IT'S SHUEY & LAUBACH EARNING FIRST WINS AT SUSQUEHANNA
Newberrytown, PA: Chris Shuey and Rick Laubach won their first career Susquehanna Speedway victories Friday on York County Racing Club night at the raceway. That makes four drivers in four races capturing their first wins as both had to hold off the opening day winners to garner the laurels.
Chris Shuey of Orefield, PA led every lap of the Super Late Model feature from his pole position. Jere Weirman challenged from his front row spot for the first seven laps until he lost the spot from defending winner Les Hare. For the next 23 laps Hare tried desperately to maneuver around Shuey.
A great battle emerged at times especially through some lapped traffic. Just when it seemed like Shuey was capable of pulling away, Hare reeled him back in and diced for the lead. After seven cautions in the first half of the race, the final 15 laps when non-stop allowing Hare to build up momentum several times to take a run at Shuey, but Chris never gave in.
York County Racing Club presented Shuey with a $25 award and trophy as a club member. Delaware's Mike Christopher had a second good outing coming home third with Jere Weirman and Tom Myers finishing out the top five. Bob Spahr's eleventh earned him the MMI Components hard charger gift certificate.
The Modified event was just the opposite as the first 14 laps went non-stop. Pole sitter Kevin Hartnett led for four circuits until Randy Fortna took the lead on lap five. Hartnett hung with Fortna for 8 laps before losing the runner-up position to a charging Rick Laubach on lap 13.
Laubach of Quakertown, PA led over Fortna for three laps until opening day winner, Jamie Mills caught him on lap 18. Mills then set his sights on Laubach, but was unable to catch him. Todd Burley made a late race charge to finish third, but was disqualified for being 124 lbs. light at the scales. Fortna then got third with Kyle Strickler and Jeff Strunk rounding out the top five.
An excited car owner, Doug Flurer never took in a race at Susquehanna said in victory lane, "The crew has been pesting me to run here. I can honestly say I like this place." Taking a triumph in your first outing surely helped. They got to enjoy a six-foot Rock-It Pizza sub and a case of Pepsi as well.
A very competitive 4-cylinder stock race had John Stoll trying to hold off the challenges of defending winner, Ronnie Buck and Ed Hollenbach. Hollenbach pressured Stoll for 9 laps. Buck slipped by on lap ten and then got Stoll on lap eleven as the three raced across the line. Buck won his second in a row followed by Hollenbach, Stoll, Jerry Schott, and Mike Buckley.
The Central PA Legends cars had a good turnout and maybe the best race of the evening. Five cars swapped the positions throughout with Ray Swank leading the way for the first 10 laps. Butch Brough finally edged into the lead, but Swank refused to give-up. Side by side to the checker they raced, but Swank was unable to re-capture the top spot. Tim Henry got third, Tim Tomson fourth, and Greg Burd was fifth.
Two Enduro features were on tap. In the make-up Rick Reinoehl led for 21 laps as Matt Frye tried to chase him down. Finally on lap 22, Reinhoehl went high in turn one and Frye took advantage and went on for the win.
In the nightcap, Ronald Vance led for 9 laps before succumbing to Karl Windish. Windish held on the rest of the way as Vance stayed close, but not able to regain the lead. Ray Repp got a third with Matt Frye only able to muster a fourth. Mike Henry came home fifth.
The Hooter's girls are coming next week for a special 358 Modified versus the 358 limited Late Model challenge. Heats will be run separately to qualify the first 12 spots in each class. Cars will be added to fill the extended 30-car field. Super Lates and Enduro will also be on the card. Gates open at 5:00 and racing begins at 7:45 pm. Modifieds will draw for starting positions this week and for the July 3rd Pepsi 100 coming up next Wednesday. The holiday mid-week will continue on Thursday, July 4th with the Harry's U-Pull-It Pennsylvania Speedweek for 410 Sprints and Super Late Models.
Tech man, Kevin Miller declared that starting next week he would open the tire rule for the Modifieds. After two weeks of naming certain track tires, all track tires will be acceptable if they are 92" circumference and 13" tread width. "This is an effort to benefit the competitors and maintain a level playing field by allowing any tire available to him," said Miller.
Summary:
PA 4-Cyl Stocks Feature (12 Laps): 1- Ron Buck; 2- Ed Hollenbach; 3- John Stoll; 4- Jerry Schott; 5- Mike Buckley; 6- Ken Miller; 7- Eric Hollenbach; 8- Dave Kirby; 9- Sam Smith; 10- Wes Irwin; 11- Kyle Levingood; 12- Dave Topper; 13- Zac Beck; 14- Barry Hawbaker
Legends (12 Laps): 1- Butch Brough; 2- Ray Swank; 3- Tim Henry; 4- Tim Tomson; 5- Greg Burd; 6- Austin Kirby; 7- Allen Felix; 8- Rodney Kistler; 9- William Fenicle; 10- Ronnie Dunstan; 11- Bob Murry; 12- Rick Harring; 13- Rich Landis; 14- Mike Failor; 15- Ed Wentz; 16- Daryl Bloom; 17- Bill Harris; 18- Paul Fisher; 19- Andy Lupfer; 20- Larry Max; 21- Jim Black; 22- Donald Potts; 23- Deary Rothermel; 24- Vernon Smith
Enduro (30 Laps): 1- Matt Frye; 2- Rick Reinoehl; 3- Karl Windish; 4- Ray Repp; 5- Ronald Vance; 6- Daren Williams; 7- Terry Blovel; 8- Timothy Barnes; 9- Matt Smith; 10- Anthony Toumas
Enduro (30 Laps): 1- Karl Windish; 2- Ronald Vance; 3- Ray Repp; 4- Matt Frye; 5- Mike Henry; 6- Dave Yingst; 7- James Gross; 8- Terry Blovel; 9- Daren Williams; 10- Greg Miller
Top 21 - Super Late Models
Pos. Driver Car #
1 Chris Shuey 21
2 Les Hare 1H
3 Mike Christopher 66
4 Jere Weirman 65
5 Tom Myers 43a
6 Mike Lupfer 06
7 Ryan Kirk 5K
8 Jason Covert M15
9 Larry Baer 0
10 Butch Campion 21
11 Bob Spahr 86
12 Sterling Kinard 12
13 Harold Beinhower 33
14 Jeff Leiphart 8
15 Sam Schlosberg 70
16 Gary Potts 4GT
17 Tim Wilson 3
18 Mike Zechman 1Z
19 Mark Elksins 47
20 Scott Sipe 88
21 Scott Lupfer 77
Top 24 - 358 Modifieds
Pos. Driver Car #
1 Rick Laubach 16
2 Jamie Mills 1W
3 Randy Fortna 4$
4 Kyle Strickler 16
5 Jeff Strunk 9W
6 Scott Schaeffer 8
7 Kevin Hartnett 88
8 Larry Solomon 517
9 Tracy Readinger 2T
10 John Willman 74W
11 Al Shawver 15
12 Scott Albert 10
13 Gary Hager 44
14 Tom Umbenhauer 19
15 Ryan Watt 14W
16 Bob Ebersole 27
17 Kip Timmer 151
18 Ryan Beltz 221
19 Danny Erb 44
20 Scott Gilbert 69Z
21 John Tschudy 2
22 Ray Swinehart 33
23 Kevin Hirthler 117
24 Todd Burley 89