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Port Royal race report 2003-05-03

Veteran's dominate racing at Port Royal Speedway Port Royal, PA What a difference one week makes. Last week the little guys dominated Port Royal Speedway taking home the top prize money. This week veteran racers left no doubt they still are in ...

Veteran's dominate racing at Port Royal Speedway

Port Royal, PA What a difference one week makes. Last week the little guys dominated Port Royal Speedway taking home the top prize money. This week veteran racers left no doubt they still are in control of the Juniata County oval.

Millerstown, Pa's Todd Shaffer dominated Aumiller & Associate Sprint Car action to earn his first win of the 2003 season. Shaffer started second and led every lap to record his 74th career win at the Port Royal oval. Shaffer earned $ 2,500 dollars for his Beam Racing/Village Square Plaza/ Leiby/Turnbaugh Race team. He credited his starting position as helping him get out front immediately. " Starting up front really helped. The top was fast and when you can get there quick it really helps. I want to thank all the money people and my crew. My mechanic isn't here tonight. I was talking to him when the race was stopped on his cell phone. He's at Richmond. I told him how we are and he started talking to me and we got cut off. My guys made adjustments and here we are."

For the third week, the Sprint Cars struggled to complete their feature event and two red flags were throw to stop the race. The first red came on the initial start when George Kulp of Carlisle, PA flipped his new racer coming off turn four. He was not hurt. Kulp was making his return to racing after setting out the 2002 season. Evandale's Rod Stroup started on the pole with Adrian Shaffer beside him. Shaffer went to the pit area moving Todd Shaffer from fourth to second for the restart. The cars were pushed off and Dustin Hoffman stopped his Timber Tall Tree Stands no. 7 on the back stretch. Hoffman rejoined the field at the rear. Mike Miller would bring out the yellow on the third attempt spinning his no. 00 in the middle of turns one and two. The race finally got going on the fourth try and Shaffer went straight to the front. With three laps complete Mark Smith broke a top wing in turns one and two again slowing the race. Smith was done for the night. The restart found Shaffer in control with Harrisonville's Mike Wagner running second. Keith Kauffman started nineteenth and blasted his way to the front passing three cars in one shot on the back stretch. Kauffman was in third spot by lap seven. On lap eight Adrian Shaffer and Mike Miller suffered their second problems of the night. The pair tangled in turn two forcing Race Director Tom Little to stop the field for the third straight week for a fuel stop. When action resumed Shaffer continued to lead with Wagner and Kauffman fighting each other for second spot. Both ran the back side of the cushion in turns one and two trying to catch the rapid running Shaffer. The race slowed again on lap seventeen for Randy Baughman who stopped on the backstretch. While under yellow Kevin Schaeffer joined Baughman in the pit area. Both were out for the night. The final yellow came on lap 21 when last weeks winner Mark Coldren hit the inside guardrail entering turn one. Coldren bounced off and continued before crashing into the inside rail exiting turn two. His White Oaks Ice no. I07 was towed to the pit area with front end damage. Wagner and Kauffman chased Shaffer to the checkered flag but could not close on the leader. Following the trio across the line were Todd Hestor and Len Thompson who came from twentieth starting spot to finish fifth. Completing the top ten were Mike Erdley, Troy Whitesel, Rick Lafferty, Kevin Frey and Dave Hahn. Heats for the twenty eight car field were won by Stroup, Adrian Shaffer, and Erdley. Kauffman won the consolation event.

Scott Haus of Hamburg, Pa won the 20 lap AB Auto Glass/Ramsey's Car Wash Late Model feature worth $ 1,000 dollars.

Haus started on the pole and many felt he would not be challenged. Haus himself was shocked when Wayne Walls jumped into the lead and ran away from the Salem RV/Robby Mapes no. 33. He told PR Director Craig Rutherford in Victory Lane. "We've been kind of out of it. Walls got my attention. I stepped it up and had to chase him down to get the lead." Walls did not give up the lead with out a fight. The pair raced hard for several laps before Haus outgunned him on the back stretch. The pair remained out front the rest of the way. Travis Dillman was third and Steve Campbell finished fourth. Dave Kepner filled out the top five. Completing the top ten were Mike Hess, Tim Gray, Nick Dickson, Eric Kauffman, and Jere Wierman. Heats for the twenty car field were won by Campbell and Jim Yoder.

Steve Ramsey, Co Sponsor of the Late Model division joined Haus in Winners Circle festivities. He informed all of a special Late Model program now set for May 31. Ramsey said" On May 31st we're having our first $ 2,000 dollar to win Late Model feature of the season. It's sponsored in part by Valley Proteins of Winchester, VA." Haus told Ramsey, " I'm glad to see you guys and Port Royal putting up some money for the Late Models. I know this is Sprint Car country but these cars put on a real good show here too!"

The 15 lap Stong's Auto Parts Pro Stock feature was won by Jim Palm. Palm started on the pole and led every lap for his 31st career Pro Stock win. Todd Snook finished second with Harry Peffer third. Chuck Bryner and Alex Frey were also in the top five. Sixth through tenth were Glenn Miller, Bill Powell, Brad Jones, Eric Cauffman and Neil Foust. Heats for the 23 car filed were won by Peffer and Scott Dorman.

Nancy Burdge won the 10 lap Ladies Powder Puff feature over Teresa Kepner. Heidi Renninger, Nikki Dalton and Lisa Miller followed. The top ten also included Donna Rowley, Amanda Dalton, Allison Imes, Tammy Wilson and Tammy Mowery.

Burdge announced this was her last Powder Puff race. She has won numerous times in her career which started in 1971. Burdge dominated the race moving from third to first in traffic to take the lead.

Port Royal Speedway returns to action Saturday night May 10 with a three division show of Aumiller & Associate Sprint Cars, AB Auto Glass/Ramsey's Car Wash Late Models and Stong's Auto Parts Pro Stocks. Gates open at 5 with racing at 7.

-prs-

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