Lincoln Speedway results 2004-05-08

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 5/8/04 - "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.

"I've got to thank (car owner) Joe Harz for sticking through with me last year," added Rahmer, "I would have booted my ass...also I've got to thank Miller Brothers, Mike Stare from Materials Handling, Jeff and Nate...there's just so many people."

"We did a lot of stuff this week," said Rahmer. "Vince got our VRP Shocks working really well. It's just a really good deal. Tonight was the first time I felt like you could move around on the track and race all over," said Rahmer, "I'm just glad to win a race."

Heats for the 22 "410" sprinters were won by Leppo, Eash and Knopp.

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.

"This may be the fastest race car I was ever in," said Krimes in victory lane, "I'm glad we race here again for the next two weeks, and I wish we'd race here every week."

Krimes was clearly the class of the field. After starting outside row five, Krimes was in seventh by the end of the second lap, advanced to fifth by lap four, passed Keith Prutzman for fourth on lap five, got by Mike Creaghan for third on lap six, and drove around Randy Rhoads into the runner-up spot on lap nine.

The race-winning pass came as Krimes drove around Travis Keeney in turns three and four of lap 11. Keeney, who started fourth, had led since the fourth lap, when Scott Geesey spun while leading exiting the second turn.

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, Rhoads crossed third, with Prutzman completing the top five. Sixth through tenth were Keeney, Creaghan, Brad McClelland, Billy Dietrich, and 22nd-starting T.J. Stutts.

Heats for the 33 "358" sprinters were won by Keeney, Creaghan and Aaron Long. Long was then disqualified for being light at the scales in the post race inspection, forcing seven cars to be qualified in the consolation, an event won by Todd Rittenhouse Jr. Long just missed the transfer with an eighth-place finish in the consi.

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.

The race was a thrilling one once again as Potts, Smith, Craig Wagaman, and Mike Walls were all contending for the lead at some point. Things got really exciting on the ninth lap when Potts was forced high by a lapped car exiting the second turn, allowing Smith and Wagaman to slip under into first and second respectively.

Wagaman was literally pushing Smith the next few laps, but on the 13th lap Wagaman slowed exiting the fourth turn and came to a stop ending his bid for a second win at Lincoln. At this point ninth-starting Walls was on Smith's bumper for the restart with 14th-starting Mike Zeigler Jr. and Potts in tow.

Smith was able to hold off Walls challenges the rest of the way, including a two-lap dash to the checkered to register the win by 38-hundredth's of a second over Walls.

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

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

Heats for the 28 thundercars were won by Bernie Beard, Neil Smith and Gary Potts.

Next Saturday night, May 15th, it will be York County Racing Club Night with card-carrying members receiving discounts on general admission tickets. All three (3) point divisions will be in action for the 7:30 PM show - the Cindy Rowe Paintless Dent Repair 410 Sprints, 358 Sprints & Thundercars. Make note, with this event, Lincoln Speedway will switch to it's regular Summer-time starts @ 7:30 PM.

RACE RESULTS
Saturday - May 8, 2004

410 Sprints:

Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 88H-Fred Rahmer ($2,500); 2. 30-Doug Esh; 3. 12-Greg Hodnett; 4. 71-Brian Leppo; 5. 17E-Cris Eash; 6. 77-Lance Dewease; 7. 6W-Josh Wells; 8. 38-Chappy Knaack; 9. 6K-Chris Knopp; 10. X-Bobby Weaver; 11. 70-Sam Schlosberg; 12. 22-Kenny Jacobs; 13. 10N-Niki Young; 14. 4-Eric Stambaugh; 15. 66-Glenndon Forsythe; 16. A18-Becca Anderson; 17. 47J-Jeff Busby; 18. 29K-Brent Kluge; 19. 7K-Dan Shetler (DNF); 20. 21-Brian Montieth (DNF); 21. 59-Jim Siegel (DNF); 22. 32-Brook Weibley (DNF). No Time

Lap Leaders - Bobby Weaver (1-7), Brian Leppo (8-21), Fred Rahmer (22-25)

1st Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 71-Brian Leppo; 2. 38-Chappy Knaack; 3. 12-Greg Hodnett; 4. 30-Doug Esh; 5. 10N-Niki Young; 6. 7K-Dan Shetler; 7. 47J-Jeff Busby; 8. 29K-Brent Kluge. Time - 2:25.04

2nd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 17E-Cris Eash; 2. 59-Jim Siegel; 3. X-Bobby Weaver; 4. A18-Becca Anderson; 5. 21-Brian Montieth; 6. 66-Glenndon Forsythe (DNF); 7. 4-Eric Stambaugh (DNF). No Time

3rd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 6K-Chris Knopp; 2. 88H-Fred Rahmer; 3. 6W-Josh Wells; 4. 77-Lance Dewease; 5. 70-Sam Schlosberg; 6. 32-Brook Weibley; 7. 22-Kenny Jacobs. Time - 2:32.93

358 Sprints:

Feature (20 Laps) - 1. 87-Alan Krimes ($1,000); 2. 7C-Chad Trout; 3. 69R-Randy Rhoads; 4. 11C-Cory Haas; 5. 28-Keith Prutzman; 6. 88K-Travis Keeney; 7. 17M-Michael Creaghan; 8. 6-Brad McClelland; 9. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 10. 39-T.J. Stutts; 11. 88-Danny Dietrich; 12. 22D-Jeff Young; 13. 85-Ken Berwager; 14. 09-Brandon Grandstaff; 15. 98-Troy Becker; 16. 15-Adam Wilt; 17. 12-Tim Long; 18. 73-Rusty Rupp (DNF); 19. 55-Brian Eichelberger (DNF); 20. 49-Bob Howard (DNF); 21. 41-Scott Geesey (DNF); 22. 23-Todd Rittenhouse, Jr.; 23. 52-Steve Clabaugh (DNF); 24. 5-Mike Bittinger (DNF). No time.

Lap Leaders - Scott Geesey (1-10), Alan Krimes (11-20)

1st Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 88-Travis Keeney; 2. 22D-Jeff Young; 3. 41-Scott Geesey; 4. 52-Steve Clabaugh; 5. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 6. 85-Ken Berwager; 7. 23-Todd Rittenhouse Jr.; 8. 83-Michael Hamer; 9. 7V-Mike Lehman (DNF); 10. 39-T.J. Stutts (DNF); 11. 11C-Cory Haas (DNF). No Time

2nd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) 1. 17M-Michael Creaghan; 2. 69R-Randy Rhoads; 3. 7C-Chad Trout; 4. 49-Bobby Howard; 5. 09-Brandon Grandstaff; 6. 5-Mike Bittinger; 7. 97-Tim Hershey (Penalized 4 spots for jumping on the start); 8. 31J-Joey Palmerino; 9. 12-Tim Long; 10. 7M-Mike Mansfield; 11. 14-Will Urkuski. Time - 2:03.49

3rd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) 1. 58-Aaron Long (Disqualified - Light at scales); 2. 28-Keith Prutzman; 3. 98-Troy Becker; 4. 87-Alan Krimes; 5. 15-Adam Wilt; 6. 6-Brad McClelland; 7. 55-Brian Eichelberger; 8. 88-Danny Dietrich; 9. 35-Randy Neiman; 10. 73-Rusty Rupp (DNF); 11. 88J-Rory Janny (DNF). No Time

Consolation (8 Laps/7 to qualify) - 1. 23-Todd Rittenhouse Jr.; 2. 88-Danny Dietrich; 3. 55-Brian Eichelberger; 4. 11C-Cory Haas; 5. 39-Wayne Dutterer; 6. 12-Timmy Long; 7. 73-Rusty Rupp; 8. 58-Aaron Long; 9. 7M-Mike Mansfield; 10. 97-Tim Hershey (DNF); 11. 35-Randy Neiman (DNF); DNS - 83-Michael Hamer, 31J-Joey Palmerino, 7V-Mike Lehman, 14-Will Urkuski, 88J-Rory Janny. Time - 2:08.58

Thundercars:

Feature (20 Laps) - 1. 1-Neil Smith ($250); 2. B52-Mike Walls; 3. 21A-Mike Zeigler Jr.; 4. 5-Gary Potts; 5. 81-Mike Zeigler Sr.; 6. 2-Dan Zechman; 7. 70-Duane Hahn; 8. 61-Mike Ciezobka; 9. 12-Jake Markey; 10. X-Bernie Beard; 11. 33-Jeff Allen; 12. 52-Nat Tuckey; 13. 15-Doug Devilbiss; 14. 00-Barry Williams Jr.; 15. 3-Mike Gladfelter; 16. 8-Mike Gladfelter II; 17. 37-Jim Rost; 18. 72-Wayne Esbenshade; 19. 31-Ron Schultz (DNF); 20. 39-Wayne Dutterer (DNF); 21. 30-Craig Wagaman (DNF); 22. 54-Roy Warehime (DNF); 23. 91-Tom Slusser Jr. (DNF); 24. 34M-Jim Martz Jr. (DNF). No Time

Lap Leaders - Jim Martz Jr. (1-2), Gary Potts (3-8), Neil Smith (9-20)

1st Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. X-Bernie Beard; 2. 52-Nat Tuckey; 3. 34M-Jim Martz, Jr.; 4. 37-Jim Rost; 5. 8-Mike Gladfelter II; 6. 15-Doug Devilbiss (DNF); 7. 3-Mike Gladfelter (DNF); 8. 61-Mike Ciezobka (DNF); 9. 12-Jake Markey (DNF); 10. W-Bryan Wagaman (DNS). No Time

2nd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 1-Neil Smith; 2. 2-Dan Zechman; 3. 30-Craig Wagaman; 4. B52-Mike Walls; 5. 21A-Mike Zeigler, Jr.; 6. 39-Wayne Dutterer; 7. 00-Barry Williams, Jr.; 8. 61S-Mike Slaybaugh (DNF); 9. 14-Chet McCormick (DNF); 10. 20-Sam Gallagher (DNF). No Time

3rd Heat (4 Laps due to time limit/6 to qualify) - 1. 5-Gary Potts; 2-81-Mike Zeigler, Sr.; 3. 54-Roy Warehime; 4. 31-Ron Schultz; 5. 70-Duane Hahn; 6. 91-Tom Slusser Jr.; 7. 33-Jeff Allen; 8. 72-Wayne Esbenshade; 9. 0-Eric McClane (DNF). No Time

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