Inside Line Promotions – SWEDESBORO, N.J. (Oct. 28, 2020) – Joey Amantea was dealt a hand of bad luck last weekend as engine problems and wrecks plagued a two-race weekend behind the wheel of his family owned wingless micro sprint.
"It was just overall a bad weekend and one I'd like to put behind me," he said. "It stinks as we haven't really had too many weekends like this all year long, but I guess we saved that for the end of the year."
Amantea kicked off the weekend Friday night at Greenwood Valley Action Tracks in Orangeville, Pa. where he started eighth in a heat race and advanced one position to finish seventh. During the race he heard the engine cracking and after diagnosing the problem in the pits Amantea decided to pack up and turn his focus to Saturday.
"I told my dad that there was something going wrong in the motor all race and we just decided it’d be better not to risk blowing an engine and to head home," he said. "The track was tough to pass on as is and being that we were going to have to work real hard just to qualify for the A Main, I think we made the right choice."
With redemption on his mind, Amantea ventured to Spirit Auto Center Speedway on Saturday. He began the night by finishing where he started – fifth – in a heat race. He then won the B Main from the pole position to earn the 22nd starting spot in the feature.
Amantea quickly navigated himself inside the top 15 when he made contact with another racer and was forced to go to the rear. Amantea passed six cars on the restart and was again challenging inside the top 15 when a car spun out in front of him and he had nowhere to go. The crash caused frame damage to his car and ended his night with a 22nd-place result.
"Our car was on rails during the feature, but we just kept finding ways to slow our momentum," he said. "That last crash did some real damage to the car and at that point I was ready for it to be over."
Amantea will take this weekend off from racing before closing out his 2020 campaign with one last wingless micro sprint event on Nov. 7 at Airport Speedway in New Castle, Del. The Battle at the Bullring will pay $2,000 to win and the feature is 100 laps in distance.
"We were pretty good at this race last year and I felt we had a shot to contend before getting caught up in a wreck," Amantea said. "Hopefully we can close out 2020 on a high note and that'll give us some positive momentum heading into the winter."
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 23 – Greenwood Valley Action Tracks in Orangeville, Pa. – Heat race: 7 (8); C Main: DNS (-).
Oct. 24 – Spirit Auto Center Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J. – Heat race: 5 (5) B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 22 (22).
SEASON STATS –
62 races, 3 wins, 19 top fives, 37 top 10s, 44 top 15s, 48 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Nov. 7 at Airport Speedway in New Castle, Del., for the Battle at the Bullring
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.
"It was just overall a bad weekend and one I'd like to put behind me," he said. "It stinks as we haven't really had too many weekends like this all year long, but I guess we saved that for the end of the year."
"I told my dad that there was something going wrong in the motor all race and we just decided it’d be better not to risk blowing an engine and to head home," he said. "The track was tough to pass on as is and being that we were going to have to work real hard just to qualify for the A Main, I think we made the right choice."
With redemption on his mind, Amantea ventured to Spirit Auto Center Speedway on Saturday. He began the night by finishing where he started – fifth – in a heat race. He then won the B Main from the pole position to earn the 22nd starting spot in the feature.
Amantea quickly navigated himself inside the top 15 when he made contact with another racer and was forced to go to the rear. Amantea passed six cars on the restart and was again challenging inside the top 15 when a car spun out in front of him and he had nowhere to go. The crash caused frame damage to his car and ended his night with a 22nd-place result.
"Our car was on rails during the feature, but we just kept finding ways to slow our momentum," he said. "That last crash did some real damage to the car and at that point I was ready for it to be over."
Amantea will take this weekend off from racing before closing out his 2020 campaign with one last wingless micro sprint event on Nov. 7 at Airport Speedway in New Castle, Del. The Battle at the Bullring will pay $2,000 to win and the feature is 100 laps in distance.
"We were pretty good at this race last year and I felt we had a shot to contend before getting caught up in a wreck," Amantea said. "Hopefully we can close out 2020 on a high note and that'll give us some positive momentum heading into the winter."
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 23 – Greenwood Valley Action Tracks in Orangeville, Pa. – Heat race: 7 (8); C Main: DNS (-).
Oct. 24 – Spirit Auto Center Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J. – Heat race: 5 (5) B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 22 (22).
SEASON STATS –
62 races, 3 wins, 19 top fives, 37 top 10s, 44 top 15s, 48 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Nov. 7 at Airport Speedway in New Castle, Del., for the Battle at the Bullring
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.
