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. But the knowledgeable Kutztown racing fans realize that Hartman has struggled and faced major disappointment so far this season, so they acknowledged his exciting drive to victory in a positive manner.

The Hyper Racing Wingless 600 Sprint feature was equally as exciting as the SpeedSTR main.

Pottstown’s Tim Buckwalter edged Nate Brinker to the finish line by 0.168 seconds for his first 600 Sprint win this season.

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 alltime 600 Sprint wins at the speedway.

Add in Buckwalter’s eight career SpeedSTR victories, and he has more total wins than anyone else at Action Track USA. Billy Pauch Jr. is second in total career victories with 14.

Mertztown’s Dylan Hoch pulled away as the laps clicked off for the win in the All-Star Slingshots. It was the defending track champion’s first victory of the year at Action Track USA, and the sixth of his career at the speedway. That ties him with Brett Bieber and Mark Sensenig for the most career Slingshot wins at AT USA.

CARL HESS - FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA One of the most exciting duels of the night had the fans on their feet cheering on long time favorite Kenny Brightbill (#19) as he and Tim Buckwalter (#7) battled for second place behind Jay Hartman in the SpeedSTR main event.