Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

Port Royal race report 2002-08-10

Kauffman wins 7th / Mike Hess back on top in LM's. Port Royal, PA Lady luck was on Keith Kauffman's side Saturday night August 10 at the Port Royal Speedway. Kauffman inherited the lead with two laps left and went on to win the Aumiller's ...

Kauffman wins 7th / Mike Hess back on top in LM's.

Port Royal, PA Lady luck was on Keith Kauffman's side Saturday night August 10 at the Port Royal Speedway. Kauffman inherited the lead with two laps left and went on to win the Aumiller's Insurance Sprint Car feature event in front of a large crowd. It was Kauffman's seventh win of the season at the Juniata County oval aboard the Middleswarth Potato Chips no. 7 and paid $ 2,500.dollars to the happy winner.

Rod Stroup of Evandale, PA started on the pole in the Superior Pools no. 21. Kevin Schaeffer of Kittanning, PA joined Stroup in the front row. Schaeffer led the first lap with the yellow coming on for Randy Baughman who stopped on the front stretch and Stroup who crashed into the outside guardrail in turn four. Stroup had been racing hard with Todd Shaffer of Millerstown, PA before running out of room. Stroup's racer came to rest near the pit opening in turn four. He was not hurt despite hitting the wall hard. The race resumed with Kevin Schaeffer the race leader and Troy Whitesel of Selinsgrove in second. Todd Shaffer moved to second spot on lap two with Whitesel third. The trio would remain there through lap five when the caution light came back on for Troy Miller who stopped his racer on the pit lane. Miller was done for the night. Following the restart Shaffer took the lead in turns one and two. Alan Cole of Berwick, Pa moved to third spot on lap six using a low move past Whitesel in turn three. On lap seven the caution lights came back on for Lewistown's Dan Bolger who stopped on the inside of turn four. Bolger was out for the night. After the restart Kauffman moved to third spot during lap eight. By lap nine Shaffer continued to lead with Cole, Kauffman, Todd Hestor and Schaeffer in the top five. The leaders hit heavy lapped traffic by lap twelve with Shaffer in control at the front of the field. Shaffer's luck went away on lap fifteen when he blew a right rear tire and stopped in turn two. Shaffer's Leiby Mobile Homes/Turnbaugh Oil Service/Village Square Plaza/Macri Concrete crew quickly changed the tire with the veteran rejoining the field at the rear. Cole became the race leader with Kauffman and Hestor following.

The race was slowed again on lap sixteen when Mike Erdley stopped the Lisi Texaco Sprinter in the middle of turns three and four. Race Director Tom Little calculated there was not enough fuel left to complete the race and a fuel stop was called for. The top five positions were held by Cole, Kauffman, Hestor, Dave Hahn and Whitesel following the restart. Cole was fast and Kauffman was not able to catch the rapid running racer. Cole encountered lapped traffic by lap twenty two and Kauffman nearly caught the leader entering turn one after Cole was forced to slow for two cars racing for position. It appeared Cole would catch a break when the caution light came on during lap twenty three for visiting driver Chappy Knaack who stopped in turn four. While under caution, Cole's left rear tire began to go flat and he was forced to the pit area for a new tire. Kauffman inherited the lead and held off teammate Hestor and Hahn for his seventh win of the season. Cole would return and finish fourteenth. Kauffman told Race Director Tom Little in Victory Lane, " Those guys were fast.(Alan Cole and Todd Shaffer)Lady luck helped. I don't think I would have caught Cole. Those lapped cars were my only chance. My regular crew is away tonight. I had a bunch of guys pitch in and help and I want to thank them."

Following Kauffman, Hestor and Hahn were Len Thompson of Macungie, PA driving the Tanger no. 7. Whitesel completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were Brook Weibley, Todd Shaffer, Kevin Schaeffer, Dustin Hoffman and Mike Erdley. Heats for the twenty seven car field were won by Kauffman, Whitesel and Cole. Cowboy Jim Kennedy won the consolation event.

The night had championship implications as Kauffman padded his points lead over Shaffer and Hestor. The trio were separated by just thirty points entering Saturday nights competition. The points chase ends August 24.

Mike Hess of New Cumberland, PA returned to victory lane in the twenty lap Late Model feature after a long absence. It was Hess sixteen career win at Port Royal, the last which came back in 1996.The race paid $1,000. dollars to the winner.

Billy Wampler started second and led the first six laps with Hess and newcomer Eric Zembower following. Travis Dillman and Tim Wilson filled out the top five. Wampler brought out the yellow during lap seven when he made contact with Rodney Turner of Camp Hill entering turn three. Wampler was attempting to lap Turner at the time and hit the outside wall hard in the 1w. Wampler was through for the night with Hess the race leader. After the restart Tim Wilson of McClure, PA moved his no. 3 to fourth spot with Dave Kepner fifth. Wilson began applying pressure to Travis Dillman as they raced for third spot at the half way mark. Dillman withstood the challenge and was not passed. At the checkered flag Hess was the winner with Zembower second. Dillman, Wilson and Kepner followed. Sixth through tenth were Steve Everhart, Mike Lupfer, Shane Garman, Eric Cauffman and Jere Wierman. Hess commented after the race, " It's been a long dry spell. With the luck of the draw, we haven't been drawing good.(starting spots) I don't know if I could have passed the 1W." Hess also commented on his new chassis." It took us awhile to dial in the car. This is a Rockit Chassis. I want to thank all my sponsors especially Mom and Dad because we couldn't do this without them." Twenty Late Models were on hand. Heats were won by Kepner and Mike Atherton.

The twelve lap Stong's Auto Parts Pro Stock feature was won by Glenn Miller. Terry Naugle finished second with John Heane third. Bill Powell and Brad Trump completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were Mark Auker, Tracker, Jason Schmidt, Keith Rowles and Harry Peffer. Caution periods came on lap one when Eric Cauffman spun in front of the filed, Lap five for Tracker who stopped in turn two, and lap ten for Scott Dorman and Scott Wilson on the backstretch. Heats for the twenty one car field were won by Naugle and Cauffman.

Port Royal Speedway returns to action Saturday August 17 with a four division show of Aumiller's Insurance Sprint Cars, Late Models, Stong's Auto Parts Pro Stocks and Ladies Powder Puff racing. Parents will want to bring their children as the years biggest candy scramble will be held in the infield prior to the nights racing. At least fifty new bicycles will be given away to youngsters at intermission.Burger King of Mifflintown, PA will have meal certificates to give away and passes to Hershey Park will be handed out courtesy of WHP TV 21 of Harrisburg. The Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown will hold their annual visit with members receiving a two dollar discount on the purchase of a general admission ticket. The Sprint Cars compete in the Pete Swarmer Memorial Race while the Late Models run the Hub City Qualifier. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 7.

Persons seeking information should contact the Speedway office at (717)-527-2303 or visit the website@www.portroyalspeedway.com.

-prs-

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Greenville-Pickens standings 2002-08-10
Next article Berlin Raceway review 2002-08-10

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA