DIETRICH COMES FROM 11TH TO DEFEAT STELLAR “410″ SPRINT FIELD AT LINCOLN

Danny Dietrich
Danny Dietrich. - Rick Rarer / Sprintcarnews.com Photo

From Lincoln Speedway

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 7/9/2011 – Danny Dietrich became the fifth and final leader just before a 16th lap caution and drove away to his third win of the year in a thrilling 25-lap Kids Night “410” sprint car feature at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night.

In a race which saw changes in both the top five and on every lap, Dietrich came from 11th starting spot to catch Doug Esh for fifth as the leaders raced through heavy lapped traffic on lap 10. He assumed fourth when second-place Greg Hodnett was collected by a spinning car at the tail end of the lead lap in turn two of lap 14, and followed Jim Siegel past Adam Wilt into third during a multi-car battle for the runner-up spot on lap 15, just before the caution came out for a spinning Kevin Nouse in turns three and four.

What followed was a three-car race for the lead, with Siegel reclaiming the lead for the second time in the race and Dietrich also passing Brent Marks for second on lap 15. One-lap later, Dietrich pulled the slider on Siegel for the race lead as the leaders completed the lap but Aaron Ott spun on turn two. Because half the field wasn’t past the flagstand, the lap didn’t count but the pass did.

Dietrich drove away from the field after that, crossing 2.96 seconds ahead of Siegel, with Marks settling for third, Wilt crossing fourth, and Brian Leppo fifth. Sixth through tenth were Esh, Alan Krimes, 20th-starting Brad McClelland, Cory Has (who came from the back after an early-race spin), and Gerard McIntyre, Jr.

“We caught every break there was,” said Dietrich upon exiting the Gary Kauffman-owned Sandoe’s Fruit Market/APM Buildings/Racer’s Used Parts Warehouse #48 in victory lane, “Even when (Dave) Wilson spun up there and collected Greg. He was pretty fast, too. He’s been fast, and it’s obvious, he was running second and we had the breaks go our way.”

“I try to stay calm back there, and pick ‘em off and take advantage of it when I can,” said Dietrich about his run through the field to the race lead, “This doesn’t get old. We’d like to park it here all the time!”

Polesitter Chad Criswell led the first lap from the pole before turning the lead over the Siegel from laps two through 11. Marks led from laps 12 through 15, with Siegel back in front on lap 15. Dietrich led the rest of the way for his third Lincoln win of the season and sixth of his Lincoln career.

Heats for the 25 “410” sprinters were won by Esh, Chad Criswell, and Wilt, with Sam Schlosberg winning the consolation.

Scott Fisher fulfilled a lifelong dream by starting on the pole and holding off all challengers to score his first career Lincoln win in the 20-lap “358” sprint car feature. In doing so, he became the 11th winner in as many races in the 358 sprint ranks this season.

Fisher, who spent his childhood years in the fourth turn stands, stopped there to celebrate on his way to victory lane, and noted that on Kids Night, there were tons of kids on hand who hope to some day get to race a sprint car like car owner Ronnie Thomas has given him a chance to do.

To score the win, Fisher had to hold off the ongoing challenges of second-starting Isaac Sneeringer, who crossed .38 seconds behind the winner. Doug Hammaker, who like Fisher and Sneeringer was looking for his first Lincoln win, finished third, with veterans Jeff Rohrbaugh and Adrian Shaffer completing the top five. Sixth through tenth were Billy Dietrich, Niki Young, Chad Trout, Logan Schuchart, and Tim Wagaman.

Heats for the 35 “358” sprinters were won by Schuchart, Sneeringer, Dietrich, and Trout, with Billy Pauch, Jr. winning the consolation. Pauch flipped during the feature in a three-car crash that resulted in a leg injury to Ted Thomas, Jr. Also involved was Mike Duncan, Jr. the only driver which was able to continue.

Waynesboro’s Jamie Zentmyer held off three-time 2011 winner Sam Gallagher in a photo finish to pick up his first win of 2011 in the 20-lap thundercar feature.

But it appeared earlier that Jimmy Combs was going to pick up his first career win after taking the lead from polesitter Bob Johnson on the eighth lap and was driving away with five laps to go.

But suddenly Comb’s rear axle snapped sending his car spinning on the exit of turn two. That handed the lead over to Zentmyer who now had do deal with point-leader Gallagher who was charging hard to the front.

Gallagher passed Zentmyer on the 19th lap for the lead, only to have Zentmyer stick with him through the final turns to the checked. Zentmyer found just enough traction on the exit of turn four to inch ahead at the checkered for the spectacular win.

Gallagher, who started 12th, settled for second and earned the hard-charger award, with Roy Warehime, jr. third, Todd Miller fourth, and Mikey Guise fifth.

Completing the top-10 were Mike Slaybaugh, Danny Beard, Duane Watson, Justin Mong, and Brian Walls.

Heats for the 18 Thundercars were won by Gallagher and Kyle Martin.

Lincoln Speedway swings back into action this Tuesday night, July 12th, at 7:30 PM, with a special show featuring the PPB Race of Champions Modifieds and MACH 1 358/360 Sprint Challenge. Gates will open at 5 PM.

Them next Saturday night, July 16th, it will be Pepsi Night with the Lawrence Chevrolet 410 Sprint and Thundercars regulars being joined by the invading United Racing Company (URC) Sprints. Gates will open at 5:30 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
Saturday, July 9, 2011
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA
KIDS NIGHT
LAWRENCE CHEVROLET 410 SPRINTS
Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 48-Danny Dietrich ($3,200); 2. 59-Jimmy Siegel; 3. 19M-Brent Marks; 4. 15-Adam Wilt; 5. 71-Brian Leppo; 6. 30-Doug Esh; 7. 87-Alan Krimes; 8. 6-Brad McClelland; 9. 11C-Cory Haas; 10. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 11. 39-Greg Hodnett; 12. 12-Mike Bittinger; 13. 21K-Kyle Pruitt; 14. 70-Sam Schlosberg; 15. 92-Kevin Nouse; 16. 77-Aaron Ott; 17. 56-Dave Wilson; 18. 26-Pat Cooper; 19. 2A-Todd Allen; 20. 21-Brian Montieth (DNF); 21. 20S-Derek Sell (DNF); 22. 23-Todd Zinn (DNF); 23. 84C-Chad Criswell (DNF); DNS – 69-Tim Glatfelter. No Time

Lap Leaders – Chad Criswell (1), Jim Siegel (2-11), Brent Marks (12-14), Jim Siegel (15), Danny Dietrich (16-25)

1st Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 30-Doug Esh; 2. 39-Greg Hodnett; 3. 69-Tim Glatfelter; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich; 5. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 6. 20S-Derek Sell; 7. 70-Sam Schlosberg; 8. 23-Todd Zinn; 9. 2A-Todd Allen. 2:35.610

2nd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 84C-Chad Criswell; 2. 59-Jim Siegel; 3. 21-Brian Montieth; 4. 87-Alan Krimes; 5. 92-Kevin Nouse; 6. 77-Aaron Ott; 7. 14-Doug Dodson; 8. 6-Brad McClelland. No Time

3rd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 15-Adam Wilt; 2. 11C-Cory Haas; 3. 71-Brian Leppo; 4. 19M-Brent Marks; 5. 21K-Kyle Pruitt; 6. 12-Mike Bittinger; 7. 26-Pat Cooper; 8. 56-Dave Wilson. Time – 2:38.447

Consolation (10 Laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 70-Sam Schlosberg; 2. 6-Brad McClelland; 3. 26-Pat Cooper; 4. 56-Dave Wilson; 5. 2A-Todd Allen; 6. 23-Todd Zinn; 7. 14-Doug Dodson (DNF). No Time

KEIZER ALUMINUM WHEELS 358 SPRINTS
Feature (20-Laps) – 1. 21-Scott Fisher; 2. 19Z-Isaac Sneeringer; 3. 66H-Doug Hammaker; 4. 45-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 5. 91-Adrian Shaffer; 6. 8-Billy Dietrich; 7. 65-Niki Young; 8. 7C-Chad Trout; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart; 10. 1-Tim Wagaman; 11. 0-Steve Storrie; 12. 99M-Kyle Moody; 13. 85-Nathan Berwager; 14. 5T-Glenndon Forsythe; 15. B52-Brook Weibley; 16. 66-Dale Hammaker; 17. 6R-Logan Wagner; 18. 51N-Nick Palmerino; 19. 27-Jay Galloway; 20. 11D-Mike Duncan, Jr.; 21. 50B-Tim Berkheimer (DNF); 22. 23B-Billy Pauch (DNF); 23. 94-Ted Thomas, Jr. (DNF); 24. 28-Keith Prutzman (DNF). No Time

Lap Leaders – Scott Fisher (1-20)

1st Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart; 2. 0-Steve Storrie; 3. 65-Niki Young; 4. 99M-Kyle Moody; 5. 6R-Logan Wagner; 6. 23B-Billy Pauch; 7. B52-Brook Weibley; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen; 9. 74-Dwayne Morris. Time – 2:32.15

2nd Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) – 1. 19Z-Isaac Sneeringer; 2. 45-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 3. 21-Scott Fisher; 4. 66-Dale Hammaker; 5. 51N-Nick Palmerino; 6. 94-Ted Thomas, Jr.; 7. 28F-Matt Findley; 8. 50-Austin Reed (DNF); 9. 99-Jan Luckenbaugh. No Time

3rd Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) – 1. 8-Billy Dietrich; 2. 66H-Doug Hammaker; 3. 91-Adrian Shaffer; 4. 5T-Glenndon Forsythe; 5. 50B-Tim Berkheimer; 6. 38-Mark Strickler; 7. 67-Jason Cherry; 8. 88-Aaron eichelberger; 9. 97-Brie Hershey (DNF). No Time

4th Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) – 1. 7C-Chad Trout; 2. 85-Nathan Berwager; 3. 10W-Cris Eash; 4. 1*-Tim Wagaman; 5. 11D-Mike Duncan; 6. 28-Keith Prutzman; 7. 27-Jay Galloway; 8. 23-Chris Arnold. No Time

Consolation (10 Laps/5 to qualify [due to Cris Eash scratch for feature]) – 1. 23B-Billy Pauch, Jr.; 2. B52-Brook Weibley; 3. 94-Ted Thomas, Jr.; 4. 28-Keith Prutzman; 5. 27-Jay Galloway; 6. 67-Jason Cherry; 7. 38-Mark Strickler; 8. 74-Dwayne Morris; 9. 23-Chris Arnold; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen; 11. 88-Aaron Eichelberger; 12. 28F-Matt Findley; 13. 97-Brie Hershey (DNF). DNS: 50-Austin Reed; 99-Jan Luckenbaugh. No time.

THUNDERCARS
Feature (20 Laps) – 1. 81J-Jamie Zentmyer; 2. 25-Sam Gallagher; 3. 54W-Roy Warehime; 4. 3-Todd Miller; 5. 93-Mikey Guise; 6. 61-Mike Slaybaugh; 7. 60-Danny Beard; 8. 3W-Duane Watson; 9. 77-Justin Mong; 10. 53-Brian Walls; 11. 18-Bob Johnson; 12. 70-Rick Weaver; 13. 121-Larry Neiderer; 14. 54J-Jimmy Combs (DNF); 15. 54-Kyle Martin (DNF); 16. 11-Chuck Walls (DNF); 17. 44-Tom Walls (DNF); 18. 14-Andrew Walls (DNS). No Time

Lap Leaders – Bob Johnson (1-7); Jimmy Combs (8-15); Jamie Zentmyer (16-19); Sam Gallagher (19); Zentmyer (20)

1st Heat (8 Laps) – 1. 25-Sam Gallagher; 2. 61-Mike Slaybaugh; 3. 81J-Jamie Zentmyer; 4. 3-Todd Miller; 5. 18-Bob Johnson; 6. 53-Brian Walls; 7. 70-Rick Weaver (DNF); 8. 77-Justin Mong (DNF); 9. 11-Chuck Walls (DNF). No Time

2nd Heat (8 Laps) – 1. 54-Kyle Martin; 2. 60-Danny Beard; 3. 54J-Jimmy Combs; 4. 93-Mikey Guise; 5. 54W-Roy Warehime, Jr.; 6. 44-Tom Walls; 7. 121-Larry Neiderer; 8. 3W-Duane Watson; DNS – 14-Andrew Walls. No Time