8-2-03 Lebanon Valley HEARN PUMPED FOR 3RD WIN AT LV, BENNETT 1ST TWO TIME SPORTSMAN VICTOR

August 2, 2003 

West Lebanon, NY-Brett Hearn took the victory in the 30-lap modified feature at Lebanon Valley on Saturday night. It was the third win of the season for the Budweiser-Gable #1. Joe Bennett became the first driver to win more than one feature event in the rain-shortened 17-lap sportsman main. Scott Govertsen emerged victorious for the first time in 2003 in the 20-lap pro stock feature. Brian Keough won his second rookie pro stock feature on the season. Wally Engel, Phil Wood, Pete Defiglio and Tom Harkin were all winners in the pure stock mains. The fine folks at Emerick Associates were the night's sponsor and handed out bonuses in every feature. 

Steve Hough and Chris Moore led twenty-eight modifieds to the green flag in the 30-lap main event. A light sprinkle began to fall during the modified feature, but didn't affect the racing surface. Hough led briefly for one lap before Moore made a power move on the outside of turn one to grab the top spot. Yellow fever plagued the first half of this race as eight caution periods slowed the field before halfway. The most violent incident seen at the Valley in some time came on lap seven when Paul Gilardi's brakes failed going in turn one. He hit the wall head on and started to flip as the car erupted in flames. Fortunately the flames went right out and miraculously Gilardi got out of the car on his own and was all right. The third caution period on lap seven was for last week's winner, Matt Quinn who made hard contact with the turn two wall and was done for the night. Hearn had made his way into the top ten by lap five and was all the way up to third by lap eight. 

The race for the lead briefly went three wide on lap 12 between Moore, Eddie Marshall and Hearn. Moore was able to hold onto the lead. At the halfway point it was Moore, Marshall, Hearn, Andy Bachetti and Kenny Tremont. Before lap 15 was over however, Hearn had advanced to second and Tremont had gained a position to fourth. As the race began to wind down Moore continued to hold about a five-car advantage over Hearn. That all changed with five laps to go as Hearn caught Moore and began to apply the pressure.

As the field came to the white flag Moore and Hearn were door to door down the frontstretch. Hearn was able to muscle by going into turn one just before the caution flag flew setting up a one-lap shoot-out. Hearn got a great restart and easily took the victory. For the second time this season Moore relinquished a lead on the final lap to finish second. Heffner was third, Marshall fourth and Tremont fifth.

Whitey Slavin led the first five laps of the 20-lap sportsman feature until Joe Bennett grabbed the lead on a lap six restart. K.C. Goewey ended up in the wall on lap seven ending a top five run. At the halfway point it was Bennett, Art Collins, Willie Galm, Slavin and Ed Harkin. The rain began to fall heavier throughout the sportsman feature as the top three pulled away from the rest of the field. 

Collins was pressuring Bennett hard in the final stages of the race. But by lap 17 the rain was coming down steady enough to force speedway officials to throw the yellow flag. A quick check with the drivers revealed that it was raining too hard to continue and the win was awarded to Bennett. It was his second win of 2003 and Bennett became the first driver to win more than one feature in the sportsman division in 2003.

Scott Govertsen took the lead on lap one of the 20-lap pro stock race and held on to the very end. He had to hold off Rob Yetman through much of the race, but Yetman struggled to keep Govertsen in his sights. Only three early cautions slowed the race and Govertsen cruised home for his first win of 2003. Yetman came home in second, Danny Sanchez was third, Chris Crews in fourth and Paul LaRochelle was fifth.

Thursday night Mr. Dirt Track, USA presented by BUDWEISER will be held on the high banks of the Lebanon Valley Speedway. 100-laps of big block modified Advance Auto Parts Super Dirt Series action will be on tap. The Lebanon Valley sportsman will also be on hand for a 20-lap feature. Plenty of good seats available! Call the speedway at (518) 794-9606 for more information or visit us on the web at www.lebanonvalley.com.