Laubach becomes repeat winner at Big Diamond
BIG DIAMOND >> A chamberof- commerce night gave race fans in the coal region an excellent opportunity to pack to the track at Big Diamond Speedway on $6 night and the racing didn’t disappoint. Hellertown’s Rick Laubach became the first repeat winner in the 358 modified division as he took control of the 25lap feature on lap four and went on to score the win. After missing last week due to attending the prom, Brandon Grosso wasted no time in returning to victory lane for the fifth time this season in the sportsman division while Shon Elk won his first roadrunner feature since 2013. DougManmiller, held on for second while Craig VonDohren, Duane Howard and Ryan Godown rounded out the top five. Sixth through 10th were Jeff Strunk, Ryan Watt, Ray Swinehart, Bobby Trapper and Dale Hart. Heats for the 358 modifieds were won by Laubach, Brett Kressley and Godown.
Grosso, who started 11, took the lead on lap six of the 20-lap sportsman feature and went on to score the win, his 10th overall of the season. Mike Lisowski held on for second with Ray Woodall, Jr., Shawn Light and Doug Hendrick rounding out the top five. Sixth through 10th were Ken Eckert, Jr., Ray Woodall Sr., Matt Clay, Jeff Bubori and Kyle Gruber. Heat winners were Skylar Sheriff and Light. 358 modifieds feature (25 laps): 1. Rick Laubach, 2. Doug Manmiller, 3. Craig VonDohren, 4. Duane Howard, 5. Ryan Godown, 6. Jeff Strunk, 7. Ryan Watt, 8. Ray Swinehart, 9. Bobby Trapper, 10. Dale Hartz, 11. Ryan Grim, 12. Bobby Gunther Walsh, 13. Scott Albert, 14. Jay Aten, 15. Jimmy Reppert, Jr,, 16. Kent Reinhart, 17. Paul Moyer. DNF: Kevin Beach Jr, Brett Kressley, Gary Hager, Andy Burkhart, Justin Grim, John Willman, Jimmy Bobbitt. Heat winners: Laubach, Kressley, Godown. Sportsman feature (20 laps): 1. Brandon Grosso, 2. Mike Lisowski, 3. Ray Woodall Jr., 4. Shawn Light, 5. Doug Hendricks, 6. Ken Eckert, Jr., 7. Ray Woodall Sr., 8. Matt Clay, 9. Jeff Bubori, 10. Kyle Gruber, 11. Daryl Dissinger, 12. Ed Mrochko, 13. Chuck Fayash, 14. B.J. Jolly, 15. Josh Hertzog. DNF: Tim Fitzpatrick, Skylar Sheriff, Wayne Witmer, Greg Cole, Mike Mammana. DNS: Rich Emel. Heat winners: Sheriff, Light Roadrunner feature (20 laps): 1. Shon Elk, 2. Kody Sites, 3. Jesse Krasnitsky, 4. Andrew Fayash III, 5. Terry Kramer, 6. Jeremy Becker, 7. Jim Kost, 8. Tim Fitzpatrick, Jr., 9. Kyle Wingle, 10. Shawn Mulhall.
WILLIAMS GROVE CHAMP
CARS >> Chris Windom was able to fend off a furious late-race rally by Bryan
Clauson to win in the return of champ car racing to Williams Grove Speedway after a 35-year hiatus in Friday night’s “Horn/ Schindler Memorial” 100lap USAC Silver Crown race.
Windom led the final 63 laps to claim his third career USAC Silver Crown Series victory over Clauson, Kody Swanson, Bacon, Grant, Smith, Casey Shuman, Jerry Coons, Jr., Steve Buckwalter and Shane Cottle. Like Kody Swanson’s stranglehold on the dirt miles over the past few seasons, Windom appears to have taken a shine to the half-mile dirt tracks, previously taking victories at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg Ohio in 2013 and the Belleville (Kans.) High Banks in 2015.
Results: (100 laps) 1. Chris Windom, 2. Bryan Clauson, 3. Kody Swanson, 4. Brady Bacon, 5. Justin Grant, 6. Mark Smith, 7. Casey Shuman, 8. Jerry Coons, Jr., 9. Steve Buckwalter, 10. Shane Cottle, 11. Austin Nemire, 12. Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., 13. David Byrne, 14. Dave Darland, 15. Shane Cockrum, 16. Chris Fetter, 17. Dave Berkheimer, 18. John Heydenreich, 19. Joe Liguori, 20. C. J. Leary, 21. Billy Pauch, Jr. 49:29.81
SELINGSGROVE >> Ten years passed since Selinsgrove Speedway ran a special Friday night 410 sprint car race, and the wait was worth it when the division took the spotlight in the 25lap “Friday Night Lights” main event with no fewer than four different leaders taking a shot at the $3,500 win. At the checkered flag, Greg Hodnett of York held off Brent Marks of Myerstown and Lucas Wolfe of
Mechanicsburg by less than a one-second margin separating first from third. The victory was Hodnett’s 10th of the season and 17th career at Selinsgrove in 410 racing at the wheel of the Lelands.com No. 27.
At the checkered f lag, Hodnett was victorious by just .47 of a second over Brent Marks with Lucus Wolfe crossing the line just .91 of a second behind Hodnett in third. Ryan Smith and Blane Heimbach completed the top five. 25-Lap A-Main: 1) 27 Greg Hodnett 2) 19M Brent Marks 3) 5W Lucas Wolfe 4) 94 Ryan Smith 5) 12 Blane Heimbach 6) 3Z Brock Zearfoss 7) 3 Pat Cannon 8) 21R Kyle Reinhardt 9) 25 Aaron Ott 10) 35 Daryl Stimeling 11) 33 Curt Stroup 12) 48 Danny Dietrich 13)75 Frankie Herr 14) 29 Jason Shultz 15) 19W Colby Womer 16) 66 Ryan Kissinger 17) 33W Michael Walter II 18) 12W Troy Fraker 19) 38 Scott Wilson 20) 51B Karl Baker 21) 23 TJ Stutts
LINCOLN >> The thrillers just keep coming at Lincoln Speedway. This time it was Central PA point series leader Greg Hodnett who had the fans on their feet, sliding under racelong leader Lucas Wolfe exiting the final turn to claim his third win of the year in Saturday night’s 30-lap Leffler Energy Dirt Classic Showcase.“We never
touched,” said Hodnett over the din of boos which were there to meet him in victory lane, “I had to do what I had to do to win. I had a good car. They were out in front, and we chased him down and lucky enough to pass him on the last lap.” The event included a last lap challenge which polesitter and outside front row starter Lucas Wolfe turned down to go for the top prize and an automatic qualifying spot for Lincoln’s September 24th Third Annual Dirt Classic. Ryan Smith, who was slated to start third, accepted the last row challenge, and earned $2,050 by advancing from 24th staring spot to finish 15th. Third through fifth were Stevie Smith, Brent Marks (who came from
14th starting spot), and Gerard McIntyre, Jr. Sixth through tenth were Danny Dietrich, Adam Wilt, Chase Dietz, Aaron Ott, and Brian Montieth. Fast time in time trials over the 34-car field was set by Brandon Rahmer with a one-lap time of 13.706-seconds. Heats were won by Montieth, Wolfe, Stevie Smith, and Robbie Kendall, with Brandon Rahmer winning the B-Main. And, of course, Greg Hodnett won the Dash. Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 27-Greg Hodnett; 2. 1-Lucas Wolfe; 3. 51S-Stevie Smith; 4. 19M-Brent Marks; 5. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich; 7. 15-Adam Wilt; 8. 2D-Chase Dietz; 9. 25-Aaron Ott; 10. 21-Brian Montieth; 11. 59-Jim Siegel; 12. 55K-Robbie Kendall; 13. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 14. 11C-Cory Haas; 15. 94-Ryan Smith; 16. 8-Billy Dietrich; 17. 37-JJ Grasso; 18. 87-Alan Krimes; 19. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe; 20. 1X-Chad Trout; 21. 10K-Joe Kata, III; 22. 5-Tyler Ross (DNF); 23. 21T-Scott Fisher (DNF); 24. 52-Austin Hogue (DNF). No Time
SUSQUEHANNA >> As the memory of all-time leading Susquehanna Speedway late model winner and track champion Carl Billet was being remembered, Randy Stoudt put on a performance that the late Billet did so many times during his illustrious racing career before his untimely death three years ago. Piloting the famous Leinbach Motorsports No. NINE late model, Stoudt wheeled his machine from his 19th starting spot to claim the 40-lap Carl Billet Memorial Saturday night at the York Haven track. The win was the second of the season for the Pottstown driver as he and his team earned the $1,500 payday following his impressive drive through the field. Randy Christine settled for the runner-up spot followed by track point leader Jake Jones, Ralph Morgan and Billet’s son Steve who started 13th. Completing the top 10 finishers were Chris Knopp, Matt Nailor, Shaun Jones, Sam Rial and Matt Murphy. After several early season good runs, Russ Mitten finally visited victory lane in the 25-lap Credit Connection Auto Sales Super Sportsman feature. Chad Criswell finished in the runner-up spot ahead of Mike Enders, Hard Charger Scott Geesey up from the 15th starting spot and Doug Dodson as Scott Dellinger, Tony Jackson, Kenny Edkin, Bruce Buckwalter and Troy Rhome rounded out the top 10 finisher
PORT ROYAL >> Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, Ind., stormed into Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night on his 2016 circular insanity tour as part of the 10th annual USAC Eastern Storm tour itself and by the time the rowdy event had passed over, Clauson had etched his historic name in the record books of the historic oval. Clauson stormed forward from deep in the pack to claim the 30-lap, $6,000 USAC National Sprint Series main event and become the 183rd different driver to win a sprint car main at Port Royal. Brady Bacon rode home second followed by 12th starter Max McGhee of Camby, Indiana, Dave Darland and CJ Leary of Greenfield, Indiana. Sixth through 10th went to Jerry Coons Jr., Shane Golobic, a rebounding Robert Ballou with fixed steering, Carmen Perigo and Isaac Chapple.