By Shawn Brouse
Port Royal – Steve Buckwalter of Royersford scored his first career Port Royal Speedway 410 sprint car win Saturday night at the Juniata County oval in a dominating performance, leading all 25 laps for the $3,000 payday.
In the 20-lap late model main it was second-generation driver Andy Haus of Hamburg scoring the win in another wire-to-wire performance while Tim Krape scored in the pro stock main and Bill Powell won the enduro dash.
Aboard the Clair and Jan Ritter No. 17B, Buckwalter began the 25-lapper for the sprint cars on the outside of the front row and immediately took the lead over last week’s winner Ryan Taylor at the drop of the green.
Only two laps of the races could be scored before the races first caution flag unfurled for a stopped Joey Hershey. Doug Esh lined up third for the restart.
The leaders entered lapped traffic on the seventh tour of the speedway, allowing Taylor to close in on Buckwalter as he tried to make it back-to-back victories while the duo of frontrunners pulled away from Esh.
But although Taylor was able to catch the leader at times in traffic, Buckwalter was able to hold his own at the front and when the races second and final yellow appeared for a stopped Chad Layton who had been running third, Buckwalter drove away to the win handily on the restart.
Taylor of Perkaise was second followed by Mike Erdley, Rick Lafferty and Lynton Jeffrey.
Heats for the 20-car field went to Jeffrey and Layton.
Layton was clocked just a few tenths of a second off of the one-lap track record during his heat race having broken into the 15-second bracket on the lightning fast and smooth surface.
Haus maintained control from the pole in the late model main but just like last week, Mitch Hack of Elliottsburg moved forward to challenge for the win near the finish.
But before Hack could take his licks at the win, Matt Parks got his jabs in, pulling even with Haus at times only to see him ride momentum back into control using the high line around the speedway.
Seventh starter Hack moved into second late and ran down the leader to post a challenge at the finish but it was not to be as Haus, the son of Port Royal late model stalwart Scott Haus, picked up his second career Port late model triumph.
Hack rode home second followed by Parks, Rick Singleton and Mike Lupfer.
Heats for the 24-car field went to Hack, Chris Farrell and Tim Gray.
Tim Krape started fourth in the 15-lap pro stock main and led every lap, making quick work of the cars in front of him to take a quick advantage over the rest of the field.
It was the Bellefonte driver’s 76th career Port pro stock checkered flag.
Dave Bowsman was second followed by Scott Landis, Josh Angle and Jason Davis.
Bill Powell led all 20-laps of the enduro dash to finish ahead of the rest of his family as Jan Powell rode home second with Jen Powell third.
Steve Harland finished fourth with Jeremy Hoffman in fifth.
Port Royal Speedway will host the first of only two appearances by the super sportsman this season next Saturday, April 16. Also on the racing card is the 410 sprints and late models with admission gates opening at 5 PM and racing slate for 7.
April 9, 2011 Feature Finishes:
410 sprints, 25 laps: 1. Steve Buckwalter, 2. Ryan Taylor, 3. Mike Erdley, 4. Rick Lafferty, 5. Lynton Jeffrey, 6. Todd Shaffer, 7. Keith Kauffman, 8. Lance Dewease, 9. Mike Wagner, 10. Davey Sammons, 11. Doug Esh, 12. Bill Jones Jr., 13. Nicole Bower, 14. John Brennfleck, 15. Brian Ehrenzeller, 16. Cliff Brian DNF, 17. Chad Layton DNF, 18. Joey Hershey DNF, 19. Jack Thornton DNF, 20. Justin Henderson DNS.