By Steve Inch
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Daryn Pittman of Pittsboro, Ind., drove to a convincing win in the 50th sprint car opener Sunday afternoon at Selinsgrove Speedway. The victory was the third of Pittman’s career in 410 sprint car racing at the Snyder County oval while driving the Lelands.com No. 27.
AJ Hoffman of Richfield began his track title defense with a win in the 15-lap pro stock feature.
Selinsgrove Speedway will present the fifth annual Icebreaker weekend for modifieds at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 16, for 358 modifieds, and at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 17, featuring the big block modifieds in a 40-lap A-main paying $5,000 to win.
First heat race winner Brent Marks of Myerstown drew a pill that placed him on the pole for the start of the sprint car feature. Marks, a one-time winner this season at Lincoln Speedway, powered into the lead at the drop of the green flag and was chased by eighth-place starter Pittman, who made a charge into the runner-up position by the completion of the first lap.
In the early laps of the race, Pittman dueled with second-place starter Fred Rahmer for the runner-up position. Pittman eventually secured the second spot and set his sites on Marks. On the 10th circuit, Marks’ right rear racing tire exploded entering the third turn of the track, causing his car to make an impact with the fourth turn wall and flip over several times. Marks escaped injury.
When the race resumed, Pittman inherited the lead and set a torrid pace on the slick daytime surface, while Rahmer and fifth-place starter Greg Hodnett challenged each other for the second position. Meanwhile, fourth-place starter Aaron Ott and ninth-place starter Chad Layton raced in the top five.
The race’s final caution flag unfurled on lap 20 for debris. On the ensuing restart, Pittman pulled into a comfortable lead and posted a 1.6-second margin of victory over Rahmer. Hodnett, 18th-place starter and hard charger Brian Montieth, and Ott completed the top five.
In the pro stock feature, polesitter AJ Hoffman wired the field for his first win of the season, only to have second-place starter Nate Kerstetter and sixth-place starter Kyle Bachman keep the defending champion at bay for the entire race.
At the halfway point, the trio of Hoffman, Kersetter and Bachman pulled away from the rest of the field, while seventh-place starter Doug Minium and 13th-place starter Jason Schmidt raced in the top five.
At the checkered flag, Hoffman was victorious by one second over Kerstetter, Bachman, Minium, and Schmidt.
SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY – 11 March 2012
410 Sprint Cars – 26 Entries
25-Lap A-Main: 1) 27 Daryn Pittman 2) 51 Fred Rahmer 3) 39 Greg Hodnett 4) 21 Brian Montieth 5) 77 Aaron Ott 6) 3 Pat Cannon 7) 7 Chad Layton 8) 2T TJ Stutts 9) 1 Mark Smith 10) 48 Danny Dietrich 11) 12 Blane Heimbach 12) 0 Rick Lafferty 13) 56 Nate Snyder 14) 1S Logan Schuchart 15) 11 Mike Erdley 16) 19 Colby Womer 17) 71 Jessica Anderson 18) 07 Mark Coldren 19) 18 Ryan Bohlke 20) 17B Steve Buckwalter 21) 20S Derek Sell 22) 28F Davie Franek 23) 89 Robbie Stillwagon 24) 19M Brent Marks
Heat Winners: Brent Marks, Fred Rahmer, TJ Stutts
Consolation Winner: Mike Erdley
Pro Stocks – 21 Entries
15-Lap A-Main: 1) 19 AJ Hoffman 2) 8K Nate Kerstetter 3) 99 Kyle Bachman 4) 12 Doug Minium 5) 2 Jason Schmidt 6) 28 Jason Smith 7) 115 Shaun Miller 8) 14 Dave Brouse Jr. 9) 99H Peanut Heintzelman 10) 63 Nathan Long 11) 85L Pete Lauver 12) 28J Jeff Ceballo 13) 71 Kurt Wray 14) 34 Hank Steffen 15) 70J John Schreffler 16) 07 Tim Krape 17) 9 Hayes Mattern 18) 88 Randy Nowlen 19) 29B Ricky Bender 20) 10M Brad Mitch 21) 21K Mike Kiehl
Heat Winners: Nate Kerstetter, AJ Hoffman, Dave Brouse Jr.