Rahmer Takes 2nd Annual Coors York County Nationals Victory as Swinehart Scores first Career Susky Victory on the Hooters of York Father's Day Special
By: Tim Nordon
Some say the third time is the charm, and it was for Susquehanna Speedway this past Sunday. Twice rained-out, the 2nd Annual Coors York County Nationals got the green flag as part of the Hooters of York Father's Day Special. Salfordville, PA's "Fast" Freddy Rahmer led every lap en route to the $3,200 dollar pay check. Bechtelsville, PA's Ray Swinehart passed All-time feature winner Kenny Brightbill to take his first career win at the fast York County Half Mile. The Pen-Mar Vintage Stock Car Club capped off the night with a 12-lap feature event.
A tough weekend for many Central PA Sprint Car teams took its toll on the turn-out for the 32-Lap Coors York County Nationals event. Many teams called in to let the track know they had intended to run but unfortunately were unable to due to a blown motor or wreck. The fans were not short-changed as they saw a classic showdown of the best the PA Posse has to offer.
The inversion draw came up zero so it was a "heads-up" start for the 410 Sprint Cars putting Heat Winners Fred Rahmer and Don Kreitz Jr on the front row. Greg Hodnett and Lance Dewease made up row two.
Rahmer hit the hammer and the initial green and didn't look back. The battles was hot behind him as Kreitz, Dewease, Keith Kauffman and last week's winner Greg Hodnett battled for the top 5 spots. Kaufman, running hard, would spin to bring out the yellow after lap 1. As the event got back underway the lead cars used the high groove on the awesome surface to make there way around the fast half-mile. Lapped traffic nearly played an important part as it did last week as the battle for second tightened up with the lap down cars.
Lance Dewease would take over second for good in turn 1on lap 17, setting his sights on Rahmer's Joe Harz Furniture/Miller Brothers Chevrolet #88H. Early race challenger Hodnett would drop out with mechanical woes on lap 18. Dewease in Al Hamilton's Manheim Auto Auction #77 reeled Rahmer in after he got away on the restart. He made a couple of tries to the low groove, but was unable to get enough run off the bottom to pass Rahmer.
Rahmer and Dewease made a great show for the gathered fans in the closing laps but Rahmer held on to pull into victory lane for a visit with the Hooter's Girls and to pick up the Rock-it Pizza & Subs 6' Sub. The $3,200 winners share might have been some incentive as well. Sean Michael would come up to finish third, with Kreitz Jr. and Kauffman rounding out the top 5. The win was number 17 for Rahmer at Susky his first since May of 1996. He now sits alone in 10th place on the all-time Sprint Car Win list.
Bechtelsville, PA's Ray Swinehart scored his first vicory at Susky as he debuted a brand new Bicknell Chassis. Swinehart took the P.K. Moyer and Sons/J & L Speed Supplies car by All-time Modified Feature Winner Kenny Brightbill to visit the Hooters Girls in victory lane in the 30-lap Modified Feature.
The event started out with Kyle Strickler taking off from the outside pole to the lead on lap one. Brightbill and Swinehart were right on his heels. The battles in the top 5 were hot throughout the event. Brightbill would move to the lead on lap 3, with Swinehart snagging the lead on a lap 11 restart. The superb track conditions allowed for a 3-wide battle for fifth near halfway. Keith Hoffman, Ricky Elliott and Jamie Mills battled it out for that spot.
The late stages of the race saw Mills, 2002 Champ, coming up through to challenge in the late goings. He would battle hard with Doug Manmiller for second place and succeeded in grabbing the spot on lap 28. Manmiller would come home third, Seaford DE's Ricky Elliott fourth, and Kenny Brightbill in fifth.
Heat wins for the PA 358 Modifieds went to Kyle Strickler, Swinehart, and Keith Hoffman. The consolation checkers went to Scott Albert.
Point leader Duane Howard had a tough evening, the Big Spring Car Wash #126 lost the motor while running second in the heat.
Hooter’s of York Father’s Day Special Race Summary:
Coors 2nd annual York County Nationals 410 Sprints: (32 Laps) 1- Fred Rahmer; 2- Lance Dewease; 3- Sean Michael; 4- Donnie Kreitz; 5- Keith Kauffman; 6- Josh Wells; 7- Pete Green; 8- Dave Hahn; 9- Tim Hershey; 10- Joey Tinnes; 11- Greg Hodnett; 12- Ryan Lynn
Heat Winners: Rahmer, Kreitz
Points: Dewease (220); Rahmer (215); Kreitz (195); Hodnett (185); Kauffman (170); Hahn (140); Wells (122); Tinnes (105); Michael (100); Eash (95)
358 Modifieds: (30 Laps) 1- Ray Swinehart; 2- Jamie Mills; 3- Doug Manmiller; 4- Ricky Elliott; 5- Kenny Brightbill; 6- Keith Hoffman; 7- Rick Laubach; 8- Brian Johnson; 9- Sam Wescott; 10- Kevin Hirthler; 11- Richie Pratt; 12- Mike Nicholas; 13- Gary Hager; 14- Al Shawver; 15- Kyle Strickler; 16- Tom Umbenhauer; 17- Jared Shultz; 18- Randy Mohn; 19- Jeff Paulson; 20- Bob Ebersole; 21- Sam Schaeffer; 22- Scott Albert; 23- John Tschudy; 24- Shawn Fitzpatrick
Heat Winners: Strickler, Swinehart, Hoffman
Points: Laubach (265); Howard (260); Elliott (255); Hirthler (250); Manmiller (240); Swinehart (230); Hoffman (215); VonDohren (215); Brightbill (191); Johnson (180)