This, That and the other in Motorsports...

Exclusive for Auto Locator by Ernie Saxton

As printed in Issue Dated 5-14-2004

    

  BROOK WEIBLEY scored an impressive victory in the 25-lap sprint car feature race at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night. Weibley took the lead on the 11th lap and was never topped as he was able to hold off the strong late race challenge of Lance Dewease to pick up $3000 for this second career victory at The Grove, the first one coming in 2001.

            Jeff Shepard, driving a sprint car owned by Nextel Cup ace Kasey Kahne, finished in third sport followed by Fred Rahmer (coming from 20th starting spot) and Cris Eash.

            Interesting to note was the face that nine drivers in the 410-sprint lineup on Friday night have had wins on the World of Outlaws sprint circuit.

            In the 20-lap feature for the Super Sportsman Dale Hammaker was the winner when early leader Rich Eichelberger was involved in an accident with a lapped car. Second spot went to Howie Locke followed by Steve Cannon, Pat Cannon and Frankie Herr.

             When the limited (358 c.i.) sprints return to Williams Grove Speedway along with the sprint cars on Friday evening,
May 7, at 8:00, Chad Layton will be on a mission. Layton will be doing double duty driving his family-owned sprint car in the Grove's premier division and wheeling his
brother's 358 in the limited class.
     After winning the limited championship in 2002 Layton tried running both divisions last year with moderate success. He scored two feature wins in the limited division, but surrendered his track championship to Cory Haas.  He also managed three top-five finishes in the sprint car division on a semi-regular basis.
     This season he had planned to concentrate exclusively on the top division until his brother offered the seat in his 358 c.i. car.  Chad accepted and proved he hadn't forgotten how to find victory lane with an impressive feature win on April 16.
     It was Layton's tenth career triumph at Williams Grove and moved him to within three of Mike Lehman's record total of 13.
     Although Lehman is back as a Grove regular after a lengthy absence, Layton believes he has a chance to catch the career win leader this year and has established it as one of his goals.
     His primary goal, however, is to continue improving with his 410 c.i. sprint car and get a feature win in the Grove's premier division as did another former limited champ, Doug Esh, on April 16.
     Both Esh and Layton will have plenty of competition in this week's sprint feature, which will be 25 laps in distance and pay $3000 to win. Current Cindy Rowe Auto Glass point leader Greg Hodnett along with former champions Fred Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Don Kreitz, Keith Kauffman and Todd Shaffer will provide a formidable challenge for young talent such as Esh and Layton.
     The ARDC midgets will join the sprint cars at Williams Grove on May 14 before the limited sprints return on May 21.
     The World of Outlaws will sanction the Cleveland Brothers Spring Shootout on May 27-28.
            AT BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY on Friday night Keith Hoffman was the winner of the 25-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature with older brother Doug getting second. It was a reversal of the finish from the last Friday night show at Big Diamond. Craig VonDohren got third followed by Ray Swinehart and Billy Pauch.

            The Sportsman-Modified feature, 20 laps, went to Greg Weiland for his first career victory topping Tom Brennan. Lowell Snyder lead for 14 laps before having an engine go bad giving Weiland the lead.

            Kevin Beach was the winner in the NASCAR Roadrunner feature that went 15-laps.

            NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds are back in action on Friday night at 8 p.m. along with the Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners.

            IT WILL BE LADIES NIGHT AT HAGERSTOWN, MD SPEEDWAY on Saturday, May 8th. All ladies will be admitted for half-price to the grandstand. Regular grandstand general admission is $9.00 with ladies $4.50. Kids under 12 are FREE. Since it is Mother’s Day on Sunday, the Hagerstown Speedway will be acknowledging many of the special moms with gifts during the program.

            The late models, Hoosier Tires Mid-Atlantic late model sportsman and the Ernie’s Salvage Yard pure stocks will be in action in a four feature program that will get underway at 7:30 P.M. Warm-ups are at 7 P.M. with gates opening at 5 P.M.

            All three divisions will have a complete program of qualifying and feature events as the battle for the track championships continue. For the pure stocks, Saturday night’s program is twice as important as other nights since they will have twin-10 lap features. A bad night when twin features are scheduled can mean catch-up the rest of the season. If a driver can pull-off wins in both features, he gets a big boost in the point standings early in the year.

  ULTI TIME TRACK CHAMPION Craig VonDohren waited until the final turn of the final lap to pass Cliff Quinn, who had lead just about all the laps, and ride to his second victory of the season in the 30-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified race at Grandview Speedway. Cliff Quinn did manage to hold on for second followed by Rick Schaffer, Bobby Trapper and Danny Erb. The win moved VonDohren into a tie with Rick Schaffer as the all time leading modified feature winners at Grandview with 50 career victories.

            The 20-lap main event for the NASCAR ShorTrack Late Models had Chris Shuey winning his second feature of the season. Steve Todorow was the early leader was dropped out before a lap could be complete. Junior Grebe inherited the top spot and the challenges that go with it. Several drivers did challenge for the top spot with Chris Shuey putting the Harry’s U-Pull-It #21 in front on the 13th lap and riding to the win. Second spot went to Chuck Schutz who was coming on strong in the final lap followed by Junior Grebe, Jason Miller and Mike Kellner.

            Racing returns to Grandview Speedway on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with Modifieds and Late Models, at least 13 events of racing, with the first 250 ladies entering the speedway receiving a carnation courtesy of Christa’s Country Creations of Oley, PA.

           Coming up on Sunday, May 30th is a GIANT doubleheader show that will feature the nationally famous World of Outlaws sprint cars and the DIRT Big Block Modified Southeast Series. The night will be sponsored by BPG Racing/Chad Sinon Motorsports.

Advance ticket information can be had at 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com.

            AT HAGERSTOWN SPEEDWAY on Saturday night it was Devin Friese winning the 25-lap late model feature race. He became the first repeat winner in 10 races run this season. The 20-lap Hoosier Tires late model sportsman feature went to Pete Weaver while Dean Holmes got the win in the Pure Stock main event. Mark Vegh won the 30-lap Enduro race.

            DAVE NEUMAN drove to his first career win in the 25-lap sprint car feature at Selinsgrove Speedway on Saturday night. Donnie Schick was tops in the 25 lap late model main event while Troy Miller won the pro stock feature and Keith Bissinger won his fourth of the season in the 12-lap roadrunner main event.

            Action returns to Selinsgrove on Saturday at 7 p.m. when the sprints, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners will be featured.

            SUSQUEHANNA SPEEDWAY in Newberrytown, PA continues with their Thursday night racing action starting at 7:30 p.m. The Thursday shows usually include 410 sprints along with other classes of competition. An event that is getting a lot of attention is the Great American School Bus Race on June 10th. Just the other night sprint car champion Fred Rahmer tried his hand at school bus driving and was able to turn the quickest lap on the half mile at 44.10 seconds and that earned him a $100 bonus from Rock It Pizza. You can get information on what is happening at Susky by going to www.sspracing.net.

            CLINTON COUNTY SPEEDWAY kicked off their 2004 season on Friday night with Blane Heimbach winning the 25-lap sprint car feature. Eric Hons won the 358 Late Model feature while Greg Malek was tops in the Pro Stocks and Jason McCaulley won the 4 Cylinder Enduro race.

            Racing continues at Clinton County Speedway on Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. with Sprint cars, Late Models, Pro Stocks and 4 Cylinder Enduros.

            SILVER SPRING SPEEDWAY has Steve Cannon getting his second career Super Sportsman win on Saturday night while Marz Berzowski took the honors in the street stock feature, a 20 lapper, for his first career victory. Tom Swanger was the winner in the 15-lap Vintage Car feature race.

            Silver Spring is back in action on Saturday night, 7 p.m. with Super Sportsman, Late Models and the first ever appearance of the 305 sprint cars.

            IF YOU REMEMBER READING FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY, made famous initially by Russ Moyer, then you may be interested in the Reading Fairgrounds Historical Racing Society. You can check them out at www.rsca-history.org. Our long time friend Ken Johnson is involved in the operation of this group.

            Coming up at Nazareth Speedway on May 22-23 is the annual NASCAR Busch Series event, the Gould 200. This event attracts the top names in Busch Series competition and maybe even a couple of Nextel Cup racers.

            And what is your feeling about caution flag finishes in Nextel Cup. Are you for them or against them. Check in with me at Esaxton144@aol.com.