From Kalida Landis
Hanover, PA — (June 6, 2014) — “I don’t know what to say about this race, but a win is a win.”
So said Brad McClelland after scoring his fourth win of the year in a bizarre 358 sprint car feature at Trail-Way Speedway Friday night.
“I nearly spun a few times myself,” said McClelland upon exiting his Littlestown Auto Care/Rucker Computer Solutions/Hoosier Tire #6R in victory lane, “Guess I was trying to make a race of it. I thought I’d better take it easy.”
McClelland drew the number-four pill for the start, but ended up on the front row after a first-lap crash which resulted in a flip by fifth-starting Robbie Kendall on the backstretch. Kendall made contact with a spinning Tyler Buchenauer exiting turn two, with Buchenauer sliding into the infield. One-time winner Kendall was uninjured.
After the red flag, McClelland started beside polesitter Seth Kearchner and took the lead at the drop of the green. He ran away from the field en route to a non-stop time of 6:07.31, crossing a quarter of-a-lap ahead of Kearchner, with hard charger Randy Whisler (who came from ninth starting spot), Isaac Sneeringer (who changed a flat tire during the first-lap red and came from the rear), and rookie Wyatt Hinkle rounding out the top five.
They were the only cars that finished the event, with several cars dropping to the infield during the non-stop race, and only the top four cars running on the lead lap at the checkered.
It was McClelland’s division-leading 37th Trail-Way sprint car win.
Heats for the 12 “358” sprint cars on hand were won by McClelland and Kendall.
RACE RESULTS
358 Sprint Cars
Feature (25 Laps)
1. 6R-Brad McClelland; 2. 30-Seth Kearchner; 3. 64-Randy Whisler(Hard Charger); 4. 19Z-Isaac Sneeringer; 5. 19D-Wyatt Hinkle; 6. 9-Dalton Dietrich(DNF); 7. 7M-Tyler Buchenauer(DNF); 8. 10-Zach Euculano(DNF); 9. 75-Matt Sowers(DNF); 10. 66A-Cody Fletcher(DNF); 11. 55-Robert Kendall(DNF); DNS: 4-Dwight Leppo. Time 6:07.31.
Lap Leaders- Brad McClelland (1-25).
Heat 1 (10 Laps/All to Qualify)
1. 6R-Brad McClelland; 2. 66A-Cody Fletcher; 3. 4-Dwight Leppo; 4. 19D-Wyatt Hinkle; 5. 64-Randy Whisler(DNF); 6. 10-Zach Euculano(DNF). Time 2:22.50.
Heat 2 (10 Laps/All to Qualify)
1. 55-Robert Kendall; 2. 19Z-Isaac Sneeringer; 3. 30-Seth Kearchner; 4. 7M-Tyler Buchenauer; 5. 9-Dalton Dietrich; 6. 75-Matt Sowers (DNF). Time 2:23.34.