From Steve Inch
Selinsgrove, PA — (June 29, 2012) — Friday night’s fourth race in the inaugural Mach 1 Chassis Mid-Atlantic Championship Series for 358-360 Sprint Cars at Selinsgrove Speedway drew a quality field of race teams and ended with a climatic finish among the top four drivers.
In a final-lap chase to the checkered flag, second-place starter Jason Shultz of Carlisle, who dueled with fourth-place starter Nate Snyder of Halifax for the lead for most of the event, came away with the victory in the 25-lap main event while a three-wide race for second unfolded between Snyder, polesitter Jessica Zemken, and 12th-place starter Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove, who stormed into the runner-up position at the finish.
The $2,500 victory was Shultz’s third of the season and the eighth of his career at the Snyder County oval driving the Mach 1 Chassis/Martin’s Refrigeration No. 2. Shultz was competing with a 358 cubic-inch motor among a field made up mostly of 360 cubic-inch engines.
Pat Cannon, who won the series opener on March 31 and was the series points leader entering Friday night’s race, was knocked out of competition in the first round of qualifying when a rear axle reportedly broke on his No. 3, resulting in a hard crash in turn three. Aaron Ott of East Berlin was also sidelined early when his No. 77 suffered a blown engine.
Following Friday night’s race, Mark Smith of Sunbury is now the series points leader over Davie Franek of Wantage, N.J., and TJ Stutts of Liverpool.
The next race in the series is Sunday, Aug. 5, and will conclude with the 12th Annual National Open for 358-360 Sprint Cars on Saturday, Sept. 1.
Selinsgrove Speedway will present the annual Middleswarth Potato Chips Firecracker 30 for 358 sprint cars at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30, plus late models, pro stocks, and roadrunners. The 30-lap main event will pay $2,000 to win out of a purse totaling nearly $13,000.
In the feature, Shultz pulled into the lead from his second starting position at the drop of the green flag. On a lap two restart, Snyder made a pass for the lead using the outside lane off turn two, while Zemken dueled with sixth-place starter Daryn Pittman for third.
The caution flag unfurled on lap 13 when Pittman’s car rolled to a stop in turn four after a spirited battle with Heimbach for the fourth position. When the race resumed, so did the war on wheels between Shultz and Snyder for the lead, as they see-sawed for the front spot. Then, on a lap 15 restart, Shultz secured the lead with an inside pass entering turn three.
The final caution flag waved on lap 24 when Tim Berkheimer’s car spun in turn two. On the final lap, Shultz stretched his lead by the slimmest of margins as a three-wide race for second took place in turns one and two. At the finish, Shultz was victorious by 1.3 seconds over Heimbach, Snyder, Zemken, and fifth-place starter Franek.
SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY – 29 June 2012
358-360 Sprint Cars – 25 Entries
25-Lap A-Main: 1) 2 Jason Shultz 2) 12 Blane Heimbach 3) 56 Nate Snyder 4) 1Z Jessica Zemkin 5) 28F Davie Franek 6) 23 TJ Stutts 7) 1 Mark Smith 8) 14 Matt Heimbach 9) 99 Brian Leppo 10) 71 Jessica Anderson 11) 89 Robbie Stillwagon 12) 81 Bob Beidleman 13) 21 Duane Mausteller 14) 50 Tim Berkheimer 15) 29 Matt Horst 16) 5B Josh Beard 17) 27 Daryn Pittman 18) 66 Ryan Kissinger 19) 11 Joel VanBuskirk 20) 55 John Troxell 21) 25 John Smith 22) 76 Larry Kelleher 23) 19 Colby Womer DNS 24) 3 Pat Cannon DNS 25) 77 Aaron Ott DNS
Round 1 Heat Winners: Nate Snyder, Jessica Zemkin, Daryn Pittman
Round 2 Heat Winners: Jason Shultz, Matt Heimbach, Davie Franek