KEITH HOFFMAN CAPTURES PEPSI 100 AT SUSQUEHANNA
Newberrytown, PA: Keith Hoffman became the third different winner in as many outings at Susquehanna Speedway in a race of two very different halves in the Pepsi 100. For Hoffman it was his seventh career win at the York County oval, but his biggest win collecting $6,000.
A diverse field of 46 cars saw 14 newcomers invade the Susky regulars each taking two of the qualifying heats and starting straight up for the 100-lap main event. Delaware's Jamie Mills captured the early lead bringing the 32-car field around for the first two circuits.
Hoffman took over on lap three and basically checked out for the next 98 laps. Keith withstood a number of cautions and challengers for the first half of the race. After the halfway fuel stop the race went non-stop for the last 50 laps and only through lapped traffic did anyone close slightly on Hoffman. "The car just worked perfectly all night," as Hoffman praised his crew with high fives in victory lane for the set-up and preparation.
The battles raged furiously behind Hoffman. Mills held off Glenn Strunk for only two laps as Strunk drove a beautiful race as he was pressured for 80 laps holding on to the runner-up spot. Duane Howard finally grabbed second from Strunk on lap 83. Howard came from a skirmish on lap 2 where he smacked Smokey Warren, but re-grouped and mounted a charge to the front.
Former winners, Mills and Rick Laubach made a bad choice of tires as they picked too hard a compound and starting sliding backwards early in the race. Mills got in an 8-car tangle on lap 16 running fifth and retired for the night. That incident also took former track champ, Craig VonDohren, who had worked his way into eighth place.
Another former track champion, Jeff Strunk stayed close in the early going, but surprisingly, while running fifth at the halfway point, decided to pit and go to the rear of the field. Brilliantly, he charged from last in the non-stop segment and climbed back to fifth. "Who would have thought we would go 50 laps non-stop," said Strunk. "If we could have gotten just one caution, I might have been able to contend."'
Most of the race saw Howard pressuring Glenn Strunk while young Kyle Strickler closed on Howard and still battled door-to-door with Kevin Hirthler, Jeff Strunk and consolation winner, Larry Solomon coming from 22nd starting position. At times even Keith Brightbill, another consolation winner, Rick Laubach, Tracy Readinger and Bob Ebersole joined in the mix.
When Solomon dropped on lap 78 with mechanical problems, out of nowhere, Barry Readinger moved into seventh as he and Jeff Strunk closed in on the 2nd through 6th pack. Hirthler broke a front suspension with a few laps to go, but while hanging on to an eighth place finish, the pack shuffled sending Readinger to a career best fourth place finish, Jeff Strunk fifth and moving Strickler to sixth and Laubach seventh.
Half of the field was still running at the end with ten still being on the lead lap during the non-stop segment. Keith Brightbill and Scott Albert who also came from way back in 23rd starting spot rounded out the top ten.
The crowd enjoyed a festive holiday show that began with a stirring rendition of the national anthem by Priscilla Hartraft of Bernville. A recent high school graduate and inspiring young singer then gave the signal to start your engines followed by a firework salute and an American flag waving sendoff. Fireworks then capped off the evening's entertainment sponsored by Pepsi-Cola.
The Hooter girls are coming next week, July 12th, for Hooter's of York Night at the York County oval. Super Late Models will be on the card along with the 358 Modifieds for a pair of 30-lap affairs. Joining them will be the PennMar Vintage Club rained out from June 14th and a 30-lap Enduro.
Gates open at 5:00 and racing begins at 7:45 pm. For more information log on to the website at www.susquehannaspeedway.com.
Top 32 - 358 Modifieds
100 Laps
Pos. Driver Car #
1 Keith Hoffman 1
2 Duane Howard 126
3 Glenn Strunk 99K
4 Barry Readinger 70D
5 Jeff Strunk 9W
6 Kyle Strickler 16
7 Rick Laubach 16
8 Kevin Hirthler 117
9 Keith Brighbill 14
10 Scott Albert 10
11 Smokey Warren 178
12 Ryan Watt 14W
13 Ray Swinehart 33
14 Randy Stoudt 10
15 Randy Mohn 505
16 Scott Gilbert 69z
17 Larry Solomon 517
18 Gary Hager 44
19 Steve Kio 61
20 Bill Devine 70X
21 Tracy Readinger 2T
22 Bob Ebersole 27
23 Tom Umbenhauer 88
24 Todd Margberger 18
25 Leroy Long 84
26 Jamie Mills 1W
27 Craig VonDohren 114
28 Rich Brown 5
29 Steve Bottcher 77
30 Jason Andrews 21a
31 Randy Fortna 4$
32 Kyle Weiss 21K