From Trail-Way Speedway
Hanover, PA (09/10/10) – There’s no lack of excitement when Billy Dietrich is in the field.
And he kept it exciting all 25 laps on Friday night, starting on the pole, running second to outside front row starter Doug Hammaker, taking the lead around the outside in turns three and four of lap four, and holding off a charging Brad McClelland over the second over the final 18 laps to score his first win of the year at Trail-Way Speedway.
“I hit the wall a lot, but that’s what they’re there for,” said a jubilant Dietrich upon exiting his Racer’s Used Parts Warehouse/William Shellhamer Hay & Straw #88, “Brad gave me a little love tap before that last restart, and I just love kicking his butt!”
McClelland and Dietrich are good friends, but actually, McClelland pulled up lame on the final half-lap. He was credited with a 14th-place finish, setting up a dramatic final points race of the season in next Friday’s Trone Outdoor Advertising Championship event.
Doug Hammaker reclaimed second on the final lap, with 11th-starting Tim Wagaman crossing third. Wagaman’s third-place finish combined with McClelland’s DNF pulled Wagaman to within 14 points (756-742) of McClelland entering next week’s championship.
“Doug did just what I didn’t want him to do,” added Dietrich, “and we finally found a groove and came back. It feels good to win, and racing here is exciting as hell from my seat.”
Arron Spahr, who started 13th in just his third Trail-Way 358 sprint race, finished fourth.
Steve Owings, who pulled into the pits after his throttle stuck and his spun into the infield lining up for his heat, came from 20th and last starting spot to cross fifth.
Sixth through tenth were Randy Whisler, Scott Fisher, Dale Hammaker, Joe Trone, Jr., and Mike Bittinger.
Heats for the 21 “358” sprinters were won by Dietrich, Doug Hammaker, and Wagaman.
Kyle Martin borrowed a rear end from fellow competitor Todd Miller and went on to win his fifth race of the year in the 20-lap thundercar feature.
Martin grabbed the lead from polesitter Brian Diehl on a third-lap restart and led the rest of the way. Fellow row-two starter Sam Gallagher finished 3.3 seconds behind Martin in second, with Will Walls, David Prunkl, and Justin Bittle completing the top five.
The lone thundercar heat was won by Prunkl.
Doug Bennett scored his third win in-a-row and sixth win of the year in the 20-lap Extreme Stock feature. He caught Brent Hake for the lead on lap 12. Hake had led laps four through 11 after early-race leader Jeremy Stremmel spun in turn two.
Crossing second and third were Hake and Patrick McClane.
The lone heat for the Extreme Stocks was won by Timothy Hahn.
Jason Chronister grabbed the lead out the outset from his third starting spot and claimed his second win of the year in he 12-lap limited stock feature.
Brother Matt Chronister finished second and Shawn Crunkilton was third.
Heats for the 23 limited stocks were won by Crunkilton and Jason Chronister. Sarah Redmond won the consolation event.
Tomorrow (9/11), Trail-Way Speedway will host the 600cc and 270cc Micro Sprints. The Penn-Mar Vintage cars, Scramble Cars, and Starlite 4 and 6-cylinder cars are also on the schedule. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.
Next Friday (9/17), a track title will be on the line when the 358 Sprint Cars compete in their last points race of the year–the $2,000 to win Trone Outdoor Advertising Championship. Also on the schedule are the Thundercars and Limited Stocks. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.
Next Saturday (9/18), will be the final AMA Short Track race of the 2010 season. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.
For all the latest news and related information from Trail-Way Speedway, fans are reminded to visit the speedway website at www.trail-wayspeedway.com. The complete story and agate from each race night is posted shortly after the final checkered falls.
Trail-Way Speedway September 10, 2010
RACE RESULTS
358 Sprint Cars
Feature (25 Laps)
1. 88-Billy Dietrich; 2. 66H-Doug Hammaker; 3. 1-Tim Wagaman; 4. 16-Arron Spahr; 5. 35-Steve Owings; 6. 64-Randy Whisler 7. 21-Scott Fisher; 8. 66-Dale Hammaker; 9. 99-Joe Trone, Jr.; 10. 12-Mike Bittinger; 11. 10-Zach Euculano; 12. 8R-Michael Ruttkamp; 13. 00-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 14. 6-Brad McClelland; 15. 11D-Mike Duncan, Jr.; 16. 33T-Todd Spangler; 17. 27-Brian Suchy; 18. 66B-Cory Brockman(DNF); 19. 98-Randy Davis, Jr.(DNF); 20. 18J-Jessie Morrison(DNF); 21. 33-Billy Heltzel III(DNS). No Time.
Lap Leaders- Doug Hammaker (1-3), Billy Dietrich (4-25).
Heat 1 (10 Laps/All to Qualify)
1. 88-Billy Dietrich; 2. 64-Randy Whisler; 3. 6-Brad McClelland; 4. 18J-Jessie Morrison; 5. 16-Arron Spahr; 6. 12-Mike Bittinger; 7. 66B-Cory Brockman. Time 2.12:43.
Heat 2 (10 Laps/All to Qualify)
1. 66H-Doug Hammaker; 2. 98-Randy Davis, Jr.; 3. 66-Dale Hammaker; 4. 00-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 5. 11D-Mike Duncan, Jr.; 6. 33T-Todd Spangler; 7. 33-Billy Heltzel III(DNF). No Time.
Heat 3 (10 Laps/All to Qualify)
1. 1-Tim Wagaman; 2. 21-Scott Fisher; 3. 99-Joe Trone, Jr.; 4. 10-Zach Euculano; 5. 8R-Michael Ruttkamp; 6. 27-Brian Suchy; 7. 35-Steve Owings(DNS). Time 2:28.20.