Carmen Perigo, Jr. claims opener for super sportsman; Comi thundercar winner
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 3/27/2010 -"It feels like the first time, it’s been so long!"
That’s how Brian Leppo described his win over a talent-laden field in the 25-lap "410" sprint car feature at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night.
The Swope’s Salvage & Recycling/H&H Contractors #71, which came from 19th starting spot to finish sixth in the Lincoln season opener, started fifth and was running fourth when Doug Esh and Cory Haas got together while racing down the backstretch for second on lap three. The contact resulted in a Haas flip, advancing Leppo to third for the restart.
Esh never stopped after contact with Haas, and restarted second, but spun in turn four three-quarters of a lap after the restart, advancing Leppo to second.
Three laps later, third-place Fred Rahmer slowed to a stop on the backstretch after losing a rear-end.
All the while, 2010 national sprint car rookie of-the-year Adam Wilt was leading the field. Leppo chased Wilt through seven laps and three cautions before making the race-winning pass with a low-side move in turns three and four of lap 11.
From there, Leppo led through two more cautions, a fuel stop, and a last-lap red to claim his fifth career Lincoln win, but his first since September, 2006.
"I thought we were never going to win here again," said Leppo, "It feels really good to get back here (to victory lane at Lincoln). This is my favorite place to race at and I was just struggling at a driver, but I think I got things situated here."
It was a big night for both the Leppo and Smith families.
"My team can vouch for me, with the addition of my Father-in-law (Steve Smith)...I’d like to think we have an advantage and let’s just keep rolling. Steve was a great race car driver and mechanic, and it’s getting my confidence back."
Wilt ran strong the entire way and finished second, with Stevie Smith coming from 12th starting spot to finish third. Alan Krimes and Brian Montieth raced wheel-to-wheel the second half of the race and finished fourth and fifth. Sixth through tenth were Aaron Ott, opening night winner Mark Smith, Brad McClelland, Brent Marks, and Johnny Mackison, Jr.
"I’d like to say I don’t get nervous, but I looked up and saw Stevie was up to third in a couple laps (from 12th) so I just wanted to hit my marks. The way he’s coming, I thought he was just going to drive by both of us (Adam Wilt).
"Adam did a really good job," said Leppo on his pass for the lead. "I just kept beating the bottom, and beating the bottom and finally we got a run on him."
"I saw him coming back on me, and he was about to let us sit again, so I had to make some adjustments. I saw (crew member) Lee move me back up over there. Luckily we had a red flag there, I calmed down, and got everything in line.
It was also a big night for Mach 1 Chassis, with Leppo’s win making it two for two at Lincoln.
"Last Saturday night might have been a Sunday drive for my car builder Mark Smith, but it definitely wasn’t a Saturday night drive for me. As you can see tonight, when it comes to a quality race car...this Mach 1 that Mark has brought to the table in one stout car."
Heats for the 25 "410" sprinters were won by Wilt, Rahmer, and Mark Smith.
2010 Super Sportsman Tour champ Carmen Perigo, Jr. made mince meat of the rest of the field in the 25-lap season opener for the sportsman. Perigo started ninth and tracked down polesitter and race-long leader Gregg Foster to take the lead on lap seven. From there, he ran away from the field, with Foster dropping to fourth and then coming back to finish second.
Scott Dellinger (who started 13th), Leroy Martin, and Dave Socks crossed third through fifth. Sixth through tenth were Rick Barr, Duaine Smith, Rich Eichelberger, Paul Miller, and John Stehman.
Heats for the 30 Super Sportsman were won by Rich Eichelberger, Perigo, and Smith, with Paul Miller winning the consolation.
Pylesville, Maryland’s Gino Comi charged through the field and picked up his first win of 2010 in the 25-lap thundercar feature.
2008 champ Sam Gallagher and four-time 2009 winner Will Walls swapped the lead back and fourth several times over the first 16 laps while Comi, who started 11th, was methodically working his way to the front.
Comi got by Gallagher for second on the 17th lap an in a wild three car race for the lead, Comi slipped under Walls for the lead coming off of turn four with two laps to go.
The final laps were bumper-to-bumper, side-by-side between Comi and Walls with Comi hanging on by one half a second for his fourth career thundercar win at Lincoln.
Kyle martin, Jimmy Combs, and Gallagher finished third through fifth respectively. Completing the top-10 were Duane Watson, Danny Beard, Mikey Guise, Mike Slaybaugh, and Brian Walls.
Heats for the 20 Thundercars were won by Will Walls and Combs.
Next Saturday, April 3rd, at 6 PM, Lincoln Speedway will hold another three-division show with the 410 Sprinters will be joined by the 358 Sprints, and the 358 Late Models. Gates will open at 4 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, March 27, 2010
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA
LAWRENCE CHEVROLET
410 SPRINTS
Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 71-Brian Leppo ($3,000); 2. 15-Adam Wilt; 3. 1-Stevie Smith; 4. 87-Alan Krimes; 5. 21-Brian Montieth; 6. 25-Aaron Ott; 7. 7M-Mark Smith; 8. 6-Brad McClelland; 9. 19M-Brent Marks; 10. 65-Johnny Mackison Jr.; 11. 747-Kevin Nagy; 12. 48-Danny Dietrich; 13. 59-Jim Siegel; 14. 16-Gerard McIntyre Jr.; 15. 3W-Kyle Moody; 16. 14-Doug Dodson; 17. 26-Pat Cooper; 18. 39T-Tim Glatfelter (DNF); 19. 6W-Josh Wells (DNF); 20. 49-Bobby Howard (DNF); 21. 8-Billy Dietrich (DNF); 22. 39-Doug Esh (DNF); 23. 51-Fred Rahmer (DNF); 24. 11C-Cory Haas. No Time
Lap Leaders - Adam Wilt (1-11), Brian Leppo (12-25)
1st Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 15-Adam Wilt; 2. 39-Doug Esh; 3. 87-Alan Krimes; 4. 19M-Brent Marks; 5. 6W-Josh Wells; 6. 6-Brad McClelland; 7. 14-Doug Dodson; 8. 26-Pat Cooper (DNF); 9. 16-Gerard McIntyre Jr.. Time - 2:18.657
2nd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 51-Fred Rahmer; 2. 21-Brian Montieth; 3. 11C-Cory Haas; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich; 5. 65-Johnny Mackison Jr.; 6. 8-Billy Dietrich; 7. 39T-Tim Glatfelter; 8. 4-John Rudisill (DNF). No Time
3rd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 7M-Mark Smith; 2. 25-Aaron Ott; 3. 1-Stevie Smith; 4. 71-Brian Leppo; 5. 59-Jim Siegel; 6. 3W-Kyle Moody; 7. 747-Kevin Nagy; 8. 49-Bob Howard. Time - 2:22.341
SUPER SPORTSMAN
Feature (25-Laps) - 1. 93-Carmen Perigo Jr.; 2. 32-Gregg Foster; 3. 30-Scott Dellinger; 4. 66-Leroy Martin; 5. 45-Dave Socks; 6. 00-Rick Barr; 7. 11S-Duaine Smith; 8. 8-Rich Eichelberger; 9. 318-Paul Miller; 10. 1-John Stehman; 11. 88-Aaron Eichelberger; 12. 99G-Scott Grace; 13. 10-Jason Fry; 14. 25-Bobby Hockenberry; 15. 64-Stan Wanner; 16. 88W-Eric Walker; 17. 91-Lanny Hake; 18. 9K-Steve Wilbur; 19. 31-Sean Campbell; 20. 222-Jay Fannasy (DNF); 21. 20-Eric Eckert (DNF); 22. 85-Jared Miller (DNF); 23. 55-Chad Criswell (DNF); 24. 3B-Mike enders (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders - Gregg Foster (1-6), Carmen Perigo Jr. (7-25)
1st Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 8-Rich Eichelberger; 2. 99G-Scott Grace; 3. 10-Jason Fry; 4. 66-Leroy Martin; 5. 0-Scott Dellinger; 6. 9K-Steve Wilbur; 7. 64-Stan Wanner; 8. 222-Jay Fannasy; 9. 85-Jared Miller; DNS - 5-Dave Berkheimer. Time - 2:36.34
2nd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 93-Carmen Perigo Jr.; 2. 1-John Stehman; 3. 55-Chad Criswell; 4. 45-Dave Socks; 5. 3B-Mike Enders; 6. 88W-Eric Walker; 7. 318-Paul Miller; 8. 77W-Tom Wyckoff; 9. 33-Ryan Rupp (DNF); 10. 99-Frankie Herr (DNF). No Time
3rd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 11-Duaine Smith; 2. 00-Rick Barr; 3. 32-Gregg Foster; 4. 88-Aaron Eichelberger; 5. 31-Sean Campbell; 6. 20-Eric Eckert; 7. 25-Bobby Hockenberry (DNF); 8. 91-Lanny Hake; 9. 77-Russ Mitten (DNF); 10. 7-Phil Griffith (DNF). No Time
Consolation (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1.318-Paul Miller; 2. 91-Lanny Hake; 3. 64-Stan Wanner; 4. 222-Jay Fannasy; 5. 25-Bobby Hockenberry; 6. 85-Jared Miller; 7. 77W-Tom Wyckoff (DNF); DNS - 33-Ryan Rupp, 77-Russ Mitten, 5-Dave Berkheimer, 99-Frankie Herr, 7-Phil Griffith. No Time
THUNDERCARS
Feature (20 Laps) - 1. Gino Comi; 2. 21W-Will Walls; 3. 54-Kyle Martin; 4. 54J-Jimmy Combs; 5. 25-Sam Gallagher; 6. 3W-Duane Watson; 7. 60-Danny Beard; 8. 93-Mikey Guise; 9. 61-Mike Slaybaugh; 10. 2W-Brian Walls; 11. 70-Rick Weaver; 12. 33J-Jeff Wilson; 13. 121-Larry Neiderer; 14. 57-Brad Shank (DNF); 15. 52-Chuck Walls (DNF); 16. 01-Mike Zeigler, Jr. (DNF); 17. 15-Josh Ulrich (DNF); 18. 77-Justin Mong (DNF); 19. 44-Tom Walls (DNF); 20. 81J-Jamie Zentmyer (DNS). No Time
Lap Leaders - Sam Gallagher (1); Will Walls (2-5); Sam Gallagher (6-14); Will Walls (15-19); Gino Comi (20)
1st Heat (8 Laps) - 1. 21W-Will Walls; 2. 25-Sam Gallagher; 3. 54-Kyle Martin; 4. 93-Mikey Guise; 5. 3W-Duane Watson; 6. 33-Gino Comi; 7. 121-Larry Neiderer; 8. 70-Rick Weaver; 9. 52-Chuck Walls; 10. 81J-Jamie Zentmyer (DNF). Time - 2:35.00
2nd Heat (8 Laps) - 1.54J-Jimmy Combs; 2. 61-Mike Slaybaugh; 3. 2W-Brian Walls; 4. 60-Danny Beard; 5. 01-Mike Zeigler Jr.; 6. 57-Brad Shank; 7. 33J-Jeff Wilson; 8. 77-Justin Mong; 9. 15-Josh Ulrich (DNF); 10. 44-Tom Walls (DNF). Time - 2:38.15
