Stateline Speedway
Johnson edges Hackett for $5,000 at Stateline
By Glenn Slocum and Brian Hagberg
Stateline SpeedwayBUSTI, N.Y. (May 23) — Scott Johnson of Wattsburg, Pa., outdueled polesitter Chris Hackett of Corry, Pa., amid lapped traffic late in the race, then won a three-lap dash to the checkers for a victory in the Bud Van Tassel-Dick Litz Memorial at Stateline Speedway. Johnson earned $5,000 for the unsanctioned victory.
Hackett took command from the outset, fighting off an early restart challenge from Randy Lobb and staying in control as Corry's Doug Eck moved into second on the 12th lap. Johnson, in the top five the whole way, regained second from Eck on the 16th lap and began to turn up the heat on Hackett.
Johnson nosed ahead to lead lap 23, but Hackett was back out front on the next lap. The leaders faced traffic on lap 29 as Johnson went back out front, and Hackett got bottled up behind slower cars. A final caution on lap 33 set up a three-lap dash to the checkers, and Johnson raced to his first victory of 2009. Hackett was second followed by Scott Gurdak of Spring Creek, Pa., and Eck.
Notes: Johnson's car is sponsored by Eriez Speedway. ... The night's racing was sponsored by Roberts Trucking. ... The event drew 29 entries. ... John Lobb spun to draw a lap-two caution. ... A lap-five yellow appeared when Lobb and Pete Alspaugh stopped on the backstretch. ... George LaBarbera and John Volpe tangled for a lap-eight caution. ... Mike Knight and Dennis Lunger Jr. got together on the 10th lap to draw a yellow. ... The final caution appeared for a tangle between Doug Eck and Chevy Scott in the closing laps. ... Stateline Speedway hosts the $10,000-to-win Lynn Seamens Memorial for Super Late Models on July 11.
Bud Van Tassel-Dick Litz Memorial: (1) Scott Johnson, (2) Chris Hackett, (3) Scott Gurdak, (4) Doug Eck, (5) Adam Ferri, (6) Randy Lobb, (7) Dick Barton, (8) Chad Valone, (9) John Lacki, (10) Rod Maloy, (11) Darrell Bossard, (12) Andy Boozel, (13) Andy Kania, (14) Daniel Maxim, (15) Nathan Short, (16) Jason Dupont, (17) George LaBarbera, (18) John Volpe, (19) Greg Oakes, (20) Bump Hedman, (21) Scott Garland, (22) Mike Knight, (23) Ryan Scott, (24) Bob Close, (25) John Lobb, (26) Dennis Lunger Jr., (27) Pete Alspaugh. Heat race winners: R. Lobb, Hackett, Hedman, Johnson. Consolation winner: Kania.
