Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – SUSQUEHANNA, PA – The 2021 Northeast Modified Racing season came closer to it’s conclusion on Saturday as BAPS Motor Speedway hosted PA Spec 358-Modified racing for an increased $4,000 purse.
Mike Gular made the trek to the Susquehanna, PA oval and walked away with the top prize.
The main event was 24-cars strong, producing some of the best racing had to offer. At the drop of the green, Modified Legend Frank Cozze drove to the lead and set a torrid pace out front.
Billy Pauch Jr. in the Rick Holsten 96 was giving chase from his front-row starting spot. Jack Butler and Gular ran third and fourth and were well within reach of the race leaders.
On lap two, Gular drove past Butler for third and was clearly looking for more.
With 10 down, Pauch Jr. put his Bicknell into lead as the caution flag waved for Doug Manmiller who had stopped in turn 4.
As the field circled around the track under yellow, Pauch Jr. stopped on the backstretch and was not able to fire the car for action. After a lap of trying to bring power back to the 96, Pauch Jr. retired from the event.
This put Cozze back in front with Gular, Butler, Cale Ross, and Louden Reimert the rest of the top 5 running order.
The field went back to green and Cozze continued his strong run behind the wheel of his #401 Modified.
On Lap 17, Gular drove his #2A to the point with a strong pass of Cozze. With 13 to go, Jeff Strunk moved the Zubi’s 88z into fourth.
With 10-to-go, Gular had a strong lead over Cozze, Ross, Strunk and Davey Sammons in 747. Three laps later, Strunk continued his drive to the front as he moved into third.
Gular held on to take the $4,000 checkered flag payday with Cozze finishing a strong second. Strunk finished third after driving from 10th starting spot. Ross was fourth with Dominic Buffalino placing fifth.
Sammons was sixth followed by Lance Willix, who won the B-Main and drove 21st. Danny Creeden was eighth with Butler and Michael Maresca completing the top 10.
The Rundown…
Modified Warmup Sessions
- Dominic Buffalino 126 set fast time for Modifieds at 17.688
- 2nd Michael Maresca 7MM at 17.746
- 3rd Billy Pauch 96 17.895
358 Spec Modified Heat Race Results
10 Laps / 5 Qualify
- Heat Race #1 – Billy Pauch 96, Dominic Buffalino 126, Dave Dissinger 88x, Danny Creeden 16x, Kevin Hirthler 117
- Heat Race #2 – Michael Maresca 7MM, Jeff Strunk 88z, Frank Cozze 401, Jared Umbenhauer 5J, Joe Funk 14rr
- Heat Race #3 – Louden Reimert 16, Davey Sammons 747, Tanner VanDoren 22, Dan Waisempacher 01, Brad Arnold 27
- Heat Race #4 – Jack Butler 5, Mike Gular 2A, Cale Ross 112, Doug Manmiller 44m, Scott Albert 10$
358 Spec Modified B Main Results – Lance Willix 31, Rick Laubach 20, Kevin Beech 17x, Ron Kline 6
358 Spec Modified Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 2A-Mike Gular[6]; 2. 401-Frank Cozze Sr[2]; 3. 88Z-Jeff Strunk[10]; 4. 112-Cale Ross[7]; 5. 126-Dominick Buffalino[11]; 6. 747-Davey Sammons[9]; 7. 31-Lance Willix[21]; 8. 16X-Danny Creedin[13]; 9. 5-Jack Butler[3]; 10. 7MM-Michael Maresca[12]; 11. 5J-Jared Umbenhauer[14]; 12. 22-Tanner Van Dohren[8]; 13. 6-Ronald Kline[24]; 14. 88X-Dave Dissinger[4]; 15. 20-Rick Laubach[22]; 16. 17X-Kevin Beach[23]; 17. 27-Brad Arnold[19]; 18. 10$-Scott Albert[20]; 19. 01-Dan Waisempacher[15]; 20. (DNF) 16-Louden Reimert[5]; 21. (DNF) 96-Billy Pauch Jr[1]; 22. (DNF) 117-Kevin Hirthler[17]; 23. (DNF) 44M-Doug Manmiller[16]; 24. (DNF) 14RR-Joe Funk[18]