TOTH, MELLOR, PAGE, & LIEDKA SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT ON PLUMSTEAD TOWNSHIP NIG  

 With the powerful modifieds having the night off in preparation for Tuesday's Garden State Gunfight 6, the four support divisions took center stage before a large crowd on Plumstead Township Night. Mike Toth took the win in the Crate 602 headliner while Rich Mellor took top honors in the NEWS feature. Bill Liedtka added another victory to his impressive win total in the Street Stocks feature as Richie Page captured the four cylinder main event.

          Defending Crate champion and current point leader, Joe Toth continues to be a dominant figure in the division taking his third win of the season in the twenty lap main event. Taking the twenty five car field into green flag racing, Joe Toth's dad Mike, took control of the event with George Gareis Jr second and Aaron Weaver third, The running order remained unchanged up until lap seven when Nick Van Wickle replaced Weaver in third. With ten laps in the record books, the first caution flag of the race was needed when John Scarpati and Glenn McIntyre came together on the backstretch,

          Both drivers were forced to retire from the event as the field doubled up in preparation for the second half of the race. Sitting in fourth on the restart, Joe Toth drove past Van Wickle, Gareis and his Dad to become the new leader when lap eleven was posted on the pylon. Mike Toth tried to keep pace in second, but saw his efforts diminish a bit when VanWickle occupied the runner up spot on lap fourteen.

          A brief caution period on lap eighteen gave Van Wickle and his peers one last shot at catching the Belmont Garage #917, but to no avail as the young driver held off the challenges and went on to record the big win. Following Van Wickle and Gareis across the line were Ryan Simmons and last week's feature winner David Burns. Coming off of his big payday in the Oliver Communications Crate Match races was Matt Ellery in sixth with Joe Brown seventh, Pat Wall eighth, Paul Hartwig Jr. ninth, and Johnny Bangs tenth.

          Three time NEWS champion, Rich Mellor is beginning to display his consistent style of driving as he scored his second win of the season and his sixth top three finish in the six events presented. Larry Drake took the lead from his outside pole position with Shea Wills second. The young driver quickly moved his #07 into the lead on lap two, but lost it to Mellor on lap five.Wills tried to keep pace but found the challenge a rough one as the non stop feature action saw Mellor take the win.

          Following Wills across the line in third was defending champion Mick D'Agostino, with Darke fourth, and Heidi Hedin fifth.

          Veteran Bill Liedtka held off the challenges of Vern McLaughlin to win the fifteen lap Street Stock main event. The victory was his first of the 2023 campaign and the thirty-ninth of his career. Ron Pavia led the first six laps of the contest before Liedtka took control on lap seven. Surviving a few restarts on lap seven, Liedka was able to handle the situation to perfection, recording the win. Finishing behind McLaughlin driving the Liedtka back up car was Kim Cooke, with Brian Ludwig fourth, and early leader Pavia fifth. 

         Rich Page came from his eighth starting spot to win the fifteen lap four cylinder main event. Taking the lead on lap seven, it was Kyle Hurley who led the first six laps of the race and appeared headed for his second win of the season when mechanical issues hit the #23 forcing him out of the race. Doug Ashford had a strong run taking second with Dominick Antonelli third, Garrett Mull fourth, and Brianna Hicks fifth.

          Ryan Maher moved one step closer to the Flemington Department Stores Rookie title, taking the eight lap feature. Zac Cook was in command of the race for the first three laps before Maher took the lead on lap four. The very young driver was able to hold onto second as the checkered flag fell with Isaac Elsner third, and Tim Franks fourth.

          Following Tuesday's Garden State Gunfight, on the schedule will be Graduation Night. The big Saturday night program will feature the graduating rookies in two eight lap main events. The Modifieds Crate 602, MASS 305's, and Street Stocks will complete the program.