MELLOR MAKES IT FOUR IN A ROW; AUGUST SCHEDULE ACTION PACKED  

Current point leader and three time track champion, Rich Mellor once again proved to be the class act of the field, capturing the twenty lap NEWS feature Saturday night on Herman's Trucking, Recycling, and Landscape Supply Night. The win was his fourth in a row and his fifth of the 2023 campaign at the New Egypt Speedway. 

          Though only nine cars were entered in the event, the level of competition was not lacking throughout the race. Larry Drake shot into the lead from his number three starting position as Brenden Hires slipped into second with defending speedway champion Mick D'Agostino third. Mellor joined the trio one lap later as the four cars were tightly bunched touring the well manicured Route 539 oval. Mellor began to show his hand moving into second on lap six and quickly took the lead one lap later. Once out front, Mellor began to distance himself from his peers as the race for second was heating up between Hires and D'Agostino. With five to go it appeared as though Hires held the slight advantage, but the consistent D'Agostino made his move on the last lap to nip Hires at the line for the runner up position.

          Finishing in fourth was Shea Wills as Heidi Hedin rounded out the top five.

          With victory lane ceremonies completed and intermission festivities beginning, the skies, which had been threatening, opened up. Coupled with the brief downpour was a loss of power in the area. Track management was forced to cancel the remainder of the program as there was no guarantee as to when the power would be restored to the area.

          This set up what will be one of the most exciting August schedules in the speedway's twenty six year history. The fifteen lap four cylinder main event will be made up next Saturday night along with the regularly scheduled four cylinder events. In addition, the postponed Mr. Crate Classic 40 lap feature from July 15th will be run. Adding to the program will be the Oliver Communications match races for the Crate division making this show an action packed one.

          Then on Tuesday, the ever popular Brett Deyo Short Track Super Series presents the "Dirty Jersey" a 50 lap headliner for the powerful modifieds. Joining them on the card will be the Crate division.

          Next on the schedule, August 12th, the first annual Katy Mancini Memorial Event will be presented. The race celebrates the life of Katy Mancini who left us on March 5th. She would have turned forty on August 10th, and in her honor, husband Rob Mancini will give every driver in the modified feature a $50 gift card. In addition, the leader of the modified feature on laps 10, 20, and 30 will receive $100. Added to this show will be the postponed Crate 20 lap main event from July 29th plus a full card of Crate qualifiers and another twenty lap feature.

          The August 19th program will be one the true racing fan will not want to miss. The night honors one of the most popular drivers to ever compete at the speedway, Ron John Koczon, the 2000 Sportsman champion. The modifieds will compete in twin twenty features in addition to the popular Oliver Communication Match Races. Joining the modifieds on this card will be the Crates, NEWS, and Street Stocks,

          Earlier in the night, Modified heat races were captured by Dakota Kessler and Justin Grosso. Crates qualifiers were won by Mike Toth, Will Protinick, and Ryan Simmons, as Kelly Fleming and Bob Drayton Sr. were 4 Cylinder heat race winners.

          Racing will continue at the New Egypt Speedway through the end of October. Saturday Nights program will begin at promptly at 6:45 with the gates to the grandstands opening at 5 PM.