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| Cory Stivason/Stivason Photos |
There was a little something for everyone on hand at The Action Track on Friday night as fireworks filled the air and a first time winner made it to victory lane. There were intense battles for the wins in three out of the four Fab4 main events and a tacky surface with just enough cushion to lean on which challenged drivers and setups all night long
Logan Wagner made the trip from central Pennsylvania and put on a clinic in the Peoples Gas DIRTcar Sprints before a late race caution tightened the field and gave Brandon Matus one last chance at a victory. Matus came up just short though, and Wagner wound up with his third appearance in victory lane in the past two seasons. In the Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models, Michael Norris made his way past Chad McClellan in the early going and never looked back en route to his fourth victory of the season.
Rex King Jr. was the benefactor of a blown tire from race leader Brian Swartzlander and made the most of the opportunity, took the lead, lost it to Jim Weller and got it back on the last lap to take his second win of 2018. And in the Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar/RUSH Pro Stocks, Noah Brunell used lapped traffic to perfection and was rewarded with his first ever trip to Terry Bowser Victory lane.
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| Cory Stivason Photo |
Wagner Blasts Off, Then Holds Off Matus
When Logan Wagner ventures from his central, PA base of operations to The Action Track, his performances have generally been worth the price of admission and then some. His Friday night performance was no exception to that statement as he made quick work of the field in front of him and held off an oncoming Brandon Matus for his third victory in three years at Lernerville.
George Hobaugh and Dan Shetler brought the field to the initial green flag, and when it waved, Wagner, Matus and AJ Flick all looked as if they had been shot out of a cannon. Following three straight early cautions for Jeremy Hill, Ken Rossy and Cody Bova, the race finally picked up momentum as Matus made his way around Shetler who had assumed the early lead. Matus looked to be the car to beat as he approached lapped traffic with eight laps down as he and second running Wagner gained separation from their immediate pursuers while behind them, Flick, Shetler and Hobaugh battled for the third spot. Then on lap 11, Wagner threw a pinpoint perfect slide job underneath Matus in turn four and made it stick as he took the lead nearing the halfway point.
The momentum slowed with 13 laps down when Rossey brought out another caution which was followed by another yellow waving flag for Vinny Douherty with 16 laps in the books. And in between the two cautions, Wagner looked invincible in getting the jump on the restart and leaving the field in his wake.
On the lap 16 restart, Wagner looked for a similar result and got it as Jack Sodeman Jr. and Hobaugh battled for the fifth spot with Wagner, Matus and Flick all pounding the cushion in a three car train of speed. Flick began taking looks to the outside of Matus for the second spot when the red flag came out on lap 21 for Jeremy Hill who found himself upside down in turn four. Matus stayed closer to the leader on the restart and came up with what looked like a potential slide job for the lead in turn four with just over a lap to go but his bid came up short, and Wagner made no mistake to take advantage of the rest of the way.
George Hobaugh and Dan Shetler brought the field to the initial green flag, and when it waved, Wagner, Matus and AJ Flick all looked as if they had been shot out of a cannon. Following three straight early cautions for Jeremy Hill, Ken Rossy and Cody Bova, the race finally picked up momentum as Matus made his way around Shetler who had assumed the early lead. Matus looked to be the car to beat as he approached lapped traffic with eight laps down as he and second running Wagner gained separation from their immediate pursuers while behind them, Flick, Shetler and Hobaugh battled for the third spot. Then on lap 11, Wagner threw a pinpoint perfect slide job underneath Matus in turn four and made it stick as he took the lead nearing the halfway point.
The momentum slowed with 13 laps down when Rossey brought out another caution which was followed by another yellow waving flag for Vinny Douherty with 16 laps in the books. And in between the two cautions, Wagner looked invincible in getting the jump on the restart and leaving the field in his wake.
On the lap 16 restart, Wagner looked for a similar result and got it as Jack Sodeman Jr. and Hobaugh battled for the fifth spot with Wagner, Matus and Flick all pounding the cushion in a three car train of speed. Flick began taking looks to the outside of Matus for the second spot when the red flag came out on lap 21 for Jeremy Hill who found himself upside down in turn four. Matus stayed closer to the leader on the restart and came up with what looked like a potential slide job for the lead in turn four with just over a lap to go but his bid came up short, and Wagner made no mistake to take advantage of the rest of the way.
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (7W) Logan Wagner
2. (13) Brandon Matus
3. (2) AJ Flick
4. (7K) Dan Shetler
5. (40) George Hobaugh
6. (23J) Jack Sodeman Jr.
7. (29) Scott Barris
8. (46) Michael Bauer
9. (2L) Sye Lynch
10. (08) Dan Kuriger
11. (4N) Jimmy Morris
12. (51) Brent Matus
13. (12J) Jonathan Jones
14. (27K) Jeremy Kornbau
15. (56) Ralph Spithaler
16. (76) Davey Jones
17. (24) Jeremy Hill
18. (27) Vinny Dougherty
19. (66) Ken Rossey
20. (20B) Cody Bova
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| Cory Stivason Photo |
When one thinks of the ways to describe the way in which Michael Norris has had such a firm command of the Late Model fields at Lernerville in 2018, they may start running out of ways to describe it. Norris has seemingly had the cars on hand in the palm of his hand and on Friday night, he seemingly had the field the way he wanted it until a late race caution gave him a different set of circumstances to conjure a way to victory lane through.
Veteran pilot Chad McClellan paid a visit and found himself on the front row alongside Clayton Kennedy. However, when the race got underway, it was Mike Pegher Jr. who found himself with a good jump and the early momentum as he took the lead from McClellan on lap two. Kennedy nearly changed the course of the race altogether when when spun in turn four with three laps down while drivers maneuvered quickly to avoid him.
Meanwhile, Norris had moved from ninth to fourth and he pegged the ensuing restart as he made a bid for the second spot as he made his way around McClellan. Norris then set his sights on Pegher as he caught and passed the leader on lap seven. Behind them, Dan Angellichio began making a run towards the podium as he made his way around McClellan as Norris was entering lapped traffic.
Norris split the lapped cars of Collin Burke and Bob Moore in turns three and four while Pegher slowed on the backstretch. McClellan and Angellichio kept battling door to door past the halfway point, trading the second position several times when the action came to a halt for a slowing John Flinner with 15 laps down. When action resumed, Norris bolted out to a half straightaway lead that looked completely unbeatable until Gary Lyle brought out the caution with 24 laps down, setting up a green, white, checkered finish. On the restart, Norris quickly but all hopes from his competitiors away, leaving them to a four car battle for the second position which Angellichio won while Norris cruised to yet another victory.
Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (72) Michael Norris
2. (14) Dan Angellichio
3. (7M) Chad McClellan
4. (91T) Tommy Beck
5. (29) Ken Schaltenbrand
6. (10L) Gary Lyle
7. (14R) Clay Ruffo
8. (81) Mike Miller
9. (11) Joshua Powell
10. (411) Bob Moore
11. (41) Collin Burke
12. (9) Clayton Kennedy
13. (36) Tony Musolino
14. (4T8) John Flinner
15. (1C) Mike Pegher Jr.
16. (91) Weston Phillis
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| Cory Stivason Photo |
King Jr. Earns It The Hard Way
The Big Block Modified feature was a hard one to win, and Rex King Jr. found a way as he led early, lost it to Brian Swartzlander, got it back and had to wrest it way one more time in the closing laps en route to his second victory of the season.
King started on the pole and assumed the early lead followed on the top of the Speedway by a hard charging Garrett Krummert while behind them, Jeremiah Shingledecker and Jeff Miller battled for position in the top five. Colton Walters brought out the yellow flag with two laps down and on the ensuing restart, Miller and Shingledecker made contact causing Shingledecker to fall back in the field. Out front, Krummert began to whittle away at King's lead while at the same time, Swartzlander started to make his presence felt in the front of the field. Miller then brought out the caution with five laps down with a spin in turn four.
King kept the lead on the restart, but could not shake Krummert completely. Swartzlander was coming forward with authority however, and he made his way under Krummert on lap seven and began hunting the leader as he moved to the top of the surface. Behind them, Jim Weller began to make his charge as he found himself making his way around Krummert for the third spot just before all progress was halted as Erik Bowser stopped in turn four. Swartzlander made his way around King for the lead on the restart which was just before Steve Feder lost his engine to bring out another caution with 11 laps down.
When action resumed, Swartzlander looked to be in firm command as he set a blistering pace past the halfway point, but he could not continue his momentum as Shingledecker found himself upside down on the front stretch with 12 laps in the books. After a clean restart, Swartzlander looked destined for victory lane until a rear tire went down on lap 22, handing the lead to Weller who had just passed King for the second spot one lap earlier. King remained focused through the events that had transpired and would then find good bite coming out of turn two on the final lap to power past Weller for the lead en route to Terry Bowser Victory Lane.
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| Cory Stivason Photo |
Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Northeast Big Block Modified Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (165) Rex King Jr.
2. (31) Jim Weller
3. (65) Rex King Sr.
4. (61) Dave Murdick
5. (29) Garrett Krummert
6. (13) Rick Regalski
7. (66) J.R. McGinley
8. (123) AJ Flick
9. (17M) Skip Moore
10. (25) Chris Rudolph
11. (75) Jeff Miller
12. (88) Shawn Fleeger
13. (83) Brian Swartzlander
14. (37M) Jeremiah Shingledecker
15. (4J) John Mollick
16. (45) Steve Feder
17. (89) Erik Bowser
18. (18) Colton Walters
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| Cory Stivason Photo |
Brunell Uses Lappers To Perfection In First Career Victory
Persistence pays off, eventually. Noah Brunell can now attest to that statement as he looked primed for his first career victory following four weeks of strong performances that saw him come as close to victory lane as one could possibly get, without getting rewarded. On Friday night, Brunell left no opportunity for victory to evade him as he used some well timed lapped traffic to keep an oncoming Tyler Dietz at bay.
A steadily improving Ryan Moyer brought the field to the green flag with Brunell alongside on the front row and the two engaged in a door to door battle in the first three laps until the red flag came out for Chase Lambert who suffered a shot in the door from another car on the front straightaway. Lambert was okay and when action resumed, the two leaders found themselves still locked in battle while behind them, Joey Zambotti, Scott Byers and Dietz were lurking and looking for a mistake from the front runners as the engaged in a three way battle for the third spot. Following two more early race cautions, Brunell found himself on the top side of the speedway and found it too his liking as he stretched out a lead over Moyer while Dietz moved past Zambotti for the third spot.
The top three were then being pursued themselves by a strong running John Hartman who had found some magic on a restart and looked to join the battle at the front. He would be overtaken by a hard charging Corey McPherson while at the front, Dietz began taking looks under Moyer for second at the halfway mark where Dietz made the pass and began to hunt Brunell. The two drivers then embarked on a door to door battle for the win, a scene that had played out in some way or form in each of the first four features of the season. However, this time Brunell would find a way to keep Dietz behind him for good as he found a way to hang Dietz on two lapped cars in the last five laps to preserve his first career victory at Lernerville.
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| Cory Stivason Photo |
Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH/DIRTcar Pro Stocks Feature: (20 Laps)
1. (31) Noah Brunell
2. (27) Tyler Dietz
3. (C33) Corey McPherson
4. (13X) Ryan Moyer
5. (948) Joey Zambotti
6. (30) Bob Egley
7. (32) Mark Sanders
8. (25) Brett McDonald
9. (10) John Hartman
10. (29B) Scott Byers
11. (17) Sam Eichelberger
12. (21) Jeff Miller
13. (35B) Jacob Dietz
14. (310) Dale Tuche
15. (66) Joe Kelley
16. (12M) Trevor McCann
17. (22J) Chase Lambert
18. (26) Mike Bordt
19. (28Y) Terry Young- Did Not Start
20. (77) Heath Close- Did Not Start
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Heat 1:
1. (2L) Sye Lynch
2. (13) Brandon Matus
3. (4N) Jimmy Morris
4. (23J) Jack Sodeman Jr.
5. (56) Ralph Spithaler
6. (51) Brent Matus
7. (76) Davey Jones
8. (81) Sadie Siegel
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Heat 2:
1. (7K) Dan Shetler
2. (7W) Logan Wagner
3. (40) George Hobaugh
4. (20B) Cody Bova
5. (27) Vinny Dougherty
6. (4K) Bill Kiley
7. (24) Jeremy Hill
8. (00) Alan Free
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Heat 3:
1. (46) Michael Bauer
2. (2) AJ Flick
3. (27K) Jeremy Kornbau
4. (08) Dan Kuriger
5. (29) Scott Barris
6. (12J) Jonathan Jones
7. (66) Ken Rossey
8. (28) Brian Wright
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint BMain- Top 5 Transfer
1. (51) Brent Matus
2. (76) Davey Jones
3. (12J) Jonathan Jones
4. (66) Ken Rossey
5. (24) Jeremy Hill
6. (28) Brian Wright
7. (91) Sadie Siegel
8. (4K) Bill Kiley
9. (00) Alan Free
Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Model Heat 1:
1. (1C) Mike Pegher Jr.
2. (81) Mike Miller
3. (9) Clayton Kennedy
4. (7M) Chad McClellan
5. (36) Tony Musolino
6. (11) Joshua Powell
7. (14R) Clay Ruffo
8. (91) Weston Phillis
Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Model Heat 2:
1. (91T) Tommy Beck
2. (4T8) John Flinner
3. (14) Dan Angellichio
4. (72) Michael Norris
5. (10L) Gary Lyle
6. (411) Bob Moore
7. (41) Collin Burke
8. (29) Ken Schaltenbrand- DNF
Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Northeast Big Block Modified Heat 1:
1. (165) Rex King Jr.
2. (31) Jim Weller
3. (75) Jeff Miller
4. (37M) Jeremiah Shingledecker
5. (17M) Skip Moore
6. (18) Colton Walters
7. (25) Chris Rudolph
8. (66) JR McGinley- DNF
9. Erik Bowser- DNS
Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Northeast Big Block Modified Heat 2:
1. (83) Brian Swartzlander
2. (65) Rex King Sr.
3. (13) Rick Regalski
4. (29) Garrett Krummert
5. (4J) John Mollick
6. (45) Steve Feder
7. (123) AJ Flick
8. (88) Shawn Fleeger
9. (61) Dave Murdick -DNF
Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH/DIRTcar Pro Stocks Heat 1:
1. (13X) Ryan Moyer
2. (948) Joey Zambotti
3. (31) Noah Brunell
4. (29B) Scott Byers
5. (22J) Chase Lambert
6. (12M) Trevor McCann
7. (25) Brett McDonald
8. (310) Dale Tuche
9. (28Y) Terry Young- DNF
10. (77) Heath Close- DNF
Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH/DIRTcar Pro Stocks Heat 2:
1. (c33) Corey McPherson
2. (27) Tyler Dietz
3. (66) Joe Kelley
4. (10) John Hartman
5. (32) Mark Sanders
6. (17) Sam Eichelberger
7. (35B) Jacob Dietz
8. (21) Jeff Miller
9. (26) Mike Bordt
Car Count Total: 78
Peoples Natural Gas Sprints: 24
Precise Late Models: 16
Diehl Modifieds: 18
Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar/RUSH Pro Stock 20
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