MASON ZEIGLER WINS $5000 JACKPOT IN SELINSGROVE FORD SUPER LATE MODEL SPEEDWEEK RACE AT PATH VALLEY
By Judy McGee Timmons
Twenty-eight Super Late Models signed in for a thrilling 35 lap feature event on Tuesday evening, June 10th, at Path Valley Speedway, with Mason Zeigler, piloting the 25z, taking the win in the Appalachian Mountain Series, sponsored by Selinsgrove Ford & Title sponsored by Dr. Zachary Crouse, DVM, promoter for Path Valley.
Zeigler started on the pole after earning the best time during a two-lap qualifying time trial, by which the 28 racers were lined up for their feature event. The 24-car field put the fans on their feet with applause when they went from their two abreast line up to a 4 abreast configuration, engines roaring with power & top name drivers ready for competition!!
Zeigler pulled to the lead on green with Dylan Yoder, Hayes Mattern, Justin Weaver, & Rick Eckert taking positions in the top five. One lap was recorded, when Gregg Satterlee & Gary Stuhler, got into the infield, putting their racers to the rear. Two laps later, Jason Covert’s racer did a 180 turn in the turn two infield, resulting in being towed, but returning to the rear of the line.
Zeigler held the lead on the restart, with the top five remaining in their same positions till lap 6, when Eckert moved into 4th, & 4 laps later, took over 3rd place. Covert pulled to the infield with 12 laps complete, eventually entering the pit area, when a caution for 4th place racer, Hayes Mattern, was shown after he appeared to lose power, coming to a stop on the raceway. Mattern repowered & joined the competition at the back of the pack.
Zeigler, Yoder, & Eckert were now in a major battle for the win, as Eckert passed Yoder, moving into second. Justin Weaver & Kyle Lee maintained their places, as Trevor Feathers worked to move into the top five spaces. Zeigler held strong as the racers ran non-stop, with Zeigler gaining needed ground between his ride & Eckert, as the final 7 laps were counting down. Zeigler claimed the win, with Eckert, Yoder, Weaver & Lee finishing in the top five. Zeigler had the best speed lap, traveling at 75.522 MPH in 11.917 seconds, on the quarter mile oval.
The top three graced the Winner’s Circle & frontstretch at the completion of the race, at which time track announcer, Tommy Cordell, interviewed each of them on their evening’s accomplishments.
The Cisney Auto Parts 4 Cylinder Thunder Car feature event had a $500 payoff sponsored by TB’s Body Shop in Shippensburg, & began with immediate wheel to wheel action when polesitters Kevin Bard & Jeremy Ott saw the wave of green.
The top contenders held their pace for several laps as Justin Rasp moved in behind them, followed by Jackson & Jeremy Eutzy for the top five spots. Bard gradually gained the lead, but the top four had the pressure on Bard, as the drivers had a sensational run of sixteen non-stop laps, before Jamie Rhone’s racer got into the turn one infield, showing fire.
The restart was Bard, Ott, Rasp, & Jeremy & Jackson Eutzy, but after the flagman gave the green, Rasp lost control, sliding into the turn four infield, with five laps remaining, putting the third-place racer to the rear, moving Charlie Stallman into the top five spot, where he remained to the finish.
Bard passed the checkered flag for the win, followed by Ott, Father & Son Team, Jeremy & Jackson Eutzy, & Stallman for the top finishers. Justin Rasp had the best speed lap, racing at 61.885 MPH in 14.543 seconds. Bard, Ott & Jackson Eutzy were the winners for the heat events.
The June 14th race was canceled due to inclement weather, which will create a revised date for the Friese Bus Transportation/ Dr. Zachary Crouse, DVM East Coast Legends Race Rainout from May 31st during the Butch Shatzer Memorial Race. This date will be posted when rescheduled.
The Austin Gelwicks Memorial Race will be held June 21st, which will include the T.A. Ward Construction 270 Micro Sprints, Macri Concrete 600 Sprints, which will include their feature event from May 31st, Cisney’s Auto Parts 4 Cylinder Thunder Cars, Cordell Construction Late Models & the Kathy Baker Coldwell Banker Realty Modifieds. For more information visit www.pathvalley.com