Lincoln Speedway 2003-09-20

Abbottstown, PA, 9/20/03 - Lincoln's leading 2003 feature winner added another notch to his belt in claiming the 15th Annual Manufacturers Appreciation Race on Saturday night.

"We had an awesome car tonight," said Eash upon exiting his Advance Settlement Agency #17e in victory lane, "This Maxim chassis is working great, and this Cappetta engine ran real well tonight. We were struggling with it a little bit and made some changes. That turned things around for the better."

Eash, who started fourth in the inversion at the front of the feature field, grabbed the lead from outside front row starter and race-long leader Fred Rahmer at the start-finish line to end lap six, yielded to Fast Freddie on laps seven through nine, then took the lead for good with a low move in turns three and four of lap 10. From there, he held off all challengers for his sixth 410 sprint win of the year in the Pigeon Hills.

The first challenger was Greg Hodnett, who set fast time in a unique time trial format that saw nine different groups of cars run laps for time at the beginning of the racing program. Hodnett, who started sixth, caught Rahmer for second on lap 11 and was closing on Eash when he broke a nozzle and came to a stop on turn four of lap 16, ending his night.

The second challenger was Doug Esh, who assumed second for the restart after passing Rahmer for third on lap 13. Esh closed on the leader from laps 17 through 20 and was clearly the fastest car on the track when he spun behind a flipping Chris Knopp on turn two of lap 22. Knopp, who made hard contact with the second turn wall and spun violently after flipping, complained of chest and back pains and was transported to York Hospital for a check-up after the crash. Esh rejoined the rear of the field for the restart and finished ninth.

The third and fourth challengers were Rahmer and fifth-starting Lance Dewease, who assumed second and third for the 22nd-lap restart. But neither driver had anything for the former Lincoln champ, as Eash cruised to a 2.4-second win. The victory was Eash's 35th at Lincoln, moving him into a sixth-place tie with Johnny Mackison, Sr. on the all-time Lincoln win list.

Rahmer and 2003 champ Dewease crossed second and third, with Todd Shaffer and polesitter Todd Hestor completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Keith Kauffman, Brook Weibley, Bobby Weaver, Esh, and Niki Young.

"It's always nice to pass Fred," said Eash, "They're definitely struggling a little bit. I can feel for them, because I've been on that end of it for a long time. I'm just happy that we got the car working so well and the good Lord above has been looking down on us this year."

The Lincoln team of Dewease, Eash, Rahmer, Esh, and Young easily bested the Port Royal team of Shaffer, Kauffman, Hestor, Mike Erdley, and Adrian Shaffer in the Port Royal vs. Lincoln challenge. Based in feature finishes, the Lincoln drivers scored the challenge win for a second straight year by a score of 114-86.

Hank and Denise Gentzler from Hank's Performance Products lined up more than $79,500 in manufacturers prizes and services which were awareded to the drivers who qualified for the M.A.R. feature event. Prize packages for each of the qualifiers averaged more than $3,200 each. In addition, scores of prizes were given to the fans, including the grand prize of a rocker-recliner from Carl Harz Funiture.

"Hank and Denise (Gentzler) do a really good job on this race. They work hard all year long making phone calls and getting all these companies to put up all these prizes," said Eash, who was one of four Central PA drivers featured in the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's new poster focusing on the Pennsylvania Posse. Eash, Keith Kauffman, Greg Hodnett, and Lance Dewease are the drivers featured in a new poster unveiled at Lincoln Saturday. The poster says "The best drivers in the world don't drive after drinking."

"The fans just about wore my arm out signing all those posters, but it's all for a great cause and I just ask everyone to be careful and safe going home tonight. If you've been drinking, let somebody else drive."

Heats were won by Darren Eash, Adrian Shaffer, Lucas Wolfe and Weibley, with Kauffman returning from a flat tire while leading his heat to win the consolation.

Hodnett's fast time over the 37-car field was 13.079-seconds, computing an average speed of 103.219 MPH.

Gettysburg's Craig Wagaman simply out-classed the field by leading all 20 laps of the thundercar feature for his third win of 2003 at the Pigeon Hills oval.

Wagaman, who started fifth, passed six-starting Mike Zeigler Jr. exiting the fourth turn of the opening lap for the lead. Zeigler battled Wagaman the entire distance, and was pushing the newly-crowned Trail-Way Speedway Thundercar Champion through the turns on occasion in the first half of the race. But Wagaman was superior this night and raced away to his 16th career thundercar win at Lincoln.

Zeigler got above the cushion in the first and second turns on the 17th lap, losing several positions by the time he gathered his racer back under him. 12th-starting Steve Clabaugh took over the runner-up spot at that point and tried to close on the speedy Wagaman to no avail.

Wagaman took the checkered 2.21 seconds ahead for the win over Clabaugh, 10th-starting Neil Smith, Zeigler Jr., and then Mike Zeigler Sr.

Completing the top-10 were Mike Ciezobka (started 13th), David Prunkl (started 19th), Duane Hahn (started 23rd), Allen Cullum (started 7th) and Mike Gladfelter (started 4th).

Heats for the 30 thundercars were won by Wagaman, Nat Tuckey and Clabaugh, with Prunkl winning the consolation.

Next Saturday night, September 27th, Lincoln Speedway celebrates the career of 71-time race winner Kenny Weld in the 7th Annual Kenny Weld Memorial. Carrying a October 10th rain date if needed, the race honors the legendary race car innovator who is fourth on the all-time win list at the Pigeon Hills oval.

The thundercar regulars will round out the evening's racing activities as they continue there battle for the track championship. Gates will open at 5 PM, with time trials for the 410 sprints getting underway at 7 PM.

To get all the latest news, results, schedule changes and rule changes, visit Lincoln Speedway's website at http://www.lincolnspeedway.com to stay up-to-date on all the action or pending weather conditions at Central Pennsylvania's "Premier" Saturday night race track - The Fabulous Lincoln Speedway.

410 Sprints:

Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 17E-Cris Eash ($2,500); 2. 88H-Fred Rahmer; 3. 77-Lance Dewease; 4. 88-Todd Shaffer; 5. 7M-Todd Hestor; 6. 7-Keith Kauffman; 7. 32-Brook Weibley; 8. X-Bobby Weaver; 9. 30-Doug Esh; 10. 10N-Niki Young; 11. 22-Darren Eash; 12. 5W-Lucas Wolfe; 13. 17-Alan Cole; 14. 5-Eric Stambaugh; 15. 71-Brian Leppo; 16. 21-Glenndon Forsythe; 17. 11-Mike Erdley; 18. 25-Adrian Shaffer; 19. 6K-Cris Knopp (DNF); 20. 12-Greg Hodnett (DNF); 21. 17B-Ron Kramer (DNF); 22. 38-Jeff Rohrbaugh (DNF); 23. 2H-Dave Hahn (DNF); 24. 47J-Jeff Busby (DNF). No Time

Lap Leaders - Fred Rahmer (1-5), Cris Eash (6), Fred Rahmer (7-9), Cris Eash (10-25)

Media Camp Center Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 22-Darren Eash ($125); 2. 17E-Cris Eash ($75); 3. 10N-Niki Young ($50); 4. 6K-Chris Knopp; 5. 12-Greg Hodnett; 6. 21P-Brian Montieth; 7. 9-Kevin Schaeffer; 8. 51-Chappy Knaack; 9. 8D-Mike Dillman. Time - 2:19.82

Apple Dealerships Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 25-Adrian Shaffer ($125); 2. 88-Todd Shaffer ($75); 3. 30-Doug Esh ($50); 4. 77-Lance Dewease; 5. 17-Alan Cole; 6. 11-Mike Erdley; 7. 66-Jim Siegel; 8. 7K-Dan Shetler; 9. 16-Gary Rankin. Time - 2:18.75

York Excavating Company Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 5W-Lucas Wolfe ($125); 2. X-Bobby Weaver ($75); 3. 88H-Fred Rahmer; 4. 5-Eric Stambaugh; 5. 17B-Ron Kramer; 6. 7-Keith Kauffman; 7. 10X-Doug Rohrbaugh; 8. 15-Bill Wolf; 9. 38K-Michael Markey (DNF). No Time

Wirtgen Group Heat - (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 32-Brook Weibley; 2. 21-Glenndon Forsythe; 3. 47J-Jeff Busby; 4. 7M-Todd Hestor; 5. 38-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 6. 6W-Josh Wells; 7. 2H-Dave Hahn; 8. 21M-Danny Murray; 9. 71-Brian Leppo; 10. 3W-Chris Webb. Time - 2:22.73.

Consolation (12 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 7-Keith Kauffman; 2. 71-Brian Leppo; 3. 2H-Dave Hahn; 4. 11-Mike Erdley; 5. 38K-Michael Markey; 6. 66-Jim Siegel; 7. 6W-Josh Wells; 8. 21P-Brian Montieth; 9. 9-Kevin Schaeffer; 10. 51-Chappy Knaack; 11. 7K-Dan Shetler; 12. 10X-Doug Rohrbaugh; 13. 8D-Mike Dillman; 14. 16-Gary Rankin; 15. 15-Bill Wolf; 16. 21M-Danny Murray (DNF); 17. 3W-Chris Webb (DNS). Time - 2:52.62

Al Hamilton Used Truck Sales Time Trials -1. 12-Greg Hodnett, 13.079 (103.219 MPH); 2. 77-Lance Dewease, 13.135; 3. 7-Keith Kauffman, 13.176; 4. 71-Brian Leppo, 13.216; 5. 17E-Cris Eash, 13.224; 6. 30-Doug Esh, 13.228; 7. 88H-Fred Rahmer, 13.272; 8. 7M-Todd Hestor, 13.366; 9. 6K-Chris Knopp, 13.380; 10. 66-Jim Siegel, 13.412; 11. X-Bobby Weaver, 13.455; 12. 32-Brook Weibley, 13.498; 13. 88-Todd Shaffer, 13.512; 14. 17B-Ron Kramer, 13.527; 15. 2H-Dave Hahn, 13.577; 16. 22-Darren Eash, 13.618; 17. 17-Alan Cole, 13.636; 18. 5-Eric Stambaugh, 13.637; 19. 21-Glenndon Forsythe, 13.639; 20. 10N-Niki Young, 13.652; 21. 25-Adrian Shaffer, 13.656; 22. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 13.763; 23. 47J-Jeff Busby, 13.781; 24. 51-Chappy Knaack, 13.815; 25. 11-Mike Erdley, 13.822; 26. 38K-Michael Markey, 13.889; 27. 38-Jeff Rohrbaugh, 13.937; 28. 9-Kevin Schaeffer, 13.960; 29. 7K-Dan Shetler, 14.164; 30. 10X-Doug Rohrbaugh, 14.491; 31. 21M-Danny Murray, 14.642; 32. 8D-Mike Dillman, 14.674; 33. 16-Gary Rankin, 14.760; 34. 15-Bill Wolf, 15.149; 35. 6W-Josh Wells, NT; 36. 3W-Chris Webb, NT; 37. 21P-Brian Montieth, (Disqualified-Light at scales).

Thundercars:

Feature (20 Laps) - 1. 30-Craig Wagaman; 2. 10-Steve Clabaugh; 3. 1-Neil Smith; 4. 21A-Mike Zeigler Jr.; 5. 81-Mike Zeigler Sr.; 6. 61-Mike Ciezobka; 7. 8MD-David Prunkl; 8. 70-Duane Hahn; 9. 95-Allen Cullum; 10. 3-Mike Gladfelter; 11. X-Bernie Beard; 12. 51-Chad Myers; 13. 39-Wayne Dutterer; 14. 61D-Randy Doty (1st Alt.); 15. 34M-Jim Martz Jr.; 16. 14-Chet McCormick; 17. 1B-Greg Feltch; 18. 52-Nat Tuckey (DNF); 19. 11-Jim Rost (DNF); 20. B52-Mike Walls (DNF); 21. 3R-Duane Watson (DNF); 22. 88-Tim Hahn (DNF); 23. 61S-Mike Slaybaugh (DNF); 24. 9-Al Cramer (DNF); DNS - 98-Dan Zechman. No Time

Lap Leaders - Craig Wagaman (1-30)

1st Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 30-Craig Wagaman; 2. B52-Mike Walls; 3. 1-Neil Smith; 4. 95-Allen Cullum; 5. 61-Mike Ciezobka; 6. 61S-Mike Slaybaugh; 7. X-Bernie Beard; 8. 67D-Randy Doty; 9. 17H-Dwain Toot; 10. 98-Dan Zechman. No Time

2nd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 52-Nat Tuckey; 2. 81-Mike Zeigler, Sr.; 3. 1B-Greg Feltch; 4. 3-Mike Gladfelter; 5. 11-Jim Rost; 6. 51-Chad Myers; 7. 33-Jeff Allen; 8. 8MD-David Prunkl (DNF); 9. 6G-Ronald Grim (DNF); 10. 70-Duane Hahn (DNF). No Time

3rd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 10-Steve Clabaugh; 2. 34M-Jim Martz Jr.; 3. 21A-Mike Zeigler Jr.; 4. 88-Tim Hahn; 5. 39-Wayne Dutterer; 6. 9-Al Cramer; 7. 3R-Duane Watson; 8. 14-Chet McCormick; 9. 12-Jake Markey; 10. 91-Rom Slusser Jr. (DNF). Time - 2:50.22

Consolation (6 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 8MD-David Prunkl; 2. X-Bernie Beard; 3. 3R-Duane Watson; 4. 14-Chet McComick; 5. 98-Dan Zechman; 6. 70-Duane Hahn; 7. 67D-Randy Doty; 8. 17H-Dwain Toot; 9. 33-Jeff Allen (DNF); DNS - 6G-Ronald Grim, 12-Jake Markey, 91-Tom Slusser Jr.. No Time