From Rich Vleck
HAMMET, PA – (May 29, 2011) – There were plenty of sprint cars, a ton of fans, and one amazing surface at Eriez Speedway on Sunday Night, but Mother Nature intervened once again to postpone all of the fun.
With heat races already in the books, a massive series of storms pounded the Eriez Speedway for the first rain-affected Patriot race at the facility in series history.
Under PST rules, the completion of heat races called for a new date to run the Original Pizza Logs Four Laps of Fame Dash and the 25-lap A-Main. Track Owner Bobby Rohrer came up with a solution that will benefit both the fans as well as the race teams.
The reminder of Sunday’s show will now be held on Sunday July 3, with an entire new Patriot Sprint Tour event being added that night to create a special Independence Day Holiday event. All 23 teams that were on hand Sunday will be able to compete in both features, with all other teams eligible to compete in the newly-formed program. Add to it that Little Valley will be on Saturday and it should be a highly supported weekend.
“I can’t thank Bobby and Kathy Rorher enough for the support they showed us in this difficult situation,” said PST President Mike Emhof. “They had the makings of a great show tonight and we can only hope the new July event can benefit them as well.”
George Suprick was one of three teams that did not mind seeing Mother Nature intervene. The 2004 Patriot Champ dominated heat one but coasted across the finish line and in the pits it was discovered he had a broken rocker arm. After redrawing the outside pole, he will now be able to start in that spot in five weeks.
Scott Kreutter hopped a tire on the first lap of his heat race and flipped his No. 52. With a number of bent parts, Kreutter was a likely scratch for the feature. Kyle Lefelhoc’s engine issues continued in his heat when he threw a rod threw the oil pan of his engine.
Jared Zimbardi dominated heat two while it was Kyle Moffit scoring a heat win for the second-straight night in an odd heat three, that included the Kreutter flip, Lefelhoc’s blown motor and a two-car tangle between Jeff Frasier and Brad Knab which forced both pitside prematurely.
When the PST returns to Eriez in July, rookie Jay Groves will be on the pole for the 25-lap feature. Vern Wasson will have the pole for the Original Pizza Logs Four Laps of Fame.
The Patriots now turn their attention to Friday for the first event at Williams Grove sanctioned by the PST. The Patriots will join in with the United Racing Company in the $3,000-to-win Mach1 Chassis Challenge.
For more information, visit www.PatriotSprintTour.com and don’t forget to follow the PST on Facebook and Twitter.
Patriot Sprint Tour Results: 5/29/11, Eriez Speedway, Hammet, PA.
Bonnell’s Collision/ Fine Touch Collision A-Main (25 Laps)- To be held July 3
Original Pizza Logs Four Laps of Fame Dash (4 Laps)- To be held July 3
National Parts Peddler Heats (8 Laps Each)-
Race 1: 1. Suprick, 2. Groves, 3. Adamczyk, 4. Porter, 5. Wickham, 6. Howland, 7. Hoddick, 8. Brown.
Race 2: 1. Zimbardi, 2. Naida, 3. Wasson, 4. Kelly, 5. Proctor, 6. DeWick, 7. Collins, 8. Anderson.
Race 3: 1. Moffit, 2. Shuttleworth, 3. Ely, 4. Frasier, 5. Knab, 6. Lefelhoc, 7. Kreutter.