Wanner Wins Sportsman Feature at Williams Grove

From Williams Grove Speedway

Mechanicsburg, PA — (June 16, 2013) — Under a perfect early summer evening three drivers won their first 2013 Williams Grove Speedway Saturday Night Series features. Stan Wanner won an emotionally charged 20 lap Blazer’s Body Shop Super Sportsman main. Bobby Beard conquered the slick-racing surface on the way to his win in the 20-lap Newville Electrical Services 358 Late Model feature. Craig Morgan’s late charge sent him to victory lane in the 15-lap Newville Construction Services Street Stock feature.

Stan Wanner started the Super Sportsman feature on the outside of the front row. Wanner held the lead by the completion of the opening lap. The only caution of the race came on the second lap.

Stan Wanner, from Hummelstown, dominated the remaining laps. Wanner, back in action after suffering an early-season heart attack, gained a 2.7 second lead over Chris Meleason, Kenny Edkins, Bobby Hockeberry, and Carmen Perigo Jr. The action was for fourth position between Perigo, Hockenberry, Frankie Herr, Russ Mitten, Gregg Foster, Scott Geesey, and Doug Dodson.

Meleason narrowed the lead late in the race. Wanner did not falter and he won his first of the year by over one second. Chris Meleason, Kenny Edkins, Carmen Perigo Jr., and Bobby Hockenberry followed the leader. Frankie Herr, Russ Mitten, Gregg Foster, Scott Geesey, and Doug Dodson completed the top ten.

Meleason, Scott Dellinger, and Kenny Edkins won the heats for the 30-car field. Jay Fannasy was the consolation victor. Paul Miller won the Sprint Aces Hard Charger award.

Bobby Beard is the master of the slick-racing surface. Beard started on the outside of the 358 Late Model front row and was the immediate leader. Gene Knaub advanced from his fourth position into second, and began a relentless pursuit of the leader.

Beard continued to lead in a race slowed by several cautions. Randy Stoudt, late in the event, took over third and joined the race for the lead.

Beard, from Brushtown, mastered the slippery surface. He won his first Williams Grove feature (he has a victory at Lincoln Speedway) by eight lengths over Gene Knaub. Randy Stoudt was third, with Wes Alleman in fourth, and Grant Adams was fifth. Scott Richwine, Travis Mease, Tommy Slanker, Jake Jones, and Larry Baer completed the top ten.

The qualifying races for the 20 competitors went to Slanker and Jones. Randy Stoudt received the Artwerks Hard Charger award.

Steven Dove started second in the Street Stock feature. Dove, wheeling the only Ford-powered machine in the field, led the way with Ed Halter in second. Halter spun in the fifth lap creating a caution.

Dove held the lead over a tight pack consisting of Pat McNeal, Greg Diehl, Taylor Farlling, Bob Gutshall, and Craig Morgan. Morgan, the eighth-place starter, advanced to third by lap seven.

Steven Dove, following a lap nine restart, slid up the track in turns one and two. Pat McNeal became the new leader with Craig Morgan in second. McNeal and Morgan staged an exciting side-by-side fight for the lead. Morgan, with two laps remaining, used a low groove move off two to edge ahead. McNeal tried a final lap pass in turn one. McNeal’s car went sideways allowing Morgan to gain a safe lead. Morgan, from Halifax, drove his Camaro to a ten-length win ahead of Steven Dove, Greg Diehl, Bob Gutshall, and Kevin Sigler.

Brett Pickel and Bob Gutshall won the heats for the 20-car field. Kevin Sigler collected the Artwerks Hard Charger award.

The Williams Grove Speedway Saturday Night Series returns to action this weekend. The Blazer’s Body Shop Super Sportsman, along with the Newville Electrical Services 358 Late Models, and the Newville Construction Services Street Stocks will compete. The racing action begins at 6:30 p.m. Adult admission is just five dollars with children 12 and under free.

Blazer’s Body Shop Super Sportsman:

1) 64 Stan Wanner 2) 318 Chris Meleason 3) 75 Kenny Edkin 4) 93 Carmen Perigo Jr. 5) 25 Bobby Hockenberry 6) 99 Frankie Herr 7) 77 Russ Mitten 8) 32 Gregg Foster 9) 33 Scott Geesey 10) 43 Doug Dodson 11) 30 Scott Dellinger 12) 3B Mike Enders 13) 8 Rich Eichelberger 14) 55c Chad Criswell 15) 11 Steve Fannasy 16) 1 Paul Miller 17) 222 Jay Fannasy 18) 00 Rick Barr 19) 88w Eric Walker 20) 29 Duaine Smith 21) 35 Gary Johnston 22) 69 Mallie Shuster 23) 59 Steve Wilbur 24) 21 LeRoy Martin

DNQ 44 John Garman, 5 Dave Berkheimer, 7 Todd Leonard, 9R Brent Rumberger, 29w Adam Wrey, 57G Geoff Gill

Newville Electrical Services 358 Late Models:

1) 29 Bobby Beard 2) 1 Gene Knaub 3) NINE Randy Stoudt 4) 80 Wes Alleman 5) 64 Grant Adams 6) 2 Scott Richwine 7)116 Travis Mease 8) 40 Tommy Slanker 9) 43 Jake Jones 10) 48 Larry Baer 11) 11 Sam Rial 12) 1w Billy Wampler 13) 19L Dave Latsha 14) 72 Ron Coleman 15) 19x Tom Smith 16) 88 Randy Croop 17) 17 Denny Willey 18) 21z Mike Walls 19) 1T Tim Murphy 20) 00 Nathan Ottensmyer

Newville Construction Services Street Stocks:

1) 11 Craig Morgan 2) 22 Steve Dove 3) 80D Greg Diehl 4) 65 Bob Gutshall 5) 7s Kevin Sigler 6) 92 Shaun Jones 7) 5 Dustin Hollinger 8) 94 Mike Buckley 9) 29J Jeff Haag 10) 1 Eric Tripp 11) 15 David Dietz Jr. 12) 00 Pat McNeal 13) 65L Lee Lingle 14) 88p Brett Pickel 15) 48 Taylor Farlling 16) 48D Danny Farlling 17) Super 7 Tim Drawbaugh 18) 14 Ed Halter

DNS 00m Mike Corbin, 28 Jimmy Combs