From Bill Meyer
Abbottstown, PA — (March 26, 2016) — NASCAR star Kasey Kahne showed ‘em how it’s done at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night.
Kahne, making a rare appearance in the Pigeon Hills, made the most of his weekend off by out-dragging Lincoln point leader and polesitter Brian Montieth to the first turn and leading every lap of Lincoln’s $5,000-to-win Spring Championship for 410 sprint cars.
Despite mid-race challenges from Montieth, Kahne crossed the finish line of the non-stop 30-lap race 1.25 seconds ahead of Lincoln’s point leader.
“I think I saw Montieth on the inside off of turn four lap about halfway, so I went to the bottom for a couple of laps. I just didn’t feel like I was slowing down quite enough on the exit of four, so I went back to the top and then cutting to the middle and I felt better doing that. The lapped cars were quick, too. They start them back there, but there was nowhere to go, and they’re tough to pass.”
Kahne drove flawlessly through lapped traffic from lap ten on, and the strong field of sprinters all finished the race.
“It feels good to get a win,” said Kahne in front of a delirious crowd, “Lincoln Speedway is a tough track and Pennsylvania is a tough group of racers. It’s a great crowd for early in the season. It’s great to be here Easter weekend.”
“We had a great car, and kept making it better. Factory Kahne shocks were really hooked up,” continued Kahne, “I don’t get a chance to thank the sponsors that support my World of Outlaw teams, but we have Great Clips, Sage Fruit, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, and Razerback Professional Tools. Rob Cappetta right here in Pennsylvania builds the best engines, and Ti22 Chassis. It’s a big group that puts a lot into it. And Lee Stauffer from PA (crew chief for Brad Sweet) was here to help out tonight.”
“We picked up a lot of speed in the last six months. My car is set up similar to Sweet and Daryn Pittman’s cars, and it was pretty quick tonight. It’s great to be able to lean on those guys. I talked to Daryn on the phone today. He’s done really well at this place. I got a good group of guys and it’s really good to win.”
“It feels good to get a win,” said Kahne, “I’m really happy with the crowd that came out. What Lincoln does with the Dirt Classic each year is really cool.”
Kahne started on the outside pole after timing third fastest and Lucas Wolfe drew a number four pill for the inversion at the front of the field.
Montieth ran second the entire way, with Wolfe crossing third and seventh-starting Danny Dietrich and Ryan Smith completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Freddie Rahmer, Adam Wilt, Jim Siegel, Cory Haas, and 18th-starting JJ Grasso rounding out the top ten.
Fast time in time trials over the 29 sprinters was set by Wolfe with a one-lap time of 13.132 seconds (102.802 MPH). Heats for the 410 sprints were won by Montieth, Wilt, and Danny Dietrich, with Billy Dietrich winning the consolation.
Dillsburg’s Chris Arnold ended a battle royale with Matt Campbell to score the opening night win in the 358 sprint car feature.
Arnold started on the outside of the front row and led the firsts 13 laps before third-starting Matt Campbell took the lead in wheel-to-wheel racing from laps 14 to 17. But Arnold was not to be denied, dropping to the inside to reclaim the lead on turn four of lap 18. He held Campbell off over the final two laps to claim the win by a carlength.
Third through fifth were Adrian Shaffer, polesitter David Holbrook, and Troy Wagaman, Jr.
Heats for the 32 “358” sprints were won by Campbell, Doug Hammaker, and Arnold, with Tyler Esh winning the consolation.
Defending Lincoln champ Hammaker was caught up in a five-car front stretch crash in the third attempt to start the race, and was credited with a 21st place finish.
Lincoln Speedway switches to a 7 PM start time next weekend, Saturday, April 2nd, with the first three-division show of the season featuring the 410 Sprints, 358 Sprints, and Central PA Legends. Gates will open at 5 PM.
RACE RESULTS
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2016
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA
2016 SPRINT SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP
Lawrence Chevrolet 410 Sprints:
410 Sprint Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 4-Kasey Kahne ($5,000); 2. 21-Brian Montieth; 3. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich; 5. 94-Ryan Smith; 6. 51-Freddie Rahmer; 7. 15-Adam Wilt; 8. 59-Jimmy Siegel; 9. 11C-Cory Haas; 10. 37-JJ Grasso; 11. 19M-Brent Marks; 12. 52-Austin Hogue; 13. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 14. 39-Tim Glatfelter; 15. 55K-Robbie Kendall; 16. 87-Alan Krimes; 17. 35-Steve Ownings; 18. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 19. 8-Billy Dietrich; 20. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe; 21. 5-Tyler Ross; 22. 99M-Kyle Moody; 23. 21T-Scott Fisher; 24. 69-Shane Hoff. Time – 8:09.008
Lap Leaders – Kasey Kahne (1-30)
410 Sprint Heat One Finish (10 laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 21-Brian Montieth; 2. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 3. 19M-Brent Marks; 4. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe; 5. 87-Alan Krimes; 6. 39-Tim Glatfelter; 7. 8-Billy Dietrich; 8. 21T-Scott Fisher; 9. 15M-Bobby Mazingo; 10. 35-Steve Owings (DNF). Time – 2:32.399
410 Sprint Heat Two Finish (10 laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 15-Adam Wilt; 2. 59-Jim Siegel; 3. 94-Ryan Smith; 4. 51-Freddie Rahmer; 5. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe; 6. 55K-Robbie Kendall; 7. 99M-Kyle Moody; 8. 91-David Quackenbush; 9. 75-Nicole Bower; 10. 10E-Zach Euculano. Time – 2:32.488
410 Sprint Heat Three Finish (10 laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 48-Danny Dietrich; 2. 4-4-Kasey Kahne; 3. 52-Austin Hogue; 4. 11C-Cory Haas; 5. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 6. 37-JJ Grasso; 7. 5-Tyler Ross; 8. 69-Shane Hoff; 9. 10K-Joe Kata III. No Time
410 Sprint Consolation Finish (10 laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 8-Billy Dietrich; 2. 35-Steve Owings; 3. 5-Tyler Ross; 4. 99M-Kyle Moody; 5. 69-Shane Hoff; 6. 21T-Scott Fisher; 7. 91-David Quackenbush; 8. 15M-Bobby Mazingo; 9. 75-Nicole Bower; 10. 10K-Joe Kata III; 11. 10E-Zach Euculano. No Time
410 Sprint Time Trial Results – 1. 1-Lucas Wolfe, 13.132-seconds (102.802 MPH); 2. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 13.213; 3. 4-Kasey Kahne, 13.243; 4. 21-Brian Montieth, 13.271; 5. 94-Ryan Smith, 13.279; 6. 11C-Cory Haas, 13.317; 7. 39-Tim Glatfelter, 13.319; 8. 59-Jim Siegel, 13.338; 9. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.361; 10. 88-Brandon Rahmer, 13.369; 11. 15-Adam Wilt, 13.383; 12. 52-Austin Hogue, 13.408; 13. 35-Steve Owings, 13.458; 14. 55K-Robbie Kendall, 13.491; 15. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr., 13.512; 16. 19M-Brent Marks, 13.513; 17. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe, 13.518; 18. 37-JJ Grasso, 13.577; 19. 8-Billy Dietrich, 13.634; 20. 99M-Kyle Moody, 13.672; 21. 69-Shane Hoff, 13.701; 22. 87-Alan Krimes, 13.934; 23. 75-Nicole Bower, 13.935; 24. 5-Tyler Ross, 13.953; 25. 21T-Scott Fisher, 14.078; 26. 91-David Quackenbush, 14.097; 27. 10-Joe Kata III, 14.158; 28. 15M-Bobby Mazingo, 14.421; 29. 10-Zach Euculano, 14.639.
358 Sprints:
358 Sprint Feature (20 Laps) – 1. 23-Chris Arnold; 2. 16-Matt Campbell; 3. 27S-Adrian Shaffer; 4. 77-David Holbrook; 5. 19-Troy Wagaman, Jr.; 6. 41-Jeff Halligan; 7. 119-Chandler Leiby; 8. 89-Ashley Cappetta; 9. 28-Matt Findley; 10. 35-Tyler Esh; 11. 66A-Cody Fletcher; 12. 4-Dwight Leppo; 13. 38D-Kyle Denmyer; 14. 56M-DJ Montgomery; 15. 12-Brent Shearer; 16. 90-Jordon Givler; 17. 23J-Jake Eldreth; 18. 97-Brie Hershey (DNF); 19. 00-Chris Frank (DNF); 20. 45-Jeff Rohrbaugh (DNF); 21. 66-Doug Hammaker (DNF); 22. 13-Ryan Higgins (DNF);23. 19D-Wyatt Hinkle (DNF); 24. 4R-Tyler Walton (DNF). No Time
Lap Leaders – Chris Arnold (1-13), Matt Campbell (14-17), Chris Arnold (18-20)
358 Sprint Heat One Finish (10 laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 16-Matt Campbell; 2. 19D-Wyatt Hinkle; 3. 27S-Adrian Shaffer; 4. 4-Dwight Leppo; 5. 119-Chandler Leiby; 6. 38-Kyle Denmyer; 7. 56M-DJ Montgomery; 8. 97-Brie Hershey; 9. 90-Jordon Givler; 10. 19S-Steve Drevicki (DNF); 11. 11D-Kody Hartlaub (DNF). No Time
358 Sprint Heat Two Finish (10 laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 66-Doug Hammaker; 2. 45-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 3. 41-Jeff Halligan; 4. 89-Ashley Cappetta; 5. 13-Ryan Higgins; 6. 19-Troy Wagaman, Jr.; 7. 35-Tyler Esh; 8. 12-Brent Shearer; 9. 18F-Dyan Welch; 10. 5A-Brian Allman (DNF); 11. 22-Nathan Prezentica (DNF). Time – 2:34.31
358 Sprint Heat Three Finish (10 laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 26-Chris Arnold; 2. 23J-Jake Eldreth; 3. 4R-Tyler Walten; 4. 77-David Holbrook; 5. 28-Matt Findley; 6. 66A-Cody Fletcher; 7. 00-Chris Frank; 8. 10B-Brandon Noel; 9. 17-George Streaker, Jr. (DNF); 10. 21-CJ Tracey (DNF); 11. 9-Dalton Dietrich (DNF). No Time
358 Sprint Consolation Finish (10 laps/6 to qualify) – 1. 35-Tyler Esh; 2. 56M-DJ Montgomery; 3. 97-Brie Hershey; 4. 90-Jordon Givler; 5. 12-Brent Shearer; 6. 00-Chris Frank; 7. 5A-Brian Allman; 8. 11D-Cody Hartlaub; 9. 21-CJ Tracey; 10. 10B-Brandon Noel; 11. 17-George Streaker, Jr. (DNF); 12. 19-Steve Drevicki (DNF); 13. 22-Nathan Prezentica (DNF); DNS – 18-Dylan Welsh, 9-Daulton Dietrich. No Time