NEW EGYPT, N.J. – Middletown, N.Y., native Anthony Perrego claimed the seventh running of the ‘Dirty Jersey’ at New Egypt Speedway on Tuesday night.
The win was Perrego’s eighth Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series fueled by Sunoco modified victory in his career, as well as his second in the last three STSS races.
The driver of the Brian Smith-owned No. 44 also became only the second driver to claim multiple STSS victories so far this season.
Perrego, the Hurlock Auto & Speed North Region Point leader, also vaulted himself closer to the top of the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision & Sunglass Central South Region top spot with the $5,000 payday.
Current New Egypt Speedway Brandon Grosso and invader Max McLaughlin led the field to STSS starter Joe Kriss’ green flag for the 50-lap main event following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.
McLaughlin – driving Norm Hansell’s No. 357 – outgunned the New Egypt point leader Grosso on the initial start to pace the field in the early going.
Following a few early yellows, Perrego did not appear to have a winning race car. After starting in fifth, Perrego fell to eighth and was under fire from Billy Pauch Jr.
Meanwhile, King Ferry, N.Y., star Mike Mahaney had worked by Grosso and claimed the runner-up spot.
Following a lap-nine yellow for a flat tire on Frank Cozze’s Dave Renaldo-owned No. 401, the field settled into a green flag rhythm and Perrego began to march forward.
By lap 20, Perrego had made his way to third, while Mahaney and McLaughlin were catching lap traffic. Just as they entered traffic at the halfway point, the 16-lap green flag run came to an end as Richie Pratt Jr. slowed to bring out the yellow.
On the ensuing restart, McLaughlin secured the $100 Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz halfway bonus.
While the top three continued to pace the field, Stewart Friesen had risen to the top-10 from his 21st starting position and was continuing his charge. As Friesen continued his march to the front, the top-three had once again caught slower traffic; this time, with just 10 laps to go.
McLaughlin struggled to make the top side work, allowing Mahaney to slip underneath. As the two went side-by-side, Perrego saw an opportunity.
Perrego followed McLaughlin on the top side, and as McLaughlin cleared Mahaney, Perrego quickly switched to the bottom, getting around Mahaney and underneath McLaughlin.
The two went door-to-door into turns three and four, but Perrego’s momentum carried him to the lead.
From there, Perrego set sail, racing underneath the Sunoco checkered flags to land his second STSS victory in two weeks, and his first-ever New Egypt win.
Mahaney worked by McLaughlin in the closing laps, coming home with another STSS second place finish in his George Huttig owned No. 35. McLaughlin, of Mooresville, N.C., held on for third.
Grosso of Belle Mead, N.J., secured a fourth-place effort in his family-owned Grosso Homes No. 32 while Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., completed his surge forward from 21st starting position in fifth, claiming a $200 Hard Charger Award presented by Rock Fantasy of Middletown, N.Y.
Pauch of Milford, N.J., fought hard for a sixth-place finish in the Rick Holsten-owned No. 96, with Boyertown, Pa., driver Jeff Strunk chasing Pauch Jr. to the line in the Zubi’s Racing No. 88z.
Mike Gular, also of Boyertown, Pa., brought the Terry Fasnacht-owned No. 2A home eighth. Savannah, N.Y., veteran Matt Sheppard placed ninth in the Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s and Ryan Krachun of Branchburg, N.J., rounded out the top 10.
Ad-Art Sign Company $50 STSS Modified heat winners were Cozze, McLaughlin, Grosso and Strunk. The two consolations were split by Friesen and Matt Stangle.
Thirty-seven STSS modifieds signed in for the first series event at New Egypt since 2019.
Johnny Bangs of Bordentown, N.Y., notched his first career Short Track Super Series victory in the Crate 602 Sportsman 25-lap main event, Round No. 4 of the Belmont’s Garage South Region.
Bangs earned $1,500 for his efforts and became the 39th different winner in 54 STSS Crate 602 Sportsman events.
A New Egypt Speedway regular, Bangs raced underneath polesitter Scott Hitchens just past the halfway point, grabbing the Sunoco checkered flags and defending his home turf.
The finish:
STSS Modifieds (50 laps): Anthony Perrego, Mike Mahaney, Max McLaughlin, Brandon Grosso, Stewart Friesen, Billy Pauch Jr., Jeff Strunk, Mike Gular, Matt Sheppard, Ryan Krachun, Rick Laubach, Jimmy Blewett, Ryan Watt, David Van Horn, Billy Osmun, Tyler Dippel, Matt Stangle, Cale Ross, Andy Bachetti, Brian Kuhl, Ryan Godown, John McClelland, Danny Bouc, Richie Pratt Jr., Frank Cozze, Dominick Buffalino, Dakota Kessler.