Weekly racing has started to pick up with several more tracks opening or having a practice. Both Williams Grove and Big Diamond had a practice session on Sunday, while one track, Port Royal, postponed its opener because of cold weather. Williams Grove and Port Royal plan openers for this coming weekend. Big Diamond will open Sunday afternoon with 358 Modifieds 30 laps for $3,000 to win/$300 to take the green. Sportsman 20 Laps/$1,000 to win, Roadrunners 20 Laps/$300 to win.
LINCOLN SPEEDWAYDanny Dietrich turned in a dominant performance at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night, driving away from the field to win the 25-lap ‘410’ sprint car feature and claim his first win in the Pigeon Hills since last July.
In the process, he moved alongside his dad with 19 career Lincoln wins.
‘I sure hope to pass him…maybe even next week!’ joked Dietrich upon exiting the Gary Kauffman-owned #48, ‘But to get to where I’m at, I have to thank him, Gary, and everyone that sponsors this car. Without my dad, my brother, and Gary, I couldn’t do it.’
A redraw of the top four finishers from the qualifiers place Dietrich third for the start. He passed outside front row starter Kyle Moody for second on lap four, just before the only caution of the race came out for his brother (Billy), who came to a stop in turn four.
Dietrich followed polesitter Brent Marks for six more laps before making the pass as the leaders hit lapped traffic on lap 11. From there, Dietrich drove away to a 1.78-second win over Marks, with Greg Hodnett, Kyle Moody, and Lance Dewease completing the top five. Sixth through tenth were J.J. Grasso, Brian Montieth, opening day winner Adam Wilt, Gerard McIntyre, Jr., and Cory Haas.
Heats for the 30 ‘410’ sprinters were won by Billy Dietrich, Chad Kemenah, and Grasso, with Austin Hogue winning the consolation.
Defending track champ Niki Young started on the pole led every lap of the 20-lap season opener for ‘358’ sprint cars, holding off heavy pressure from 2013 Williams Grove champ Kevin Nouse for his eighth career Lincoln win.
J.R. Rodriguez started on the pole and held off the race long challenges of Cam Ziegler and then a last-lap challenge from good friend Gene Knaub in the 20-lap 358 late model feature. Knaub, who started eighth, caught Zeigler for the runner-up spot following an 18th lap restart and closed on Rodriguez, but the neon orange #71 crossed two car lengths in front at the end.
Zeigler finished third, with Pat Beard and Tyler Horst completing the top five.
Next Saturday, March 29, the 410 Sprinters will be joined by the Super Sportsman and Legends. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m., with gates opening at 4 p.m.
HAGERSTOWN SPEEDWAYResiding in south western Pennsylvania and already racing in six states besides Pa. with the NDRL in 2014, Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill made his 12th race, at Hagerstown Speedway, his first victory of the season and first ever at Hagerstown.
Zeigler, who started on the outside pole of the Late Model feature following a four car inversion, took the lead on the start and led all 25 laps. Following a restart with six laps to go, Zeigler was feeling the pressure from Jason Covert but able to hold him off and get to the finish with two lengths to the good. Hamburgs, Andy Haus made a 16th place finish in his first outing for the 2014 Super Late Models season.
NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAYRyan Godown of Ringoes, NJ started off the 2014 season in impressive fashion at New Egypt Speedway Saturday evening as he took top honors in the 60 lap RoC Tour Modified feature event. The ‘Cabin Fever 60’ season opener for both the series and the speedway saw Godown draw the worst starting position he could, 12th, and then racing thru the field passing some of the best drivers in northeast dirt racing on his way to his 29th career victory at NES. The win ties him with Kenny Brightbill for second on the all-time win list at New Egypt Speedway.
Feature (60 Laps): 1. Ryan Godown 2. Rick Laubach 3. Danny Johnson 4. Matt Sheppard 5. Stewart Friesen 6. Rocco Infante 7. Craig Van Dohren 8. Sammy Piazza 9. Billy Pauch 10. JR Heffner 11. Ryan Anderson 12. Brad Trice 13. Jimmy Blewett 14. Frank Cozze 15. Ryan Watt 16. Robin Schultz 17. DJ Ruppert 18. Andrew Krause 19. Neal Williams 20. Anthony Perrego 21. Jimmy Horton 22. Justin Grim 23. Billy Pauch Jr. 24. Joey Colsten 25. Mike Colsten
