News Director 
Story By: ROB HAZER / KING OF DIRT – WEST LEBANON, NY – Jeff Watson was literally star of the show at Lebanon Valley Speedway Saturday July 15th, as he picked up the KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Modified feature win. What made it particularly special; David Whitney and the film crew were on hand taping Watson’s episode of Dirt Rush to air this fall.
Chris Lynch and Rocky Warner would lead the field to the green flag, with home track stud Lynch in the 74 taking the early lead. Warner would tuck in for battle with then KOD/DIRTcar East Region Sportsman Modified point leader Chad Edwards and John Virgilio.
Jeff Watson who started 6th on the grid went to work on Edwards for 4th early in the race, while just behind that battle former Mr. Crate Track USA winner Michael Sabia was battling with Frank Hoard Jr. for position.
Warner, Edwards, and Watson went three wide battling for 4th, Sabia took 6th, and Adam Pierson made his way into the top 10, while Chris Lynch maintained the top spot just 10 laps in.
Rob Maxon was making moves to climb into the top 10, as he went three wide to pass Whitey Slavin and Adam Pierson followed by a pass on Chad Edwards. Back up front Sabia was pressuring Warner for the 4th position, as Watson was now pressuring Virgilio for 2nd.
A lap 14 yellow slowed the field as a multi-car tangle included Kevin Ward, David Schilling, Nikki Ouellette, and Chris Kokosa. Schilling made significant contact to the front of his race rod, which ended his evening. KOD/DIRTcar East Point leader Chad Edwards took advantage of the yellow to change a flat left front that was hindering his efforts.
On the restart Watson made his move to the high side of Virgilio to grab the 2nd position, while Sabia worked his way into the 3rd position. At the same time Scott Duell was making noise moving up from his 24th starting position climbing his way to 12th.
Up front Jeff Watson made his move on the high side taking the lead from Chris Lynch on lap 16. Behind Lynch, Watson, Sabia, and Virgilio, Rocky Warner was battling with Frank Hoard Jr. for 5th, but Rob Maxon made a move to take position from both the 78 and 1J.
Nobody was catching Watson who was determined to win a KOD/DIRTcar East Region Sportsman Tour race. He’d out run Sabia to the checkered, with Lynch, Virgilio, Maxon, Warner, Slavin, Duell, Curtis, and Hoard Jr. rounding out the top 10.
“We were really excited to get back here. This is my home; it’s where I saw my first race, won my first race, this is my home,” said Watson in victory lane.
”This is for smoking Joe. To actually be competitive with Rocky Warner, Chad Edwards, and these series guys who have been kicking my but on tour all season it just feels good. Even the hometown guys like Virgilio, Lynch, Sabia, they’ve all been doing really well this year. It’s just awesome,” he concluded.
“I wanted to defend home turf and be where Jeff is right now, but we’ll take 2nd. This helps us on tour and we should jump forward a few spots,” said 2nd place finisher Mike Sabia.
“We had a carburetor issue coming down the stretch. Loosing to Jeff and Mike is like loosing to Kenny or Brett here. I’m proud of what our team did and I couldn’t be prouder of this team,” said 3rd place finisher Chris Lynch.
KOD NOTES: 36 KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman teams checked in at the high banks of Lebanon Valley. Tough break for Cody Bleau and Cody Ochs who blew engines prior to heat race action, along with Bobby Deleon who had mechanical failure. Michael Sabia set overall fastest time during time trial sessions, while KOD officials used a new format for hot laps and time trials, which will be used by all three divisions. Jeff Watson picked a perfect night to park it in victory lane, as David Whitney and the Dirt Rush film crew was on hand shooting his episode of the reality series that will debut in the fall. Chad Edwards entered the night as the point leader by two and Rocky Warner left the night as the point leader by eight. Scott Duell earned hard charger honors after driving from 24th to 8th.
JULY 15, 2017 1-800-GOT-JUNK? KING OF DIRT RACING DIRTcar EAST SPORTSMAN MODIFIED SERIES PRESENTED BY ANDY’S SPEED SHOP, DODSON CONSTRUCTION, & DEAN’S ELECTRICAL FEATURE RESULTS AT LEBANON VALLEY SPEEDWAY (30 Laps) – 1) Jeff Watson, 2) Michael Sabia, 3) Chris Lynch, 4) John Virgilio(Sub09), 5) Rob Maxon, 6) Rocky Warner, 7) Whitey Slavin, 8) Scott Duell, 9) Chris Curtis, 10) Frank Hoard Jr, 11) Cody Hunt, 12) Adam Pierson(Sub173), 13) Nick Plumstead, 14) Kevin Ward, 15) Rich Ricci III, 16) Chad Edwards, 17) Kevin Chaffee, 18) Brian Pessolano, 19) Nikki Ouellette, 20) Lem Atkins, 21) Andrew Buff, 22) Harold Robitalle, 23) Alan Houghtaling, 24) James Kraus, 25) Robbie Knipe, 26) Matt Burke, 27) Milton Mann, 28) David Schilling, 29) Chris Kokosa, 30) Mike Barrett, 31) Vinny Visconti, 32) Jack Lehner, 33) Cody Bleau (DNS), 34) Cody Ochs (DNS), 35) Bobby Deleon (DNS), 36) Mike Gramolini (DNS).
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Heat #1 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Rob Maxon, 2) Chad Edwards, 3) Adam Pierson, 4) Chris Curtis, 5) Andrew Buff, 6) Lem Atkins, 7) Nikki Ouellette, 8) Mike Barrett, 9) Mike Gramolini.
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Heat #2 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Michael Sabia, 2) Jeff Watson, 3) Frank Hoard Jr, 4) Milton Mann, 5) Vinny Visconti, 6) Alan Houghtailing, 7) Harold Robitalle, 8) Cody Bleau (DNS), 9) Bobby Deleon (DNS).
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Heat #3 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Robby Knipe, 2) John Virgilio, 3) Chris Kokosa, 4) Jack Lehner, 5) Brian Pessolano, 6) Kevin Chaffee, 7) Lem Atkins, 8) Cody Ochs, 9) Matt Burke.
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Heat #4 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Chris Lynch, 2) Whitey Slavin, 3) Rocky Warner, 4) Kevin Ward, 5) Cody Hunt, 6) Scott Duell, 7) David Schilling, 8) Rich Ricci III, 9) James Kraus.
