HARDY WINS $7000 DR. ZACHARY CROUSE “NIGHT OF POWER” ULMS FEATURE
By Judy McGee Timmons
Dr. Zachary Crouse’s “Night of Power”, at Path Valley Speedway
Friday night, filled the stands when 32 drivers signed in for the
JAY’S AUTOMOTIVE UNITED LATE MODEL SERIES, presented
by M&T Appliances. Kyle Hardy, from Winchester, Va., collected
the $7000.00 feature winner’s purse, which had a total payout
exceeding $28,000.00.
Jason Covert, from York Haven, Pa., a former Mini Stock driver
at Path Valley Speedway, took home the 2nd place payout of
$3000.00, while Rick Eckert, from York, Pa., Trever Feathers,
from Winchester, Va., & Ross Robinson, from Georgetown,
Delaware, finished out the top 5 winners.
The roar of the 900 HP Late Model engines coming to life,
echoed through the mountainside of Spring Run, Pa. When
the drivers began timed laps for positions. Four heat events followed with Rick Eckert, Lane Snook, Ross Robinson, & Kyle Hardy, claiming the wins. The consolation events were won by Trent Merkel & Jakob Piper.
Dr. Crouse’s # 21 Late Model, originally owned by Path Valley native the late Dave Hampton, & restored by Dr. Crouse, was driven by Doug Burkholder, as the Pace vehicle for the evening. The feature lineup turned into a time of showmanship, as the drivers displayed their racers in a “4” abreast lineup, bringing the fans to their feet, as the anticipation of the flag going green increased.
Kyle Hardy & Rick Eckert went into an immediate wheel to wheel race, with Hardy getting the advantage & taking the lead. Ross Robinson, Lane Snook & Jason Covert put their racers into the top five spots. Covert passed Snook to collect 4th, while Feathers put his ride in the top five spot. Covert was edging forward, racing beside Robinson, then moving up to 3rd, as Feathers Maintained 5th place. Eckert continued advances on Hardy for the lead, being followed by Covert, Robinson, & Feathers, till lap 19, when Feathers passed Robinson to move into fourth.
The laps were counting down & the oval was becoming more compacted with racers as the door to door action increased. Covert drove his ride past Eckert to pull behind the leader, as Eckert, Feathers, & Robinson, held their places to the finish. Lane Snook, Jon Lee, Hayes Mattern, Jakob Piper & Clay Ruffo, finished out the top ten.
The P.A.S.S. 305 Sprints began their feature event with Ethan Beasom, & Ken Duke Jr., sitting in the top spots on green, with Beasom taking the lead for one lap, before a caution for Croix Beasom was waved, when his racer came to a stop on the frontstretch, putting him to the rear.
E. Beasom, Duke, Mike Alleman, Cole Dewease, & Fred Arnold, were in the top five on the restart, with an immediate red flag being shown, when Kyle Hart’s ride went into a flip coming out of turn 3, from which it was towed to the pit area. The restart racers were in the same line, after which Chris Meleason, took a dive into the turn two infield, retiring his ride for the evening, with 4 laps complete. Alleman passed Duke after 4 more laps were complete, causing Duke & Dewease to race wheel to wheel for an extra position.
Mike Melair brought out a caution when he went high out of turn one, putting his racer out of the competition. The restart tightened the line-up, with Dewease passing Duke, to move into 3rd, then continued his advances two laps later, when he also passed E. Beasom, to put his ride behind Alleman, who had taken over the lead. Tyler Schell came from his 14th starting position to take over the #4 spot, while Kasey Weaver came from 13th to position his racer behind Schell.
The front began to change, when Doug Dodson brought his ride through the line from 11th, passing Duke, Alleman & Schell to overtake 2nd place, as Dewease claimed the checkered flag. The 305 heats were won by Croix Beasom, Cole Dewease, & Fred Arnold. The “Hard Charger” Award went to Doug Dodson, & the “Hard Luck” Award was given to Kyle Hart. Cole Dewease had the best lap, racing at 77.526 MPH in 11.609 seconds.
The Dr. Zachary Crouse DVM/ Friese Transportation East Coast Legends, joined the “Night of Power”, with a full field of competitors, led to the green by Kelby Friese & Seth Kearchner, with Friese taking the first lap lead. Kearchner, Justin Wagaman, Jeremy Ott, & Devin Friese were in the top five, with Ott moving from 4th to 2nd in 2 laps, before Scott Houdeshell spun, bringing out the caution.
The racers relined as Houdeshell went to the rear, with Kelby Friese holding the lead till lap 7, when Ott passed Friese to move to first. Owen Wagaman & Kirk Martin made contact in turn 4, putting both to the rear, while Moses Goetz’s ride went into the infield, from which he had to be pushed to the pits.
Ott, Kelby Friese, Kearchner, Wagaman & Devin Friese were at the top on the reline, when the scoreboard showed 10 laps remaining, which began with another caution when Nailey, & Houdeshell made contact & Logan Jones was also involved, putting all three to the pits. Ott led the racers to the checkered, with Seth Kearchner, Kelby Friese, Devin Friese and Justin Wagaman completing the race in the top five. Legends heats were won by Jeremy Ott, Kelby Friese, Seth Kearchner, & Justin Wagaman. The Legend Consi was won by Hunter McElroy. The best lap was traveled by Jeremy Ott, traveling 67.019 MPH in 13.429 seconds.
Path Valley Speedway will return to racing on Saturday, July 25th, “Doug’s Auto Repair Night”, with the T.A. Ward Construction 270 Sprints, Zachary Crouse DVM, Limited Late Models, Cisney’s Auto Parts 4 Cylinder Thunder Cars, Macri Concrete 600 Micro Sprints, Randy Burkholder Racing Supplies Strictly Stocks, & the P.A.S.S. 305 Sprints.
Kids Night & the Jack Flowers Memorial which were cancelled due to rain have been rescheduled for Saturday, August 8th. The speedway will still be collecting donations for Kids Night until 8-8. The Metzler Auto, Truck & Trailer Wingless Super Sportsman have also been added to the program on 8-8.