BIG DIAMOND >> The forecast of afternoon showers and thunderstorms gave way to late-day sunshine which allowed for a great night of racing at Big Diamond Speedway as the sportsman took center stage on Friday night for their Twin 20 features. Former track champion Doug Hendricks, of Orwigsburg, scored the win in the first 20-lap feature while Brandon Grosso won the nightcap; his third sportsman win in four races at the track this year. Other winners on Friday night were Brett Kressley in the 358 modifieds, Andy Fayash III in the roadrunners and Lee Allen in the Enduro Dash 60.
358 modifieds feature (25 laps): 1. Brett Kressley, 2. Dale Hartz, 3. Ryan Godown, 4. Ray Swinehart, 5. Jeff Strunk, 6. Billy Pauch Jr., 7. Ryan Grim, 8. Rick Laubach, 9. Ryan Watt, 10. Andy Burkhart, 11. Heath Metzger, 12. Kevin Beach, 13. Ron Haring Jr., 14. Paul Moyer, 15. Jimmy Bobbitt Jr., 16. Shawn Fitzpatrick, 17. Colt Harrisburg, 18. Craig VonDohren, 19. Duane Howard, 20. Jimmy Reppert, 21. Justin Grim, 22. Jay Allen, 23. John Williman, 24. Scott Albert. Heat winners: Laubach, Albert.
Sportsman modifieds feature 1 (20 laps): 1. Doug Hendricks, 2. Brandon Grosso, 3. Billy Moyer Jr., 4. Tim Fitzpatrick, 5. Charles Fayash, 6. Wayne Witmer, 7. Ray Woodall Jr., 8. Matt Clay, 9. Kyle Gruber, 10. Matt Stangle, 11. Ray Woodall Sr., 12. Brad Arnold, 13. Ed Mrochko, 14. Greg Cole, 15. Kris Lillick, 16. Skylar Sheriff.
Sportsman modifieds feature 2 (20 laps): 1. Grosso, 2. Stangle , 3. Hendricks, 4. Moyer Jr., 5. Fitzpatrick, 6. Witmer, 7. Fayash, 8. Woodall Jr., 9. Mrochko, 10. Gruber, 11. Clay, 12. Lillick, 13. Sheriff. DNS: Greg Cole, Brad Arnold, Shawn Light, Ray Woodall Sr.
Roadrunners feature (20 laps): 1. Andrew Fayash III, 2. Kody Sites, 3. Chuck Eckert, 4. Jeremy Becker, 5. Terry Kramer, 6. Tim Fitzpatrick Jr., 7. Steve Gromis, 8. T.J. Fitzpatrick, 9. Tim Spesak, 10. Kris Ney, 11. Luke Arbogast, 12. Nate Hill, 13. Jim Kost. DNS: Devin Trexler, Kyle Wingle, Shon Elk Heat winners: Sites, T. Fitzpatrick Jr.
Enduro (60 laps): 1. Lee Allen, 2. Scott Lord, 3. Gary Landis, 4. Chris Graber, 5. Kris Angstadtt, 6. Caleb Bordner, Chuck Detweiler.
GRANDVIEW >> Nine features have been run at Grandview Speedway since the 2016 April opener and thus far it has produced nine different winners in the three regularly scheduled NASCAR divisions.
Frank Cozze, in his second season behind the wheel of the Tom Umbenhauer-owned/Harry’s U-Pull It sponsored mount now sporting the No. 4, was MIA last week attending his daughter’s wedding. He returned this week and started the evening off right by winning the second heat. He then led the T.P. Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified All-American Racing Series 30-Lap feature from start to finish and one-hour prior to winning the event he learned his son and daughter-in-law made him a grandfather. The 60-year old Wind Gap veteran, who hasn’t won since July 2013, didn’t have an easy task in scoring his second Grandview victory. He dealt with lapped cars, three-wide racing with Kenny Gilmore and eventual runner-up Rick Laubach. “The track was tricky tonight because it was slippery and I didn’t want to make any stupid mistakes with the lap cars commented the elated winner and this win really helped the team.”
Defending late model champion Chuck Schutz and the Ty Zeigler-owned team really worked hard the past week to repair the No. ONE car that suffered significant damage the week before in the feature and arrived late to the track as they were putting the finishing touches on the car. Things finally went better for the seven-time champ as he turned crash into cash this week to score his first win of the season in the BRC NASCAR 25-Lap Late Model feature. He couldn’t thank everyone enough for all their efforts.
Sportsman action proved that it isn’t over until it’s over. After Craig Whitmoyer, at the head of the pack, and Mike Lisowski, glued to his bumper trying to regain control went into the first turn after taking the one to go signal, Whitmoyer bobbled a bit. Lisowski quickly took advantage of the situation and took back the lead. Lisowski went on to score his first win of the year.
EASTERN MUSEUM OF MOTOR RACING >> This Sunday, May 1st, Modified drivers, Meme DeSantis and Ryan Watt will race in the 15th Annual Gary Wolford Fish Fry “Blindfold Race” against several Central Penn Drivers at the Latimore Valley Fairground in York Springs. Fish and French Fries are provided by donations to the public and admission is free.
CIRCLE M SPEEDWAY >> Saturday, May 7th, the Mates family will host the 6th annual Eddie Mates Jr. Memorial vintage racing reunion at the Circle M Ranch Speedway. More the 40 cars are expected including one from Florida, A past winner is also expected as Dave Marberger will make the trip from Florida. Also coming will be Eastern Super Star, Billy Pauch along with Dave Dissingers 2 seat Modified driven by Craig Whitmoyer. Gates open at 8 am with track time at 10 til 3. Food and vendors on site and admission is free. For more info contact Ken Johnson, 610-562-4425
WILLIAMS GROVE >> Brian Montieth shot from fourth to first on the opening lap and went on to win the Tommy Hinnershitz Memorial Spring Classic Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. For Montieth, the driver of Jerry Parrish’s No. 21, the win was his 21st at the track and worth $6,000. It was his first Grove win of the season.. The Phoenixville racer would get the win by 0.760 seconds. Danny Dietrich, Greg Hodnett, Stevie Smith and Ryan Smith completed the top five. Doug Esh, Alan Krimes, Freddie Rahmer, Lucas Wolfe and Cory Haas rounded out the top 10. Hodnett set fast time over the 26-car field with a lap of 16.971 seconds. S. Smith, Montieth, Wolfe, and R. Smith completed the top five qualifiers. Drivers were given only one lap in time trials due to the impending weather.
Sprint Car Feature (30 laps): 1. Brian Montieth. 2. Danny Dietrich. 3. Greg Hodnett. 4. Stevie Smith. 5. Ryan Smith. 6. Doug Esh. 7. Alan Krimes. 8. Freddie Rahmer. 9. Lucas Wolfe. 10. Cory Haas. 11. Aaron Ott. 12. Pat Cannon. 13. Frankie Herr. 14. Brock Zearfoss. 15. Joe Trenca. 16. Austin Hogue. 17. Troy Fraker. 18. Rodney Westhafer. 19. Dave Blaney. 20. Matt Campbell. 21. Brent Marks. 22. Steve Buckwalter. 23. Lance Dewease. 24. Tim Glatfelter.
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY >> Danny Dietrich shook off some early season bad luck in scoring his first win of the year in the 25-lap “410” sprint car feature at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night. Austin Hogue was second. Third through fifth were Jim Siegel (who moved into the Lincoln points lead after advancing from seventh starting spot), Robbie Kendall, and tenth-starting Adam Wilt. Completing the top ten were Gerard McIntyre, Jr., 13th-starting Freddie Rahmer, Kyle Moody, Tim Glatfelter, and 16th-starting Steve Owings. Heats for the 30 410 sprints were won by Brian Montieth (who flipped in turn while running ninth on lap 12 of the feature and was credited with 23rd), Glatfelter, and Danny Dietrich, with Brandon Rahmer winning the consolation. Defending Central PA and Lincoln champion Doug Hammaker claimed his first Lincoln win of the year in the 20-lap “358” sprint car feature.
PORT ROYAL >> The Low Rider, Dale Blaney of Hartford, Ohio, scored the big win in Saturday night’s inaugural Keith Kauffman Classic sanctioned by the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints at Port Royal Speedway. Blaney led all 30 laps of the special event, putting on a passing clinic with the lead while his brother Dave put on a clinic of his own from the 24th starting sport before finishing a challenging fourth. The victory for Dale Blaney was the veterans 129th career checkers with the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints tour that ironically is the same amount of wins that race namesake Kauffman ended his career with at Port Royal Speedway, as the winningest driver in oval history. Dale Blaney took the win over Chad Kemanah by 5.760 seconds with Greg Hodnett following in third.
Dave Blaney was fourth and Steve Buckwalter completed the top five. Sixth through 10th went to Brent Marks, Ryan Smith, Sheldon Haudenschild, TJ Michael and 17th starter Blane Heimbach. Lucas Wolfe set fast time over the field with a lap of 17.092 seconds.
Hayes Mattern started second and raced to his first career win at Port Royal Speedway over a fast closing Andy Haus of Hamburg Haus closed on Mattern over the final four tours but up and comer Mattern was stout enough to preserve his lead for the victory. Mattern took the win by .677 seconds over point leader Haus, 12th starter Jim Yoder, Mike Lupfer and Dave Zona completed the top five. Sixth through 10th went to Billy Wampler, Jeff Rine, Andrew Yoder, Tony Adams and Tim Wilson.
