Knaub wins "358" late model season opener; Mike Enders claims first-ever in super sportsman
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 4/5/08 - Two of the best sprint car drivers in the history of Central Pennsylvania racing locked horns over the last lap, and it was one for the ages in the "410" sprint car feature at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night.
With a packed house on its feet, all-time Lincoln winner Fred Rahmer pulled a slider on leader Stevie Smith exiting turn four of the final lap. A less-talented driver would probably have finished second, but Smith calmly let the defending champ slide by, then drove to the inside off turn four and edged Rahmer at the line for his 21st career win in the Pigeon Hills. The final margin of victory was .099 seconds.
"I was going to run my groove and my pace," said the 1986 champ in victory lane, "But Fred got in front of me and I just had to turn and I knew he was going across, so I tried to keep straight and just get back under him."
"We’re really happy to win because we obviously were not the fastest car," continued Smith, "Fred and Chad (Layton) are really running good. We definitely have room for improvement, but we’re not going to give up yet. It’s still the beginning of the year and I just want to say the reason we’re sitting here is our Goodyear tires, DMI rears, and our Gaerte engines. But we gotta get faster."
What was as amazing as the finish was Rahmer’s charge from 18th starting spot to second. The ten-time track champ advanced positions nearly every lap, passing three cars to advance from tenth to seventh just after a restart on lap eight. Rahmer passed Josh Wells for sixth on lap nine, and entered the top five by passing Jim Siegel on a lap 12 restart.
On that same restart, Stevie Smith dove to the inside to pass race-long leader A.J. Michael for the top spot. Michael didn’t give up, coming back to reclaim the lead with a high-side move off turn four of lap 14.
"A.J. did a nice job. I think he ran a good race and I had to push on him pretty hard," added Smith, "He stuck in there and passed me back. I could just get going a little faster on the restarts. Our engine is taking off good."
Michael continued to lead until Smith reclaimed the point on lap 20. By then, Rahmer was racing wheel-to-wheel with Chad Layton for third.
The last five laps was a four-car battled for the lead, with Smith scored the leader of every remaining lap but several passes among the top four for position. Rahmer and Layton both passed Michael for second and third respectively on lap 21, and Rahmer closed on the RAACE #19 going down the backstretch of the final lap.
Rahmer took his one and only shot as the leaders raced through the final turns, blew by Smith as the two exited turn four, and then watched as Smith drove under the C&S Lawn & Landscape/Miller Brothers Chevrolet #51 coming down to the checkered flag.
Layton crossed third, with 10th-starting Brian Montieth fourth and 16th-starting Doug Esh fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Michael, Cris Eash, Craig Keel, 22nd starting Alan Krimes, and Josh Wells.
Heats for the 32 "410" sprints were won by Michael, Wells, Michael Carber and Brian Leppo, with John Westbrook winning the consolation.
Carber flipped entering turn one of lap eight while running ninth. Two red flags were thrown on the opening lap, the first for a flipping John Westbrook and the second for a turn-four crash involving Brian Leppo and west coast invader Shane Matthews of Chico, CA. None of the drivers were injured, and Leppo was actually able to make repairs and return to the field for the third attempt to start the race.
Dover’s Gene Knaub opened the 2008 MALCO Landscaping 358 Late Model season at Lincoln Speedway in grand style by passing Jake Lettick on the seventh for the lead and then over-powered the field the rest of the way in winning the 20-lap Pigeon Hill’s opener.
Polesitter DJ Mease led the opening lap with outside frontrow starter Lettick taking over on lap two. Meanwhile Knaub, who started seventh, was quickly slicing his way to the front and passed Bobby Beard for the runner-up spot on lap four. Knaub made his race-winning move on the restart of lap seven by driving around Lettick in the first and second turns and over-powered him up the backstretch.
Knaub took the checkered five car-lengths ahead of Lettick for the win with Carl Billet third, Bobby Beard fourth and Mike Walls fifth. Completing the top-10 were Craig Wagaman, Justin Ehrhart, Fred Harden, Bob Stough and Dave Graber.
Heats for the 29 "358" Late Models were won by Mike Walls, Justin Ehrhart and Knaub, with Travis McClelland winning the consolation.
Mike Enders had won in a "358" sprint car before, but his victory in the 25-lap super sportsman feature was his first in that division.
The Halifax driver led from the pole for the first 15 laps, lost the lead to Scott Dellinger exiting turn two of lap 16, then reclaimed the lead when Dellinger went too high in turns three and four of lap 19. Enders led the rest of the way, with Dellinger settling for second, ninth-starting Frankie Herr third, Carmen Perigo, Jr. fourth, and Jason Fry fifth. Completing the top ten were Rick Barr, Paul Miller, John Stehman, 21st-starting Russ Mitten, and 19th-starting Derek Locke;
Heats for the 38 Super Sportsman were won by Ryan Rupp, Dellinger, Enders and Barr. Twin consolations were won by Jay Fannasy and Scott Grace.
Next Saturday night, April 12th at 6 PM, all three regular point divisions will be in action - the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass 410 Sprints, the Keizer Aluminum Wheels 358 Sprints and the Thundercars. Gates for the three-division show will open at 4 PM, with hot laps get underway at 5:30 PM.
To get all the latest news, results, schedule changes and rule changes, visit Lincoln Speedway’s website at http://www.lincolnspeedway.com to stay up-to-date on all the action or pending weather conditions at Central Pennsylvania’s "Premier" Saturday night race track - The Fabulous Lincoln Speedway.
RACE RESULTS
Saturday - April 5, 2008
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA
410 SPRINTS:
Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 19-Stevie Smith ($3,000); 2. 51-Fred Rahmer; 3. 25-Chad Layton; 4. 21-Brian Montieth; 5. 30-Doug Esh; 6. 45-AJ Michael; 7. 17E-Cris Eash; 8. 9-Craig Keel; 9. 87-Alan Krimes; 10. 6W-Josh Wells; 11. 71-Brian Leppo; 12. 11C-Cory Haas; 13. 59-Jim Siegel; 14. 20-Ryan Taylor; 15. 10N-Niki Young; 16. 47J-Jeff Busby; 17. 26-Pat Cooper; 18. 49-Bobby Howard; 19. 4-John Rudisill (DNF); 20. 12-Mke Bittinger (DNF); 21. 22Z-Michael Carber (DNF); 22. X-Bobby Weaver (DNF); 23. 67-Shane Matthews (DNF); 24. 3W-John Westbrook (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders - Josh Wells (1), AJ Michael (2-11), Stevie Smith (12), AJ Michael (13-19), Stevie Smith (20-25)
1st Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 45-AJ Michael; 2. 9-Craig Keel; 3. 25-Chad Layton; 4. 20-Ryan Taylor; 5. 17E-Cris Eash; 6. X-Bobby Weaver; 7. 87-Alan Krimes; 8. 5-Adam Lawrence (DNF). Time - 2:19.720
2nd Heat (10 Lap/5 to qualify) - 1. 6W-Josh Wells; 2. 12-Mike Bittinger; 3. 59-Jim Siegel; 4. 10N-Niki Young; 5. 51-Fred Rahmer; 6. 25O-Aaron Ott; 7. 38-Nick Schlauch Jr.; 8. 5X-Ricky Stonebreaker. No Time
3rd Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 22Z-Michael Carber; 2. 11C-Cory Haas; 3. 67-Shane Matthews; 4. 47J-Jeff Busby; 5. 49-Bobby Howard; 6. 4-John Rudisill (DNF); 7. 89-Cody Darrah (DNF); 8. 39-TJ Stutts (DNF). No Time
4th Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 71-Brian Leppo; 2. 19-Stevie Smith; 3. 21-Brian Montieth; 4. 30-Doug Esh; 5. 26-Pat Cooper; 6. 3W-John Westbrook; 7. 88-Rory Janney; 8. 92-Tim Hogue (DNF). No time
Consolation (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 3W-John Westbrook; 2. 87-Alan Krimes; 3. X-Bobby Weaver; 4. 4-John Rudisill; 5. 38N-Nick Schlauch Jr.; 6. 39-TJ Stutts; 7. 5X-Ricky Stonebreaker; 8. 88-Rory Janney; 9. 92-Tim Hogue; 10. 89-Cody Darrah (DNF); 11. 25O-Aaron Ott (DNF); 12. 5-Adam Lawrence (DNF). No Time
MALCO LANDSCAPING
358 LATE MODELS:
Feature (20-Laps) - 1. 1-Gene Knaub; 2. 17-Jake Lettich; 3. 1B-Carl Billet; 4. 81S-Bobby Beard; 5. 1W-Mike Walls; 6. 30-Craig Wagaman; 7. 69-Justin Ehrhart; 8. 10H-Fred Harden; 9. 07-Bob Stough; 10. 51-Dave Graber; 11. 4-John Moser, Jr.; 12. 11-Dave Sokoloski; 13. 1K-Bruce Kane; 14. M1-Roy Miller; 15. 7J-Jamie Lloyd; 16. 7-Pat Beard; 17. 18M-DJ Mease; 18. 116-Travis Mease (DNF); 19. 20-Steve Billet (DNF); 20. 21J-John Baker (DNF); 21. 2-Chad Myers (DNF); 22. 18-Travis McClelland (DNF); 23. 93-Pancho Lawler (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders - DJ Mease (1), Jake Lettick (2-6), Gene Knaub (7-20)
1st Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 1W-Mike Walls; 2. 1K-Bruce Kane; 3. 81S-Bobby Beard; 4. 30-Craig Wagaman; 5. 51-Dave Graber; 6. 11-Dave Sokoloski; 7. 18-Travis McClelland; 8. 19-Matt Nailor; 9 54-Roy Warehime; 10. 21J-John Baker. Time - 2:18.06
2nd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 69-Justin Ehrhart; 2. 1B-Carl Billet; 3. 17-Jake Lettich; 4. 10H-Fred Harden; 5. 116-Travis Mease; 6. 07-Bob Stough; 7. 2M-Chad Myers; 8. 7J-Jamie Lloyd; 9. 773-Mike Evock; 10. 64-Grant Adams (DNF). Time - 2:16.67 (New 8-Lap Track Record, old record was 2:19.76 set by Colby Frye on 4/1/06)
3rd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 1-Gene Knaub; 2. 20-Steve Billet; 3. M18-DJ Mease; 4. 93-Pancho Lawler; 5. 7-Pat Beard; 6. M1-Roy Miller; 7. 4-John Moser Jr.; 8. 7M-Mike Leonard; 9. 21-Derrick Zirkle. No Time
Consolation (1 Laps/6 to qualify)- 1. 18-Travis McClelland; 2. 4-John Moser Jr.; 3. 2-Chad Myers; 4. 7J-Jamie Lloyd; 5. 21J-John Baker; 6. 54-Roy Warehime Jr. (DNF); 7. 19-Matt Nailor (DNF); 8. 21-Derrick Zirkle (DNF); 9. 773-Mike Eveck (DNF); 10. 7M-Mike Leonard (DNF); DNS - 64-Grant Adams. No Time
SUPER SPORTSMAN:
Feature (20-Laps) - 1. 07-Mike Enders; 2. 30-Scott Dellinger; 3. 99-Frankie Herr; 4. 2A-Carmen Perigo; 5. 10-Jason Fry; 6. 00-Rick Barr; 7. 55-Paul Miller; 8. 1-John Stehman; 9. 77-Russ Mitten; 10. 30R-Derek Locke; 11. 93-Jake Raudabaugh; 12. 33-Ryan Rupp; 13. 2-Art Leidl; 14. 80-Doug Hendricks; 15. 22H-JR Fry; 16. 99G-Scott Grace; 17. 8-Rich Eichelberger; 18. 56-John Garman; 19. 25-Bobby Hockenberry; 20. 318-Duaine Smith; 21. 5B-Dave Berkheimer; 22. 59-Steve Wilbur (DNF); 23. 222-Jay Fannasy (DNF); 24. 91-Lanny Hake (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders - Mike Enders (1-15), Scott Dellinger (16-18), Mike Enders (19-25)
1st Heat (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 33-Ryan Rupp; 2. 99-Frankie Herr; 3. 2a-Carmen Perigo; 4. 8-Rich Eichelberger; 5. 66-Leroy Martin; 6. 383-Gregg Foster; 7. 77-Russ Mitten; 8. 30R-Derek Locke; 9. 71K-Glenn Keller; 10. 58-Jared Miller. Time - 2:36.47 (New 10-Lap Track Record, old record was 2:42.16 set by Aaron Eichelberger on 7/7/07)
2nd Heat (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 30-Scott Dellinger; 2. 93-Jake Raudabaugh; 3. 80-Doug Hendricks; 4. 59-Steve Wilbur; 5. 222-Jay Fannasy; 6. 56-John Garman; 7. 45-Dave Socks; 8. 5-Dylan Cisney; DNS - 73K-Rocky Magaro. Time - 2:38.44
3rd Heat (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 07-Mike Enders; 2. 10-Jason Fry; 3. 55-Paul Miller; 4. 5B-Dave Berkheimer; 5. 91-Lanny Hake; 6. 35-Gary Johnson; 7. 11-Steve Fannasy (DNF); 8. 4-Robert Leidl (DNF); 9. 22H-JR Fry (DNF); DNS - 32-Stan Wanner. No Time
4th Heat (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 00-Rick Barr; 2. 1-John Stehman; 3. 318-Duaine Smith; 4. 25-Bobby Hockenberry; 5. 99G-Scott Grace; 6. 20-Eric Eckert; 7. 115-Scott Ellerman (DNF); 8. 88-John Wolfe (DNF); 9. 2-Art Leidl (DNF). No Time
1st Consolation (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 222-Jay Fannasy; 2. 30R-Derek Locke; 3. 77-Russ Mitten; 4. 56-John Garman; 5. 71K-Glenn Keller; 6. 383-Gregg Foster; 7. 5C-Dylan Cisney; 8. 58-Jared Miller; 9. 45-Dave Socks; 10. 66-Leroy Miller (DNF). No Time
2nd Consolation (10 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 99G-Scott Grace; 2. 22H-JR Fry; 3. 2-Art Leidl; 4. 91-Lanny Hake; 5. 11-Steve Fannasy; 6. 4-Robert Leidl; 7. 35-Gary Johnston; 8. 888-John Wolfe (DNF); 9. 20-Eric Eckert (DNS); 10. 115-Scott Ellerman (DNS). No Time
