Hodnett, Manmiller and Frye take checkers on Henry R. Sharman Builder/Developer Night at Susky.
By: Tim Nordon
The rains that washed out many races this past weekend gave way to light clouds and plenty of sun and clear skies for the Sunday Night Action at Susquehanna Speedway. Memphis, TN's Greg Hodnett registered his second career Sprint Car win at the York County Oval. Doug Manmiller of Wyomissing, PA registered his first career 358 Modified victory. Matt Frye took his second
Enduro checker of the season in the 40-lap nightcap.
The first feature of Henry R. Sharman Builder developer night got off to a slow start as the red flag flew before lap 1 was even complete. Larry Shive got his sprinter high in turns one and two and ended up flipping, but landed back upright. Once the race got back underway, Greg Hodnett charged from the outside pole to the lead and didn't look back. Cris Eash, Last week's winner Fred Rahmer, Lance Dewease and Don Kreitz Jr. all gave chase. Eash would try to make moves to get Hodnett on numerous occasions, but was unable to catch the lightning fast Hodnett as he diced through lapped traffic.
Lap 7 saw Dewease pass Rahmer for 3rd and set sail for Eash. Dewease would make it interesting for second as he and Eash worked through lapped traffic. It looked like lapped traffic would play a big part in the battle for position, but Eash was able to work through it and hold off Dewease at the same time. Hodnett went unchallenged late in the event to score his second victory in three races at Susky. Eash was second, Dewease came home third. Rahmer and Kreitz completed the top 5.
A field of 38 PA 358 Modifieds signed in for competition with notable newcomers being Billy Pauch Sr and Billy Pauch Jr. A good number of Sportsman drivers also came out to get some laps in preparation for next week's big $1,000-to-win, everyone qualifies event. Scott Albert and Mike Nicholas led the field down to the green flag with Nicholas getting the lead from the start. Kyle Strickler would take second and Albert would fall to third. By lap 3 Doug Manmiller made the move on Albert for 3rd and began to reel in Strickler. A lap 5 restart gave Manmiller the opportunity to make the move on Strickler for second. Opening Day Winner Craig Von Dohren made the move from 11th to 5th by lap the same restart. Lap 7 saw Manmiller make the low-side move to snatch the lead from Nicholas and Von Dohren moved by both Strickler and Rick Laubach to move into third.
As the field toook the crossed flags for halfway Von Dohren moved by Nicholas for second and 2002 Champion Jamie Mills had moved up to fourth after starting 12th. Mills shortly by-passed Nicholas for third and began to stalk Von Dohren for the runner-up spot. With 10 laps to go Manmiller had a comfortable lead on the second place battle as Jamie Mills took it to the high side to make second all his own. As the laps wound down Mills gave it all he and his car had to try and snatch the lead from Manmiller, but Doug was able to hold on to take his first career win at Susquehanna. Mills settled for second and Von Dohren held on for third. Laubach came home fourth with Bob Ebersole charging back up to the top 5 after fading from his fourth place starting spot to take fifth.
Matt Frye and the Enduro drivers put on yet another great show for those diehard fans who stuck around for the 40-lap event. Frye took the win over Justin Ehrhart and Al Miller, it was his second of the season. His first win came after that night's winner was disqualified for illegal cylinder heads on his motor.
Next up on the fast York County Oval is the make-up of Rock-it Pizza Night this coming Sunday June 29th. The 358 Modifieds will headline the show with the Sportsman Modifieds competing in a special $1,000-to-win, everyone qualifies event. The Street Stocks will also run an "all- qualify" event with the Exciting Enduros completing the card.
Then the Sprint Cars return on July 3rd for the PA Sprint Speedweeks Event. Harry's U-pull-it will sponsor the Sprint Car Event and the 358 Modifieds will also be on the card with sponsorship from Coors Light. Those are two can't miss events at the York County Oval! Bring your friends, bring your family to great racing coming up at Susquehanna Speedway!
Results Summary - Henry R. Sharman Builder/Developer Night (June 22, 2003)
Sprint Feature Finish - (25 Laps) - 1) Greg Hodnett, 2) Cris Eash, 3) Lance Dewease, 4) Fred Rahmer, 5) Don Kreitz Jr., 6) Doug Esh, 7) Brook Weibly, 8) Jason Hagenbuch, 9) Wade Hendrickson, 10) Scott Zellers, 11) Joey Tinnes, 12) Chad Jumper, 13) George Kulp, 14) Bobby Howard, 15) Josh Weller, 16) Larry Parish, 17) Nick Gower, 18) Keith Anderson, 19) Brian Bassinger, 20) Kyle Pruitt, 21) Todd Zinn, 22) Mark Zellers, 23) Larry Shive
Heat 1 - Rahmer, Weibley, Esh, Shive, Pruitt, Jumper, Tinnes, Anderson
Heat 2 - Hodnett, Dewease, Zellers, Hagenbuch, Gower, Howard, Bassinger
Heat 3 - Eash, Kreitz, Parish, Hendrickson, Weller, Kulp, Zinn
358 Modified Feature Finish - (30 Laps) - 1) Doug Manmiller, 2) Jaime Mills, 3) Craig Von Dohren, 4) Rick Laubach, 5) Bob Ebersole, 6) Brian Johnson, 7) Keith Hoffman, 8) Mike Nicholas, 9) Kenny Brightbill, 10) Richie Pratt, 11) Tom Umbenhauer, 12) Ray Swinehart, 13) Kyle Strickler, 14) Gary Hager, 15) Billy Pauch Sr., 16) Randy Mohn, 17) Gary Butler, 18) Dale Hartz, 19) Kevin Hirthler, 20) Ben Hatt, 21) Sam Wescott, 22) Gene Hornberger, 23) Shawn Fitzpatrick, 24) Paul Kline, 25) Scott Albert, 26) Jeff Strunk
Heat 1 - Laubach, Manmiller, Von Dohren, Umbenhauer, Johnson
Heat 2 - Mills, Hirthler, Kline, Fitzpatrick, Mohn
Heat 3 - Swinehart, Strickler, Albert, Hatt, Hornberger
Heat 4 - Nicholas, Strunk, B. Ebersole, Brightbill, Pratt
Consolation 1 - Hoffman, Pauch Sr, Hager
Consolation 2 - Wescott, Hartz, Butler
Enduro Feature Finish - (40 Laps) - Top 12 - 1) Matt Frye, 2) Justin Ehrhart, 3) Al Miller, 4) Ron Nance, 5) Adam Almoney, 6) Jeff Crone, 7) Jim Gross, 8) Mike Mixell, 9) Lance McCoy, 10) Randy Shifflett, 11) Steve Starke, 12) Jeff Conrad