From Lincoln
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA , 4/2/11 –Talk about snatching the thrill of victory from the agony of defeat…
Abbottstown’s Mike Bittinger thought he was racing for the win when he jumped the cushion and rolled his car while trying to clear a lapped car in the final turns. Little did he know it was the final turns of lap 26, and he had already crossed first under the checkered flag.
“I got up to those lapped cars and couldn’t do anything with ‘em…and I thought there was more laps left and I thought ‘I gotta get around this guy,’ and look what happened!” explained Bittinger after literally running on foot to victory lane, “I though I saw one to go, and I was trying to get under the 44…I never saw the checkered flag…I looked at the board, and thought I’d better keep going.”
“I’m the only guy who can win it and wear it all at the same time!” continued Bittinger, “I wasn’t counting the money before I got it, but I guess I’d better start counting now!”
Points handicapping placed the CnP Farms/Press Start Games/KC Automotive on the pole for the 410 sprint feature. Bittinger was first into turn one at the start, and he was never passed, despite heavy race-long pressure from fourth-starting Gerard McIntyre, Jr., who was scored second every lap.
“I thought there was one more corner, and I knew McIntyre was on me…I saw his nose a few times and I knew if I could get around the lapped car, there was no way McIntyre could me and him in the same move, so I was trying to jam it around him and came up on him too quick.”
Bittinger found out he won when he saw everyone driving off the track and was told by third corner flagman Mike Yeaple that the race was already over.
Also making a good run was Brad McClelland, who started third and ran there the whole way.
But the racing behind the front three was wild, with one-time winner Danny Dietrich coming from 11th starting spot to race for every position and finish fourth. Outside front row starter Doug Dodson also ran strong, completing the top five.
Rounding out the top ten were Greg Hodnett, Fred Rahmer, Brent Marks, Alan Krimes, and Brian Leppo.
Heats for the 22 “410” Sprints were won by Aaron Ott, Rahmer, and Bittinger.
Gregg Foster held off a determined Carmen Perigo, Jr. to claim his first career Lincoln win in the 25-lap season opener for the super sportsman. Like the 410 sprint feature, Foster fought off the relentless challenges of Perigo the entire way, with Perigo actually scored the leader of lap 19.
As those two battled for the lead Scott Dellinger and Frankie Herr closed in late, making it a four-car battle for the lead through lapped traffic over the final three laps.
Finishing fifth behind Foster, Perigo, Dellinger, and Herr was Paul Miller, with Rick Barr, 19th-starting Rich Eichelberger, Scott Geesey, Jay Fannasy, and Leroy Martin completing the top ten.
Heats for the 33 Super Sportsman were won by Perigo, Dellinger, and Paul Miller, with Eichelberger winning the consolation.
Grant Adams took the lead from polesitter Cam Zeigler on the fifth lap and raced to his first career Lincoln win in the 358 late model feature.
Zeigler hung on for second, with Bobby Beard, Chase Billet, and Travis Mease rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Pancho Lawler, Steve Billet, Travis McClelland, Craig Wagaman, and Steve Weikel.
Defending track champ Gene Knaub lost a rear end and dropped from the field while running third on lap 17.
Heats for the 23 “358” Late Models were won by Knaub, Wagaman, and Bobby Beard.
Next Saturday, April 9th, Lincoln Speedway will be back in action at 6 PM with the 410 Sprints, 358 Sprints, and Thundercars. Gates will open at 4 PM.
To get all the latest news, results, schedule changes and rule changes, visit Lincoln Speedway’s website at http://www.lincolnspeedway.com to stay up-to-date on all the action or pending weather conditions at Central Pennsylvania’s “Premier” Saturday night race track – The Fabulous Lincoln Speedway.
RACE RESULTS
Sat., April 2, 2011
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA
Bob Evans Night/ARCH (Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown) Night
LAWRENCE CHEVROLET 410 SPRINTS
Feature (25-Laps) – 1. 12-Mike Bittinger ($3,300); 2. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 3. 6-Brad McClelland; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich; 5. 14-Doug Dodson; 6. 39-Greg Hodnett; 7. 51-Fred Rahmer; 8. 19M-Brent Marks; 9. 87-Alan Krimes; 10. 71-Brian Leppo; 11. 65-Johnny Mackison, Jr.; 12. 5-Adam Lawrence; 13. 11C-Cory Haas; 14. 84C-Chad Criswell; 15. 92-Justin Collett; 16. 20S-Derel Sell; 17. 44-Frank Cozze; 18. 21-Brian Montieth; 19. 59-Jim Siegel (DNF); 20. 30-Doug Esh (DNF);21. 77-Aaron Ott (DNF); DNS – 4-John Rudisill. No Time
Lap Leaders – Mike Bittinger (1-25)
1st Heat (10 Laps) – 1. 77-Aaron Ott; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich; 3. 71-Brian Leppo; 4. 39-Greg Hodnett; 5. 65-Johnny Mackison, Jr.; 6. 20S-Derek Sell; 7. 5-Adam Lawrence; 8. 84C-Chad Criswell (DNF). Time – 2:32.551
2nd Heat (10 Laps) – 1. 51-Fred Rahmer; 2. 30-Doug Esh; 3. 6-Brad McClelland; 4. 59-Jim Siegel; 5. 44-Frank Cozze; 6. 92-Justin Collett; 7. 4-John Rudisill (DNF). No Time
3rd Heat (10 Laps) – 1. 12-Mike Bittinger; 2. 16-Gerard McIntrye, Jr.; 3. 14-Doug Dodson; 4. 11C-Cory Haas; 5. 19M-Brent Marks; 6. 87-Alan Krimes; 7. 21-Brian Montieth. Time – 2:38.115
358 LATE MODELS
Feature (20-Laps) – 1. 64-Grant Adams; 2. 21Z-Cam Zeigler; 3. 81S-Bobby Beard; 4. 22-Chase Billet; 5. 116-Travis Mease; 6. 93-Pancho Lawler; 7. 20-Steve Billet; 8. 18X-Travis McClelland; 9. 30-Craig Wagaman; 10. 9W-Steve Weikel; 11. 21B-Travis Beaver; 12. 18-DJ Mease; 13. 7-Pat Beard; 14. X-Bernie Beard; 15. 78-John Ebersole; 16. 0-Larry Baer; 17. 121-Larry Neiderer; 18. 44-Tom Walls; 19. 9-Matt Adams; 20. 14-Tyler Horst; 21. 1-Gene Knaub (DNF); 22. 100-Tommy Slanker (DNF); 23. 29-Steve Clabaugh (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders – Cam Zeigler (1-4), Grant Adams (5-20)
1st Heat (10 Laps) – 1. 1-Gene Knaub; 2. 93-Panch Lawler; 3. 116-Travis Mease; 4. 9W-Steve Weikel; 5. 100-Tommy Slanker; 6. 78-John Ebersole; 7. 121-Larry Neiderer; 8. 29-Steve Clabaugh. Time – 2:22.63
2nd Heat (10 Laps)- 1. 30-Craig Wagaman; 2. 22-Chase Billet; 3. 21B-Travis Beaver; 4. 18X-Travis McClelland; 5. 20-Steve Billet; 6. 18-DJ Mease; 7. X-Bernie Beard; 8. 44-Tom Walls. No Time
3rd Heat (10 Laps) – 1. 81S-Bobby Beard; 2. 64-Grant Adams; 3. 21Z-Cam Zeigler; 4. 7-Pat Beard; 5. 14-Tyler Horst; 6. 0-Larry Baer (DNF); 7. 9-Matt Adams (DNF). Time – 2:20.57
SUPER SPORTSMAN
Feature (25-Laps) – 1. 32-Gregg Foster; 2. 93-Carmen Perigo, Jr.; 3. 30-Scott Dellinger; 4. 99-Frankie Herr; 5. 58-Paul Miller; 6. 55-Rick Barr; 7. 8-Rich Eichelberger; 8. 33R-Scott Geesey; 9. 222-Jay Fannasy; 10. 66-Leroy Martin; 11. 45-Dave Socks; 12. 3B-Mike Enders; 13. 43-Steve Wilbur; 14. 33-John Garman; 15. 20-Eric Eckert; 16. 318-Chris Meleason; 17. 25-Bobby Hockenberry; 18. 88W-Eric Walker; 19. 35-Gary Johnston; 20. 91-Lanny Hake; 21. 83F-Cody Fairchok; 22. 56T-Lee Taylor; 23. 5-dave Berkheimer (DNF); 24. 85-Jared Miller (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders – Gregg Foster (1-18), Carmen Perigo, Jr. (19), Gregg Foster (20-25)
1st Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 93-Carmen Perigo, Jr.; 2. 32-Gregg Foster; 3. 43-Steve Wilbur; 4. 20-Eric Eckert; 5. 33-John Garman; 6. 88W-Eric Walker; 7. 6-Daryl Shaffer; 8. 77-Russ Mitten; 9. 64-Stan Wanner; 10. 8-Rich Eichelberger; 11. 10-Jason Fry. No Time
2nd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify)- 1. 30-Scott Dellinger; 2. 55-Rick Barr; 3. 66-Leroy Martin; 4. 99-Frankie Herr; 5. 3B-Mike Enders; 6. 35-Gary Johnston; 7. 91-Lanny Hake; 8. 318-Chris Meleason; 9. 25-Bobby Hockenberry; DNS – 2-Kenny Keyton, 5-Dave Berkheimer. No Time
3rd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 58-Paul Miller; 2. 33R-Scott Geesey; 3. 222-Jay Fannasy; 4. 56T-Lee Taylor; 5. 85-Jared Miller; 6. 83F-Cody Fairchok; 7. 56S-Jim Shuster; 8. 16-Jeff Leisey; 9. 45-Dave Socks; 10. 77W-Tom Wyckoff; DNS – 21-Pete Lattenzio. No Time
Consolation (10 Laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 8-Rich Eichelberger; 2. 25-Bobby Hockenberry; 3. 45-Dave Socks; 4. 91-Lanny Hake; 5. 5-Dave Berkheimer; 6. 318-Chris Meleason; 7. 6-Daryl Schaffer; 8. 56S-Jim Shuster; 9. 64-Stan Wanner; 10. 16-Jeff Leisey; 11. 2-Ken Keyton; 12. 21-Pete Lattanzio; 13. 77-Russ Mitten; 14. 77W-Tom Wykoff; 15. 10-Jason Fry. No Time