Drevicki, Hoch among winners at Action Track
KUTZTOWN >> A Night at the Races with Weaknecht Archery and Moonshine Camo provided the fans with opportunities to shoot a crossbow, win prizes, and possibly catch one of many, many Tshirts that were tossed into the stands on Wednesday, June 22, at the JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA on the Kutztown Fairgrounds. “FUN” was the operative word, and a good time was had by all.
On the track, the night could be described “a bit bizarre” as the exciting competition mixed in with a fence-ripping tumble, a four-wide battle for second as cars crossed the finish line in the Junior Slingshot main, and a declaration of CoWinners in another class.
Steve Drevicki, the two-time ARDC Midget Champion who is now dividing his focus between USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs and 358 Sprint Cars, finally shook off the hard luck that has plagued him on Wednesday nights to win the 30-lap SpeedSTR feature.
Dylan Hoch captured his third triumph of the season in the NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Atlantic Silver Tour event for the All Star Slingshots. On Thursday, Bobby Butler and Jesse Maurer were declared Co-Winners of the Hyper Racing 600 Sprint feature. And Fleetwood, Pa. racer Kyle Smith won the Junior Slingshot main.
The JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA is now on its summer break - there will not be any racing at the speedway until Wednesday, July 13, as the annual Folk Festival takes over the Kutztown Fairgrounds. When the intensely competitive racing programs return on the 13th, the Hyper Racing 600 Sprints will be in the spotlight as they battle in the Tri-Track Challenge, a three race series that includes Linda’s Speedway and Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway. The Action Track USA winner will go home with $1,000, provided he or she takes the Gambler’s Challenge. Joining the 600 Sprints on AEI Equipment/ Checkered Flag Fan Club Night will be the USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs and the NAPA Auto Parts All Star Slingshots.
LINCOLN >> Lance Dewease was never really gone. But his performances in a limited number of appearances has amazed even the most doubting fans in 2016. Dewease started on the pole, followed outside front row starter Lucas Wolfe for the first eight laps, drove by the Zemco #1 in heavy lapped traffic on lap eight to take the lead for good in claiming the $7,000 top prize on what turned out to be opening night of the 26th Annual Pennsylvania Speedweek Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway.
“It’s fun to be back,” said Dewease after scoring his 39th career Lincoln win in 17th Annual Kevin Gobrecht Memorial. “It’s been a long time since they’ve been here, and I haven’t raced here any this year.”
It was the first Kreitz car win at Lincoln in 10 years. Danny Dietrich found a burst of speed over the final laps to close within two car-lengths of Dewease at the finish, just .284 seconds behind the winner. Stevie Smith settled for third, with Greg Hodnett and Lucus Wolfe rounding out the top five. Dewease’s win in the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial gave him the early points lead in the Speedweek series (166), 15 points ahead of Danny Dietrich (151), followed by Hodnett (148), Stevie Smith (143), and Wolfe (135). Sixth through tenth were 13th-starting Brent Marks, hard charger Aaron Ott (who came from 19th), Brian Montieth, Alan Krimes, and Robbie Kendall.
SELINGSGROVE >> The start was crucial according to winner Davie Franek, of Wantage, N.J., after the 360 Sprint Car feature was over. Franek marked his second straight win at the speedway as well as his second Firecracker 30 win in a row Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway. Franek went by Mark Smith in turn four on the first lap and never relinquished the race lead. A great battle for third between Larry Kelleher, Matt Campbell, and Derek Locke was interrupted by a yellow flag on lap 10. The field was brought back to Franek’s rear bumper and Mark Smith pulled even with Franek on the restart, but quickly settled back into second. Smith would stay there until the checkered flag. Locke worked by Kelleher for third. Eric Tomecek rounded out the top five finishers. Jason Schultz was sixth followed by the IBEW Local Union 1319 hard charger Nate Snyder. Matt Campbell took the top honors for the 358 engine competitors from Newville Family of Companies and Lelands.com. Campbell finished eighth with Michael Walter and Jim Shuster the top ten finishers.
Coleby Frye picked a good number to allow the 0 car to start at the front. His goal was to stay there for the full 25 laps in the second race of the Moon Shine Camo Route 35 Challenge Series.
Chad Hollenbeck finished in second with Andy Haus, Hamburg, rounding out the podium finishers. Bryan Bernheisel finished in fourth. Tim Wilson gained a bunch of spots at the end to finish in fifth. Danny Snyder, Steve Campbell, Coleby Frye, Dylan Yoder, and Mike Lupfer rounded out the top ten finisher
PENNSYLVANIA SPEED WEEK >> The opening race of Speedweeks was rained out at Williams Grove on Friday evening. Race #2 moved to Lincoln where Lance Dewease drove to a $7,000 victory. Sunday’s race was at Path Valley under the promotion of Fred Rahmer with no results at press time. Drivers were off Monday and then Tuesday traveled to Grandview. Wednesday they go to Hagerstown, Md., and on Thursday to Port Royal Speedway. Friday evening will be the Mitch Smith Memorial with $10,000 to win. Saturday its back to Port Royal and then the series will conclude at Selingsgrove on Sunday.
POSTPONEMENTS >> Racing at Susquehanna on Thursday and Williams Grove on Friday were rained out.