Doug Rose takes SpeedSTR win, Wagner grabs Late Models
The Tobias SpeedSTRs are quickly becoming a popular and ultra competitive class.
In their first year on the circuit they put on a great show and boast some pretty
good drivers behind the wheel. Twelve SpeedSTRs checked into the Clinton County
Raceway for their main event. All eyes were on the front of the field as Doug
Rose and Nick Pecko led the field to the green. The field took off on quick
pace but was slowed on lap two for a spin involving Andy Burkhart. The yellow
would fly two laps later for Nascar team owner Ray Evernham as he slowed in
turn three with a flat tire. On the restart a three way battle for the lead
started to shape up as Modified standout Billy Vanpelt worked his way up from
his sixth starting spot to challenge Rose and Pecko for the lead. Caution would
wave once again near the halfway point for simultaneous spins in turn two and
four. When the green flew Vanpelt went to work trying to find a fast line to
get around Rose. Pecko, who is only fifteen and came out of the slingshot division,
was also looking for the fast way around both front-runners. With two laps to
go caution would wave again for Burkhart as his car came to a stop on the front
stretch with mechanical troubles. With the caution this allowed Evernham, who
worked his way back up through the field, to pull up tight on the back bumper
of Pecko. On the ensuing restart the top three went side by side and swapped
the lead back and fourth multiple times with Evernham looking for any daylight
to sneak through. One the white flag lap Vanpelt took the lead in turn one but
couldn’t make it stick as he slid high. Rose was able to get back by Vanpelt
and beat him to the line by a car length, with Pecko coming in third. Ray Evernham
finished fourth, with Ray’s nephew Willy Evernham finishing fifth. Rounding
out the top ten was Steve Hicks, Jeff Gallup, Billy V, Andy Burkhart, and Rich
Tobias.
The Justice Brothers Inc. Super Late Models made their debut at the 1/3-mile clay oval. George Fultz and Luke Hoffner would take lead seventeen high-powered machines to the line. It didn’t take long for Fultz to jump out to a lead as soon as the green waved. Hoffner and Eric Hons were nose to tail as Waylon Wagner began to work his way to the front. Young Gun Dylan Yoder also worked his way up from his sixth place starting spot to the front and swapped the lead a few times. The field would bunch up on lap three for a spin in turn four. On the restart Wagner slid into the runner up spot as he and Fultz began to stretch out a lead. The two would shadow each other until the halfway point when Wagner was able to power by. Yoder hung tough with the top three and showed his nose a few times but just wasn’t able to get by. The field would slow one lap later for a spin in turn two, which resulted in a sprint to the finish when the green flag would wave. Wagner, who had had a win last year slip through his grasp in the closing laps last year, wouldn’t be denied this time. Fultz tried everything he could do but just couldn’t quite pull off the pass as Wagner went on for the win. Fultz would settle for second, with Yoder turning in a solid run for third, Bobby Stokes took fourth, and Eric Hons completed a nice run for fifth. Jake Shady would lead the next group of five across, with Matt Cochran seventh, Dan Body eighth, Jeremy Ohl ninth, and Josh Young rounding out the top ten.
The A&A Auto Parts Pro-Stock division was looking to get off to a better start this week after the scary start to last weeks feature. Denny Forney took full advantage of his front row starting spot as he jumped into the lead and never looked back. Terry Shedded closed in at the end but it wasn’t enough as he came up from seventh to finish second. Cliff Berry finished out a solid run for third, Jim Berry was fourth, and Kevin Burkhart completed the top five. John Bouse finished sixth, Scott Dorman seventh, Marc Bitler eighth, Todd Williams ninth, and last weeks feature winner Ay Schilling tenth.
Ron Enders and Son’s 270 Micros put on another great show as they nearly went caution free. The battle for the win came down to the wire as Mike Shuckers held off a fast coming Brian Kishbaugh for the win. Scott Kishbaugh was third with Matt Cochran fourth, and Glen Houtz fifth. Justin Jordan grabbed sixth, Jim Welshars seventh, Matt Carter eighth, Sierra Weaver ninth, and Bill Fredericks tenth.
Randy’s Auto Repair 4-cylinders got off to a wild and scary start. On the first lap as the field came through turns three and four the twenty-two machine of Bryan Frank checked up to avoid spinning in front of him. Contact was made from behind and it sent Frank end over end. While cars were scattering to avoid the rolling car of Frank, contact was made to the twenty-five machine of Eric Palski. Palski ended up rolling also but came back down on his wheels and never missed a beat as he kept his car going. Palski. Once the clean up was over multiple cars were sent pit side with damage including Franks and Palski. When it was all over last years track champion Jason Rafter picked up the win with Dave Fink in his tire tracks. Walt Fedder took third, Cody Robbins fourth, and Sterling Kepner fifth. Dave Flook grabbed sixth, Colton Hoover seventh, Kevin Powel eighth, Larry Beachel ninth, and Chris Snyder rounded out the top ten.
A special thanks goes out to Ray Evernham who made the trip up from North Carolina just for the SpeedSTR race, as he is not attending Pocono. Also, a special thanks to Miller Brothers Auto sales as they came forward last night and added to the purse for the top two finishers in each division.
Clinton County Raceway is back in action next week June 13th with Shore Auto Parts 410 Sprint Cars, A&A Auto Parts Pro-stock Special, Ron Enders and Son’s 270 Micros, and Randy’s Auto Repair 4-Cylinders. Gates open at 5pm with racing at 7:30. General admission is only $10. For more information check out www.clintoncountyraceway.com