Five-time DIRT champion Brett Hearn of Sussex held off a go-for-broke charge by defending race winner Billy Decker, Unadilla, N.Y., to hit for the $6,000 winner’s jackpot in New Egypt Speedway’s Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Garden State Gunfight, sponsored by Haldeman Ford of Hamilton, last Thursday night.

"I had a good feeling coming in here. The car felt good. The track was just right for us tonight," said Hearn, 43, who admitted the slick speedway surface was just to his liking. "Hey, if you can come in here and beat Billy Pauch on his own turf, you did something."

Pauch, the winningest driver in the track’s dirt era, pounced to the front to lead the first nine laps in the 100-lap special before Hearn slipped into the front spot. Pauch held onto second for another nine before the two-time New Egypt champ pulled out of the race on lap 18 when his car broke a driveline.

It looked to be all Hearn’s way until Decker put his two-cents in the final half. With 20 to go, Decker caught the leader in lapped traffic, shadowing Hearn’s every move around and under slower cars. Decker dogged Hearn, breathing all over his bumper, until Hearn finally managed to find some daylight in the final five. It was Hearn by a car length for his 68th career win in the history of the Super DIRT Series. Decker was second, Danny Johnson was third, polesitter Tim Fuller was fourth, and 2001 track champion Keith Hoffman finished fifth. Ryan Godown, Vic Coffey, Tim Tanner Jr., Kenny Tremont and Alan Johnson completed the top 10.

A stellar field of 55 Modifieds from five states entered the event. Heat winners were Decker, Hearn, Keith Hoffman, Tanner, Darren McCaughey and Steve Paine. Tim McCreadie, Rick Laubach and Pat Ward took the consolations.

The JE Pistons Quick Qualifier Award for fast time went to Tim Fuller. The Holley Performance Halfway Bonus was won by Hearn.