FLETCHER SCORES FIRST CAREER LINCOLN 358 SPRINT TITLE
Abbottstown, PA (Saturday, March 20, 2021) – The 2021 358 Sprint Car season started on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the pigeon hills. Prior to the features the 2020 358 Sprint Car Champion and Special Award Honorees were honored in front of the crowd in place of the usual banquet.
Cody Fletcher earned his first track championship in 2020 in a battle that went down to the wire. Four drivers were eligible to claim the track title going into the final race of the season, Fletcher, Todd Rittenhouse Jr., Brett Wanner and Steve Owings. Fletcher’s 8th place finish in the final race of the season secured him his first championship.
The 358 sprints got off to a late start in 2020 due to the shutdown. When the 358s first hit the track on May 30, Fletcher finished 11th, just outside of the top-10. Cody followed up with back-to-back fifth place runs in June.
On July 4th Cody finished 12th. He rebounded on July 11th with a fifth place finish. August started with a rainout. The first race of the month Fletcher earned a top 10. The night of the make-up feature, Fletcher finished fourth in the regularly scheduled program but had a DNF in the make-up event.
Fletcher had another DNF to start off the month of September but finished out the season with two top-10s. Cody’s third place finish in the final race of the season was enough for him to claim the track championship.
Without the shutdown due to the pandemic, the season might have ended with a different champion. Todd Ritthenhouse Jr. started off the season with back-to-back wins, but the first two races after the shutdown were not points races for the division. Rittenhouse ended up second in the point standings for the season with 7 top-10s and 4 top-5s.
Brett Wanner also scored two wins during the 2020 season on his way to a third place finish in the point standings. Wanner also claimed the Summer Series title. Wanner finished the season with 7 top-10s and 5 top-5s.
Rounding out the top five in points were Scott Fisher who scored a win and 5 top-10s and 2 top-5s and Steve Owings (7 top-10s/5 top-5s).
Completing the top 10 in points were Brett Strickler with 1 win and 3 top-5 and 3 top-10 finishes; Chris Frank 7 top-10s; Jordan Strickler 1 top-5/2 top-10; Chris Arnold had 1 win and 3 top-5 and 5 top-10 finishes and Justin Foster 1 top-5/3 top-10.
There were 11 races run by the 358 sprints in 2020 with 8 different winners including one first-time winner, Brett Strickler.
Justin Foster earned Rookie of the Year honors in the 358 sprint division. Foster placed in the top-10 three times in his rookie campaign in 2020, including one top-5.
The Most Improved Driver in 358 sprint competition during 2020 was awarded to Brett Wanner.
358 Special Awards
Rookie of the Year: Justin Foster
Most Improved Driver: Brett Wanner
Harry Fletcher Sportsmanship Award: Cody Fletcher
