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SELINSGOVE, PA – On Saturday night Rick Laubach captured what he considers the biggest win of his racing career at the Selinsgrove Speedway.
Laubach, returning to the place where he spent several nights with his dad watching racing as a kid, captured the Insinger Race Fuels Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour ‘Icebreaker 50’ earning him $6,900 in cash and prizes.
“This is by far my biggest career win,” stated the 34-year-old Laubach. “This is a great win for me and my team. I’m really grateful to Andrew Harpell and the speedway for hosting this event and hopefully they’ll do it again next year.”
For Laubach, it was his first career RoC feature victory and it secured him a guaranteed starting position in the Victoria 200 at Utica-Rome Speedway on May 11.
“I’ve never had the chance to get to Utica-Rome,” said the Quakertown, Pa. driver. “I’ve always wanted to race there and with guaranteed starting spot we are definitely going to go up there for that race.”
Laubach started the event from the eighth starting spot aboard his Dick Biever owned Enders powered Teo Pro car. On the very first lap he ducked into the pit area with a left rear flat. The team quickly changed the tire and Laubach raced his way from the back of the pack to the front. By the midway point of the event he was running second to Modified legend, Billy Pauch.
The two waged a battle for the race lead with Laubach inheriting the position when Pauch broke on lap 35. From there it was smooth sailing for Laubach as he led the rest of the event to take home the victory.
Pat Ward, the defending RoC champion, finished second in his John Wight owned Bicknell after having a flat of his own early in the event. Jeff Rudalavage finished third with his Morrison powered no.112 after starting seventh.
David Van Horn, of Harmony, N.J., drove his family owned no. 71 to a fourth place finish with Southern Tier standout, Mike Colsten, completing the top five.
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TO THE FRONT: As racing action got under, Pauch, of Frenchtown, N.J., put his Will Brown Trucking ride out in front on lap one as he went to the outside to pass both Duane Howard and pole-sitter Jeff Strunk.
FLAT TIRE FEVER: With only one lap complete, Laubach got a left rear flat tire on his Alpha Mills sponsored ride. Two laps later several other drivers suffered flat tires including runner-up finisher Ward and the fourth place finisher VanHorn.
BATTLE FOR THE LEAD: While Laubach was busy working his way from the tail of the field, Pauch and Howard raced for the top spot. Pauch, utilizing the extreme outside lane, almost made contact with the wall several times while Howard tried to run right along the inside guardrail. Eventually Howard broke a shock tower relegating him to the pit area on lap 12.
I’M BACK: By lap 15, Laubach had worked his way back inside the top five through attrition and smart driving. Laubach used the inside portion of the speedway while watching several drivers attempt to make headway around the top.
“I just used the bottom while everyone kept trying the outside,” said Laubach. “I didn’t want to bon-zi it around the top and risk breaking stuff. I tried to stay settled down and be patient.”
THE RACE IS ON: On a lap 18 restart, Laubach took the runner-up position away from Steve Paine. With Pauch still out in front, Laubach patiently waited to make his move for the top spot. Several times he was able to drive right up the rear of Pauch’s car. Then, on lap 35, Pauch broke an axle handing him the top spot.
“I was racing him hard as hell until I looked over and saw it was lap 18,” joked Laubach. “I tried really hard after the cautions but if he got away from me I ran my line and made sure I didn’t break anything.”
ONE MORE CHALLENGE: With just five circuits remaining, the caution came out as Larry Wight slowed on the racing surface. This caution brought the field back to Laubach but may have saved him from having motor issues.
“That yellow at the end was really good,” said Laubach. “My motor was running at 240 (degrees) and I was starting to feel it a little bit. I can tell you though that I wasn’t going to pull in.”
ALMOST THERE: Laubach took the checkered first with Ward, of Genoa, N.Y., never really having an opportunity to race with Laubach as he was behind Paine much of the final laps finishing second. With two circuits remaining, Paine had trouble and slowed allowing Ward to move into second but Laubach was already out of reach.
“Steve (Paine) ran a good smooth race,” commented Ward. “I didn’t want to risk breaking by trying to pass him on the outside. I’m not sure I had anything for Rick (Laubach), I may have been able to stay with him but I’m not sure if I could have passed him.”
A LITTLE TO PATIENT: Much like Laubach, Ward never got off the bottom of the speedway after recovering from the flat tire that sidelined him earlier in the event. He worked the low lane while taking several laps to make passes which may have cost him a shot at the win.
“I got scared after I got the flat on lap three,” said Ward. “I ran around the bottom at half throttle so I didn’t risk getting another flat tire.”
HAPPY PLACE: Rudalavage, of Olyphant, Pa., was happy to bring his car across the line in the third position after starting the event from the inside of the fourth row.
“Anytime you can finish third to these guys that’s a pretty good run,” said Rudalavage. “The car felt really good and I think we held our own out there.”
QUALIFYING: Five heat races were held with Brett Hearn, Strunk, Laubach, Ward and Pauch capturing victories. Joey Grammes and Wight won the pair of consolation events.
Insinger Race Fuels Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour 'Icebreaker 50' Feature Finish: RICK LAUBACH, Pat Ward, Jeff Rudalavage, David Van Horn, Mike Colsten, Billy Decker, Butch Tittle, Billy Van Pelt, Michael Storms, Steve Paine, Larry Wight, Stewart Friesen, Billy Pauch, Jimmy Davis, Jimmy Horton, III, Chad Brachmann, Joey Grammes, Mark Forte Jr., Duane Howard, Jerry Higbie Jr., Doug Manmiller, Ric Hill, Willy Decker, Brian Weaver, Tommy Sheetz Jr., Ricky Rutt, Jeff Strunk, Brett Hearn, Bruce Kline, Chad Phelps (DQ ¬ light).
DNQ: Chris Weaver, Rick Wegner, Les Gillette, Ray Bliss Jr., Don Hallowell, Darwin R. Greene, Brent Boyer, Jesse Kline, Dale Welty, John Pursell, Dave Zona, Ricky Yetter, Danny Creeden.
LAP LEADERS: Pauch (1-35) & Laubach (36-50).
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