(Photo by Steve Koletar)
Inside Line Promotions – SELINSGROVE, Pa. (Aug. 8, 2022) – Joey Amantea captured his first career non-wing sprint car victory last Saturday to cap an up-and-down week.
He charged from seventh to second in a heat race before winning the Rapid Tire USAC East Coast Sprint Cars feature at Selinsgrove Speedway from the third starting position.
“It was certainly a week of emotions,” he said. “We got to second within a lap or two. Me and another driver had a slider battle until around Lap 15. We got into each other a couple of times and made contact that put me out front. Dirty air is huge at Selinsgrove. Once I got into clean air and could choose where I wanted to run it went well. I just needed that opportunity and once we got it I pulled away.
“I was able to build up a solid lead before a caution came out with two laps to go. That was about the most nerve-racking two laps of my career. There’s not much as disappointing as seeing the yellow flag when you’re leading with two laps to go, but we built up a second lead in the last couple of laps for the win.”
Only a couple of days prior it appeared that Amantea would be sidelined after mechanical woes ended his night early last Wednesday at Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa.
“On Wednesday we honestly had a shot to win,” he said. “We won a heat race and were super fast in the make-up feature. We were running fifth or sixth when the motor expired. We thought our season was over because we’re out of motors.”
Amantea was credited with a 19th-place result in the make-up feature and he was unable to start the regular main event.
The team did enjoy success in the micro sprint that night as Amantea advanced from 10th to seventh in a heat race, from fourth to second in the B Main and from 24th to seventh in the feature.
“We got up to 10th and got spun out,” he said. “Then we came from the back up to seventh so it was a solid night in the micro sprint.”
The sprint car season got back on track Thursday.
“My dad texted a friend who is selling a good 360,” he said. “We picked it up Thursday and thrashed to put it in Friday for Bloomsburg. We showed up and it rained out. Then to go win at Selinsgrove, a track we’ve done well at, but with a new engine and not knowing how it would run was pretty cool.”
Amantea plans on competing in micro sprint races this Wednesday at Action Track USA and Friday at Spirit Auto Center Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 3 – Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa. (sprint car) – Heat race: 1 (3); Feature: DNS (-); Make-up feature: 19 (7).
Aug. 3 – Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa. (micro sprint) – Heat race: 7 (10); B Main: 2 (4); Feature: 7 (24).
Aug. 6 – Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pa. – Heat race: 2 (7); Feature: 1 (3).
SEASON STATS –
27 races, 1 win, 7 top fives, 12 top 10s, 18 top 15s, 20 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday at Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa., and Friday at Spirit Auto Center Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.joeyamantearacing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joeyamantearacing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joeyamantea88J
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – JPA Masonry
JPA Masonry, which is located in Mt. Pocono, Pa., is a trusted and experienced masonry leader in the Poconos. Although established in 2001, contractor and owner, Joseph P. Amantea (JPA), has almost 20 years of experience in the masonry field, including custom stone and design. For more information, visit http://www.JPAMasonry.com.
“JPA Masonry drives our race team,” Amantea said. “Without their support I wouldn’t be able to race. I’m very appreciative of all they do for me.”
Amantea would also like to thank Amantea Real Estate, JPA Masonry, Stinger Race Fuel Products, 600cc Performance, CSI Shocks, Smith Titanium, Radical Race Gear, Pensyl Enterprises and JPA Equipment & Truck Repair for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations, and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510 3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Aug 08, 2022
- Article Date: 8/8/2022 by Inside Line Promotions