8/8/2020
Mark Bitner
Bitner Bags USAC East Main
Mark Bitner led wire-to-wire in USAC East Coast Sprint Car competition but it would not come as easy as that sounded. Bitner led the field to the green but before a lap would be completed JR Berry would spin in turn number three. When the green flag flew again, Bitner jumped back out to the lead with the best battle on the speedway being for second between Kyle Lick, Ryan Watt and Chris Allen Jr. Allen would rim-ride his way to second and begin his chase of Bitner who now was roughly a half a straightaway out in front.
With Bitner now entering lapped traffic on lap 15, that allowed Allen to close up right to the tail tank of Bitner as the two weaved in and out of lapped traffic all while battling for the race lead. Entering turn three Allen threw his No. 71 machine hard into the corner trying to drive around Bitner but he was not able to make it stick and slipped up the race track allowing Bitner to pull back away. The yellow flag flew for the final time on lap 23 when David Swanson came to a stop in turns one and two setting up a green-white-checkered finish. When racing resumed Allen threw everything he had at Bitner but it would be to no avail as Bitner picked up the win at what is considered to be his “home track” Allen would be the runner-up followed by Ryan Watt, a hard charging Billy Pauch Jr. and defending USAC East Coast Sprint Car champion Steven Drevicki.
Other notable finishes for us in 2020 include 9th place in non-wing 360 Sprint feature on July 3, 2020 at Big Diamond Speedway and a 5th place finish driving the Larry's Hot Rods #8B News Sprint at New Egypt Speedway on July 4, 2020.
Article Credit: New Egypt Speedway
