|
KUTZTOWN, PA - A good start.
Tom Kohler had one literally and figuratively last Wednesday night at The Fairgrounds at Kutztown Speedway. Not only did Kohler charge into the lead at the outset of the 600cc Micro-Sprint 20-lap feature and drive to victory, the Leesport, Pa., driver also got the early-season points lead.
Kohler was one of three feature winners during the Goldie Meitzler Memorial Season Opener at Kutztown. The evening honored the matriarch of the Meitzler family, who promote the one-fifth-mile clay oval.
Three caution flags (laps nine, 13 and 15) cleared the track of traffic for Kohler. He took the checkered with a half-straightaway lead in the Gary Spotts-owned No. 5 over pole starter Alex Bright.
Brent Marks was third, followed by Brock Zearfoss and Brian Carber.
600cc heat winners were Alex Bright, Kohler and Zearfoss, while Mike Freed took the consolation.
The 270cc Micro-Sprint 20-lap victory went to Eddie Wagner by a narrow margin over Sean Stolz.
Wagner, who started from the pole, encountered backmarkers in the final two circuits of the event, slowing his place. That allowed fifth-starter Stolz to make a run to the outside through turns one and two on the final circuit, then dart low coming to the checkered.
Wagner won by less than a car-length.
Scott Fick, 10th-starter Marty Gorr and Delaware standout Cameron Merriman were third through fifth, respectively.
In 270cc qualifying, Wagner, Fick, Brayden Winters and Terry Schaeffer took the heats, with Ed Kenderdine and Trevor Kobylarz splitting the consolations.
Bangor, Pa.'s Bill Weaver led from start-to-finish in the 20-lap Slingshot by Tobias headliner, thwarting a number of challengers including Jim Housworth, who finished second.
Housworth ran in the runner-up position for the final 11 laps, while Rob Marino, Simon Egan and Nate Christman filled out the front five.
Weaver, Egan and Christman earned heat victories. Addison Meitzler was the consolation winner.
Racing resumes on Wed., May 21 with the 600cc and 270cc Micro-Sprints in competition, along with a Briggs & Stratton Slingshot Tour event. Gates open at 4 p.m., with practice at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Kerry Meitzler by phone at: (610)-683-8234, via e-mail: racektown@aol.com or on the web: www.kutztownfairspeedway.com.
FAIRGROUNDS FODDER: The pits were jammed with 44 270cc Micro-Sprints, 30 600cc Micro-Sprints and 35 Slingshots for a total of 109 cars. A nice crowd turned out for the lid-lifter....
Competitors from four states (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware) took part in the action....
The evening marked the debut of the Kerry Meitzler-led promotional team and AMB Transponder scoring at Kutztown. Management thanks racers and fans for their cooperation on the first night....
Many members of the Meitzler family in attendance and participated in the Victory Lane ceremonies....
URC Sprint Car standout Randy West strapped into a Slingshot for the evening but was a heat-race crash casualty....
Wildest moment of the night: Slingshot racer Tyler Miller riding the turn-two wall in an opening-lap, multi-car tangle....
Representatives of the Relay for Life organization collected donations in the midway area to benefit the American Cancer Society....
GOLDIE MEITZLER MEMORIAL RACE SUMMARY
600cc Micro-Sprint Feature Finish: TOM KOHLER, Alex Bright, Brent Marks, Brock Zearfoss, Brian Carber, Jason Van Doren, Dusty Heistand, Joe Kay, Shane Lewis, Tyler DeVault, Keith McIntyre Jr., Brett Smith, Mike Freed, Ken Miller, Jerry Schott, Brock Bilger, Brett Michalski, Ryan Wilson, Kyle Newcomb, Brenden Bright, Ryan Smith, Ben Davis, Gary Berkenstock, Doug Snyder.
Did Not Qualify: Charles Cooley, Drew Richmond, Amanda Quinones, Zach Shuman, Troy Anderson, John Wilbert IV.
270cc Micro-Sprint Feature Finish: EDDIE WAGNER, Sean Stolz, Scott Fick, Marty Gorr, Cameron Merriman, Ross Perchak, Brian Marriott, Ed Kenderdine, Darin Bartholomew, Nick Skias, Marco Michetti, Brandon Edgar, Bill Murphy, Blaine Schlosser, John Hagen, Pete Skias, Trevor Kobylarz, Jay Horvath, Brayden Winters, Tim Buckwalter, Josh Pepe, Aaron Rinehimer, Ashley Camillieri, Terry Schaeffer.
Did Not Start: Chad Owens.
Did Not Qualify: Jesse Loftin, Dave Grube, Tim Quinter, Jonathan Pepe, Tom Tanner, Matt McAnally, Justin Boyer, Kevin Snyder, Mark Janisch, David Ravel, Kurt Bettler, Scott Washburn, Tommy Kunsman Jr., J.T. Brotosky, Charles Stone Jr., Jeremy Raifsnider, Andrew Dietrich, Devin Harron, Mike Esposito.
Slingshot Feature Finish: BILL WEAVER, Jim Housworth, Rob Marino, Simon Egan, Nate Christman, Brett Bieber, Jamie Long, Pete Knappenberger, Jordan Henn, Paul Lotier Jr., Bill Clark, Addison Meitzler, Michael Glass, Shannon Smith, Brad Arnold, Mike Sabo, Anthony Perrego, Paul Ennes, Bill Van Inwegen, Joe Nemeth, Steven Hicks, Kurt Bettler, Travis Bieber, Tyler Miller.
Did Not Qualify: Tiffany Wambold, Matt Miller, Michael Bixler, Damian Bower, Ray Nemeth Jr., Mike Moyer, Dustin Smyth, Rich Sachetta, Natashas Yiengst, Eric Snyder, Randy West.
|
|
