Mechanicsburg, PA — (April 26, 2013) — It was the Donnie Kreitz of old that returned to Williams Grove Speedway victory lane on Friday night, beating the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars with a run from mid-pack for the $5,000 payday.
Kreitz started 10th in the field and and came alive during the early stages, locked down to the inside of the track as polesitter Fred Rahmer took the early lead.
Rahmer was trailed and challenged during the early going by four-time and defending All Star Champion Tim Shaffer of Aliquippa who took the lead briefly, and then Jac Haudenschild of Wooster, Ohio.
Haudenschild got by Shaffer for second with seven laps down in the 30-lapper and quickly closed on Rahmer while running high and wide on the ragged, disappearing cushion.
Haudenschild raced just off of Rahmer’s right rear tire for a few laps, frustrated that Rahmer could make his car wide enough to keep him from pulling the trigger around the ever-higher cushion.
And then as intense as the race was for the lead between Rahmer and Haudenschild, along came bottom-running Kreitz into third making it a three-car race for the lead and win on the 10th circuit.
Kreitz disposed of both Haudenschild and Rahmer before lap 12 could be completed, biting fast to the inside in the first and second turns to run smooth and straight down the backchute.
But Rahmer battled back and tried to throw a low block on Kreitz as the pair set their cars into the third turn however as low as Rahmer went, Kreitz went even lower and with his car layed left as it exited the fourth turn sucked fast to the inside rail, he drove into the lead handily.
The races only caution flag appeared with 14 laps down and on the restart Kreitz pulled away to open up nearly a straightaway advantage by lap 20.
Kreitz caught the backmarkers with seven laps left but refused to give up the bottom to begin working the pack, instead letting Rahmer draw near before again pouring it on to the finish, still staying just behind the rear of the field to avoid creating any problems for himself.
“This was a great race for us,” the Sinking Spring veteran said in victory lane.
“I just caught the leaders right. They didn’t know the bottom was coming in,” Kreitz commented.
It was his 55th career win at the oval and first since September 3 of 2010.
It was also his first win over the All Stars at the track since being stripped of a victory due to a weight infraction back in 2005.
Rahmer rode home second followed by Shaffer, Lance Dewease and Alan Krimes.
Sixth through 10th went to Tim Kaeding, Chad Layton, Haudenschild, Pat Cannon and Brent Marks.
Heats for the 43-car field went to Marks, Greg Hodnett, Brad Sweet and Caleb Helms. The B Main went to Alan Krimes while Rahmer earned the pole for the main by winning the dash.
Chad Layton set fast time with a lap of 17.378 seconds.
Steve Buckwalter of Royersford came from the 15th starting spot to win the 20-lap ARDC Midget feature, his second of the season with the club.
Brenden Bright led from the outset until Buckwalter took over on lap 12.
After starting 11th in the field, Steve Drevicki drove into second during the last five laps while 20th starter Tim Buckwalter blasted through the field to cross the line third at the finish.
Ryan Greth finished fourth followed by Bright.
Heats went to Alex Bright, PJ Gargiulo and Steve Buckwalter.
April 26, 2013 Feature Finishes:
410 sprint cars, 30 laps: 1. 69K-Donny Krietz Jr.; 2. 20S-Fred Rahmer; 3. 83-Tim Shaffer; 4. 27-Lance Dewease; 5. 87-Alan Krimes; 6. 83K-Tim Kaeding; 7. 7-Chad Layton; 8. 59-Jac Haudenschild; 9. 3-Pat Cannon ; 10. 19M-Brent Marks; 11. 2-Dale Blaney; 12. OL-Rick Lafferty; 13. 1Z-Danny Lasoski; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart; 15. 69-Ryan Smith; 16. 54-Cap Henry; 17. O-Justin Henderson; 18. 48-Danny Dietrich; 19. 49-Brad Sweet; 20. 40-Caleb Helms; 21. 2S-Jim Siegel; 22. 28-Brian Paulus; 23. M1-Mark Smith; 24. 39-Greg Hodnett
DNQ: 21-Brian Montieth, 45-Danny Holtgraver, 11C-Cory Haas, 13-Jason Leffler, 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 75-Nicole Bower, 20-Ryan Taylor, 747-Davey Sammons, 12W-Troy Fraker, 14-Gerard McIntyre Jr, O7-Mark Coldren, 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 80-Trey Gustin, 14S-Ryan Slothover, 1A-Jacob Allen, 15-Adam Wilt, 47-Eric Riggins Jr., 29-Ryan Wilson , 5T-Glendon Forsythe
ARDC Midgets, 20 laps: 1. Steve Buckwalter, 2. Steve Drevicki, 3, Tim Buckwalter, 4. Ryan Greth, 5. Brenden Bright, 6. Carey Becker, 7. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. , 8. Alex Bright, 9. Shawn Jackson, 10. Jimmy Glenn, 11. Trevor Kobylarz, 12. Steve Bull, 13. PJ Gargiulo, 14. Steve Craig, 15. Jason Rice, 16. Tony Dimattia, 17. Jamie Speers, 18. Kyle Lick, 19. Greg Fitzpatrick, 20. Johnny Heydenreich, 21. Drew Heistand, 22. Brett Arndt, 23. Mark Gilmore, 24. Nick Wean, 25. Austin Burke, 26. Randy Reid
DNQ: Eric Heydenreich, John Barnett, Brian Gilmore