STEVIE NIPS LEPPO AFTER THREE LAST LAP LEAD CHANGES

Stevie Smith
Stevie Smith

From Williams Grove Speedway, Rick Rarer Photo

MECHANICSBSURG, PA — Stevie Smith used a last corner move to edge Brian Leppo at the finish line Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway in the 30-lap All Star sprint car feature. Leppo started on the pole and led from the drop of the green flag, but came up just inches short at the finish. Smith started third and used an 18th lap restart to slide under runnerup Chad Layton, then began to close on his brother-in-law, Brian Leppo. Smith erased Leppo’s lead when the pair got to lapped traffic in the closing stages. When Leppo slowed on the front stretch for a lapped car as he drove under the white flag his lead was gone. Smith slid under Leppo to take the lead exiting the second corner on the last lap, but the race was far from over. Leppo shot to the inside entering turn three and drove back into the lead, but Smith ducked under him off turn four and won the drag race to the finish line by an official margin of victory timed at 0.02 seconds. Smith’s second win of the season and 23rd of his career at Williams Grove was worth $5000. It also ran the Pennsylvania Posse’s record to a perfect 22-0 against the All Stars at Williams Grove in a series that began in 1970. Leppo’s second-place finish was his best effort of the year at the Grove. Brian Montieth settled for third. Daryn Pittman was fourth and Fred Rahmer came from the eleventh starting position to finish fifth. Alan Krimes, Greg Hodnett, Chad Layton, Lance Dewease and Tim Shaffer completed the top ten. Pittman set fast time in qualifications with a lap of 16.800. Heats for the 35 sprint cars in competition were won by Aaron Ott, Montieth, David Gravel and Justin Henderson. The All Star Dash went to Smith. Jim Siegel won the B-main.

Williams Grove Speedway Feature Finish – June 11, 2010

All Star Sprint Car A-main – 30 laps – 1. Stevie Smith, 2. Brian Leppo, 3. Brian Montieth, 4. Daryn Pittman, 5. Fred Rahmer, 6. Alan Krimes, 7. Greg Hodnett, 8. Chad Layton, 9. Lance Dewease, 10. Tim Shaffer, 11. Adam Wilt, 12. Mark Smith, 13. Justin Henderson, 14. Tyler Walker, 15. Danny Dietrich, 16. Todd Shaffer, 17. Aaron Ott, 18. Greg Wilson, 19. Steve Buckwalter, 20. David Gravel, 21. Doug Esh, 22. Don Kreitz, Jr., 23. Rick Lafferty, 24. Jim Siegel. DNQ: Dave Ely, Cory Haas, Brent Marks, Cap Henry, Jared Ridge, Derek Sell, Bill Rose, Mark Coldren, Troy Fraker, Chris Meleason, Chris Shuttlesworth.