Lincoln Speedway Season Finale - 5th Annual Bobby Abel Memorial

Saturday - October 16, 1999 LINCOLN SPEEDWAY Abbottstown, Pa.

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 10/16/99 - "To win the last race in ‘99 at Lincoln...the only thing that would be better would be to win the first race in the year 2000!!"

After being shut out of victory lane eight straight races at Lincoln, Salfordville’s Fred Rahmer ended his 1999 season in grand fashion by setting a new six-lap track record and then leading all 30 laps of the season-ending Bobby Abel Memorial Saturday night for his 25th overall win in 1999.

Rahmer, who started outside the front row, grabbed the lead over polesitter Jesse Wentz of Manchester, MD, at the drop of the green and then survived the loss of his front wing after an 18th lap collision in lapped traffic to pull away over the final laps to take the checkered 4.04 seconds over Todd Shaffer. In the process, he raked in the $3,000 winner’s purse plus $1,869 in lap money.

"I know it couldn’t have been pretty, because I was just hanging on," said Rahmer upon exiting his Al Hamilton-owned Manheim Auto Auction No.77 sprinter in victory lane. "I wish I could have kept the nose wing on there because that car is a brand new car tonight and she’s operating better than anything we’ve had here in a while. I had no control over it. You go down the straightaway and you try to roll out of the gas and set the front end down."

At the outset, Rahmer grabbed the lead with third-starting Dave Haight, Sean Michael, Jesse Wentz and Johnny Mackison Jr. in tow. Michael quickly moved around Haight on the second lap for the runner-up spot as Rahmer motored out to an early 1.39 second lead.

A fierce battle between Michael and Haight for the runner-up spot in lapped traffic ended on the 10th lap when the lapped car of Glendon Forsythe spun in the first and second turns, collecting both Michael and Haight - with Haight rolling onto his side.

Rahmer kept his hold on the top spot on the restart with seventh-starting Todd Shaffer now in second. Rahmer opened up a huge five-second lead over the Millerstown speedster as they headed into lapped traffic on the 15th lap. Rahmer then collided with the lapped car of Todd Gracey exiting the second turn on the 18th lap and lost his front wing, bringing out the second - and final - caution of the 30 lap event for debris.

With the aid of several lapped cars between himself and Shaffer on the restart, Rahmer did everything he could do to keep the nose of his sprinter on the ground as he took off on the restart.

And Rahmer was up to the challenge this night, as he pulled away over the final laps to take the checkered for his 84th career win at the Pigeon Hills oval. The win, Rahmer’s 10th of the year at Lincoln, made him the first driver in Lincoln Speedway history to win 10 or more victories in three consecutive seasons.

"It took a hell of a car with a front wing on to run with this one tonight," Rahmer said emphatically. "They had the car really good and again, I was just fortunate...Moon (Byers) had the car really good and since it was a new car hopefully it’s what we’ve been lacking because Lance (Dewease) looked really good last night - but we were pretty good tonight."

"I really enjoy racing here," Rahmer added. "I mean you’ve got to really sit up in the seat here and drive these things. I think if you can race here you can take what you learn here to most of the other tracks we run at...it can only benefit you."

The win was also Rahmer’s third Bobby Abel Memorial victory (1995, 97, 99).

Shaffer settled for second and was followed by Mackison, Friday night’s Kenny Weld Memorial winner Lance Dewease and Cris Eash. Completing the top 10 were Greg Hodnett, Dave Ely, Jesse Wentz, Keith Kauffman and Danny Jones.

Heats for the 37 super sprints on hand were won by Wentz, Rahmer, Haight and Hodnett. Twin consolations were won by Shawn Keen and Curt Michael.

Rahmer won the $500 winner-take-all Miller Brothers Chevrolet 6-Lap Cash Dash in a record time of 1:23.48 - beating the old record of 1:27.53 set by Billy Wilburn on 4/25/98.

In only his second time in the Tom Kennedy No.7K "358" sprint car, Carlisle’ s Dave Calaman blistered the field in leading all 20 laps to win the final limited sprint race of the season. Calaman, who originally was slated to start third, moved outside polesitter Bob Fisher for the start when Jesse Wentz failed to report out for the feature.

Calaman used his good fortune to grab the lead at the drop of the green and weathered a pair of red flags and a lone caution along the way to out-run polesitter Fisher the entire distance for his first win of 1999.

15th starting Mike Lehman streaked into third place by the fourth lap and held that spot the rest of the way. In another great run, last-row starter Eric Stambaugh clawed his way to a fourth place finish and was followed by Todd Reed in fifth. Completing the top 10 were Dan Dietrich, Tim Hershey, Doug Esh, Billy Dietrich and Bob Camilli.

Heats for the 34 "358" sprints on hand were won by Chad Layton, Esh, Hershey and Dan Dietrich. Twin consolations were won by Cris Eash and Joe Ilg.

As the millennium-ending clock wound-down, Steve Clabaugh led every lap of the caution-filled thundercar feature, then and announced his retirement from the division. Clabaugh declined to announce his plans, but did say he’d stay in racing, probably as a crew member of a car in another division. Father and son Mike Zeigler and Zeigler, Jr. raced for second most of the way, with Zeigler crossing second and Zeigler, Jr. fading to fifth at the end. Third and fourth went to teammates Duane Watson (Friday night’s winner) and Bobby Rudisill.

Heats for the thundercars were won by Watson, Mike Potts and Zeigler Jr.

RACE RESULTS Saturday - October 16, 1999 LINCOLN SPEEDWAY Abbottstown, Pa. 5TH ANNUAL BOBBY ABEL MEMORIAL - SEASON FINALE

Super Sprints: Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 77-Fred Rahmer ($4,869); 2. 88-Todd Shaffer ($1,600); 3. 65-Johnny Mackison Jr. ($1,150); 4. 88H-Lance Dewease ($950); 5. 17E-Cris Eash ($750); 6. 12-Greg Hodnett ($600); 7. 77E-Dave Ely ($500); 8. 2W-Jesse Wentz ($400); 9. 7-Keith Kauffman ($350); 10. 8J-Danny Jones ($325); 11. CIII-Jimmy Hawley ($300); 12. 16-Cliff Brian ($275); 13. 461-Sean Michael ($250); 14. 29-Jeff Rohrbaugh ($225); 15. 32-Brook Weibley ($225); 16. 07-Curt Michael ($220); 17. 6-Chris Knopp ($220); 18. 26-Pat Cooper ($220); 19. 25-Todd Gracey ($210)(DNF); 20. 10N-Dave Haight ($210)(DNF); 21. 2K-Glendon Forsythe ($200)(DNF); 22. 53-Shawn Keen ($200)(DNF); 23. 10-Len Thompson ($200)(DNF); 24. 3-Bob Bennett ($200)(DNF). No Time

Lap Leaders - Fred Rahmer (1-30)

T.N.T. Towing & Recovery Heat (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 2W-Jesse Wentz; 2. 461-Sean Michael; 3. CIII-Jimmy Hawley; 4. 7-Keith Kauffman; 5. 53-Shawn Keen; 6. 11-Jimmy McBee; 7. 77E-Dave Ely; 8. 6-Chris Knopp; 9. 0-Rick Lafferty. Time - 2:19.95

Smitties Soft Pretzels Heat (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 77-Fred Rahmer; 2. 88-Todd Shaffer; 3. 8J-Danny Jones; 4. 25-Todd Gracey; 5. 29-Jeff Rohrbaugh (DNF); 6. 69-Donnie Kreitz Jr. (DNF); 7. 22-Rodney Duncan (DNF); DNS - 0-John Garrett, 17K-Terry Leininger. Time - 2:17.61

Top Flight Wings Heat (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 10N-Dave Haight; 2. 88H-Lance Dewease; 3. 17E-Cris Eash; 4. 32-Brook Weibley; 5. 3-Bob Bennett; 6. ½-Von McGee; 7. 26-Pat Cooper; 8. 1-Kasey Kahne (DNF); 9. 24-Gary Rankin (DNF). No Time

Miller Brothers Chevrolet Heat (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 12-Greg Hodnett; 2. 65-Johnny Mackison Jr.; 3. 2K-Glendon Forsythe; 4. 16-Cliff Brian; 5. 10-Len Thompson; 6. 07-Curt Michael; 7. 32G-Randy Glover; DNS - 7K-Dan Shetler, 43-Larry Shive. Time - 2:20.80

Miller Brothers Chevrolet Cash Dash (6 Laps) - 1. 77-Fred Rahmer ($500); 2. 2W-Jesse Wentz; 3. 10N-Dave Haight; 4. 461-Curt Michael; 5. 12-Greg Hodnett; 6. 65-Johnny Mackison Jr.; 7. 88-Todd Shaffer; 8. 88H-Lance Dewease. (Time - 1:23.48 New 6-Lap track Record - old record was 1:27.53 set by Billy Wilburn on 4/25/98)

1st Consolation (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 53-Shawn Keen; 2. 77E-Dave Ely; 3. 6-Chris Knopp; 4. 29-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 5. 11-Jimmy McBee; DNS - 69-Donnie Kreitz Jr., 22-Rodney Duncan, 0-Rick Lafferty. Time - 2:23.58

2nd Consolation (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 07-Curt Michael; 2. 10-Len Thompson; 3. 3-Bob Bennett; 4. 26-Pat Cooper; 5. ½-Von McGee; 6. 24-Gary Rankin; 7. 32G-Randy Glover; 8. 43-Larry Shive (DNF); DNS - 1-Kasey Kahne. Time - 2:30.47

358 Sprints: Feature (20 Laps) - 1. 7K-Dave Calaman; 2. 713-Bob Fisher; 3. 59-Mike Lehman; 4. 4-Eric Stambaugh; 5. 80-Todd Reed; 6. 8-Dan Dietrich; 7. 56V-Tim Hershey; 8. 6E-Doug Esh; 9. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 10. 34-Bob Camilli; 11. 11T-T.J. Stutts; 12. 66-Eric Patteson; 13. 00-Elmer Stoltzfus; 14. 22J-Joe Ilg; 15. 17-Mike Rabold; 16. 1E-Eric Metzger; 17. U1-Chad Layton (DNF); 18. 46-Jim Layton (Alt.)(DNF); 19. 51-Gary Gollub (DNF); 20. 9-Ray Miller (DNF); 21. 727-Lyndon Mathias (DNF); 22. 1M-Babe Mader (DNF); 23. 53W-Denny Gross (DNF); DNS - 76-Jesse Wentz, 30E-Cris Eash. No Time

Lap Leaders - Dave Calaman (1-20)

1st Heat (8 Laps\4 to qualify) - 1. U1-Chad Layton; 2. 17-Mike Rabold; 3. 7K-Dave Calaman; 4. 9-Ray Miller; 5. 30E-Cris Eash; 6. 4B-Jake Raudabaugh; 7. 71-Joe Whitcomb; 8. 10X-Doug Rohrbaugh; 9. 11-Rick Horn (DNF). No Time

2nd Heat (8 Laps\4 to qualify) - 1. 6E-Doug Esh; 2. 1M-Babe Mader; 3. 727-Lyndon Mathias; 4. 34-Bob Camilli; 5. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 6. 66-Eric Patteson; 7. 4-Eric Stambaugh (DNF); 8. 2J-Billy Johns (DNF). No Time

3rd Heat (8 Laps\4 to qualify) - 1. 56V-Tim Hershey; 2. 00-Elmer Stoltzfus; 3. 76-Jesse Wentz; 4. 59-Mike Lehman; 5. 11T-T.J. Stutts; 6. 51-Gary Gollub; 7. 5A-Brian Allman; 8. 27-Ron Kramer; 9. 17M-Mike Creaghan. Time - 2:03.67

4th Heat (8 Laps\4 to qualify) - 1. 8-Dan Dietrich; 2. 80-Todd Reed; 3. 713-Bob Fisher; 4. 53W-Denny Gross; 5. 22J-Joe Ilg; 6. 1E-Erik Metzger; 7. 46-Jim Layton; DNS - 56-Danny Warrick. Time - 2:01.14

1st Consolation (8 Laps\4 to qualify) - 1. 30E-Cris Eash; 2. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 3. 66-Eric Patteson; 4. 4-Eric Stambaugh; 5. 4B-Jake Raudabaugh; 6. 71-Joe Whitcomb; 7. 10X-Doug Rohrbaugh; DNS - 2J-Billy Johns, 11-Rick Horn. No Time

2nd Consolation (8 Laps\4 to qualify) - 1. 22J-Joe Ilg; 2. 11T-T.J. Stutts; 3. 51-Gary Gollub; 4. 1E-Erick Metzger; 5. 46-Jim Layton; 6. 17M-Mike Creaghan; 7. 5A-Brian Allman; 8. 27-Ron Kramer (DNF). Time - 2:06.97

Thundercars: Feature (15 Laps) - 1. 16-Steve Clabaugh; 2. 21A-Mike Zeigler; 3. 3-Duane Watson; 4. 3R-Bobby Rudisill; 5. 100-Mike Zeigler Jr.; 6. 6-Tony Kuhn; 7. 22-Nat Tuckey; 8. 1-Neil Smith; 9. 8MD-David Prunkl; 10. X-Bernie Beard; 11. 78-Ron Farrar; 12. 61-Mike Ciezobka; 13. 36DD-Bob Henry; 14. 54-Terry Davis; 15. 1W-Mike Walls (DNF); 16. 47-Bob Scott Jr. (DNF); 17. 25-Sean Herrick (DNF); 18. 4-Greg Feltch (DNF); 19. 16J-Bruce Terry (DNF); 20. 9B-Ken Berwager (DNF); 21. 5-Kenny Slaybaugh (DNF); 22. 11R-Jim Rost (DNF); 23. M1-Mike Potts (DNF); DNS - 1X-Scott Lutz. No Time

Lap Leaders - Steve Clabaugh (1-15)

1st Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 3-Duane Watson; 2. 21A-Mike Zeigler; 3. 5-Kenny Slaybaugh; 4. 47-Bob Scott Jr.; 5. 36DD-Bob Henry; 6. 1W-Mike Walls (DNF); 7. 16J-Bruce Terry (DNF); 8. 61-Mike Ciezobka (DNF); 9. 7-Pat Saltzgiver (DNF). No Time

2nd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. M1-Mike Potts; 2. 1-Neil Smith; 3. 8MD-David Prunkl; 4. 6-Tony Kuhn; 5. 9B-Ken Berwager; 6. 25-Sean Herrick; 7. 22-Nat Tuckey; 8. 1X-Scott Lutz; 9. 3M-John Drinkard. Time - 2:53.67

3rd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 100-Mike Zeigler Jr.; 2. 16-Steve Clabaugh; 3. X-Bernie Beard; 4. 3R-Bobby Rudisill; 5. 78-Ron Farrar; 6. 4-Greg Feltch; 7. 11R-Jim Rost; 8. 54-Terry Davis; 9. 21-Jerry Bingaman (DNF). No Time