CHASE DIETZ PATH VALLEY PA SPEEDWEEK 410 SPRINT WINNER OF $10,000.00 PAYOFF
By Judy McGee Timmons
Path Valley Speedway was the final host for the Pennsylvania
Speedweek, with 34 410 Sprint drivers signing in for the evening’s
event, with driver Chase Dietz taking the checkered flag after
35 laps of pure power, collecting the $10,000.00 purse,
co-sponsored by C&D Rigging out of Grandville, Pa.
Danny Dietrich & Ryan Smith led the 900 HP competitors
to the green, but an immediate caution for Logan Ramsey,
put the racers back to original restart, with Ryan Smith taking
the lead, Dietrich, in second, Dietz in third, as Brent Marks &
Cameron Smith held the top five spots. Ryan Smith held the
lead as he caught up to the back of the field, using all available
space to keep his pace without interference from lapped traffic.
Thirteen laps were complete when 2nd place runner, Detrich’s
racer, got out of line when avoiding slower traffic, causing him
to lose positions. Smith, Dietz, Marks, Cameron Smith, & Anthony Macri were now in the top five hotspots, when two laps later, Brock Zearfoss got into the turn 4 infield, followed by an additional caution, involving Brady Bacon, Brett Strickler, & 4th place runner, Cameron Smith. Bacon & Strickler went to the rear on the restart, with Smith going to the pits.
The tension was mounting as the racers rounded the oval in less than 11 seconds as the halfway mark approached, & Dietz was closing in on Smith. Smith & Dietz were side by side & front to back as the laps counted down, with Dietz taking the lead, which he maintained till he passed the waving of the checkered flag. Smith claimed second spot & was followed by Marks, Dietrich, Macri, Billy Dietrich, T.J. Stutts, Tyler Ross, J.J. Loss & Dylan Norris for the top ten.
Brents Marks, Justin Whittall, Cameron Smith & Danny Dietrich won the heat race events, with Michael Walter II winning the 410 sprint B-Main race.
Dietz received his larger scale $10,000.00 check in victory lane and Anthony Macri received his trophy for being named the points champion of the PA Speedweek Series. Congratulations to both drivers!
Transtan Stoner & Eric Walker brought the Metzler’s Auto, Truck & Trailer Wingless Super Sportsman to the green, with an immediate chain reaction taking place as the racers entered turn 2, putting the lineup back to original restart status, as Dexter Ehrenzeller & Brett Perigo entered the pit area. On green, Stoner & Walker were wheel to wheel, with Walker taking the lead, while Steve Wilbur, Brad Cowan, & Kevin Gutshall claimed the top five positions. Brandon Shearer reclaimed his 5th starting spot, and moved by Gutshall & Cowan to take over 4th place, on lap 5. Six laps were complete when Jordan Fulton got out of shape in turn 3 & Tony Jackson, spun out, resulting in Jordan calling it a night & entering the pits.
Walker led the restart with Stoner, Wilbur, Shearer & Cowan in pursuit. On lap 11, Brad Mellott pulled by Cowan to take 5th, while Wilbur & Shearer were into a battle for 3rd spot, with Shearer taking the position on lap 16. Walker maintained his lead as Stoner kept the pressure on with Shearer, holding 3rd, but Wilbur losing positions to take 5th place on lap 17, when Brad Mellott passed him for the 4th spot. The top five held their positions for the remaining 13 laps with Walker taking the win. Walker had the best lap traveling 68.860 MPH in 13.070 seconds.
Heat winners for the WSS were Kevin Gutshall, Brandon Shearer and Steve Wilbur.