WKA: Sandy Hook Speedway report

By Bruce C. Walls - Special to Motorsport.com

SANDY HOOK, MD-Temperatures in the 40's didn't deter more than 50 racers who showed up at Sandy Hook Speedway in Sandy Hook, MD for club racing on the 1/5-mile banked tri-oval Saturday October 27th. Philadelphia, PA based Twister kart pilot Joe Rentz scored two wins on a very cold track that was twice damped by short drizzles.

Renz's Ensor Speed Shop powered kart captured that Saturday's first feature Briggs Stock Medium. Trailing him across the finish line in the top five were Mark Grebe, Todd Rothermel, Donnie Williams and Chris Knopp.

"The Lighting Kart by Twister worked real good once the tires got warm, but it was still tough going into the turns, but the engine Ensor Speed Shop built made up for it," credited the DT Racing/Blue Rocks Campground/Ensor Speed Shop backed winner who is currently second in the club points chase.

Rentz also claimed Comer Medium's checkered flag. From an outside pole start Renz battled side-by-side with pole winner Rick White the first time around and then Rentz rocketed away from the field for a comfortable win.

"Winning two is getting pretty normal we got hooked up this year," Renz boasted. "The kart was awesome on this one, I had a little trouble with the carb, I was trying to figure out how to make it work in the cold and once it did it was strong," he added with thanks to kart owner George Pierce.

Rounding out the field behind Renz were White and Paul Kockis.

John Kenny led Junior Stock wire-to-wire finishing with a huge advantage over second place Hillary Vansciver. Completing the field behind her were Jason Ness and Chris Braun.

Gaithersburg, MD based Tyler Sandmeyer showed the way in Junior Sportsman-1 after taking advantage of a caution restart just before half way and grabbing the lead from pole winner Andrew Rothermel.

"The kart ran real good and the GT Machine motor was really fast," said the 10-year-old Bandit Y2K kart pilot who admitted, "I was slipping and sliding out there. This is only my second oval race and I'm doing it in my road course kart."

Toby Parese took second; Rothermel ran third, Aly McQuitty followed in fourth and Will McMillan who completed the top five.

Viper Racing Engines powered Trick kart pilot Nate Drzal dominated Junior Sportsman-2 from start to finish. Dusty Houseman finished a distant second and was followed across the stripe by Drew Weisser, Thomas Zambeno and Holly Lambert.

"The Trick Kart handled great and the Viper Racing motor ran excellent," said the 11-year-old Weaver's Kart Shop/T&E Motorsports backed Wernersville, PA based pilot.

Dan Hughes dominated most of the Stock Heavy race, but when the final flag flew it was for Lancaster, PA based Viper Racing Engines powered Titan kart pilot Jeff Welsh. Welsh took the lead in time to take the white flag and led the field around for the win.

"The kart was pushing the first half of the race. It took half of the race to come in since the track's so cold," Welsh described. "Once it came in the kart handled great and the motor ran great."

Following Hughes across the finish line were Donnie Williams and Larney Johnson

Doug Beck dominated Stock Super Heavy. Trailing him across the stripe were Fred Krajcic, Jason Pritt and Fred Knopp.

On his first time oval racing this season Mt. Airy, MD pilot Robert Mitchell ruled Senior Stock. "The motor was powerful and the kart was good, but it pushed a little in the wetness," Mitchell said.

Krajcic came in second and was trailed in the top five by Hughes, Ken Aiosa and Doug Jefferson.

Oval racers have two more chances to earn club points at Sandy Hook Speedway, November 10 and 17th.