Path Valley results 2004-05-08

Path Valley Strictly Stocks Improve Racing Skills

Spring Run, PA_ Saturday night Strictly Stock drivers raced under a black flag threat with much improved action on the track as they completed four features before 9 p.m. at the Path Valley Speedway Park.

"I hauled off three disabled cars tonight and they all suffered from legitimate mechanical problems like a bad battery," said Two Wheel Promotions partner Jack Flowers. "The drivers are getting better and there's much less banging and bashing."

Dave Dunkle of Spring Run became a repeat winner in the V-8 class while two experienced past winners, Luther Daywalt of Waynesboro in six-cylinders and Jeff Koser of Fannettsburg in four-cylinders, won their first features this season. In the Cyclones, Robbie Kendall of Baltimore took the lead on lap three and ran away from the pack to continue undefeated.

At a driver's meeting prior to the races officials warned all that while latitude is given to keep the cars on the track and racing, the strictly stock events are not demolition derbies. "If you ignore a black flag, we will stop the race and if need be drag you off the track," head flagman Steve Murphy said. During the features he disqualified three cars, one in each stock car class, for excessively rough driving or for ignoring mechanical hazards.

Dunkle said he kept his left foot on the brake and geared down to keep his car from breaking loose as he led all the way in the V-8 Strictly Stock feature. With lapped cars to block for him after lap four, co-worker Dan Gelwicks held down second place with Tom Brady right on his bumper for third. Last week's winner, Jerry Fleming, came from twelfth to fourth and Joe Daywalt completed the front five. Brady and Dunkle won the heats.

In a car he borrowed from his uncle, Luther Daywalt Jr. got his second win ever in a hard battle with a car that was a lap down but passed him twice. Steve Frazier, who was actually up to second, was more than a turn behind Daywalt amid lapped traffic. The front five were Daywalt, Frazier, Josh Walstrum, Todd Price and Randy Wenger and the heat winners were Koser and Danny McAllen.

Jeff Koser waited until the final lap before getting past Wilbert Barker for the lead and then win in the four-cylinders. Barker took the lead from Jeff Arcq on lap six. Negotiating amid lapped cars in the final lap, Barker went high and slowed in turn three and Koser dived to the inside to pass for the win. The front five were Koser, Barker, Tony Thurber, Dave Strait and Bobby Johnson, and Koser and Danny McAllen won the heats.

The next Path Valley race for Strictly Stocks and Cyclones is Saturday, May 22, with gates open at 5 p.m. following the regular afternoon kart and four-wheeler race, and it will include a special Candy Scramble for all the kids.

The Path Valley Speedway Park is located in Spring Run PA a mile north on PA Route 641 from the intersection with PA Route 75, halfway between Port Royal and Hagerstown. It is five miles east from the Willow Hill Exit 14 of the PA Turnpike. The new phone number at the track is 717-349-7111. For information on the 2004 schedule and rules, race teams and fans can consult our website at www.pathvalley.com or they can email Two Wheel Promotions at twp@pathvalley.com.

FINISH ORDER:

V-8 -- Dave Dunkle (started 2), Dan Gelwicks, Tom Brady, Jerry Fleming, Joe Daywalt, Joey Burdge, Darryl Pittman, Brent Karns, Eugene Naugle, Robert Naugle, Danny Burdge, David Kitzmiller, Tony Verno, Dustin Pietrak, Randy Hockenberry, Jacob Cottle, DNS Rob Keller, Shane Ege, DG P.L. Best. Heats to Brady, Dunkle.

4-Cylinder -- Jeff Koser (4), Wilbert Barker, Tony Thurber, Dave Strait, Bobby Johnson, Norman Stever, Johnny Runk, Brandon Burdge, Danny McAllen, Lee Young, Jeff Arcq, Gary Koser, David Reaugh, Bruce Ginther Jr., James Arcq, DNS Donald Houp, Rocky Beigle, DQ Brian Campbell. Heats to Koser, McAllen.

6-Cylinder -- Luther Daywalt Jr. (8), Steve Frazier, Josh Walstrum, Todd Price, Randy Wenger, Kenny Brown, Randy Scott Jr., Ricky Rosenberry, Jason Ege, Dale Martin, Jason Hale, Robert Weist, Andy Krause Jr., Crystal Miller, DNS Anthony Dodson, DQ Bob Elbin. Heats to Wenger, Brown.

Cyclones -- Robbie Kendall (3), Jimmy Stanton, Mike Boer, Carlos Morgan. Heat to Stanton.

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