2012 SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERS (410 Sprints)

• Super Sprint Champion – Danny Dietrich
• Mechanic of the Year – Jacob Hinkle
• Rookie of the Year – Hunter Mackison
• Sportsmanship Award – Chad Criswell
• Most Improved Driver – Gerard McIntyre, Jr.

TIM WAGAMAN CLAIMS FIRST LINCOLN SPEEDWAY KEIZER ALUMINUM WHEELS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

In a season that saw 14 different winners in 17 events, Hanover’s Tim Wagaman was the most consistent of all drivers in claiming his first-ever track title in the 358 sprint car division.

And he did it without registering a win at the Pigeon Hills oval during the season, dethroning uncle Jeff Rohrbaugh by a mere 30 points in a battle that went down to the final points race. Despite being winless, Wagaman registered six top-five and 13 top-ten finishes in the 17 events.

Rohrbaugh, whose lone win was in the 358 sprint season opener on March 10^th, finished second on the strength of a win, seven top-five, and 11 top-ten finishes. Rohrbaugh was also the division’s leading heat winner with six.

Norristown’s Todd Rittenhouse, Jr. recorded five top-five and 11 top-ten finishes en route to third in season points.

Niki Young finished fourth in points with a division-leading three wins, division-leading eight top fives, and a division-leading 13 top ten finishes.

Most improved driver Austin Hogue, one of eight drivers recording their first career Lincoln win in 2012, finished fifth in points. His win came on his sponsor’s night, BAPS Auto Paints & Supply Night on July 14^th.

Other first-time winners in 2012 were lady driver Brie Hershey, D.J. Montgomery, Jacob Allen, Mark Smith, Matt Mountz, Shane Hoff, and Ryan Wilson. The only other repeat winner in 2012 was Scott Fisher.

Sixth through tenth in season points were Nathan Berwager, rookie of-the-year Ryan Wilson (one win), sportsmanship award winner Cris Eash (one win), Tyler Ross, and Mike Bittinger (one win).

2012 SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERS (358 Sprints)

• 358 Sprint Champion – Tim Wagaman
• Rookie of the Year – Ryan Wilson
• Sportsmanship Award – Cris Eash
• Most Improved Driver – Austin Hogue

DUANE WATSON CLAIMS THIRD LINCOLN SPEEDWAY THUNDERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Abbottstown’s Duane Watson joined some elite company in the thundercar division, becoming only the second driver to ever win three track titles. (Bernie Beard’s five track titles leads all drivers with five titles, and Watson joins Bobby Beard as a three-time track champ.) In 14 events, Watson’s four wins also included 11 top-five finishes. He is third on the all-time Lincoln thundercar win list with 37.

Mike Slaybaugh, 2012 sportsmanship award winner, took the title chase against Watson down to the final race with one win, six top-fives and a division-leading 13 top-tens to finish second in season points. Third through fifth in season points were Jimmy Combs (who recorded his first career win on July 28^th), Todd Miller, and Brian Walls (who was tied with Watson for most wins on the season at four).

Sixth through tenth in points were most improved driver Mikey Guise, Kyle Martin (one win), Danny Beard, Wayne Dutterer, and Will Walls.

In addition Combs, other first-time winners were Wayne Dutterer and rookie of-the-year Jimmy Jesmer.

There were eight different winners in 14 races.

2012 SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERS (Thundercars)

• Thundercar Champion – Duane Watson
• Rookie of the Year – Jimmy Jesmer
• Sportsmanship Award – Mike Slaybaugh
• Most Improved Driver – Mikey Guise

Niki Young wins third of the year in 358 sprints; Brian Walls wins fourth in thundercars; Watson claims third Lincoln title

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 10/13/2012 – How fast was Cory Haas in the season finale for 410 sprint cars at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night?

Fast enough to start 12^th and win by more than four seconds.

Haas thought he was in trouble when his redraw placed him on the outside of row six for the start. But he advanced through the field as front row starter Derek Sell and polesitter Josh Wells ran first and second the first five laps. By the time the only red flag of the event came out for a flipping third-place Bill Stine on lap six, Haas had entered the top five.

He caught Alan Krimes for fourth on the lap six restart, but then dropped back out of the top five during torrid racing with Krimes and Marks on lap nine. That’s when the caution came out for Randy Baughman, who stopped at the end of the front stretch to bring out the caution.

“I thought I kinda blew it there in the middle stages of the race,” said Haas upon exiting his Michael Barshinger-owned Embee & Son/Tailgaters #11c in victory lane, “We had that restart and I went through the middle and the top, and about cleared Alan and Logan, but I didn’t quite get ‘em. They got back around me and got going, and I moved the wing around a little bit and tried the bottom and top. It just felt best going around the top and going as fast as I could. That’s where I felt the best and could gain some ground on those guys. I worked my way to second and was closing on Brent a little bit. It was going to be a heck of-a-race I think.”

Sixth-starting Logan Schuchart took the lead from Sell on the 10^th-lap restart, and Brent Marks came from his eighth starting spot to slide under Sell for second one lap later. By lap 12, Haas was back in the picture, passing Sell for fourth but trying to hold off Danny Dietrich, who had advanced from his 11^th starting spot to fifth.

Marks slid under Schuchart for the lead on lap 17, and Haas moved into second the next lap.

That’s when disaster struck from Marks, who hit the outside guardrail and sustained front suspension damage exiting turn four of lap 20.

“I was closing up a little bit and I looked up and he was crashing. I barely got out of the cushion enough to just miss him,” said Haas, “After that, it was getting pretty far up against the wall and I decided to move the wing back and just go around the bottom down there.”

Haas assumed the lead for the restart and drove away from the field, crossing 4.14 seconds ahead of Danny Dietrich, who caught Schuchart for second on lap 23.

Schuchart settled for third, with Krimes and 15^th-starting Brian Montieth completing the top five. Sixth through tenth were 18^th-starting Jim Siegel, 17^th-starting Brian Leppo, 20^th-starting Adam Wilt, and Steve Owings.

Heats for the 28 410 Sprints on hand were won by Glenndon Forsythe, Wells, and Danny Dietrich, with Gerard McIntyre, Jr. winning the consolation.

Niki Young claimed his third win of the year in the 20-lap 358 sprint car feature. Young grabbed the lead from track champ Tim Wagaman as the two leaders both had to take evasive action to clear the slowing car of Nick Palmerino exiting turn four of lap ten and led the rest of the way. Palmerino suffered a leg injury when the drive shaft broke in his #51 sprinter, and received medical attention in the infield during a 13^th-lap caution.

Tim Berkheimer advanced from fourth to second on the 14^th-lap restart, and finished 1.2 seconds behind Young. Ryan Wilson, Wagaman, and Tyler Ross rounded out the top five, with Dale Hammaker, Cris Eash, Austin Hogue, Adrian Shaffer, and Matt Findley completing the top ten.

Smith wins 358 Championship event; Tim Wagaman wraps up season-long points title

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 10/6/2012 – “That was my only chance,” said a matter-of-fact Brian Montieth after claiming his eighth Lincoln win of the year and second straight Hank Gentzler Manufacturers Appreciation Night Race on Saturday night.

Montieth pulled a major league slider on Brent Marks during a 23^rd lap restart and drove to his 34^th career Lincoln win, taking home the $4,000 top prize.

Time trials, qualifying, and an inversion draw for a 6-lap dash place Montieth fifth for the start. Outside front row starter Gerard McIntyre, Jr. grabbed the lead from polesitter Billy Dietrich at the start and led the first 18 laps before Mark slid under the Weaver’s Body Shop #16 entering turn three of lap 19. Marks looked to be in command until the caution came out for Todd Zinn, who hit the guardrail in turn one on lap 23.

Montieth ran fifth until lap 15, when he caught Billy Dietrich for position on lap 15.

“There was a lot of dirty air up top in the early stages,” said Montieth, “That really makes it difficult to get to the front.”

The driver known as “the Edge” closed on Marks, McIntyre, and third-place Lance Dewease as Marks was taking the lead on lap 19. Montieth then took second from McIntyre a lap later as Danny Dietrich was making it a five-car race up front.

Montieth’s race-winning move in turns one and two of the 23^rd-lap restart. Over the final three laps, Montieth pulled away to a 1.29-second win, with Marks settling for second, McIntyre holding onto third, Dietrich fourth, and Dewease fifth.

Sprint heats were won by Alan Krimes, Danny Dietrich, and Dewease, with Randy Baughman winning the consolation event. Fast time in time trials over the 26-car field was set by Montieth with a one-lap time of 13.181-seconds (102.420 MPH).

Sunbury’s Mark Smith started on the outside of the front row and led every lap of the 25-lap, $1,500-to-win “358” sprint car championship race.

But the big story on Saturday night was the battle for the track title. Defending champ Jeff Rohrbaugh started on the pole of the time trial show and needed to gain 40 points on nephew Tim Wagaman to claim his second straight title.

But qualifying and an inversion draw place Wagaman third for the start, and he stayed out of trouble to cross fourth and join his uncle in becoming only the second driver to claim track titles at both Lincoln and Trail-Way Speedways in the same year. It was Wagman’s first championship at both tracks.

Smith and Rohrbaugh ran first and second the entire way, with Ryan Wilson edging Wagaman for third after the two exchanged the spot several times during the race. Tim Berkheimer completed the top five, with Austin Hogue, Steve Owings, 19^th-starting Tyler Ross, Niki Young, and Brad McClelland rounding out the top ten.

Heats for the “358" sprinters were won by Wilson, Dale Hammaker, Smith and McClelland.

Brie Hershey won the consolation.