Turns Lincoln season around after leading every lap for a second straight year

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 5/16/13 – He did it again.

Defending Lincoln champ Danny Dietrich turned around a rough start to the 2013 season by leading every lap of World of Outlaws STP Sprint Series feature on Thursday night.

“These guys are tough,” said a jubilant Dietrich after finishing a celebratory wing dance on top of his Gary Kauffman-owned Sandoe’s Fruit Market #48 in victory lane, “And I have respect for all of them. Hopefully, we can continue this luck into tomorrow and Saturday (at Williams Grove).”

Luck did play into Dietrich’s night. A little girl from the stands drew the #8 pill for the inversion, placing Dietrich on the pole for the dash. His subsequent win in the 6-lap dash put him on the pole for the 35-lap “A” main.

Earlier, Dietrich came out late in time trials and turned a lap of 13.918 seconds, good enough for 14^th quick and placing him on the pole for his heat.

By virtue of his second-place finish in the dash, five-time World of Outlaw champ Donny Schatz started beside Dietrich in the front row and challenged Dietrich for the lead the entire way. Thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing that saw Schatz stay within a car length of Dietrich forced fans to their feet from laps 15 through 26.

It wasn’t until after a lap 27 caution for a spinning Craig Dollansky that Dietrich was able to pull away, crossing about four car lengths in front of the STP #15 as the two caught lapped traffic as they crossed under the checkered flag.

“That was all joking around,” said Dietrich about his bold talk this week on the internet, “But to back it up feels great.”

“I want to thank all the fans for coming out,” concluded Dietrich, “This is the best track in the country to race and see a race!”

The crowd was so huge that the 50/50 winner won more than Dietrich. Proceeds from the 50/50 drawing were donated to the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing.

Sammy Swindell came from sixth starting spot to finish third, with Tim Kaeding (in his first ever Lincoln run) and invader Brad Sweet completing the top five. Three-time 2013 Lincoln winner Brent Marks was sixth.

Daryn Pittman earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 17th to 7th. Rounding out the top ten were Lincoln points leader Fred Rahmer, invader Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and Brian Montieth.

Thursday evening rain date to be used

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 5/15/13 – A passing shower early, followed by a passing shower later, forced World of Outlaw officials to postpone Wednesday night’s Gettysburg Clash featuring the World of Outlaws and the Pennsylvania Posse.

43 “410” sprints cars had just completed the first of two sets of hot laps when the final shower arrived at 8:45 p.m.

Realizing that it would be at least 10:30 or 11:00 before the show could begin, World of Outlaw STP Sprint Series officials decided to postpone the program until the scheduled rain date of Thursday (5/16).

All activities will be run at the same time, with pit gates opening at 2 PM, general admission gates opening at 4 PM. Time trials are slated for 7:30 PM.

Chase Dietz makes daring pass to claim first career “358” sprint car win; Walls wins third of the year in thundercars

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 5/11/13 – Brent Marks was the class of the field in claiming the $4,000 top prize in Saturday’s Prospect Metal and Used Auto Parts Night World of Outlaw tune-up at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night. 

It was Marks’ third win of the year in the Pigeon Hills, and ended a perfect night for the BAPS Auto Paints and Supply/Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel/KC Automotive/Creekside Auto Sales #19M after winning his qualifying event for the eighth week in a row.

The World of Outlaw format placed Marks on the outside of the front row for the start, and he led every lap, despite late-race pressure from eighth-starting Brian Montieth over the closing laps.

“For all the rain we’ve had, Fred (Putney) did an awesome job on this track,” said Marks in victory lane, “That race was awesome.  Kudos to Lincoln for running tonight.”

The start of the show was delayed by 45 minutes after a series of rain showers during the day, the last of which didn’t end until after 5:00 p.m.

“We needed this win really, really bad,” continued Marks, “We’ve been struggling for a few weeks here, and falling from first to fourth in the point standings was pretty depressing.  The team behind me is awesome.  We went through some difficult times this week, made some changes, and I can’t thank these guys enough.”

Polesitter Gerard McIntyre, Jr. chased Marks the first seven laps before fourth-starting Stevie Smith grabbed second on lap eight.

“I thought Stevie was going to give me a good run there, but I knew the bottom was still too slimy, and I learned my lesson there in the dash, when I just spun my tires there.”

Marks and Smith pulled away from the field until McIntyre and third-starting Logan Schuchart got together while racing for third on lap 15, resulting in a Schuchart flip on turn two.

That put Montieth on the rear bumper of Smith for the restart.  Marks opted for the outside for the double-file restart, and Montieth drove around Smith in the first two turns of the restart.  Fifth-starting Greg Hodnett caught Smith for third a lap later, and Marks, Montieth, and Hodnett ran first through third the rest of the way.

Smith and seventh-starting Fred Rahmer completed the top five, with Alan Krimes, Robbie Kendall, Steve Owings, Cory Haas, and Kyle Moody rounding out the top ten.

It didn’t take Marks long to start looking toward Wednesday night’s Lincoln showdown with the famous World of Outlaws.

“I know the track will be different, and I can’t go with the same set-up as tonight, but we’ll adapt accordingly and, hopefully, give them a run for their money.”

The other red flag of the event came on the opening lap, when defending champ Danny Dietrich rolled onto his side in turn two.  Dietrich was uninjured, made repairs and returned, but dropped out several laps later with front brake problems.

“410” Sprint heats were won by Kendall, Schuchart, and Marks, with Lance Dewease setting a new 12-lap track record of 2:48.149 in the B-Main.

McIntyre won the Dash in a record-setting 6-lap time of 1 minute, 24.420-seconds. Fast time in time trials over the 26-car field was set by Montieth, with a one-lap time of 13.408-seconds (100.686 MPH).

York’s Chase Dietz drove around both Mike Duncan, Jr. and Jeff Rohrbaugh to grab the lead as the three were completing lap seven to score his first career win in the 20-lap “358” sprint car feature. 

Dietz, who will turn 16 next Friday (5/17), started fourth and steered clear of a slowing outside front row starter Chandler Leiby on the first lap to maintain fourth.  He caught third-starting Mark Stickler on lap two and ran third until blowing around both Duncan and Rohrbaugh at the same time.

Rohrbaugh passed Duncan for second on lap nine, and Austin Hogue came from tenth starting spot to finish third.  Ninth-starting Tim Wagaman and 11^th-starting Niki Young completed the top five.  Sixth through tenth were Duncan, Tyler Ross, Mike Bittinger, Strickler, and 17^th-starting Matt Findley.

Heats for the 28 “358” sprinters were won by Young, Strickler, and Dietz, with Scott Fisher winning the consolation.

Gettysburg’s Brian Walls picked up his second win in-a-row and third of the year in the 20 lap Thundercar feature.

Outside frontrow starter Brian Diehl grabbed the lead at the outset and held off polesitter Wayne Dutterer and sixth-starting Jamie Zentmyer.

Meanwhile Walls, was patiently working his way front from the back of the field and got by Zentmyer for second place at the halfway mark.

One lap later Walls went to the outside of race-long leader Diehl and made his winning pass. Walls led the rest of the way, and survived a one-lap dash to the checkered for his 13^th career win, tying him with Ron Shultz for 14^th on the all time Thundercar win list.

Young fifth different winner in five events in “358” sprint cars; Blaine Leppo scores first Lincoln win in Legends

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 4/27/13 – Brian Montieth ended a personal dry spell by coming from ninth starting spot to claim his second win of the year in the 25-lap “410” sprint car feature at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night.

And he did it in his normal thrilling style, advancing to the top five by the end of the second lap and passing Robbie Kendall to move into fourth on lap four. That’s when he joined a wild four-car battle for the lead.

Polesitter and race-long leader Jacob Allen got swallowed up John Rudisill, Billy Dietrich, and Montieth as they all passed for position on lap six.

Rudisill came out with the lead and ran the cushion, leading the next 11 laps. Montieth moved past Dietrich into the runner-up spot on lap 10, and tried numerous times to drive under Rudisill in turn three and four, to no avail.

Montieth finally drove low in turns one and two and pulled even driving up the backstretch of lap 17 to finally grab the lead.

Seventh-starting Adam Wilt caught Rudisill for second as the leaders raced through lapped traffic on the next lap, and Rudisill brought out the caution when he spun on turn one of lap 20.

Once in front, Montieth left no doubt, crossing 1.56-seconds ahead of Wilt, with 11^th-starting Fred Rahmer, Cory Haas, and tenth-starting Alan Krimes completing the top five. Sixth through tenth were Billy Dietrich, Kendall, Jim Siegel, Brent Marks, and Gerard McIntyre, Jr.

“The track was a little faster than I thought it was going to be,” said Montieth in victory lane, “We’ve been running like crap for the last couple of weeks. We’ve been struggling, but we’re getting better I guess. We’re trying to figure out some stuff before the Outlaws get here. I don’t know if we’re straightened out, but tonight we were a little better than what we’ve been, so I guess it’s baby steps at a time...I don’t know.”

Montieth’s 36^th-career Lincoln win moved him into a tie for seventh with Lance Dewease on the all-time Lincoln win list.

Heats for the 26 “410” Sprinters were won by Krimes, Marks, and Haas.

Niki Young became the fifth different winner in as many races in the 20-lap “358” sprint car feature.

Like Montieth in the “410” sprints, he also won convincingly, advancing from tenth starting spot to third by the end of the third lap and catching polesitter Scott Fisher on lap four. He chased down outside front row starter and race-long leader D.J. Montgomery, grabbing the lead as the two drove under the crossed flags.

Montgomery hit the inside guardrail and spun as the cars entered turn one of lap 11, putting Fisher back on Young’s back bumper for the restart. But three laps later, 11^th-starting Ryan Wilson drove around Fisher for second.

Young led the last ten laps to cross 2.06 seconds ahead of Wilson, with Fisher settling for third, 12^th-starting Austin Hogue advancing to fourth, and Ted Thomas, Jr. fifth. Sixth through tenth were Dale Hammaker, Tyler Ross, 15^th-starting Jeff Rohrbaugh, Tim Wagaman, and 17^th-starting Mike Bittinger.

Heats for the 25 “358” Sprints were won by Hogue, Brie Hershey, and Thomas.

Spring Grove’s Blaine Leppo claimed his first career Lincoln win in the 15-lap Central PA Legends feature.

Leppo started on the pole and led every lap, despite heavy race-long pressure from Scott Haudeshell and Bob Stough. Haudeshell and Stough swapped second several times, and both drivers challenged Leppo at one point in the race.

In the end, Stough crossed second, .53 seconds behind the winner, followed by Haudeshell, Rick Miller, and Bill Diehl.

Austin Hogue victor in “358” sprints; Jason Townsend wins first of career in Thundercars

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 4/20/13 –“I like running the schedule that we run…traveling and getting to do what my grandpa did, seeing different tracks. But by far, I love Lincoln Speedway the best. I consider it my home track, and it’s a real fun track to race here. There’s no better fans in the country. To come back home and race in front of these people right here. It’s exciting, they hype up sprint car racing, and definitely make it fun for this area.”

So said 2012 national 410 sprint car rookie of-the-year Logan Schuchart after claiming his first career Lincoln 410 sprint win in Saturday night’s 25-lap feature event.

Schuchart, grandson of the legendary Bobby Allen, was slated for a sixth-starting spot in the Your Auto Source/Rick Fogle Custom Pole Buildings/Brenneman Painting/CnB Mushroom Farms #1s, but started on the outside of row two when Todd Rittenhouse, Jr. scratched from the feature and gave up his second starting spot.

Cory Haas assumed second for the start, and both he and Schuchart got around polesitter Hunter Mackison in the first two turns. Schuchart chased Haas the first 16 laps before diving under the lapped car of Tim Glatfelter and Haas entering turn three of lap 17. From there, Schuchart pulled away for the win, with Haas settling for second and fifth-starting Adam Wilt third. Ninth-starting Fred Rahmer and eighth-starting Brian Montieth completed the top five.

Schuchart’s official time in the non-stop feature was 6 minutes, 37.236 seconds. In fact, the entire 410 sprint portion of the show was run caution-free.

Sixth through tenth were 14^th-starting Danny Dietrich, 12^th-starting Alan Krimes, 13^th-starting Jim Siegel; Brent Marks, and J.J. Grasso.

Heats for the 26 “410” Sprinters were won by invader Brian Paulus, Fred Rahmer, and Brent Marks, with Ryan Smith winning the consolation.

Manchester’s Austin Hogue became the fourth winner in as many races in the non-stop 20-lap “358” sprint car feature.

Third-starting Tyler Ross drove under both polesitter Brad McClelland and outside front-row starter Hogue for the lead at the start, but a red flag for a flipping Eric Tomecek on turn four resulted in a complete restart. The Livingston Lawn Care/BAPS Auto Paints and Supply #52 drove around McClelland for the lead on the restart, and Hogue led every lap for his third win of 2013 (previous wins at Trail-Way and Williams Grove).

Niki Young caught McClelland for second on lap 13 and finished runner-up, with Ross crossing third, Mark Smith catching McClelland for fourth on the final lap. Sixth through tenth behind McClelland were Tim Wagaman, Dale Hammaker, Brie Hershey, Jeff Rohrbaugh, and Mark Strickler.

Due to the complete restart at the beginning, Hogue’s 5-minute, 35-second win was an officially-timed 20-lap event.

Heats for the 29 “358” Sprints were won by Ross, Wagaman, and Young.

After years of trying, York’s Jason Townsend found his way to victory lane in winning the 20-lap Thundercar feature.

Townsend grabbed the lead from his outside frontrow starting position over polesitter Wayne Dutterer at the drop of the green and pulled out to a comfortable lead of the first half of the feature.

Meanwhile a battle raged for second through fifth as Dutterer, Jimmy Combs, Duane Watson and Brian Walls were passing each other for position lap-after-lap. With five laps to go Walls and Watson had moved solidly into second and third and began to chase down the leader.

On the final lap, Walls pulled alongside Townsend coming off the final corner to the checkered but was able to hold him off for his career first thundercar victory as they leaned on each other to the checkered.

Watson settled for third, Dutterer fourth and Combs fifth.

Grant Adams holds off Gene Knaub in “358” late model thriller; Socks claims first Lincoln win in super sportsman

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 4/13/13 – Denver’s Alan Krimes came from seventh starting spot to claim his first win of the year in the 25-lap “410” sprint car feature at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night.

“We’ve been fast the last three weeks. I thought we had the car to beat last week and the week before that,” said Krimes upon exiting his Conestoga Valley Garage/Krimes Racing Engines #87 in victory lane, “A couple late yellows there killed us. We were lucky enough to get to the front first tonight.”

“The yellows were hurting us again tonight,” added Krimes, “I don’t know if the tires were sealing over or what, but every time the yellow came out, my car would get worse and worse. I know J.J. was behind us, and he’s been going real good pretty much every week. I was hoping there was some lapped cars between me and him, but apparently there wasn’t. We got a restart and I saw his front end down in three and four. I already had the wing all the way back, so I just ran around the top and hoped I didn’t see anybody. Luckily, we came away with it.”

Krimes took to the high side to get around sixth-starting Adam Wilt and fourth-starting J.J. Grasso in the first two turns and cross fifth by the end of the first lap. He then drove by both third-starting Gerard McIntyre, Jr. and fifth-starting Danny Dietrich to move into third following a third-lap restart, and caught second-starting Tim Glatfelter for the runner-up spot on lap four. Two laps later, Krimes grabbed the top spot from polesitter and race-long leader Robbie Kendall with a low-side move in turns three and four.

Though Krimes led the rest of the way, torrid racing between Brian Montieth, Danny Dietrich, and Fred Rahmer for fifth had the fans on their feet between laps nine and 12. It was on that lap that J.J. Grasso re-entered the picture after passing Kendall for second. Caution flags on laps 16 and 18 kept Grasso close until the end.

“There’s a lot of good guys running real good this year. I saw the 25 on the board there, and he’s been tough. I heard he’s going to URC when they start their season, and I’m not going to be sad to see him go!”

The 16^th-lap caution involved the spinning cars of Brian Montieth, Brent Marks, and Cole Duncan. All three of those drivers have won races at Lincoln in 2013. Montieth and Duncan were unable to continue, and Mark joined the rear. The 18^th-lap caution was for the spinning car of Jordan Mackison in turns one and two.

Grasso settled for second, with eighth-starting Jim Siegel coming on strong late in the race to finish third. Rahmer and Kendall completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were Danny Dietrich, 13^th-starting Logan Schuchart, Glatfelter, 22^nd-starting Billy Dietrich, and Wilt.

Heats for the 26 “410” Sprinters were won by Marks, Duncan, and Montieth, with Jordon Mackison winning the consolation.

Defending Lincoln/Trail-Way Precise Racing Products champion Grant Adams held off the repeated challenges of opening night winner Gene Knaub to win a 20-lap “358” late model thriller.

An inversion of six put Adams on the pole for the start. He led the first nine laps, while fifth-starting Knaub and third-starting Brad Shank racing side-by-side. Shank nudged under Adams to be scored the leader at the half-way point.

Adams reclaimed the lead in the next two turns, and both Knaub and Steve Clabaugh caught Shank for second and third by the end of lap 11.

Knaub gave it everything he had over the final two laps, but Adams crossed less than a car length ahead under the checkered. Clabaugh was third, followed by Shank and Sam Gallagher.

Heats for the 16 “358” Late Models were won by Pat Beard and Knaub.

Hagerstown’s Dave Socks claimed his first-ever Lincoln win in the 25-lap super sportsman feature. He started on the front row and chased polesitter Steve Wilbur the first 21 laps before making the race-winning pass.

Eighth-starting Frankie Herr caught Wilbur for second with two laps to go, but finished .84-seconds behind the winner. Wilbur crossed third, with Scott Geesey and Scott Dellinger completing the top five.

Ryan Wilson comes from eighth to claim “358” sprint car win; Walls wins wild thundercar feature

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 4/6/13 – For a driver who once won a dozen races in a row in the Pigeon Hills, the past three years has no doubt seemed like an eternity to Fred Rahmer.

But Lincoln’s ten-time track champ and all-time winner got the monkey off his back in claiming Saturday night’s “410” sprint car feature at Lincoln Speedway.

Among those in attendance was famous motorsports journalist Dick Berggren, who was in town for the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing’s spring open house, where he was to deliver the keynote address for the dedication of the museum’s library in the name of Chris Economaki.

Handicapping put Rahmer ninth in the starting lineup, but J.J. Grasso (who was supposed to start fifth) opted for the rear, moving Rahmer up to seventh. As polesitter Robbie Kendall led the first six laps, Rahmer raced into fourth by the end of the second lap, and he was still running there when fourth-starting Cory Haas took the lead from Kendall on the back stretch of lap seven. Both Adam Wilt and Rahmer passed Kendall to move into second and third respectively on lap 8, and Rahmer drove under Wilt on lapped traffic on lap 11.

Rahmer closed on Haas the next four laps, and made the race-winning pass on the back stretch of lap 16. Sixth-starting Alan Krimes caught Haas for second on lap 18, one lap before the only caution of the event came out for Haas, who hooked the back bumper of the lapped car of invader Mark Cole (of Lebanon, NH), with both cars coming to a stop on the front stretch.

Rahmer and Krimes ran first and second the rest of the way, with Rahmer’s final margin of victory a scant .66 seconds. It was Rahmer’s 168^th career Lincoln win, but first since May 1, 2010.

Wilt, eighth-starting Jim Siegel, and ninth-starting Brian Montieth completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Brent Marks, Logan Schuchart, Billy Dietrich, Jason Leffler, and Kendall.

Heats for the 23 “410” Sprinters were won by Montieth, Grasso, and Marks.

Maytown’s Ryan Wilson came from eighth starting spot to claim his second career Lincoln win in the 20-lap “358” sprint car feature. Wilson went to the top side to advance to third by the end of the first lap. He caught Chase Dietz for the runner-up spot a lap later, just before the caution came out for a three-car melee on turns one and two.

Wilson around polesitter and race-long leader Austin Hogue exiting turn four of lap five, and led the rest of the way, becoming the third winner in three events this year.

Eric Tomecek also went to the top to come from 12^th starting spot into second by lap eight. Though he closed on Wilson in lapped traffic over the second half of the race, he was never able to mount a serious challenge. Tomecek settled for second, with Hammaker coming on strong late to cross third. Hogue was fourth, followed by 19^th-starting Tyler Ross.

Sixth through tenth were Jeff Rohrbaugh, Matt Mountz, Jay Galloway, Matt Findley, and Brie Hershey.

Heats for the 25 “358” Sprinters were won by Hogue, Tomecek, and Tim Wagaman, with Ross winning the consolation.

Gettysburg’s Brian Walls picked up his first win of 2013 in winning the 20-lap Thundercar feature. Walls, who started ninth, chased down the race leaders, polesitter Jamie Zentmyer, and seventh-starting Jimmy Combs, to make it a three car battle for the leader by the fourth lap. A couple laps later defending track champ Duane Watson joined them to make it a four-car battle. Combs got by Zentmyer for the lead on the ninth lap, but Watson and Walls were on his bumper.

On the 11^th lap, contact between Watson and Combs sent them into a wild spin down the frontstretch, collecting several other cars along the way. Josh Angle took the hardest hit and was pounded by several cars and came to a stop in the middle of the track with fluids draining everywhere.

Walls was able to make it through the crash and assumed the lead on the restart with Zentmyer in second. Watson and Combs were able to restart with damage at the rear.

Walls held off Zentmyer the rest of the way to record his 11^th career win at Lincoln Speedway with Zentmyer second, Roy Warehime third, Todd Miller fourth, and Mikey Guise fifth. Completing the top-10 were Combs, Danny Beard, Brian Diehl, Jason Townsend, and Duane Watson.

Bittinger best of “358” sprints; Rick Miller wins Central PA Legends feature

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 3/30/13 – Brent Marks is the man to beat so far this season at Lincoln Speedway.

Marks assumed the lead when Logan Schuchart hit the spinning car of Ryan Slothower in turns three and four of lap four, and went on to become the first repeat winner of 2013 in Saturday’s 30-lap, $4,000-to-win “410” Spring Championship event.

“What a great year so far,” said Marks upon exiting his BAPS Auto Paints and Supply/Creekside Auto Sales/Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel/Memtec Services/KC Automotive #19M in victory lane, “This track was awesome again tonight. I love these types of tracks that are slick like this. These guys just work so hard, and everything pays off. I’m very grateful for this moment.”

An eight-car inversion at the front of the field put Marks on the inside of row two for the start. Marks drove under front row starter Adam Wilt at the start, and was running second when Schuchart knocked a tire off his left rear wheel trying to squeeze between the wall and Slothower and was forced to the pits.

From there, he led the rest of the way, much of it through lapped traffic during the middle stages of the race.

A Scott Geesey spin with four laps to go set up a dramatic finish, with Alan Krimes and Brian Montieth restarting on Marks’ back bumper.

“I was keeping an eye on it (the scoreboard),” said Marks, “I got caught up behind (Jason) Leffler there in traffic, and it was so hard to get by. The track got so high, and it was so hard to get a run. The track was pretty treacherous there at the end, and I knew it was too far around the top to run the top on the restart, so I went to the bottom and hoped to gain some car lengths on them and set sail. It was a lot of fun tonight.”

Montieth caught Krimes for the runner-up spot on lap 29, but was unable to catch Marks, who crossed 1.294 seconds ahead of the four-time track champ for his seventh career Lincoln win.

Krimes settled for third, with Fred Rahmer and Wilt completing the top five. Sixth through tenth were Billy Dietrich, Cory Haas, Jim Siegel, Schuchart (who came from the back), and J.J. Grasso completing the top ten.

Heats for the “410” Sprinters were won by Schuchart, Krimes, and Marks, with Nicole Bower winning the consolation. Fast time in time trials was set by Siegel over the 25-car field with a one-lap time of 13.434 seconds (100.491 MPH).

Mike Bittinger started on the pole and led every lap of the 20-lap “358” sprint car feature. Defending track champ Tim Wagaman started second and ran there the entire race, with sixth-starting Niki Young, 10^th-starting Jeff Rohrbaugh, and lady driver Brie Hershey rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were 12^th-starting Rodney Westhafer, Shane Hoff, 16^th-starting Tim Berkheimer, 22^nd-starting Matt Mountz, and Jay Galloway.

Heats for the 30 “358” Sprinters were won by Rohrbaugh, Chase Dietz, and Bittinger, with Ted Thomas winning the consolation.

Spring Grove’s Rick Miller held off the challenges of Tim Henry and Bob Stough to claim his first career Lincoln win in the 15-lap Central PA Legends feature. Miller started on the outside of the front row and wrestled the lead from polesitter Chad Ernst on the second lap. He led the rest of the way, despite heavy late-race pressure from sixth-starting Henry and eighth-starting Stough.

Ernst crossed fourth, with Blaine Leppo coming from 17^th-startng spot to finish fifth.

Knaub comes from 11^th to claim season opener for 358 late models; Watson wins thundercar “Spring Thaw 20”

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 3/23/13 – “This ranks up there with all the wins of my whole career,” said a jubilant Cole Duncan after claiming his first career Lincoln win in the 25-lap “410” sprint car feature Saturday evening.

“I want to thank all you fans for coming out,” said Duncan after exiting his Bobby Labonte Racing #22 in victory lane, “The only place in the country that would pack a place when it’s 35 degrees is Central Pennsylvania. That’s why it’s so fun to come out here and race. The promoters that put this race on…everywhere else cancelled, we had plenty of options to go to, but we decided to come here because it’s’ the only place racing.”

The win came one day after the Lockbourne, Ohio racer’s 21^st birthday, and Duncan became the 200^th different winner in sprint car competition in Lincoln history.

Points handicapping placed Duncan on the pole for the feature event, and he led every lap, despite heavy late-race pressure from opening day winner and four-time track champ Brian Montieth as the two raced through heavy lapped traffic.

Montieth, who started tenth, advanced to fourth by the end of the first lap and caught Greg Hodnett for the runner-up spot on lap seven. At the time, Duncan hit lapped traffic for the first time.

A red flag for the flipping cars of Billy Pauch, Jr. and then Jason Leffler put Montieth on Duncan’s back bumper for the ensuing eighth-lap restart.

Duncan pulled away over the next seven laps until lapped traffic again became a factor. Montieth closed and pulled alongside Duncan in nearly every turn just before the final caution of the race came out on lap 18 for Logan Schuchart, who came to a stop on the back stretch.

“He (Montieth) kept poking his nose under there, and I kept telling myself that I don’t care what he does, I’m not lifting. He raced me clean. That was awesome. If he wouldn’t have raced me clean, we probably would have both been hanging in the catch fence, because I wasn’t gonna lift to win at this place.”

On the final restart, third-place Brent Marks (who started 12^th), attempted a slider on Montieth, giving Duncan the space he needed to pull off the upset win. Montieth closed again on the final lap, but couldn’t pull off the pass in the final turns to the checkered.

Duncan’s win was worth $3,300, thanks to a $100 contribution from John Gleim, Jr. Restart Raffle winner Kevin Strausbaugh, who gave his winnings to Duncan in memory of his father Thomas, who passed away Sunday after attending Lincoln races weekly for 40 years.

Marks crossed, followed by Fred Rahmer and Hodnett. Sixth through tenth were Danny Dietrich, Cory Haas (racing the car he crashed opening day), J.J. Grasso, Jim Siegel, and Lance Dewease.

“There’s no better local competition than Central PA,” said Duncan, “To come beat these guys, I don’t care if I started on the pole or not, that was a lot of fun. I just respect all these guys so much. To win here is awesome!”

Heats for the 27 “410” Sprinters were won by Alan Krimes, Jim Siegel, and Brent Marks.

Gene Knaub came from 11^th starting spot to claim the season opening win in the 358 late model division.

The Superior Homes #1 came on late to track down Jake Jones and become the event’s fourth different leader in turns three and four of lap 15.

Outside front row starter Brad Shank led the first two laps before spinning in turn two. That handed the lead over to polesitter Bernie Beard, who paced the field until Jones caught the “X” car on lap five. Jones led the next laps before Knaub drove under the Miller Auto Parts #43 to take the lead for good.

Knaub moved into fourth on lap seven, caught Paul Cursey for third on lap 11, and then drove by Beard for the runner-up spot on lap 11, all under green flag racing conditions.

Jones settled for second, with Cursey crossing third, and Beard and Chase Billet rounding out the top five. Kyle Lear, 22^nd starting Grant Adams (who was unable to start his heat), Cam Zeigler, Travis Mease, and Ron Coleman completed the top ten.

Heats for the 25 “358” Late Models were won by Lear, Knaub, and Billet.

Defending track champ Duane Watson started on the pole by luck of the draw and led every lap, including a one-lap dash to the checkered, in the season-opening “Spring Thaw 20” for the thundercars.

It was Watson’s 38^th career win in the Pigeon Hills, and was worth $500.

Brian Walls finished second, with Todd Miller, Jimmy Combs, and Danny Beard completing the top five.

Heats for the 14 Thundercars were won by Watson and Miller.