURE FINISH: JJ Grasso, Josh Weller, Tim Hogue, Curt Michael, Troy Betts, Randy West, Eddie Wagner, Ed Aikin, Andy Best, Art Liedl, Joe Zuczek, Robbie Stillwaggon, Dave Martin, Chris Glanden, Joey Biasi, Jeff Fifthian, Steve Downs, Ryan Stillwaggon, Denny Garl, Gary Gollub, Mike Kostic
Fred’s Trailer Parts Hard Charger – – -JJ Grasso advanced 16 spots
LikeWise Fast Time of the Night- – – Joey Biasi
Engler Tool & Machine 1st Heat- – – Joey Biasi
Brad Penn Oil 2nd Heat- – – Denny Garl
Pioneer Pole Building 3rd Heat- – Josh Weller
For all your overnight lodging plans, use . . . . CHOICE HOTELS—Clarion, Comfort, Quality, Sleep Inn & Main Stay Hotels. . . .Official hotels of URC
Book online at www.midatlantic.choicehotels.com & enter Promo Code “URC”
Rislone URC Sprint Series Race Dates
SEPT 24 New Egypt
OCT 1 Delaware International
OCT 15 Grandview Pioneer Pole Buildings