Hanover, PA (04/29/11) – York’s Aaron Spahr celebrated his 19th birthday in style by claiming the $1,200-to-win Insinger Fuels 358 Sprint Car Championship at Trail-Way Speedway Friday night.
And he did it by running the last 14 laps without a header, which fell off the right side of his motor and dropped onto the fourth turn of lap 12. The header actually forced a caution when Randy Whisler ran over it and shredded a tire.
“I heard Wayne (Harper) telling me on the raceceiver that my header was off, but I wasn’t giving up on it,” said Spahr upon exiting his Bath Fitter #16 in victory lane, “I wanted to get it over with.”
After a first-lap red flag for a five-car crash that led to a Steve Storrie flip into the catch fence in turn three and involved the sprinters of opening night winner Steve Owings, Cris Eash, Joe Trone, Jr., and Randy Whisler, Spahr took the lead from his outside front row starting spot and led every lap.
Other than Storrie, the other drivers were able to continue and tagged the rear for the restart.
Despite good racing in behind, Spahr was never seriously challenged, crossing 2.15 seconds ahead of Logan Schuchart.
Schuchart, after setting a track record in his qualifying event, advanced from his sixth starting position (after the original restart) to catch Tim Wagaman in turn two of the 24th lap to finish in the runner-up spot. Wagaman, who started fifth, settled for third, with eighth-starting Jeff Rohrbaugh and 11th-starting Dale Hammaker rounding out the top five.
Sixth through tenth were polesitter Jessie Morrison, Eash, Owings, rookie Austin Hogue (who started on the last row), and last-row starter Joey Allen.
Heats for the 22 “358” sprinters on hand were won by Schuchart, Billy Dietrich, and Joe Trone.
Dietrich and Tim Berkheimer were both uninjured in a double-flip on turn two of lap four in the feature.
Justin Bittle claimed his second career Trail-Way win in the 20-lap thundercar feature, holding off Rick Weaver through lapped traffic at the end.
Todd Miller, James Jesmer, Jr., and Jimmy Tyson completed the top five.
Bittle also won the lone heat for the seven thundercars.
Polesitter Chad Stine led every lap of what turned out to be a thrilling 20-lap Extreme Stock feature when he got out of shape on the backstretch trying to clear lapped traffic on the final lap, shredded a tire coming off the final turn, and collided with second-place Jeremy Stremmel as the two crossed under the checkered flag. Stremmel had come from 10th starting spot to challenge on the final lap.
Stine was towed to victory lane with a tire jammed under his right rear fender, and Stremmel also needed a wrecker after coming to a stop with front end damage in turn one.
Timothy Hahn finished third.
Heats for the 12 Extreme Stocks were won by Doug Bennett and Timothy Hahn.
Rod Weaver raced to the win in the 12-lap limited stock feature. He started third and grabbed the lead from polesitter Matt Chronister on the second lap.
Two laps later, Chronister spun on the backstretch after suffering a flat tire.
Jason Chronister came from eighth starting spot to finish second, with ninth-starting Kyle Rohrbaugh third.
Heats for the 20 limited stocks were won by Daryl Hanson and Rod Weaver.
Tomorrow (4/30), Trail-Way will host the 600cc and 270cc Micro Sprints and All American Outlaws. Also on the schedule are the Scramble Cars and Strictly Stocks. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and racing begins at 6:30 p.m.
Next Friday (5/6), Trail-Way Speedway will hold the first night of the Fantasy Fan Contest as well as a Camera and Autograph night before the features. The 358 Sprint Cars, Thundercars, Extreme Stocks and Limited Stocks are on the schedule. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.
Next Saturday (5/7), Trail-Way will host an AMA Motorcycle Short Track race. Gates open at 3 p.m. and racing begins at 6 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 April 29, 2011
RACE RESULTS
358 Sprint Car Insinger Race Fuels Spring Championship
$1200 to win
Feature (25 Laps)
1. 16-Arron Spahr; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart; 3. 1-Tim Wagaman; 4. 45-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 5. 66-Dale Hammaker; 6. 18J-Jessie Morrison; 7. 10W-Cris Eash; 8. 35-Steve Owings; 9. 52-Austin Hogue; 10. 83-Joey Allen; 11. 10-Zach Euculano; 12. 20-Trevor Little; 13. 99-Joe Trone, Jr.(DNF); 14. 94-Ted Thomas(DNF); 15. 11D-Mike Duncan, Jr.(DNF); 16. 64-Randy Whisler(DNF); 17. 7V-Mike Ressler(DNF); 18. 7C -J.B. Cunningham(DNF); 19. 28-Keith Prutzman(DNF); 20. 50-Tim Berkheimer(DNF); 21. 8-Bill Dietrich(DNF); 22. 0-Steve Storrie(DNF). No Time.
Lap Leaders- Arron Spahr (1-25).
Heat 1 (10 Laps/All to Qualify)
1. 1S-Logan Schuchart; 2. 18J-Jessie Morrison; 3. 7V-Mike Ressler; 4. 64-Randy Whisler; 5. 94-Ted Thomas; 6. 28-Keith Prutzman; 7. 11D-Mike Duncan, Jr.; 8. 83-Joey Allen. Time 2:18.31- NEW TRACK RECORD.
Heat 2 (10 Laps/All to Qualify)
1. 8-Bill Dietrich; 2. 16-Aaron Spahr; 3. 50-Tim Berkheimer; 4. 10W-Cris Eash; 5. 7C-J.B. Cunningham; 6. 0-Steve Storrie; 7. 20-Trevor Little. Time 2:22.62.
Heat 3 (10 Laps/All to Qualify)
1. 99-Joe Trone, Jr.; 2. 35-Steve Owings; 3. 1-Tim Wagaman; 4. 45-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 5. 66-Dale Hammaker; 6. 10-Zach Euculano; 7. 52-Austin Hogue. Time 2:21.41.