Hartman, Buckwalter win heart-pounding mains
KUTZTOWN » Jeff Hartman though he’d be facing an angry crowd when Victory Lane announcer Michael Batz turned on the microphone after the USAC All Pro SpeedSTR main event on Wednesday night at the JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA on the Kutztown Fairgrounds.
“I’m thinking they are all going to hate me and boo me for passing Kenny Brightbill,” whispered Hartman, the race winner, prior to Batz firing up the wireless mic.
Instead, much to his relief and surprise, Hartman received a very warm and appreciative response from the fans when Batz welcomed him to Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane.
Hartman, from Belle Meade, N.J., certainly was not the sentimental favorite of the large and passionate audience. That honor went to Brightbill, the dirt Modified legend and the very first SpeedSTR point champion at Action Track USA in 2013, who is marking his 50th (and most likely final) season of racing this year.
The Hyper Racing Wingless 600 Sprint feature was equally as exciting as the SpeedSTR main on Wednesday, June 14.
Tim Buckwalter barely won the drag race to the checkered flag, edging out Nate Brinker by 0.168-seconds. It was the first 600 Sprint win for Buckwalter at Action Track USA this season, and it kept alive the 2017 string of no repeat winners in this division. The victory was also Buckwalter’s tenth career 600 Sprint triumph at Action Track USA, which is four more than second place Alex Bright in All Time 600 Sprint Wins at the speedway.
USAC All-Pro SpeedSTRs (30 Laps) — 1. Jeff Hartman 2. Kenny Brightbill 3. Tim Buckwalter 4. Briggs Danner 5. Matt Westfall 6. Billy Pauch Jr. 7. Louden Reimert 8. Matt Jansich 9. Steve Buckwalter 10. Brad Brightbill 11. Steven Drevic ki 12. Tim Iulg 13. Dylan Hoch 14. Phil Meisner 15. Joe Mooney 16. Ray Nemeth 17. Andy Haus 18. John Bockhorn 19. Earl Paules 20. TJ Mayberry 21. Mike Bednar 22. Jason Rochelle 23. Brandon Auman 24. James Morris 25. Steve Nederostek. DNS: JT Brotosky; Keith Prutzman; Tom Mayberry. 600cc Sprint Cars (25 Laps) — 1. Tim Buckwalter 2. Nate Brinker 3. Danyn Buccafusca 4. Colin White 5. Nick Skias 6. Jay Hartman 7. Billy Pauch Jr. 8. Doug Snyder 9. James Morris 10. Eddie Strada 11. Kenny Miller 12. Matt Roselli 13. Tommy Kunsman 14. Joey Kay 15. Jimmy Glenn 16. Damon Paul 17. Tim Bauer 18. Jared Lilly 19. Greg Stevens 20. Logan Snyder 21. Jason Swavely 22. Steve Bull 23. Dan Schumaker 24. Shelby Harper 25. Sam Kravitsky. DNQ: John Willman, Jacob Severn, Jacob Balliet, Tyler Ulrich, Nick Havens, Will Butler, Tyler Kehs, Jake Roberts, Rob Pajauis, Billy Koch, Shawn Rooney, Eric Ankiewicz, Joe Plunkett. All-Star Slingshots (25 Laps) — 1. Dylan Hoch 2. Cole Stangle 3. Brett Bieber 4. Mark Daniels 5. Alex Yankowski 6. Seth Spayd 7. Joe Toth 8. Travis Bieber 9. Austin Daniels 10. Taylor Schoenly 11. Joey Vaccaro 12. Zac Kistler 13. Jonathan Swift 14. Ryan Conrad 15. Natasha Henn 16. Dave Carraghan 17. Samantha Muller 18. Austin Stufflet 19. Kyle Smith 20. Blaire Schoenly 21. Dakota Kohler 22. Troy Langendoerfer 23. Aidan Svanda 24. Ryan Davey 25. Matt Miller 26. Tanner VanDoren. Junior Slingshots (15 Laps) — 1. Reese Nowatarski 2. Tyler Banks 3. Nico Flammer 4. Tommy Stilo 5. Tyler Ulsh 6. Austin Homer 7. Trevor Bixler 8. Kevin Fitzpatrick 9. Decker Swinehart 10. Peyton Fasnacht 11. Logan Bauman. Pioneer Pole Buildings 600cc Sprints Mad Scramble (10 Laps) — 1. Nate Brinker (Transferred to Feature & $25 from Hosensack Poker Club), 2.Tim Bauer (Hoosier RR Tire), 3.Greg Stevens (10 gal. Methanol from Roadrunner Race Fuel/VP Fuels), 4.Steve Bull (RTS Gift Certificate), 5. Shawn Rooney(4-FK Rod Ends), 6.Jared Lilly (TSL Shocks Gift Certificate), 7.Jacob Balliet (Saldana)