From Mercer Raceway Park
Mercer, PA — (April 18, 2015) — Adam Kekich roared to a $4,000 victory in the 410 Sprints presented by 4 Your Car Connection and World of Wheels on opening night at Mercer Raceway Park. The third generation driver from nearby Hermitage proudly carried the colors of his new sponsor, Bonell’s Rod Shop, which also happened to be the benefactor for all divisions on this special night.
Kekich was enjoying the thrill of the chase, as he closed in on an old rival, Brandon Spithaler. “It was pretty cool racing with Spithaler like that again, we started in Karts the same year, and it seemed like either he was winning, or I was winning.” Their contest ended when Spithaler’s mount lost the right rear wheel just eleven laps into the fray. “It was a bummer that that had to happen, I would have liked to race with him a little bit more,” he added. Kekich noted “through traffic, we were a little bit better but Brandon was pretty good in the open air.” He added, “we were trying some new stuff and it was just coming on as the race went on, it just got better and better.”
The luck of the draw put Kekich on the pole with Brandon Spithaler by his side for the start of the first feature under the twin banners of 4 Your Car Connection and World of Wheels. Spithaler jumped out front, and he opened up a six car length advantage in no time flat. Spithaler seemed to be on cruise control, as he was seeking his fourth opening night victory at the Park. But, misfortune came his way when be lost the big right rear tire entering the first turn with 11 laps in the books. That handed the lead over to Kekich, who had closed in somewhat while the leaders were fighting their way through the lapped traffic.
Kekich sped away from good friend Brandon Matus when racing resumed. Matus had a slight margin over Dan Kuriger, but some heavy hitters were working their way to the front in a hurry. Jack Sodeman, Jr., driving the car of injured racer Jimmy Seeger, and defending track champion, Eric “Turkey” WIlliams, were on the march. They displaced New Yorker Todd Hoddick and Scott Priester. Meanwhile, Brent Matus was also starting to make some headway in the top ten.
Kekich pulled away as the laps wound down. On Lap 27, the second, and final, stoppage occurred when Davey Jones brought his mount to a halt in turn one. While the field was circulating under the yellow, Kuriger surrendered his top five position. Although that enabled Matus to close to his rear nerf bar, there was no doubt that Kekich was the star of the show.
Kekich led the last three laps to the finish without incident. Brandon Matus came home second., with Sodeman, Williams, and Hoddick completing the top five. Rod George, last year’s opening night winner, came across in sixth. Priester held off Outlaw Sprint Warrior graduate, Jimmy Morris, A.J. Flick, and Brent Matus.
The preliminaries belonged to Kekich and Spithaler. There was no B Main this night.
In the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warrior feature, Alex Paden set the early pace before spinning out of the lead. That handed the point to George Hobaugh, Jr., who was making his first start in the Lockhart 58. Hobaugh was doing his new owners proud for much of the race. However, the machine got looser and looser as the race wore on. That, plus some difficulties with lapped cars, allowed Bova to chase him down.
Meanwhile, all eyes were on Brandon Spithaler, who started the Skip Dougherty 27D last when Doughterty took ill after the heat races. Spithaler climbed all the way to fourth before retiring due to a mechanical woe.
Bova made a strong inside move as he and Hobaugh raced through turns one and two with 17 laps completed. Bova raced to the win, and Hobaugh maintained the second spot. Rob Felix was third, with Mod Lite graduate Darin Gallagher taking fourth. Mike Marano, II rallied for fifth.
Kotie Kirkbride was sixth, with Paden coming back through the pack to earn seventh. George Englert, the defending Modified Lite champion, was eighth in his first outing with a wing over his head. Evan Kornbaugh and C.J. Jones were ninth and tenth, respectively.
The heat victories went to Englert and Hobaugh. There was no B Main.
Summary:
Winged 410 Sprint Car Feature: 1. Adam Kekich, 2. Brandon Matus, 3. Jack Sodeman, Jr., 4. Eric Williams, 5. Todd Hoddick, 6. Rod George, 7.Scott Priester, 8. Jimmy Morris, 9. A.J. Flick, 10. Brent Matus, 11. Gale Ruth, Sr., 12. Dan Kurriger, 13. Francis Sesco, 14. Davey Jones, 15. Brandon Spithaler, 16. John McCracken, Jr. (DNS), 17. Michael Bauer (DNS).
Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors: 1. Cody Bova, 2. George Hobaugh, Jr., 3. Rob Felix, 4. Darin Gallagher, 5. Mike Marano, II, 6. Kotie Kirkbride, 7. Alex Paden, 8. George Englert, 9. Evan Kornbaugh, 10. C.J. Jones, 11. Mark Rossey, 12. Devin Litwiler, 13. Ken Rossey, 14. Brandon Spithaler, 15. Darrin Pifer, 16. Jacob Gomola, 17. Andrew Rescemyer, 18. Joe McEwen, 19. Andy Feil.