by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — Was Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon’s trip from Fort Edward, N.Y. to Lebanon Raceway in Ohio worth it to compete in the Billings Trot there? You bet it was.

Getting a drive behind Domi Racer and reining the trotter to a 2:01.2 victory not only was gratifying for the cancer survivor but that triumph now leaves him just one point behind Eastern Region point leader “Gentleman Jamie” Marra with just two more venues to go before the Eastern Region finals.

At Lebanon Raceway this past Friday (Oct. 29), Hunsdon hustled Domi Racer for the lead but didn’t take command until Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg II, driving Garland’s Brat, yielded command. But once on top Hunsdon and Domi Racer never relinquished the lead and they rambled home a one length winner over DW’s Perky Joe who was driven by “Tar Heel Tom” Williams. Garland’s Brat, who shadowed Domi Racer from the quarter pole, faded and finished third.

Hunsdon, who was sidelined earlier this year because of a cancer operation, is back in full force and has his sights set on winning a Billings Championship. Currently Marra, who didn’t race at Lebanon, has 109 points to Hundson’s 108 with just race(s) remaining at Pocono Downs on November 8 and at Yonkers Raceway on November 15 before the regional finals at Harrah’s Chester on November 21.

Neither amateur driver has ever won a Billings Regional Point Championship. But they will have to keep the fires burning to keep from being overtaken by Tony “the Capo” Verruso, who is within striking distance of the leaders, currently with 101 points.

All in all, the battle for supremacy in the Billings Eastern Region figures to go down to the wire. Stay tuned.