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HAMILTON, NJ – A Night of Celebration.
The New Egypt Speedway put a lid on the 2024 season at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hamilton, N.J. on Saturday (February 15) at the season ending awards ceremony.
Top competitors were on hand from the Modifieds, Crate Sportsman, Street Stocks, Northeast Wingless Sprint Cars (NEWS), Four Cylinders, and Rookie divisions.
With nearly 130 people on hand to celebrate this past season, things got under way honoring the Rookies from 2024.
Beachwood, N.J.’s Stephen Puglisi Jr. was lauded for his efforts as the champion and reflected on the challenges of coming to dirt racing after spending his younger years racing on asphalt.
Next up were the Four Cylinders, celebrating New Egypt, N.J.’s Kyle Hurley as the champion, whose average finish ranks among the best in speedway history, regardless of division.
The NEWS cars rounded out the pre-dinner ceremonies. Baltimore, Md. native Mick D’Agostino was crowned once again as the high point getter for the wingless sprint cars.
Following a break for dinner, the new Executive VP of Operations Chris Moore addressed those in attendance.
“Whatever your opinion is of New Egypt Speedway currently, it’s going to approve from this moment going forward,” Moore proclaimed.
“We are going to do things the right way and make New Egypt Speedway the best place to be on Saturday nights.”
With the leadership of Fred Vahlsing (Speedway Owner) and Mark Blackwell (Speedway General Manager), we will bring New Egypt back where it belongs,” he concluded.
The awards resumed with the Street Stock division up first.
Pemberton, N.J.’s Brian Ludwig was honored for the third time in his career as the Street Stock champion at the D-shaped oval.
“Consistency pays off,” Ludwig said of his title despite not winning a race all year. “It all starts in the shop, the work we put in during the week allows us to have the success on Saturday’s and to be standing here.”
The Crate Sportsman were up next, crowning Ryan Simmons with his first career championship.
“I had seven chances going into the final night before this one,” Simmons said of the elusiveness of a championship. “We sucked every time, so it feels great to finally get one.”
Simmons, along with Jessica Liedtka, were honored following the Crate Sportsman awards with the ‘Moment of the Year’ award.
Simmons was triumphant the following Saturday after the untimely passing of Street Stock racer Billy Liedtka dawning the ‘310’ in honor of his late cousin and Jessica’s husband.
Celebration of the Modifieds concluded the night, with Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown claiming his sixth career championship, matching the all-time record at New Egypt in any division.
“We started well, but we got stagnant during the summer,” Godown proclaimed. “I owe my guys a ton of thanks for the work they put in to get us going again as the year went on.”
We’re planning on racing a lot more this coming year,” he continued. “We learn a lot the more we race and that’s our plan this season.”
The 2025 season at New Egypt Speedway in just around the corner with the Super DIRTcar Series coming to town for the ‘Power in the Pines’ on Saturday, March 29.
The event will be preceded by two practices on Tuesday, March 25 and Friday, March 28.
The points season kicks off the following Saturday, April 5.
New Egypt Speedway is located at 720 Route 539 New Egypt, NJ 08533. To learn more visit newegyptspeedway.net, call 609.758.1900 or like New Egypt Speedway on Facebook.
