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Weekend racing summaries 2003-06-16

Lancaster's Doug Esh threaded his way through some early-race crashes and held off a charging Lance Dewease to claim his second win of the season Saturday night in the 25 lap super sprint feature at Lincoln Speedway. Originally slated for a ...

Lancaster's Doug Esh threaded his way through some early-race crashes and held off a charging Lance Dewease to claim his second win of the season Saturday night in the 25 lap super sprint feature at Lincoln Speedway.

Originally slated for a seventh starting spot, Esh restarted third when half of the field was involved in two separate crashes on turns one and two at the start. Esh was side-by-side with Glenndon Forsythe at the start-finish line at the completion of lap one and was credited with the lead when a second-lap red came out for Craig Smith, who rolled after tangling with Chappy Knaack on turn one. That proved to be the race-winning pass.

Though Esh led the rest of the way, he had to dive under the lapped car of Michael Markey to hold onto the top spot as he and a closing Dewease went through turns three and four the final time. Esh's final margin of victory was 1.26 seconds over Dewease.

"We were good. I just can't say enough about the team.," said Esh after his traditional wing dance in victory lane. "We had a bad crash last Friday night, and this is the same car."

"I knew we were pretty good and we got a good break when we restarted third. I saw (Eash) was there and then I looked up at the scoreboard and saw (Dewease). I thought if I could get by that lapped car and get in on the bottom I would probably have a good shot at holding him off."

Dewease had come from the rear after spinning out while battling with Fred Rahmer for the runner-up spot on lap eight.

That caution quickly turned to red when six cars tangled on the backstretch a quarter of-a-lap behind, sending Greg Hodnett over the backstretch catch fence and onto the back of a pickup truck. The crash injured a spectator on the bed of the pickup, who was given emergency treatment and transported to Hershey Medical Center by helicopter. The victim's condition was unknown at the end of the night's racing action.

Three-time 2003 Lincoln winner Cris Eash assumed second place when Rahmer went to the pits on lap ten with a flat tire. But on the 22nd lap Eash slowed and handed a charging Dewease second place.

Bobby Weaver ran in the top five the whole way and crossed third. Niki Young and Brook Weibley completed the top five, with Josh Wells, Jim Siegel, Knaack, Billy Sims, and Brian Leppo rounding out the top ten.

Dewease, Lincoln's 410 sprint points leader, settled for second in the 410 race, but charged from his 20th starting spot to win the 25-lap URC sprint car feature. Dewease squeezed under Trevor Lewis on the 22nd lap in heavy lapped traffic to grab the lead and went on to win by 2.11 seconds over Lewis.

Lewis settled for second, with Jason Clauss, Billy Brian, Jr., and Tim Hogue completing the top five.

Pasadena, Maryland's Mike Ciezobka led wire-to-wire to claim his first career Lincoln win in the 20-lap thundercar feature. Ciezobka, had to survive a last lap caution restart over Neil Smith to pick up his inaugural win.

Ciezobka held off Smith in a one-lap shootout following a 19th-lap caution for Al Cramer on the front stretch. Smith tried a banzai move in the final turns, gave Ciezobka room on the top, and traded paint the whole way to the finish line before coming up a half car length short.

Nat Tuckey, Craig Wagaman (who came from 24th starting spot), and Martz completed the top five.

OTHER AREA/REGIONAL RACING ACTION

TODD SHAFFER CONTINUES PORT ROYAL WINNING WAYS

Millerstown's Todd Shaffer picked up his third win of the season at Port Royal Speedway Saturday night in the special Sprint Car Championship. Shaffer, who is the only driver to win more than one race at the Juniata County racing facility 2003, notched his third win in the last four events over Keith Kauffman and Mike Erdley.

In championship late model action, Travis Dillman mirrored Shaffer's accomplishment in the sprint car division by notching his third win of the year in the special 25 lap $2,000-to-win late model championship. And like Shaffer, the win was his third in the last four events over Scotty Haus and Eric Zembower.

Todd Snook picked up his second win of the year in pro stocks while Teresa Kepner won her first in ladies powder puff racing action.

In other Port Royal related news, at the request of the Pennsylvania Fur Trappers Association, Juniata County Agricultural Society Fair Board members have postponed the Wednesday night June 18th race at Port Royal Speedway.

The postponement stems from the Fur Trappers Association having leased speedway grounds for their State Convention. The Trappers were to take control of the facility on Thursday June 19. The highlight of the week end is a concert by the legendary Charlie Daniels Band. The event grew so quick that it has now become a national event for the Fur Trappers Association prompting them to ask the Fair Board to use the grounds for the entire week. They will now move in on Monday June 16th.

STUHLER WINS BONEBRAKE MEMORIAL FOR SIXTH WIN

Gary Stuhler of Greencastle continued his winning ways by winning the Richard "Boney" Bonebrake Memorial at the Hagerstown Speedway Saturday night. Stuhler's second Bonebrake Memorial win was his sixth of the year and 108th career win.

"I like the longer races, they give me more time to get to the front," said Stuhler, who also picked up the Hard Charger Award.. "The lower part of the track came around opening up a groove down low and we are just lucky to be here."

The winner's circle is not a unfamiliar place for DJ Myers, but behind a late model sportsman it is. Myers became a super sub Saturday night as he got behind the wheel of Tyler Armstrong's No.84 and led every lap for the win in the 25-lap late model sportsman feature. Armstrong injured his wrist when he hit the wall at Hagerstown last month. Jeff Johnson finally got the monkey off his back as he scored his first win of the year in the 15-lap pure stock feature.

DANNY LASOSKI EDGES SCHATZ TO WIN DUEL IN THE DAKOTAS CHAMPIONSHIP

World of Outlaws Series points leader Danny Lasoski inherited first place after Wade Nygaard flipped into early leader Steve Kinser and held off Donny Schatz by inches to win the Sixth Annual Duel in the Dakotas finale Saturday night in West Fargo, ND.

Lasoski, who was 10 car-lengths behind when Steve Kinser was taken out of the race, withstood several late attempts by Schatz to win a second straight Duel in the Dakotas title and claimed his sixth "A" Feature victory of the season. The 2001 World of Outlaw champion opened a 67-point advantage over Kinser with the $20,000 victory.

"First of all, I feel terrible for Steve and the Quaker State team," Lasoski told the capacity crowd at Red River Valley Speedway. "They had a strong car all weekend long. I know this is Donny's home town and he won here last year, but you have to spread the wealth around a little, too."

Defending Duel in the Dakotas champion Donny Schatz treated his hometown fans to a flag-to-flag victory in Friday night's preliminary feature over Steve and Mark Kinser.

Steve Kinser won every race he entered Thursday night as the series opened the Sixth Annual Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND. Kinser led every lap en rote to the win over Jason Myers and Schatz.

HODNETT AND KAUFFMAN SPLIT WILLIAMS GROVE TWIN 20S

Greg Hodnett and Keith Kauffman split the twin 20-lap features for sprint cars Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway.

In the first feature Mark Smith started sixth and took the lead on the first lap. Hodnett, who started 11th, was up to third by lap five and took the runnerup spot on the 14th circuit. Hodnett then drove by Smith on the 17th lap with an inside move in the first and second turns while navigating through lapped traffic.

Smith stayed within striking distance, but Hodnett went on to win his second consecutive, and the 16th of his career, at Williams Grove and earned $2,500 for his effort.

Smith settled for second with Mike Erdley, Chris Knopp and Keith Kauffman completing the top-five.

Hodnett's attempt to become the first driver to sweep the twin 20's since Rahmer did it eight years ago ended on the first lap of the second feature when he spun into the third turn guard rail.

Jason Hagenbuch set the pace for the first nine laps of the second 20-lap feature until the 53 year old man from Mifflintown, who started second, moved in front with an inside move off turn two to lead at the half way point.

The ageless veteran was never challenged the rest of the way en route to his first win of the season, and the 47th of his career, at the historic Mechanicsburg half-mile.

Cris Eash finished second ahead of Knopp, Hagenbuch.

DIETRICH WINS SELINSGROVE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP

Asper's Billy Dietrich wired the field for his first career Selinsgrove Speedway win Saturday night in the 30-lap Challenge Championship event which drew a record 59 limited sprint cars from several states.

The win was worth $2,003 for Dietrich, who became the track's seventh different 358 sprint car winner this season.

Chris Wilkinson of Shamokin was declared the winner of the 14-lap abbreviated late model feature. The win was the first of Wilkinson's career in late model racing at Selinsgrove.

Kyle Bachman of Selinsgrove won the make up pro stock feature from May 17. The win was the third of the season for Bachman.

The racing program was delayed 45 minutes due to heavy rain that arrived at the speedway about 4 p.m., causing wet track conditions. The regularly scheduled pro stock and roadrunner events were postponed.

BLANE HEIMBACH WINS CLINTON COUNTY FOURTH

Selinsgrove's Blane Heimbach picked up his fourth win of the year at Clinton County Speedway in sprint car action over Jeff Weaver and Charlie Anderson.

Other winners were Denny Fourney in super stocks, Kyle Parson in four-cylinder pure stocks, Jim Berry in daredevils and Ray Chambers in enduros.

SILVER SPRING SATURDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT TRAIL-WAY WASHED OUT

Rain forced Trail-Way Speedway to once again postpone it's Friday night racing program of 358 sprints, thundercars and street stocks.

Heavy thunderstorms passed over Silver Spring Speedway just before race time on Saturday night and forced the cancellation of there special Kids Night racing program.

Prizes for Kids Night will now be handed out as part of Family Fun Night on July 12th. New registration tickets will be given to all children 12 and under in attendance on Family Fun Night.

ALL STAR K-C RACEWAY ACTION CANCELED

Saturday night's All Star Sprint Car event scheduled for K-C Raceway IN Alma, OH was washed out by heavy early morning rains in Southern Ohio. The All Stars hope to announce another date at K-C Raceway shortly.

-bill meyers-

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