7/7/2020
Inside Line Promotions
Amantea Captures First Feature Win of the Season at Hamlin Speedway
Inside Line Promotions – SWEDESBORO, N.J. (July 7, 2020) – Joey Amantea highlighted a four-race week with his first feature victory of the 2020 season behind the wheel of a wingless micro sprint last Saturday at Hamlin Speedway.
Amantea also scored a 14th-place finish in wingless micro sprint car action at Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway on Thursday, while continuing to gain experience behind the wheel of a 360ci sprint car during two nights of racing at Port Royal Speedway and at Bridgeport Speedway.
“We kind of had the best of both worlds as we finally got that win that I’ve been working for and I also learned a ton about racing bigger sprint cars,” he said. “I’m aware on the sprint car side of things it’s going to be a steep learning curve, so to get some laps in and still get a win in the micro sprint made for a great week.”
Amantea kicked off the busy week with his first-ever visit to Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa., on Wednesday to compete with the United Racing Club 360 Sprint Cars as part of the 30th annual Pennsylvania Speedweek.
He started seventh in a heat race and advanced two position to finish fifth to lock himself into the feature in the 15th starting spot. In only his second career 360ci sprint car start in the Burke Racing No. 54, Amantea dropped to the 20th position before rebounding late to finish 18th.
“I made some rookie mistakes in the feature, but just to get to run on a track that size and experience that was so cool,” he said. “Those first few laps in warmups was one of the best moments of my life. I learned a lot and we left in one piece so it was a good day.”
Switching gears, Amantea returned behind the wheel of his family owned No. 88j wingless micro sprint and headed to Clyde Martin Speedway in Schaefferstown, Pa., on Thursday. He timed in 13th quickest among 39 drivers in attendance with a fastest lap of 11.210 seconds.
Amantea fell from fourth to seventh in a heat race after suffering power steering problems before he advanced from fifth to third in the B Main to qualify for the feature with the 21st starting position. He drove his way up to the ninth position before getting involved in an accident, knocking the left rear shock off the car and ending his night. He was credited with a 14th-place finish.
“The night started out tough and we didn’t put ourselves in a great position really,” he said. “But we rebounded quickly and had a super-fast car and bad luck just got in the way. That is just the way it goes sometimes.”
Saturday was another night of micro sprint competition as Amantea headed to Hamlin Speedway in Hamlin, Pa., for the first time this season. He showed speed early by advancing three positions in a heat race to finish third and secure the fifth starting position for the feature.
Amantea ran in third for most of the feature, but a caution with three laps to go allowed the Mt. Pocono, Pa., native a shot at the leaders and he capitalized by taking the lead just beyond the white flag to capture the win for the first time this season.
“That was by far the hardest fought win of my entire life as the track was really tough to pass on,” he said. “I saw the top was coming in there late and figured I’d give it a shot on that restart and we only led one lap, but it was the most important lap and that’s what matters.”
Amantea wrapped up the week back in a 360ci sprint car at Bridgeport Speedway on Sunday. He began the night with a DNF in his heat race after starting sixth, forcing him to run the B Main. Amantea gained one position to finish fifth and secure the 23rd starting spot in the feature.
Continuing to get used to the feel behind the wheel of the much larger and powerful sprint car, Amantea advanced as high as 15th before using up his tires and in the end finishing 21st.
“We got wrecked in the heat race and it really was just another learning experience,” he said. “We were doing okay in the feature, but the rookie in me came out and the tires went away. That’s something I need to get better at is conserving tires.”
Amantea will compete in three races this week as he plans to run his wingless micro sprint at Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa., on Wednesday before jumping back into the 360ci sprint car for United Racing Club races at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., on Friday and at Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pa., on Saturday.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 1 – Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa. (Sprint car) – Heat race: 5 (7); Feature: 18 (15).
July 2 – Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in Schaefferstown, Pa. (Wingless micro sprint) – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 7 (4); B Main: 3 (5); Feature: 14 (21).
June 4 – Hamlin Speedway in Hamlin, Pa. (Wingless micro sprint) – Heat race: 3 (6); Feature: 1 (5).
July 5 – Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J. (Sprint car) – Heat race: 8 (6); B Main: 5 (6); Feature: 21 (23).
SEASON STATS –
22 races, 1 win, 7 top fives, 14 top 10s, 16 top 15s, 18 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday at Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa.; Friday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa.; and Saturday at Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pa.
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, Hyper Racing, Jet Signs, Radical Race Gear, Pensyl Enterprises and Gilroy Northeast Inc. Excavating and Construction 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.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
