On a windy and cool March afternoon at Georgetown Speedway, veteran Jimmy Horton opened the 2017 Northeast dirt Modified season in Victory Lane.
Horton, of Neshanic Station, N.J., drove Chris Larsen’s Halmar International No. 43 to the win in the 49-lap big-block/small-block Modified Melvin L. Joseph Memorial, round No. 1 of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP Velocita South Region.
Horton earned $4900 plus $200 in lap money.
The ‘Sensational One’ Horton led the 30-car starting field to Warren Alston’s green flag. Horton led the opening four circuits around the half-mile oval before 2015 STSS South Region champion Ryan Watt swept into the top spot. Horton was shuffled back to third in the exchange.
However, he did not back down.
"The driver fell asleep and let Ryan get by" Horton Said, " I knew I had a good car, I got back by him and then it was conserve mode to save the tire".
The race’s pivotal moment occurred on the 16th lap. Entering the third turn, the leaders fanned out three-wide, with Horton diving to the bottom, Watt in the middle and Pauch to the top.
Horton emerged with a lead he wouldn’t relinquish, conserving tires and holding Watt at bay during numerous restarts and increasingly slick surface.
?Completing the top-10 were Tyler Dippel , Jordan Watson (who also took home the hard charge award), Frank Cozze, Brett Kressley and Jamie Mills.
Dagsboro, Del., driver Scott Hitchens drove to a $1,000 victory in the 20-lap L&J Sheet Metal Crate 602 Sportsman main event. Hitchens, back in the seat of his family No. 15, launched into the lead at the outset and thwarted the repeated advances of Brett Ballard in the race’s second half. A close call for Hitchens took place when a lapped car spun in turn three. He clipped the spinning vehicle with the back of his car and continued on for the win.