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DOUG ESH SPECTACULAR IN MITCH SMITH MEMORIAL
MECHANICSBURG, PA ? If Doug Esh needed a confidence builder with the World of Outlaws sanctioned Cleveland Brothers Summer Nationals coming up, he got it Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway.
Esh scored a pulsating victory in the 30-lap Mitch Smith memorial for sprint cars and had to pass current Cindy Rowe Auto Glass point leader Fred Rahmer on a clear track to get it done.
Sean Michael took the early lead with Rahmer, who started alongside him on the front row, running second.
Rahmer took over on lap seven and appeared to be headed for an unprecedented fifth Mitch Smith Memorial victory, but Esh had other ideas.
Esh, who started sixth, took third place on lap ten, then passed Brian Leppo for the runnerup spot on the 16th tour. At that point he began reeling in the leader using an outside line that would have made a classic rim-rider like Mitch Smith proud.
Esh drove under Rahmer entering turn one on lap 20 and slid in front of him exiting turn two, then began to pull away.
Rahmner, however, refused to concede and began to close the gap in the closing stages. He finished a scant .423 behind Esh at the line.
Esh earned $5000 for his second victory of the season and the 15th of his career at Williams Grove.
Rahmer settled for second in the non-stop event timed in 10:00.276.
Lance Dewease, Leppo and Greg Hodnett completed the top five.
Jeff Shepard, Mark Smith, Sean Michael, Niki Young and Michael Carber finished in positions six through ten respectively.
Leppo set fast time with a lap of 16.669.
Todd Shaffer, Chad Layton and Brian Montieth claimed heats for the 29 sprint cars in competition.
The B-main was won by Jim Siegel.
In the companion 20-lap feature,for 358 c.i. sprints, Nate Hammaker came from third to the lead on the last lap and nipped Mark Coldren by inches at the line to score his first victory of the season.
Matt Boland, Ricky Stonebraker and Adrian Shaffer comnpleted the top five.
Scott Geesey earned the Bass Pro Shops Hard Charger Award after coming from 19th starting position to finish 9th.
Heats for the 35 358s were won by Coldren, Shaffer, Craig Myers and Dave Calaman
Chad Trout copped the consolation race.
Williams Grove Speedway Feature Finishes ? July 11, 2008
Sprint Car Feature ? 30 laps ? 1. Doug Esh, 2. Fred Rahmer, 3. Lance Dewease, 4. Brian Leppo, 5. Greg Hodnett, 6. Jeff Shepard, 7. Mark Smith, 8. Sean Michael, 9. Niki Young, 10. Michael Carber, 11. Keith Kauffman, 12. Don Kreitz, Jr., 13. Mike Erdley, 14. Chad Layton, 15. Brian Montieth, 16. Jim Siegel, 17. Todd Shaffer, 18. Rick Lafferty, 19. T. J. Winegardner, 20. Josh Weller, 21. Mark Zimmerman, 22. Davey Sammons, 23. Alan Krimes, 24. Chris Meleason
Limited (358 c.i.) Sprint Car Feature ? 20 laps ? 1. Nate Hammaker, 2. Mark Coldren, 3. Matt Boland, 4. Ricky Stonebraker, 5. Adrian Shaffer, 6. Cory Haas, 7. Aaron Ott, 8. Chad Criswell, 9. Scott Geesey, 10. Craig Myers, 11. Gerard McIntyre, Jr., 12. Dave Calaman, 13. John Barnett, 14. Chad Trout, 15. Keith Prutzman, 16. Billy Johns, 17. Tim Berkheimer, 18. Glenndon Forsythe, 19. Adam Wilt, 20. Chad Myers, 21. Pat Cannon, 22. Austin Reed, 23. Jimmy Strausbaugh, 24. John Westbrook |
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