Central Pennsylvania weekend summary 2004-05-10

Rahmer Scores Third Win Of The Year At Lincoln

"I'm just glad to be winning some races and just not looking like some kind of smack."

Those were the words of Fred Rahmer after claiming his third win of the year and the 125th win of his Lincoln career in Saturday's 25-lap 410 sprint car feature. And no one will confuse Rahmer with "some kind of smack" after notching the 299th sprint car and 398th overall win of his illustrious career.

Rahmer passed sophomore sensation Brian Leppo with four laps-to-go for the lead and pulled away to a 2.21-second victory. In the process, he upped his all-time Lincoln win total to within 25 wins of all-time win leader Steve Smith.

"The only thing I'm worrying about is my next win," said Rahmer when asked about his pursuit of Smith's all-time 150 win mark.

"We've been one of the faster cars, we just were not winning any races," said Rahmer, "I'm tired of just being one of the front cars, I want to be a winner. Last year I run around here like some kind of...I don't know what...then got the Hard Luck Award at the end of the year. That was just a boot in my ass. That's all that I needed."

Outside frontrow starter Bobby Weaver grabbed the lead at the outset over polesitter Chappy Knaack and paced the field for the first seven laps. Sixth-starting Leppo flexed his young muscles early, tracking down the leader and going after his bid for a career first win in the senior sprint division by passing the veteran Weaver coming off the second turn of the eighth lap.

Leppo then tried to put as much distance as he could between himself and the field. And for good reason. Rahmer, who started 12th, was on the move to the front.

The Salfordville speedster passed two-time Lincoln winner Doug Esh (who started 10th) following a seventh-lap caution restart to move into fourth, and then quickly disposed of Memphis driver Greg Hodnett before the seventh lap was complete to move into third. Rahmer continued his march to the front by passing Weaver for the runner-up spot just after Leppo had taken the lead on the ninth lap.

Rahmer then slowly chipped away at the Spring Grove racers' 1.48-second lead as they entered lapped traffic on the 13th lap. By the time they entered heavy lapped traffic on the 21st lap, Rahmer was right on Leppo's tail.

Rahmer then made his race-winning move exiting the second turn of the 22nd lap.

"Dave (Yingst) had his car working real well," said Rahmer about Brian Leppo's great run out in front, "He came to lapped traffic where I have a little more experience...he did a good job."

"I'm not smart enough to quit," said Rahmer on never giving up the chase of Leppo, "I just keep at it...thanks to all the people sticking with me last year, it was a pretty embarrassing moment, hopefully we'll be able to make our mark this year."

Esh drove around Leppo for second on the next-to-last lap, and Hodnett got by Leppo for third on the final circuit. Leppo and 11th-starting Cris Eash completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were Lance Dewease, Josh Wells, Knaack, Chris Knopp, and Weaver.

Denver's Alan Krimes came from 10th starting spot to claim his first win of the year and second career Lincoln win in the 358 sprint feature. In doing so, he became the fourth different winner in as many races in the Pigeon Hills this year. The race-winning pass came as Krimes drove around Travis Keeney in turns three and four of lap 11.

Chad Trout and Cory Haas both had impressive runs, with Trout coming from 11th starting spot to finish second and points leader Haas advancing from 21st starting spot to finish fourth after crashing in his heat. In between, Randy Rhoads crossed third, with Keith Prutzman completing the top five. Sixth through tenth were Keeney, Creaghan, Brad McClelland, Billy Dietrich, and 22nd-starting T.J. Stutts.

Hanover's Neil Smith grabbed the lead from Gary Potts on lap nine and held off Mike Walls and Mike Zeigler, Jr. to claim his second win of the year in another thrilling 20-lap thundercar feature. It was Lincoln career win number 31 for Smith, who is second on the all-time Lincoln win list behind Bernie Beard's 71 career wins.

Smith was able to hold off two-time winner Mike Walls challenges in the end, including a two-lap dash to the checkered to register the win by 38-hundredth's of a second.

Mike Zeigler Jr. settled for third, Potts fourth and Mike Zeigler Sr. Fifth.

Completing the top-10 were Dan Zechman, Duane Hahn, Mike Ciezobka, Jake Markey and Bernie Beard.

OTHER AREA/REGIONAL RACING ACTION

MARK SMITH WINS THIRD-IN-A-ROW AT PORT

Mark Smith picked up his third win in-a-row, and the fourth in six outings, in 410 sprint competition at Port Royal Speedway Saturday night.

Smith took the checkered for his seventh career win at the Juniata County oval over Todd Hestor, Jeff Shepard, Keith Kauffman and Lucas Wolfe.

Scotty Haus matched Smith's feat in late model action by claiming his third win in-a-row in late model action over Tim Gray and Mike Atherton.

Gary Beward became the fifth different winner in six events in pro stock action.

STUHLER BECOMES TWO-TIME LATE MODEL WINNER AT HAGERSTOWN

Gary Stuhler passed Frankie Plessinger for the lead on the fifth lap and raced away to his second win of the season at Hagerstown Speedway Saturday night in late model action. Stuhler opened the season back in February with his 112th career win and backed it up with his 113th career win over Roy Deese Jr. and Paul Crowl. Mike Warrenfeltz and Bruce Leibowitz split the twin-10 lap features for the pure stocks and Doug Paxson notched his first career win in the late model sportsman main event.

BEIDLEMAN BECOMES 7TH DIFFERENT 358 SPRINT WINNER AT SELINSGROVE

Bob Beidleman kept the streak alive at Selinsgrove Speedway Saturday night by becoming the seventh different winner in as many races in winning the 25-lap 358 sprint feature.

Beidleman led flag-to-flag to earn his seventh career win at the Snyder County oval over Blane Heimbach, Jason Shultz, Kevin Nouse and Dave Emory.

Jeff Rine picked up his third win of the season in late model action over Tony and Bobby Stokes. Gerald Kratzer was awarded the win in the pro stock feature when initial winner Nate Kerstetter's car was found to be light according to track weight rules.

Keith Bissinger picked up his fifth win out of six events in 2004 in roadrunner action.

FRANKIE HERR PICKS UP FIRST OF 2004 IN SILVER SPRING SPORTSMAN ACTION

Defending track champion Frankie Herr drove from his 12th starting spot to win the 25-lap super sportsman feature Saturday night for his first win of the year.

Herr grabbed the lead from race-long leader Chris Reed on the eighth lap and drove away to the convincing win to become the sixth different winner in sportsman competition at Silver Spring.

Dale Hammaker finished second with a last lap pass of Craig Morrow who settled for third, Steve Cannon finished fourth and Reed fifth.

Former Track Champion Scott McCann started on the pole and led all 20 laps to become the third different winner in as many outings in limited late model competition. Mark Billet and Sterling Kinard finished second and third respectively.

Chris Meleason led all 20 laps of the 305-sprint feature for the win.

CRIS EASH EARNS FIRST WILLIAMS GROVE TRIUMPH OF 2004

Hanover's Cris Eash won the 25-lap 410 sprint feature Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway for his first win of the year at the historic Mechanicsburg half-mile.

Eash used an inside move through the third and fourth turns following a caution restart on the 17th lap to pass race-long leader Mark Coldren for the lead and went on to score the 1.72-second win for his third overall win of 2004, and the 22nd of his career at Williams Grove.

Greg Hodnett made a late race charge after starting 12th and took third place on the 24th lap. That allowed him to increase his lead in the 410 sprint point standings.

Ron Kramer finished fourth and Fred Rahmer charged from 14th to fifth. Rick Lafferty, Todd Hestor, Brook Weibley, Mike Erdley and Niki Young completed the top ten.

Etter's T. J. Stutts won the 20-lap 358 sprint main over Kevin Nouse, Jake Raudabaugh, Michael Creaghan and Mark Freeland.

DEWEASE WINS SECOND OF YEAR AT SUSQUEHANNA

Lance Dewease. Picked up his second win of the year out of three events in 410 sprint action at Susquehanna Speedway Park Thursday night. Dewease scored the 2.23 second victory over Fred Rahmer for his 225th career sprint car win. Jeff Shepard finished third, with last week's winner Donnie Kreitz Jr. fourth and Mark Smith fifth.

Rounding out the top ten were Chris Knopp, Jim Siegel, Brian Leppo, Wells, and Eric Stambaugh. Heats went to Siegel, Greg Hodnett, and Rahmer.

Bill Brown Sr. won the Northeast Classic Car event for his second win of the season and Tom Johns topped the Xtreme Enduro Stock Cars.

This week's $100 winner in the Rock-It Pizza School Bus Challenge was Brian Leppo, whose timed lap was 43.52 seconds, besting the mark set a week earlier by Fred Rahmer.

MIKE BITTINGER WINS IN TONY SHIPP 358 SPRINT AT TRAIL-WAY FRIDAY NIGHT

Mike Bittinger drove injured driver Tony Shipps 358 sprinter for the first time Friday night at Trail-Way Speedway and picked up the emotional win in the25 lap feature for his first win of 2004.

About a month ago Tony Shipp was involved in a hot lap crash which saw him suffer serious injury and has side-lined him since. Bittinger who normally drives his own No.12 sprinter, was then asked to drive Shipp's sprint car for the first time Friday night. Bittinger quickly honored that request by battling Neal Amspacher and Dan Richcreek to take the lead and drove to the emotional victory, his first of 2004.

Shipp accompanied Bittinger in victory lane and expressed his gratitude to Bittinger, the crew and sponsors for getting the deal going.

Richcreek finished second, followed by Billy Dietrich in third, last weeks race winner Danny Dietrich in fourth and Rick Horn fifth.

Mount Wolf PA's Gary Potts drove his way to victory lane for the first time in the thundercar feature race over last weeks feature winner Bryan Wagaman ran and brother Craig Wagaman.

Chris "Big Daddy" Holston picked up the win in street stock action.

JIMMY BROOKENS EARNS FOURTH IN TRAIL-WAY MICRO-SPRINT ACTION

Jimmy Brookens led the final ten laps of the 600cc micro-sprint feature to earn his fourth win of 2004 at Trail-Way Speedway Saturday night. Brookens crossed the checkered in front of Ron Taggart and DJ Montgomery.

Eric Eckert led all 20 laps of the 250cc micro-sprint feature for his first career win over Bill Laughman and Brad Weber.

Vintage Cars invaded Trail-Way Speedway for the first time this season with Brian Brooks earning the win in the modified division while Gary Felty won the sportsman division.

In scramble car action, Brad Kress picked up the 12-lap feature win. Justin Mong was the winner in the 4 cylinder Starlite Stock division and in the 6 cylinder division, Buddie Jeffers picked up the win.

JOE DIEHL EARNS CAREER SECOND WIN IN CLINTON COUNTY SPRINT ACTION

Mifflintown driver Joe Diehl won his second career Sprint Car feature event Friday night at Clinton County Speedway over by nearly half a straight away over Joe Davis, Craig Keel, Vince Snyder and Daryl Stimeling.

AY Schilling won in 358 Late Model action while Greg Malek was victorious in Pro Stocks and Lee Zook in 4-Cylinder Enduros.

DALE BLANEY DOMINATES FREMONT ALL STAR ACTION

Dale Blaney dominated Saturday night's All Star sprint action at Fremont Speedway in Ohio by leading all 40 laps for the $5,000 victory. Blaney's earned his first win of 2004 over Lee Jacobs, Bill Rose, John Ivy and Mark Keegan.

ELDRETH PULLS OFF LATE PASS FOR URC NEW EGYPT WIN

Jon Eldreth passed Ed Aikin with two laps to go to score his first United Racing Club (URC) feature win of 2004 Saturday night at New Egypt Speedway in NJ.

Eldreth win was the sixth of his career URC action.

FRIDAY ALL STAR LERNERVILLE RUN POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN

Friday's All Star Circuit of Champions event scheduled for Lernerville Speedway was washed out. Details on the make-up for the Earl and David Bauman Memorial feature from last season will be announced shortly.

DANNY SMITH CELEBRATES HIS FIRST OUTLAWS VICTORY SINCE 1985

Danny Smith made World of Outlaws Sprint Series history Thursday when he won the "A" Feature at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN.

Smith, who has raced with sprint car racing's premier series off and on since its inception in 1978, won his first World of Outlaws Sprint Series main event since the 1985 Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway. No driver in series history has ever gone 18-plus years between "A" Feature victories.

Smith picked up the win over Joey Saldana and Donny Schatz.

PAUL MCMAHAN DOMINATES BLUEGRASS CLASSIC

Paul McMahan won his first World of Outlaws Sprint Series "A" Feature of the 2004 season Saturday, leading all 35 laps in the Bluegrass Classic at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, KY.

The $10,000 victory, the fourth of McMahan's World of Outlaws Sprint Series career, came over Danny Lasoski and Joey Saldana, and pushed him into fourth place in the point standings. Eight drivers have combined to win the first 13 World of Outlaws Sprint Series main events in 2004.

-bill meyer-