DUKE CLAIMS 270 ROAD SHOW WIN AT PATH VALLEY

             When another speedway was unable to host their scheduled event for the 270 Road Show the event was quickly re-scheduled to Path Valley Speedway as a tune-up for their event scheduled for May 25^th.  Rain threatened to cancel the show, but instead provided plenty of moisture in the clay and a very fast racing surface.

            The 600cc Micro Sprint feature started the main events.  Garrett Bard and Steve Whary won the heat races, and a number two invert pill was pulled, putting them on the front row for the start.  Bard got the jump on Whary at the drop of the green and led every lap for his first win this year.  Whary’s only chances to challenge for the lead came on three different restarts, but he was five car lengths behind at the finish.  Third thru fifth went to Alex Bright, Kameron Morral, and Timmie Barrick.

             Pete Neal started first and was leading Joe Snodgrass by a full straightaway when the only caution of the Classic Racing Series feature waved on lap fifteen.  Snodgrass made one serious attempt for the lead, getting inside Neal as they entered turn three.  But Snodgrass had to lift out of the throttle to avoid contact and Neal pulled away, leading by two car lengths when the checkered flag dropped.  The win was the first for Neal at Path Valley.  Third thru fifth were virtually bumper-to-bumper as they crossed the finish in order of Charlie Summers, Steve Cantwell, and Matt Wallace.  Heat race wins went to Neal and Summers.

             The 270 Road Show has quickly become a successful traveling series for the 270cc Micro Sprints.  Thirty-one drivers signed in for Saturday night’s event and the action lasted all night.  Ken Duke started on the pole and beat Greg Robinson to turn one, setting the early pace.  While Duke was slowly pulling away Ryan McAndrew was working forward from his seventh place starting position, making his was into second on lap ten.  Just as Duke was catching the tail end of the field the first caution fell on lap thirteen.  When the final yellow flag waved with two laps to go Duke was still ahead of Ryan McAndrew, and Ryan’s brother, Sean, had made his way from starting twelfth up to third.  On the final restart Ryan McAndrew looked to the inside of Duke entering turn one, but Duke was able to close the door and led the remaining two laps for his first win in a 270cc Micro Sprint at Path Valley.  It was the first race this year that someone other than the McAndrew brothers won a 270cc Micro Sprint feature.  Ryan held off Sean as they finished second and third.  Robinson stayed close to finish fourth, just ahead of Colby Dice.  Josh Stoyer, Matt Campbell, and Denny Rinehimer won the heat races and Jerry Palm won the consolation event.

             The Legend Car feature was highlighted by a three car battle for the lead over the final ten laps.  Scott Houdeshell started first and led the way until Bob Stough drove around and into the lead on lap seven.  Bill Diehl followed Stough to the front using the high groove, pulling into second on lap nine.  Lucas Montgomery took note of the leaders passing on the high side, and when they both moved back down Montgomery took advantage, passing Diehl for second on lap thirteen and two laps later working around Stough for the top spot.  Montgomery then led the final six laps for the win.  Diehl worked the outside line in the final turns and beat Stough by inches for second place.  Chris Transeau and Mike Gable finished fourth and fifth.  Heat race victories went to Rick Miller and Jacob Feltch.

             The ACMS Stock 600cc Micro Sprints run twin fifteen lap features.  In the first event Lance Yeager led all fifteen laps for the win, followed by Alyssa Rowe and Brandon Noel.  In the nightcap it was Rowe’s turn, as she led all fifteen laps with Noel in second and Yeager third.

McANDREW STREAK EXTENDS TO FOUR

Path Valley Speedway has run four events for micro sprints in 2013 and so far there has been a McAndrew in victory lane every time.

Sean McAndrew looked to be the early favorite in the 270cc Micro Sprint feature when he started third and was leading before lap one was complete.  A caution regrouped the field on lap four and on the restart Josh Stoyer made his move and powered into the lead.  While Stoyer was showing the way, Ryan McAndrew was working his way toward the front from his ninth place starting spot, taking over second from his brother Sean on lap ten.  Ryan McAndrew had caught Stoyer when the final caution waved on lap fourteen.  On the restart Stoyer stretched his lead back to three car lengths.  Going into the final turn Stoyer caught a slower car causing him to check up for just a moment.  But that was all it took as Ryan McAndrew dove to the bottom and into the lead, snatching the win in the final half lap.  The win is his third in four races this year after taking off all of 2012.  Stoyer held on to second, ahead of Sean McAndrew, Greg Robinson, and Matt Campbell.  Campbell came up light on the scales after the race, giving Cody Hackenberry fifth place.  Heat race wins went to Eric Forsythe, Brent Bull, and Sean McAndrew.

The Sidewinder Sprints are using a twin feature format this year.  In the first feature Jason Stahl started first and led all fifteen laps, holding off Josh Chess for the win.  Third thru fifth went to Ben Houtz, Christian Wright, and Zach Overmiller.

In the second feature it was all Rich Halter.  Halter started second and led all fifteen laps, winning by nearly half a lap.  Zach Overmiller held off a charging Jason Stahl for second with Josh Chess in fourth and Ben Houtz fifth.

The PA Sprint Series 305 Sprint feature was won by rookie John Braim.  Braim was making only his sixth start in the 305’s and he parlayed the pole position and strong restarts into leading flag-to-flag for the win.  Lance Newlin struggled with the slow pace of the restarts, but recovered for an impressive second place finish.  Craig Myers finished third, ahead of Alex Schanz and Marcus Defreitas.  It was Defreitas first race back at Path Valley after completely destroying his racecar in a violent crash early last season.  Braim and Newlin also won the heat races.

Todd Hoover claimed his first win at Path Valley in the 600cc Micro Sprint feature, the final event of the evening.  Gunner Layton led the first lap, giving way to Hoover on lap two.  Dwayne Gutshall ran second until losing the handle and spinning out in turn two on lap fourteen.  That moved Timmie Barrick to the runner-up spot, but Hoover was not to be denied, pulling away by a few car lengths in the final laps for the win.  Barrick finished a strong second with Layton holding on to third.  Steve Whary made a late race charge to finish fourth and Mike Duncan rounded out the top five.  Heat race wins went to Whary and Gutshall.

WILLIAMSON REMAINS UNDEFEATED

Winning five races in a year can be difficult.  Some drivers don’t win five in their whole career.  Path Valley has one driver this year that has won all of the first five events.

The 4-Cylinder Thunder Cars were the first feature this week.  Shaun Linn started first and led the first two laps until getting high and losing the lead to John Rasp on lap three.  Rasp, Linn, and Dalton McQuade ran nearly bumper-to-bumper until Rasp finally pulled away by a few car lengths over the last five laps.  The win was Rasp’s first this year.  Linn held off Dalton McQuade for second with Robert McQuade fourth and Troy Showalter fifth.  Dalton McQuade was the heat race winner.

Ken Singer now has a three-race winning streak in the Street Stock class.  Singer beat Josh Gustaf for the lead on the start only to lose the spot on the next lap and lose the handle in turn two, spinning out and sending him to the rear of the field.  Gustaf appeared to be the man to beat at that point, but his bad luck continued when he suffered mechanical failure only a few laps later.  At that point Wayne Hawbaker inherited the lead, but he could only control the pace a few laps until Singer charged back past.  At the end Singer and Hawbaker were the only cars still running.  Lloyd Hockenberry finished third, Brad Long fourth, and Gustaf fifth.  Singer also won the heat race.

In the Mini Stock feature Mark Grove took the lead from pole-sitter Shane Sixeas on the second circuit and showed the way until lap fourteen.  A restart on lap fourteen had the field bunched up and when Grove’s car did not come back up to speed Gary Dehart dove to the inside for the lead.  Dehart had to fend off Frank Gordon the final five laps to seal the victory.  Jeremy Ott came from starting eighth to finish third, ahead of Ronnie Garlock and Bill Kennedy.  Ott and Kennedy were the heat race winners.

The Super Stock feature had several twists with the winner not decided until well after the checkered flag fell.  Devin Hart led the first two laps but was forced to pit under caution for a loose rear bumper.  Carl Miller took over the top spot at that point but only could only hold it for three laps before his transmission failed and he was done.  Austin Johnson inherited the lead on lap six.  Hart made his way back to second, but could not find a way to get around Johnson.  It was the first win of Johnson’s career, or so he thought.  After the race a fight broke out in the grandstands involving someone associated with Johnson’s team.  Fighting is an automatic disqualification, whether it is the driver or someone associated with the team.  The disqualification gave the win to Hart, followed by Adam Imes, Joey Burdge, Miller, and Curtis Guyer.  The heat race win went to Hart.

Justin Williamson remains the dominant driver in the Strictly Stock division.  Williamson passed T.J. Bookwalter for the lead on lap five and outran Charlie Stallman and the rest of the field to stay undefeated, five wins in five races in 2013.  After Stallman it was Heath Rauch, Bookwalter, and Glenn Wilson.  Stallman won the heat race.

WILLIAMSON REMAINS UNDEFEATED

             Winning five races in a year can be difficult.  Some drivers don’t win five in their whole career.  Path Valley has one driver this year that has won all of the first five events.

             The 4-Cylinder Thunder Cars were the first feature this week.  Shaun Linn started first and led the first two laps until getting high and losing the lead to John Rasp on lap three.  Rasp, Linn, and Dalton McQuade ran nearly bumper-to-bumper until Rasp finally pulled away by a few car lengths over the last five laps.  The win was Rasp’s first this year.  Linn held off Dalton McQuade for second with Robert McQuade fourth and Troy Showalter fifth.  Dalton McQuade was the heat race winner.

             Ken Singer now has a three-race winning streak in the Street Stock class.  Singer beat Josh Gustaf for the lead on the start only to lose the spot on the next lap and lose the handle in turn two, spinning out and sending him to the rear of the field.  Gustaf appeared to be the man to beat at that point, but his bad luck continued when he suffered mechanical failure only a few laps later.  At that point Wayne Hawbaker inherited the lead, but he could only control the pace a few laps until Singer charged back past.  At the end Singer and Hawbaker were the only cars still running.  Lloyd Hockenberry finished third, Brad Long fourth, and Gustaf fifth.  Singer also won the heat race.

            In the Mini Stock feature Mark Grove took the lead from pole-sitter Shane Sixeas on the second circuit and showed the way until lap fourteen.  A restart on lap fourteen had the field bunched up and when Grove’s car did not come back up to speed Gary Dehart dove to the inside for the lead.  Dehart had to fend off Frank Gordon the final five laps to seal the victory.  Jeremy Ott came from starting eighth to finish third, ahead of Ronnie Garlock and Bill Kennedy.  Ott and Kennedy were the heat race winners.

             The Super Stock feature had several twists with the winner not decided until well after the checkered flag fell.  Devin Hart led the first two laps but was forced to pit under caution for a loose rear bumper.  Carl Miller took over the top spot at that point but only could only hold it for three laps before his transmission failed and he was done.  Austin Johnson inherited the lead on lap six.  Hart made his way back to second, but could not find a way to get around Johnson.  It was the first win of Johnson’s career, or so he thought.  After the race a fight broke out in the grandstands involving someone associated with Johnson’s team.  Fighting is an automatic disqualification, whether it is the driver or someone associated with the team.  The disqualification gave the win to Hart, followed by Adam Imes, Joey Burdge, Miller, and Curtis Guyer.  The heat race win went to Hart.

             Justin Williamson remains the dominant driver in the Strictly Stock division.  Williamson passed T.J. Bookwalter for the lead on lap five and outran Charlie Stallman and the rest of the field to stay undefeated, five wins in five races in 2013.  After Stallman it was Heath Rauch, Bookwalter, and Glenn Wilson.  Stallman won the heat race.

 WALTON WINS 2 AT PATH VALLEY

            On the same night that Tyler Walton wins two features Devin Beidel was at the other end of the spectrum, flipping his 600cc Micro Sprint twice, once landing on top of the guardrail.

             The first feature of the night was for the 600cc Micro Sprints.  Kameron Morral started first and led the first eight laps.  On a lap nine restart Morral was too quick to get on the throttle and was put to the rear for jumping the start.  Tyler Walton inherited the lead at that point and made sure his good fortune did not go to waste, leading the final twelve laps for the win.  The win was the second in a row for car owner Rich Glosser.  The race was slowed by seven cautions and one red flag.  The red flag was brought out when Devin Beidel flipped in turn four and his car came to rest on the dirt bank above the guard rail.  Tom Schearer finished second while Garrett Bard out-dueled Jim Young for third.  Timmie Barrick came from starting thirteenth to finish fifth.  Heat race wins went to J.D. Harman, Tom Schearer, and Garrett Bard.

             The Bob Stough win streak in Legends at Path Valley came to a halt, barely.  Bill Diehl started on the pole and led all twenty laps for the win.  On paper it isn’t that exciting, but on the track it was a different story.  With Diehl leading and Stough in close pursuit the two caught the back of the field on the final lap.  Diehl dropped to the inside and Stough went high, passing Diehl as they entered turn three, and then the caution came out, negating the pass.  On the restart Diehl again went low in turn one and Stough again went high driving around Diehl and into the lead, and then the caution came out, negating the pass.  Two more cautions waved before the final lap was completed and on those restarts Diehl had learned his lesson, moving his line up enough to protect the outside and hold the lead.  Chris Spidle won a hard fought battle with Lucas Montgomery and Randy Minich to finish third with Montgomery fourth and Minich fifth.  Bob Diehl and Randy Minich were the heat race winners.

             For the third time in three races it was a McAndrew in victory lane in the 270cc Micro Sprint division.  But for the first time this year it was Sean McAndrew.  Ryan McAndrew had won the first two races this year and only took three laps to get from ninth to the lead, passing Cory Myers for the top spot.  Myers regained the lead on lap five, but could only hold it for one lap.  Sean McAndrew took a little longer to get to the front, but passed Ryan on a lap ten restart for the sixth yellow flag out of eight in the event.  Sean led the final eleven laps for the win.  Greg Robinson started eleventh in the 24-car field and posted an impressive second place finish.  Myers finished third, Mason Peters fourth, and Colby Dice rebounded from being put to the rear of the field for jumping a start to finish fifth.  The heat race winners were Levi Peck, Ryan McAndrew and Sean McAndrew.

             In the ACMS Stock 600cc Micro Sprint division they run two fifteen lap features instead of heat races and a feature.  In the first feature Lance Yeager held off Devin Garman for his second win this year, with third thru fifth going to Brandon Noel, Alyssa Rowe, and Brent Sparks.

             In the second event Brandon Noel found speed running the high groove and out ran Alyssa Rowe for the win.  Lance Yeager finished third and Brent Sparks fourth.

             The final feature of the evening also was for 600cc Micro Sprints, but now they were running wingless.  Devin Beidel started first and showed the way for the first eleven laps.  On a restart on lap twelve Steve Whary dove to the inside of Beidel as they entered turn one.  As Whary slid up the two made slight contact slowing them both.  Tyler Walton was third on the restart and saw the opening he needed, diving to the bottom.  The three drivers entered turn three virtually even and then disaster struck.  Walton made contact with Beidel which knocked him up into Whary.  Beidel flipped for the second time in one night and Whary also flipped, getting nearly ten feet in the air before coming back down.  When the race resumed Walton pulled away from Bruce Ginther for the win.  Tom Schearer finished third, ahead of Ben Houtz and Aaron Bowes.  Tyler Walton and Bruce Ginther collected heat race victories.

 BRIGHT & McANDREW SCORE MICRO WINS

            One man’s misfortune is the next man’s gain when it comes to racing.  Saturday night at Path Valley was a prime example.

             The 600cc Micro Sprint was the first feature of the night and a case of “yellow fever” broke out.  Eight cautions and one red flag slowed the event.  Steve Whary started first and led every lap until exiting turn four on the final circuit.  Whary made an abrupt evasive maneuver to avoid a car he was lapping and ended up against the outside guardrail.  That gave the lead to Alex Bright, who had been right behind Whary from the initial start.  Bright held off Todd Hoover on the final lap to earn the win.  Jim Young rebounded from an early spin to get back to third place.  Hank Donovan finished fourth and Gunner Layton fifth.  Heat wins went to Timmie Barrick, Wayne Dadetto, and Todd Hoover.

             The Classic Racing Series feature was next which showcased a door-to-door battle for the lead for the first ten laps.  Matt Wallace started on the pole with Brandon Little on the outside of the front row.  Little edged Wallace for the early lead, but Wallace stayed to the inside of Little, keeping the pressure on.  The two leaders ran side-by-side, literally inches apart for four straight laps.  Finally as they took the sign for halfway Wallace completed the pass for the lead.  After that Wallace was able to stretch his lead out over the final 10 laps for the win.  Little held on to finish second, followed by  Charlie Summers, Joe Snodgrass, and Pete Neal.  Little and Wallace also won the heat races.

             Bob Stough started second in the Legend feature and was able to beat pole-sitter Lucas Montgomery to turn one and the lead.  That turned out to be the winning pass as Stough kept Montgomery a few car lengths behind to claim the win.  Right behind Montgomery was Harlon Leppo and Chris Spidle.  Coming home fifth was Scott Houdeshell.  Heat race wins went to Leppo, Chad Earnst, and Stough.

             In the 270cc Micro Sprint feature Ted Volz started first and led the first fourteen laps, until the second of three cautions waved.  On the ensuing restart Volz sprinter did not come up to speed right away and Ryan McAndrew seized the opportunity, pulling to the inside of Volz as they exited turn four and securing the lead.  McAndrew led the final six laps to get his second win in as many races this year at Path Valley.  McAndrew was followed across the finish line by Darren Miller, Mason Peters, Josh Stoyer, and Volz.  Greg Robinson and Volz won the heat races.

 TWO NEW WINNERS AT PATH VALLEY

             Every racecar driver will tell you, they will never forget their first win.  Two drivers accomplished that feat Friday night at Path Valley Speedway.

             Robert McQuade and his brother Dalton switched cars and Robert made the most of it, winning his first career feature event.   The brothers started first and second and Dalton lead the first lap.  Robert took over on lap two proceeded to “put a whooping” on the field as he lead by nearly half of a lap when the checkered flag dropped.  Kyle Martin out-dueled Shaun Linn for the runner-up spot with Greg Scott finishing fourth and Dalton McQuade fifth.  Dalton McQuade was the heat race winner.

             In the Mini Stock feature Mark Grove became the first repeat winner of 2013.  Grove started on the pole and led all twenty laps.  Dan Smith stayed within a few car lengths during the first half of the race, but faded during the second half to finish second by nearly a full straightaway.  Third thru fifth went to Jason Stoner, Bill Kennedy, and Rusty Garlock.  The heat race was won by Shane Sixeas.

             Justin Williamson continued his perfection in the Strictly Stock feature, collecting his fourth win in as many races by holding off Adam Morgan for 10 laps.  Williamson also won the heat race.

             Ken Singer won the drag race into turn one at the start of the Street Stock feature.  From there Singer held off Ryan Sager for ten laps for his second win this year.  Sager won the heat race.

             Alex Boozel won his first career feature event in the Super Stock division, and he left no doubt about it.  Boozel lapped all but second place and was closing in on that driver as the checkered flag fell.  Devin Hart finished second, the only other car on the lead lap.  Third thru fifth went to Adam Imes, Austin Johnson, and Amber Mills.  The heat race win went to Hart.