From Bill Meyer
Abbottstown, PA — (May 2, 2015) — Intense. That was the operative word to describe the 33-lap, $6,900-to-win 12th Annual Weldon Sterner Memorial at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night.
And standing in victory lane for his third Lincoln win of the year and second win in two nights was Brian Montieth, who eats intensity for breakfast.
“There wasn’t’ much room anywhere, and we weren’t actually very good there at the end. I was worried, and tried looking at the scoreboard, but there was way too much stuff going on,” said Montieth after scoring his 47th career Lincoln win, “I was trying to run defensive and be offensive the whole time. Running first here sort-of sucks. It’s always better running second except when you get in that kind of lapped traffic.”
The win ended another storybook night for the Weldon Sterner Memorial, with the Jerry Parrish team carrying the Sterner Cement logo on the top wing of the car normally numbered 21.
Time trials and an inversion at the front of the field put Montieth seventh for the start alongside fast time trailer Greg Hodnett. Those two battled for position in the early stages of the race, with previous race winner and polesitter J.J. Grasso leading the first 14 laps.
The only caution of the race came out for Jim Siegel and Glenndon Forsythe, who got together in turn four of lap three.
The last 30 laps went non-stop, with the leaders racing through heavy lapped traffic from lap 11 on. That’s when things began to change. Danny Dietrich was the first to make his move, catching Robbie Kendall for second on lap 12, with Montieth following on his heels into third. On the next lap, Montieth got around Dietrich for the runner-up spot. Two laps later, Montieth took the lead for good. But Dietrich, who caught Grasso on lap 16, wouldn’t let Montieth get away.
“I have to say I don’t even remember it,” answered Montieth when asked about the pass for the lead, “I was too busy trying to hit marks and trying not to screw anybody up or wad myself up.”
Those two fought through lapped traffic the remainder of the race, with Dietrich closing on Montieth several times, only to have Montieth make slider after slider to put lapped cars in between. Despite 30 non-stop laps, Montieth’s final margin of victory was a mere half-second.
“Danny tried choosing a line and make that pass…toward the end there the middle had a lot of rubber, and it helps with some of those slide jobs driving through the corners,” said the Phoenixville points leader, “This is probably one of the harder intense races I’ve ever driven here.”
“Not much excites me, and my heart was beating,” said car owner Jerry Parrish, “Brian’s the most determined driver behind the wheel. I know Danny was back there licking his chops waiting for a lapped car to choke him up and take advantage. He ran good too. I’m glad we’re standing here. Honestly, this is what exciting racing is about right here at THIS track.”
Third through fifth were Grasso, Hodnett, and Kendall, with Brent Marks, Alan Krimes, Tim Glatfelter, Niki Young, and Freddie Rahmer completing the top ten.
Fast time in time trials over the 30-car field was set by Hodnett with a one-lap time of 13.164-seconds (102.552 MPH). Heats for the 410 sprinters were won by Glatfelter, Scott Fisher, and Grasso, with Nicole Bower winning the consolation.
Jeff Rohrbaugh moved into sole possession of second place on the all-time Lincoln 358 sprint car win list with his 12th career win in their 20-lap feature event.
Rohrbaugh started started eighth and found himself the leader after getting together with polesitter and race-long leader Kody Lehman on turn two of lap 17. Lehman spun out, collecting sixth-place Cody Fletcher and Dylan Welsh. Rohrbaugh never stopped, and assumed the race lead for the restart.
Rohrbaugh held off Lincoln and Central PA point series leader Doug Hammaker by 1.25 seconds at the end, with Matt Campbell, Chris Frank, and Ryan Wilson rounding out the top five.
Heats for the 30 358 Sprinters were won by Hammaker, Jordon Givler, and Frank, with Cody Fairchok winning the consolation.
Next Saturday night, May 9th, it will be PROSPECT METAL & USED AUTO PARTS NIGHT featuring the Lawrence Chevrolet 410 Sprints, Keizer Aluminum Wheels 358 Sprints, & Central PA Legends. In addition, it will be Dover Elementary Night.
To get all the latest news, results, schedule changes and rule changes, visit Lincoln Speedway’s website at http://www.lincolnspeedway.com to stay up-to-date on all the action or pending weather conditions at Central Pennsylvania’s “Premier” Saturday night race track – The Fabulous Lincoln Speedway.
RACE RESULTS
Sat., May 2, 2015
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA
12TH ANNUAL WELDON STERNER MEMORIAL
LAWRENCE CHEVROLET 410 SPRINTS
FEATURE ( 33 Laps) – 1. 69-Brian Montieth ($6,900); 2. 48-Danny Dietrich; 3. 37-JJ Grasso; 4. 27-Greg Hodnett; 5. 55K-Robbie Kendall; 6. 19M-Brent Marks; 7. 87-Alan Krimes; 8. 39-Tim Glatfelter; 9. 92-Niki Young; 10. 51-Freddie Rahmer; 11. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 12. 14-Lance Dewease; 13. 11C-Cory Haas; 14. 52-Austin Hogue; 15. 99M-Kyle Moody; 16. 15-Adam Wilt; 17. 8-Billy Dietrich; 18. 69H-Shane Hoff; 19. 1*-Tim Wagaman; 20. 21T-Scott Fisher; 21. 75-Nicole Bower (DNF); 22. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr. (DNF); 23. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe (DNF); 24. 59-Jim Siegel (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders – JJ Grasso (1-15), Brian Montieth (16-33)
410 Sprint Heat One Finish (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 39-Tim Glatfelter; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich; 3. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 4. 27-Greg Hodnett; 5. 51-Freddie Rahmer; 6. 52-Austin Hogue; 7. 99M-Kyle Moody; 8. 44-Chase Dietz; 9. 59-Jim Siegel; 10. 45-Kevin Nagy. Time – 2:32.461
410 Sprint Heat Two Finish (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 21T-Scott Fisher; 2. 19M-Brent Marks; 3. 21/69-Brian Montieth; 4. 55K-Robbie Kendall; 5. 15-Adam Wilt; 6. 8-Billy Dietrich; 7. 35-Steve Owings; 8. 12-Mike Bittinger; 9. 49H-Bradley Howard; 10. 75-Nicole Bower. Time – 2:38.948
410 Sprint Heat Three Finish (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 37-JJ Grasso; 2. 87-Alan Krimes; 3. 92-Niki Young; 4. 14-Lance Dewease; 5. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 6. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe; 7. 1*-Tim Wagaman; 8. 11C-Cory Haas; 9. 69H-Shane Hoff; 10. 10-Zach Euculano (DNF). Time – 2:39.636
410 Sprint Consolation Finish (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 75-Nicole Bower; 2. 99M-Kyle Moody; 3. 59-Jim Siegel; 4. 11C-Cory Haas; 5. 69H-Shane Hoff; 6. 1*-Tim Wagaman; 7. 44-Chase Dietz; 8. 12-Mike Bittinger; 9. 35-Steve Owings; 10. 49H-Bradley Howard; 11. 45-Kevin Nagy; 12. 10-Zach Euculano (DNF). Time – 2:46.19
TIME TRIALS – 1. 27-Greg Hodnett, 13.164 (102.552 MPH); 2. 69/21-Brian Montieth, 13.176; 3. 92-Niki Young, 13.205; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.216; 5. 55k-Robbie Kendall, 13.252; 6. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr., 13.288; 7. 88-Brandon Rahmer, 13.338; 8. 19m-Brent Marks, 13.342; 9. 2w-Glenndon Forsythe, 13.374; 10. 39-Tim Glatfelter, 13.496; 11. 21t-Scott Fisher, 13.523; 12. 37-J.J. Grasso, 13.529; 13. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 13.558; 14. 8-Billy Dietrich, 13.573; 15. 87-Alan Krimes, 13.581; 16. 52-Austin Hogue, 13.606; 17. 75-Nicole Bower, 13.621; 18. 69-Shane Hoff, 13.709; 19. 99m-Kyle Moody, 13.722; 20. 12-Mike Bittinger, 13.723; 21. 14-Lance Dewease, 13.736; 22. 59-Jim Siegel, 13.736; 23. 35-Steve Owings, 13.754; 24. 11c-Cory Haas, 13.756; 25. 44-Chase Dietz, 13.808; 26. 15-Adam Wilt, 13.917; 27. 1*-Tim Wagaman, 13.922; 28. 45-Kevin Nagy, 13.938; 29. 49h-Bradley Howard, 14.298; 30. 10-Zach Euculano, 14.984.
KEIZER ALUMINUM WHEELS 358 SPRINTS
FEATURE (20 laps) – 1. 45-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 2. 66-Doug Hammaker; 3. 16-Matt Campbell; 4. 00-Chris Frank; 5. 4R-Ryan Wilson; 6. 97-Brie Hershey; 7. 28-Matt Findley; 8. 23-Todd Rittenhouse, Jr.; 9. 90-Jordon Givler; 10. 44-John Braim; 11. 35-Tyler Esh; 12. 13-Ryan Higgins; 13. 89-Ashley Cappetta; 14. 17-Cole Young; 15. 7-CJ Quirk; 16. 18F-Dylan Welsh; 17. 19D-Wyatt Hinkle (DNF); 18. 47K-Cody Lehman (DNF); 19. 66A-Cody Fletcher (DNF); 20. 27S-Adrian Shaffer (DNF); 21. 83-Cody Fairchok (DNF); 22. 9-Ryan Hansen (DNF); 23. 51N-Nick Palmerino (DNF); 24. 38D-Kyle Denmyer (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders – Cody Lehman (1-17), Jeff Rohrbaugh (18-20)
358 Sprint Heat One Finish (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 66-Doug Hammaker; 2. 23-Todd Rittenhouse, Jr.; 3. 97-Brie Hershey; 4. 4R-Ryan Wilson; 5. 44-John Braim; 6. 35-Tyler Esh; 7. 83-Cody Fairchok; 8. 13-Ryan Higgins; 9. 18F-Dylan Welsh; 10. 14C-Dave Carlberg (DNF). Time – 2:29.95
358 Sprint Heat Two Finish (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 90-Jordon Givler; 2. 28-Matt Findley; 3. 47K-Kody Lehman; 4. 16-Matt Campbell; 5. 7-CJ Quirk; 6. 4-Dwight Leppo; 7. 38D-Kyle Denmyer; 8. 19D-Wyatt Hinkle (DNF); 9. 47-Michael Hamer (DNF); DQ – 89-Ashley Cappetta (Failed to report to scales). No Time
358 Sprint Heat Three Finish (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 00-Chris Frank; 2. 27S-Adrian Shaffer; 3. 66A-Cody Fletcher; 4. 45-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 5. 17-Cole Young; 6. 51N-Nick Palmerino; 7. 9-Ryan Hanson; 8. 23J-Jake Eldreth; 9. 45H-Jeff Halligan (DNF); DNS – 15-Lucas Montgomery. No Time
358 Sprint Consolation Finish (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 83-Cody Fairchok; 2. 13-Ryan Higgins; 3. 38D-Kyle Denmyer; 4. 9-Ryan Hansen; 5. 19D-Wyatt Hinkle; 6. 89-Ashley Cappetta; 7. 18F-Dylan Welsh; 8. 47-Michael Hamer; 9. 23J-Jake Eldreth; 10. 4-Dwight Leppo; 11. 45H-Jeff Halligan (DNF). No Time