Hodnett, Howard, and Hendricks take Checkers on Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic/W & W Racing Fuels Night at Susky
By: Tim Nordon
Mother nature finally cooperated with Central Pennsylvania and allowed Susquehanna to open their regular season after two rain-outs. The wet conditions in the recent past did leave a very racy track to open the season with. Greg Hodnett of Memphis, TN put himself in the record books as the 87th different Sprint Car driver to win at Susquehanna taking the victory in the 25 lap 410 Sprint Season Opener. Duane Howard registered his third career victory on the York County half-mile in the 30 lap 358 Modified Feature event. Doug Hendricks capped off Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic/W & W Racing Fuels Night with a victory in a spectacular 40 lap Enduro.
The 410 Sprint Cars made their return to weekly racing at Susky with great field including some big guns from the Pa Posse. Qualifying action saw Lance Dewease, Don Kreitz, & Mark Smith taking heat race wins. That set up the front row for the feature to have Dewease on the pole and Kreitz on his outside. Mark Smith and Greg Hodnett made up Row 2.
The first circuit saw Kreitz pull out to the lead. Just after the field completed lap 1 some bumping and grinding ensued in turn 2 with 410 Rookie Adrian Schaffer getting the worst of the deal when he flipped his sprinter. The field got back underway with Kreitz leading Hodnett and Dewease. Lap 6 saw lapped traffic play its part in the lead change for the first of two times in the 25 lap main. Kreitz entered turn three in traffic with Hodnett and Dewease right up on his tail. As the field exited turn four Dewease had worked the traffic just right and snatched the lead away.
Dewease would control the event past half way. Hodnett moved into second as he passed Kreitz on a lap 11 restart. There was a firece battle throughout the feature between Fred Rahmer, Cris Eash, Keith Kauffman and Mark Smith. Though none would contend for the lead the put on an awesome show for the fans gathered on an overcast Sunday evening.
Lapped traffic contributed to a lead change for the second time on lap 19. This time Dewease was on the losing end as Hodnett worked the traffic to his advantage to take the lead. Hodnett held onto the lead to take the checkers in the return of weekly 410 Sprint Car racing at Susquehanna. Dewease took second, with Krietz coming back up to take third after being as low as sixth. Cris Eash took fourth after starting 12th. Fred Rahmer came back to take fifth after sliding back to seventh during the middle of the event. Keith Kauffman, Mark Smith, Johnny Mackison, Bobby Weaver, & Dave Hahn completed the top ten.
A strong field of PA 358 Modifieds packed the pits for the second event of the points season. Heat race wins were taken by Ricky Elliott, Kevin Hirthler, Duane Howard and 4-time Champion Jeff Strunk. Consolation wins went to Steve Swinehart and Craig Whitmoyer. A 'heads-up' start put the heat winners at the front of the field for the 30-lap main event.
As the field came down to take the green Howard and Strunk wasted no time getting to the lead. As the field completed lap one they were running one-two with Hirthler, Keith Hoffman, Elliott and Rick Laubach behind them. The battle for the lead was fast and furious between Howard and Strunk, but so was the battle the shaped up for third between Hirthler, Hoffman, and Laubach. Laubach took it to the high groove a couple of times trying to find a faster line, he would succeed in getting third on lap 12.
Power Steering woes for Jeff Strunk allowed Howard to check out and Laubach
to catch up and challenge for second. A true show of great racing was on
as Laubach and Strunk battled it out for second. When the checkers flew Howard had notched his third Susky victory. Strunk would prevail for second, Laubach would settle for third. Hoffman came home fourth and Opening Day Winner Craig Von Dohren worked his way up to fifth. Hirthler, Tom Mayberry, Brian Johnson, Elliott, and All-time leading modified feature winner Kenny Brightbill rounded out the top ten.
A great field of Enduro Cars gave the fans who hung out a great show as Doug Hendricks took the victory in the 40 lap nightcap. The racing was just as intense as that seen in the Sprint or Modified features. Hendricks battled it out with the Frye brothers throughout the event to take the win. The scoring staff had their hands full as the lead was always in doubt as the top three swapped positions almost every lap.
Look for more exciting Sunday Night Action as the season continues at Susquehanna Speedway. The 410 Sprints will compete in the twice rained out 2nd Annual York County Nationals this coming Sunday as part of the Hooters of York Fathers Day Special. The 358 Modifieds and Pen-Mar Vintage Stock Car Club, making their first appearance this season, will complete the card. The always exciting Enduro will return in two weeks as part of Henry R. Sharman Builder/Developer Night with the 410 Sprints and 358 Modifieds.
Promoter Vince Vicari has just announced a special race coming up on June 29th. The PA 358 Modifieds will headline the show while being joined by the Sportsman Stocks in a $1,000-to-win, Everyone Qualifies event. Places 25 to the back will be paid $25 from Race Sponsor Rock-it Pizza. The Street Stocks will also be in action in an "everyone qualifies" event with the Enduros rounding out the card.
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic / W & W Racing Fuels Race Summary:
410 Sprints: (25 Laps) 1- Greg Hodnett; 2- Lance Dewease; 3- Donnie Kreitz; 4- Chri Eash; 5- Fred Rahmer; 6- Mark Smith; 7- Keith Kauffman; 8- Johnny Mackison; 9- Bobby Weaver; 10- Dave Hahn; 11- Glendon Forsythe; 12- Kevin Nouse; 13- Dustin Hoffman; 14- Larry Shive; 15- Joey Tinnes; 16- Doug Rohrbaugh; 17- Blaine Heimbach; 18- Josh Wells; 19- Curt Stroup; 20- Todd Zinn; 21- Adrian Shaffer; 22- Michael Markey; 23- Matt Beasley; 24- Scott Zellers; 25- Tony Strine (DNS)
Heat Winners: Dewease, Kreitz, Smith
Modified: (30 Laps) 1- Duane Howard; 2- Jeff Strunk; 3- Rick Laubach; 4- Keith Hoffman; 5- Craig VonDohren; 6- Kevin Hirthler; 7- Tom Mayberry; 8- Brian Johnson; 9- Ricky Elliott; 10- Kenny Brightbill; 11- Tom Umbenhauer; 12- Randy Mohn; 13- Ben Hatt; 14- Doug Manmiller; 15- Scott Albert; 16- Al Shawver; 17- John Willman; 18- Bill Devine; 19- Jeff Sechrist; 20- Steve Swinehart; 21- Greg Humlhanz; 22- Larry Solomon; 23- Luke Wagner; 24- Craig Whitmoyer: 25- Gary Hager; 26- Sam Wescott; DNS- Kyle Strickler
Heat Winners: Elliott, Hirthler, Howard, Strunk
Enduro: (40 Laps) 1- Matt Frye; 2- Doug Frye; 3- Justin Ehrhart; 4- Mike Goodwin; 5- Karl Windish; 6- Matt Smith; 7- Alan Miller; 8- Greg Miller; 9- Ray Repp; 10- Steve Failor; 11- Jerry Blouch; 12- Jim Gross; 13- Mike Mixell; 14- Rick Hippensteel; 15- Scott Pyper; 16- Lance McCoy; 17- Rickey Hippensteel; 18- Randy Shifflett; 19- Adam Almoney; 20- Sam Henry; 21- Darrin Williams; 22- Fred Twigg; 23- Tom Slanker; 24- Jim Smith; 25- Bryan Sipe; 26- Greg Updegraff; 27- Doug Hendricks; DNS- Mike Henry; DNS- Virgil Cain