Billy Pauch Jr. Makes It Two in a Row at Action Track
by Deb Smith
Billy Pauch, Jr. made it two in a row when he captured the 30 lap Sunoco USAC Championship SpeedSTR features at the JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA at the Kutztown Fairgrounds on Wednesday night. Pauch is closing in on point leader, Kenny Brightbill with his near perfect performance. Pauch has missed only one show in SpeedSTR action and finished in the top three in every event that he has raced.
Both of Pauch’s wins have come in the K&N Air Filter car #4 – one of three different SpeedSTRs that Pauch has used so far this season. After setting fast time during timed warm-ups, Pauch led from the green to the checkered to capture his second win of the season.
The versatile third generation driver from Frenchtown, NJ is enjoying the mid-week venture – adding the SpeedSTRs to his existing line-up of sprint cars. modifieds and midget rides. Pauch has also tried his hand in a 600 micro in recent weeks at the Action Track. This week Pauch wheeled the Lamar Racing Engines Hyper to a top five finish just before jumping into the cockpit of the SpeedSTR. Pauch seems to thrive on the variety and encouraged others to come out to the Action Track on Wednesday nights. “The racing is great here,” Pauch exclaimed from Victory Lane. “This is great racing for only $11 admission. I hope more people come out see the races here!”
Pauch took the lead on the initial start as Brightbill quickly made his way by Brian Montieth for second. By lap three, Freddie Rahmer, Jr. had overtaken Montieth for third. Montieth found the high, outside line to his liking as most of the other competitors sought lower line.
Chuck Schutz got turned over in a turn two incident that also involved Scott Donaldson and Jim Mahaney. bringing out the red flag with five laps scored. Montieth used the high line to move back into third following the restart.
Montieth and Rahmer, Jr. came together while racing for position on lap eight and the caution was needed for the multi-car homestretch incident.
With ten laps complete, Matt Janisch began to offer Brightbill some competition for the second spot. Paul Lotier and Glenn Strunk completed the top five.
As Pauch continued to hold his advantage over the field, Brightbill and Janisch raced side by side as they took the half way sign from starter, Mike Feltenberger. Brad Brightbill raced his way into top five contention.
Janisch ran second to Pauch until lap twenty-one when he lost the handle going through turn two. Now Brandon Rahmer raced into third as his brother, Freddy battled with Brad Brightbill for fourth but another caution with just four laps remaining involved the cars of F. Rahmer, B. Brightbill, Gary Huber and Montieth.
As the caution waved, Pauch, Jr. drove to his second Wednesday night win over Kenny Brightbill. Brandon Rahmer’s consistency paid off in a third place finish over Lotier. Janisch raced his way back to the top five, overtaking Glenn Strunk for fifth as the field raced to the checkered.
Pauch, Jr. was not one of the ‘original’ drivers in the SpeedSTR line-up as the program came together over the winter months. He first subbed for Montieth during the opener and then for his dad in the week two program. After missing the third race, Pauch returned to take on the driving chores of the K&N Filter #4. He looks to be a regular for the remainder of the season and hopes to contend for the first point title. “I think that would be really cool to win the first championship here,” Pauch stated after his second win.
The point battle will resume for the SpeedSTRs in two weeks while the track remains idle during the PA Heritage Festival held at the Kutztown Fairgrounds.
RACE NOTES
With several other racing events scheduled for Wednesday, several SpeedSTRs were powered by ‘substitute’ drivers. Glenn Strunk again filled in for brother, Jeff, while equally Jeff’s best effort to date. Brandon Planck took over the driving chores for his dad while Jim Mahaney again took over the wheel for his son, Mike. With the line-up of racing headliners from various racing venues competing at the Action Track, one cannot overlook the efforts of the regular SpeedSTR competitors who continue to run wheel to wheel with these drivers every week – not to be intimidated by the accomplishments of the other drivers in the field. Brittany Wixon, Freddie and Brandon Rahmer, are among the youngest of the competitors in both age and experience but are very much a part of the Action Track’s weekly line-up. Fred Rahmer is at the track to assist his sons whenever his schedule permits, preferring to leave the driving at Kutztown to Freddie and Brandon. “This is like a Harvard education for the boys – being able to run here against the drivers who compete here every week,” Rahmer stated. While the names like Pauch, Brightbill, and others may have a long list of racing accomplishments, drivers like Wixon and the Rahmers have several years of SpeedSTR experience already under their belts.
Sunoco USAC Championship SpeedSTR Feature, 30 laps: 1.Billy Pauch Jr., 2.Kenny Brightbill, 3.Brandon Rahmer, 4.Paul Lotier Jr., 5.Matt Janisch, 6.Glenn Strunk, 7.Brian Montieth, 8.Brad Brightbill, 9.Mike Vermeulen, 10.Freddie Rahmer Jr., 11.Gary Huber, 12.Brandon Planck, 13.Joey Sanfilippo, 14.Scott Donaldson, 15.Wayne Weaver, 16.Al Arrisher, 17.Richard Janney, 18.Jim Mahaney, 19.Chuck Schutz, 20.Brittany Wixon.
