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By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA – May 24, 2007 – The Central PA 410 Sprint cars made their first Big Diamond Raceway appearance in nearly two years on Thursday evening. Lucas Wolfe of Mechanicsburg led all 30-laps of the main event en route to a $5000 victory as part of NAPA Auto Parts of Schuylkill County Night and race number two of the Dupont/Tyvek Keystone Cup Series.
Wolfe, a second generation open wheel racer, spent some time traveling across the country last season on the 410 Sprint-car circuit. In 2007, Wolfe is concentrating on PA racing and this victory marks his first of the season behind the wheel of the Allebach Racing 5w.
Joe Hendricks of Auburn PA executed some early race maneuvers and grabbed his first win of the season. Hendricks, in his third year of competition, won the 15-lap Roadrunner main event. It was his second career win at the track.
Clean and green racing headlined the evening, as the sprint car feature only contained a pair of stoppages. The first and only caution flag period took place with four laps complete. New York’s Jonathan Erikson spun in turn four. A red flag incident with 22 on the board for a third running Keith Kauffman and the lapped machine of Neil Petock was the only other incident. Neither driver was injured in the accident.
Wolfe started outside pole for the start of the 30-lap feature contest. He wasted no time in grabbing the opening lead. Former Big Diamond Small Block Modified racer Fred Rahmer started fourth in the CJB Motorsports #51. Rahmer stormed into the runner-up position on lap six. Wolfe entered lapped traffic by the tenth tour and Rahmer traced the race leader. At times, Rahmer was able to gain some ground on Wolfe as laps quickly clicked by.
The red flag period with eight laps remaining may have been the decisive factor for Wolfe. On the restart, Wolfe immediately placed some distance between himself and Rahmer. Wolfe led the remaining laps, while Rahmer closed a bit on the final circuit. It was Wolfe’s first ever win at the three-eighth’s mile clay oval of Big Diamond Raceway.
Rahmer(Salfordville), the ’82, ’83, and ’85 SBM track champ, held on for a runner-up finish worth $2000. Todd Shaffer (Millerstown) started third and ended up in the position when the checkers fell. Mark Smith (Selinsgrove) ran within the top five during most of the contest and finished fourth. Stevie Smith (New Oxford) started fifteenth. Smith moved into the top five on lap 22 and ended up fifth.
Twenty-five sprinters competed in time trials with Mike Erdley (Herndon) setting quick time of 15.536. Three qualifying heat races were held, each with a distance of 10-laps. Winners were: Craig Keel (Weedsport NY), Kevin Nouse (Mechanicsburg), and Stevie Smith (New Oxford).
The opening lap of the Roadrunner main event found drivers jockeying for positions in exciting three wide action. Ricky Bender (Joliett) grabbed the early lead. Joe Hendricks started from fourteenth. Hendricks powered into the runner-up spot quickly on the third circuit. Hendricks looked to the outside of Bender and made the pass on lap five.
The Roadrunners, likewise, competed in a clean event as the race’s only caution flag was unfurled with twelve laps in the books. Hendricks had enjoyed a full straightaway advantage over the field. During the final three laps, Hendricks continued to dominate the show. Hendricks, driving his Chevy Nova-11x, placed a half-straightaway of space between himself and the field.
Bender enjoyed his finest evening of the season with a runner-up finish. Jeremy Becker (Pottsville) found success on the outside groove as he raced from seventh to third. Gary Renninger (Pottsville) continued a strong sophomore season with a fourth, while second generation rookie racer Chris Holland (Pine Grove) ended up fifth.
A season high of 20 Roadrunners were in competition for this event.
Action continues on Friday May 25 with 358 Modifieds and Sportsman. The Central PA Legend Cars make their first appearance of the 2007 season. Gates open at 5:00PM with hot laps at 7:00PM and racing goes green at 7:30PM. Adult admission is $12.
FULL RESULTS – THURSDAY MAY 24, 2007
410 SPRINTS – DUPONT TYVEK KEYSTONE CUP SERIES
Time Trials: 1) Mike Erdley-14.569, 2) Mark Smith-14.595, 3) Fred Rahmer-14.696, 4) Todd Shaffer-14.697, 5) Lucas Wolfe-14.710, 6) Keith Kauffman-14.713, 7) Doug Esh-14.742, 8) Lance Dewease-14.745, 9) Brian Leppo-14.746, 10) TJ Stutts-14.795, 11) Greg Hodnett-14.825, 12) Kevin Nouse-14.835, 13) Craig Keel-14.851, 14) #12c-Blane Heimbach, 15) #19-Stevie Smith, 16) Nate Snyder-15.083, 17) Bill Schoffstall-15.149, 18) Scott Lutz-15.166, 19) Alan Cole-15.296, 20) Neil Petock-15.329, 21) Cliff Brian-15.341, 22) Bob Bennett-14.454, 23) Jonathan Erikson-15.536, 24) Doug Dodson-15.592. No time: Mark Whitebread.
Feature (30-laps): 1) #5W-Lucas Wolfe, 2) #51-Fred Rahmer, 3) #88-Todd Shaffer, 4) #55-Mark Smith, 5) #19-Stevie Smith, 6) #11-Mike Erdley, 7) #25-Lance Dewease, 8) #39-TJ Stutts, 9) #30-Doug Esh, 10) #71-Brian Leppo, 11) #22-Greg Hodnett, 12) #9-Craig Keel, 13) #12-Kevin Nouse, 14) #35-Alan Cole, 15) #56-Nate Snyder, 16) #12c-Blane Heimbach, 17) #7-Keith Kauffman, 18) #13-Cliff Brian, 19) #33-Scott Lutz, 20) #43-Doug Dodson, 21) #93-Jonathan Erikson, 22) #4-Neil Petock, 23) #x07-Bill Schoffstall, 24) #10-Mark Whitebread, 25) #3-Bob Bennett.
ROADRUNNERS
Feature (15-laps): 1) #11x-Joe Hendricks, 2) #29B-Ricky Bender, 3) #97-Jeremy Becker, 4) #101-Gary Renninger, 5) #66-Chris Holland, 6) #450-Kevin Olenick, 7) #1-Dave Miller, 8) #11-Dan Strenkoski, 9) #555-Ryan Olenick, 10) #29W-Derek Bender, 11) #22-Tom Hablett, 12) #201-Brian Johnson, 13) #z71-Andy Zvorsky, 14) #93-Rob Pyle, 15) #711-Bob Ditzler, 16) #16-Robert Derfler, 17) #8-Davey Nester, 18) #37-Eric Pinkerton, 19) #17-Bud Vidal, 20) #72-Mark Paine.
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