From Selinsgrove Speedway
Selinsgrove, PA — (July 23, 2016) — On a hot summer night, nearly 100 race cars packed the pits at Selinsgrove Speedway Saturday with a pair of 360 sprint car features, a Moon Shine Camo Route 35 Late Model Challenge Series race, the Mid-Atlantic modifieds, and pro stocks all on a blockbuster racing program.
Eric Tomacek of Abbottstown and Mark Smith of Sunbury split the victories in the 25-lap sprint car races, while Coleby Frye of Dover won his first race of the year in the 25-lap Moon Shine Camo Route 35 Late Model Challenge Series. NASCAR veteran David Stremme of Davidson, N.C., drove to a victory in the first-ever 20-lap Mid-Atlantic modified series race, with Kurt Wray of Beavertown posting his first career pro stock win in the division’s 15-lap feature.
Selinsgrove Speedway will present the 16th Annual Mach 1 Chassis National Open for 360 sprint cars Saturday, July 30, paying $10,000 to win as part of the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Crown Series “Weekend of Money” that includes the Lelands.com 360 Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway Friday, July 29, and concludes with the Cole Cup at the Utica Rome Speedway in New York Sunday, July 31. The super late models and pro stocks will also be on the July 30 racing card at Selinsgrove Speedway.
Eric Parker took the lead early in the makeup feature for the 360 Sprint Cars. The race was being run from the Jeff’s Auto Body & Recycling Center Driver & Fan Appreciation Night July 16th. Michael Walter wrestled the top spot away from Parker on lap six. Eric Tomecek also moved by Parker for the second spot a few laps later. Mark Smith was in a battle for the third spot when his engine left go setting up a lap 17 restart.
Just before the yellow flag Tomecek used the inside line to drive into the top spot. Robbie Stillwagon took over the second spot in a short run before another yellow flag was needed. Stillwagon tried the inside line on the restart, but Tomecek drove back into the race lead on the outside to stay for good. Davie Franek moved past Stillwagon for second at the end of the event. Jason Shultz and Walter rounded out the top five finishers.
Sixth through tenth place spots went to TJ Stutts, Adam Carberry, Derek Locke, Ryan Kissinger, and Eric Parker. Ryan Kissinger was the race’s IBEW hard charger. Kissinger went from 22nd to finish in ninth.
The 360 Sprint cars competed in a full show after the makeup feature was completed. The Newville Family of Companies bonus was again on the line for 358 Sprint Car teams going into the night as well. Mallie Shuster started from the front row and showed the way early on. Adam Carberry reeled in the race leader in lap traffic, but then tangled with a lap car ending his bid for the win.
Eric Parker had his 358 engine in on Saturday night and Parker was in a battle for the lead with Mallie Shuster on lap 13 when Shuster was in lap traffic. Parker slide a little too high on the race track and Davie Franek slid by. Franek’s time in the podium spot was short lived as his right rear tire blew out.
Shuster continued to show the way with Parker and 11th place starter Mark Smith now in the mix. Smith worked by Parker and looked like he was out of time to take the race lead away until a lap 22 yellow flag was thrown. Smith used a swooping move on the front stretch to take away the top spot from Shuster on the restart and drive to his third win of the season. This was the final race before next weekend’s $10,000-to-win National Open for the 360 Sprint Cars. Shuster, Derek Locke, Larry Kelleher, and TJ Stutts were the top five finishers.
Jason Shultz, Eric Parker, Robbie Stillwagon, Mike Walter, and Ryan Kissinger rounded out the top ten. Eric Tomecek, Ryan Kissinger, and Mallie Shuster were the heat race winners for the 27 car field. The IBEW hard charger for the second feature was Phil Walter.
Coleby Frye had revenge on his mind when he pulled into Selinsgrove Speedway on Saturday night in round four of the Moon Shine Camo Route 35 Challenge Series. Frye almost grabbed a win the last time the Late Models had a Route 35 Challenge Series ace at the track, but fell a little short. The story was written a little different on Saturday night.
Frye made a big move on the outside early and began chase of race leader Tony Adams. Adams led until lap 18 when Frye made a move on what he called in victory lane the only mistake Tony Adams made all night. Once out front Frye fended off all challengers including a late race charge from Andrew Yoder. Jeff Rine got to the third spot, but could only watch the leaders drive away as he lost a right rear tire at the end of the feature running third. Frye, Yoder, Donnie Schick, Adams, and Mike Lupfer were the top five finishers.
Bryan Bernheisel came across in sixth just ahead of Rine who entered the night the Moon Shine Camo Route 35 points leader. Steve Campbell, Dave Brouse Jr, and Chad Hollenback were the top ten across the finish line. Andrew Yoder, Donnie Schick, and Tony Adams won heat races for the field with Derrick Casner the consolation winner.
David Stemme used a dominate run to claim the first checkered flag for the Mid Atlantic Modifieds ever at Selinsgrove Speedway. Stremme started in the eighth spot and charged into the race lead on lap four. A caution flag on lap seven reset the field, but Stremme pulled away again when the green flag was thrown. Modified point leader Mike Potosky pulled into second before the yellow flew again on lap 15.
Potosky slowed and dropped out on lap 18 as Stremme drove to the win. Rick Hulson was second followed by Dan Davies, Gary Long, and Mike Reynolds. Heat races for the 18 car field went to Hulson and Long.
Brandon Moser had mechanical issues in last week’s A&A Auto Stores Pro Stock competition. This week he wasted no time bolting into the race lead when the green flag was thrown on the feature event. Moser slide a little too high after a few laps of leading and the lead fell into the hands of Matt Hornberger. Hornberger did not hold the hot potato long before Tommy Slanker took over. Slanker did all he could to run the inside line, but Brad Mitch was able to drive by into the top spot.
Mitch was in a good spot until the yellow flew on the last lap, setting up a one lap shootout. Mitch didn’t get the start he needed and Kurt Wray drove by to lead the event. Wray was looking for his career Selinsgrove Speedway win. Although the record book will show he only led one lap, it was the most important one. Wray made the inside move by Mitch for the win. Slanker, Hornberger, Nate Stroup, and Jeff Ceballo were the top five. Mitch was sixth. He was trailed by Matt Wilson, Jeremy Kline, Lori Croop, and John Troxell. Slanker and Mitch took heat race checkered flags. 17 Pro Stocks were in completion.
SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY – 23 July 2016
360 Sprints A-Main – 28 Entries
25-Lap A-Main (July 16, 2016): 1) 1W Eric Tomecek 2) 28F Davie Franek 3) 89 Robbie Stillwaggon 4) 29 Jason Shultz 5) 33 Michael Walter 6) 23 TJ Stutts 7) 47 Adam Carberry 8) 77 Derek Locke 9) 66 Ryan Kissinger 10)39 Eric Parker 11) 49S Mallie Shuster 12) 39 Nate Snyder 13) 5W Phil Walter 14) C4 Jim Shuster 15) 00 Chris Frank 16) 73B Brett Michaski 17) 71C Charlie Anderson 18) 67 Jason Cherry 19) 2T Michael Thomas 20) 1 Mark Smith 21) 99K Cody Keller 22) 706 Mark Sasso 23) 15 Mark Bitner 24) 67W Justin Whittail
25-Lap A-Main: 1) 1 Mark Smith 2) 49S Mallie Shuster 3) 77 Derek Locke 4) 76 Larry Kelleher 5) 23 TJ Stutts 6) 29 Jason Shultz 7) 39 Eric Parker 8) 89 Robbie Stillwaggon 9) 49 Mike Walter 10) 66 Ryan Kissinger 11) 19W Troy Wagaman Jr. 12) 5W Phil Walter 13) 28F Davie Franek 14) 67 Jason Cherry 15) C4 Jim Shuster 16) 706 Mark Sasso 17) 00 Chris Frank 18) 33 Michael Walter 19) 71C Charlie Anderson 20) 2T Michael Thomas 21) 39 Nate Snyder 22) 73B Brett Michaski 23) 1W Eric Tomecek 24) 38 Scott Wilson 25) 47 Adam Carberry 26) 98 Sammy Sebedra
Heat Winners: Eric Tomecek, Ryan Kissinger, Mallie Shuster Late Models – 27 Entries
25-Lap A-Main: 1) 0 Colbey Frye 2) 2 Andrew Yoder 3) 6 Donnie Schick 4) 88 Tony Adams 5) 06 Mike Lupfer 6) 119B Bryan Bernheisel 7) 2J Jeff Rine 8) 2C Steve Campbell 9) Z14 Dave Brouse Jr. 10) 4D Chad Hollenbeck 11) 16 Matt Cochran 12) 76 Andy Haus 13) 41 Derrick Casner 14) 99Z Dave Zona 15) 86 Austin Berry 16) 15 Luke Hoffner 17) 9 Hayes Mattern 18) 28 Jason Smith 19) 10 Dave Stamm 20) 11 Jason Schmidt 21) 4S Danny Snyder 22) 27 Jim Yoder 23) 29Z Vern Zerby 24) 7M Meade Hahn 25) 33C Chris Casner 26) 0B Larry Baer 27) 99 Ron Spearing
Heat Winners: Andrew Yoder, Donnie Schick, Tony Adams B-Main Winner: Derrick Casner Pro Stocks – 17 Entries
15-Lap A-Main: 1) 71 Kurt Wray 2) 40 Tommy Slanker 3) 88 Matt Hornberger 4) 26 Nate Stroup 5) 28J Jeff Ceballo 6) 10M Brad Mitch 7) 83 Matt Wilson 8) 8K Jeremy Kline 9) 55 Lori Croop 10) 55T John Troxell 11) 89 John Schoch 12) 8M Brandon Moser 13) 6C AJ Hoffman 14) 4 Jim Payne 15) 8S Andrew Shoop 16) 14C Bill Conrad 17) 11 Jake Buck
Heat Winners: Tommy Slanker, Brad Mitch Modifies – 18 Entries 20-Lap A-Main: 1) 35 David Stremme 2) 40 Rick Hulson 3) 71D Dan Davies 4) 11L Gary Long 5) 21 Mike Reynolds 6) 73C Bill Pluto Jr. 7) 55 Alyssa Rowe 8) 5+ Craig Ramich 9) 5 Jonathan Taylor 10) 7 Evan Taylor 11) 54 Alan Shives 12) 83e Ed Vogel 13) 17 Stacy Spaulding 14) m20 Mike Potosky 15) 37 Brandon LaSalle 16) 26xJames Sparks 17) 1Jerry Fifield 62) Mark Jones Heat Winners: Rick Hulson, Gary Long