MECHANICSBURG
 It was a big night in many ways for Pat Cannon Friday at Williams Grove Speedway.

 In his first career 410 Sprint car feature start, Cannon made history at the track by becoming the first ever driver to win in a 410 Sprint, 358 Sprint and a Super Sportsman.

 Aboard the Zane and Vicki Highlands owned sprinter, the Etters driver led all 25 laps in impressive fashion to score his first career feature win in just the second start in the car. Cannon did not make the feature last week due to mechanical problems.

 Friday night, everything worked to perfection and Cannon was up to the challenge.

 “I was nervous as hell tonight,” said Cannon, the final track champion at Silver Spring Speedway. “I just didn’t want to screw up and make a mistake out there. I spent all day thinking about it but to be standing here tonight, this is beyond my wildest dreams.”

 The Newville-based team will compete in the 410 division at the Grove during off nights with the 358 Sprint car. Cannon is the defending 358 sprint car track champion and got off to a good start at defending that title with a 358 sprint car win last Friday night.

 Now he adds his name to the list of winners in 410 sprint competition.

 While the cars were lining up for the feature, Cody Darrah and Doug Esh tangled on the front stretch. The damage to both cars was extensive enough to sideline both drivers for the night.

 After a first lap spin by Mark Smith, Cannon outgunned World of Outlaws racer Tim Shaffer to grab the lead and held the point early in the event.

 Defending Cindy Rowe Auto Glass sprint car champion Todd Shaffer appeared poised to challenge for the win after starting sixth and moving into fourth spot by lap five.

 Shaffer’s early season bad luck continued when his right rear tire went flat while under caution on lap 10. The caution was for Lucas Wolfe whose car developed problems in turn three.

 Cannon continued to set the pace as Fred Rahmer used the yellow to his advantage moving into fifth on lap 14 after starting 12th.

 Cannon changed his line to the bottom of turns one and two allowing Tim Shaffer to gain ground racing around the top. However, Cannon would use the high side of the fast speedway in turns three and four.

 Shaffer gained slightly lap after lap on Cannon until they caught lapped traffic, which Cannon worked through like a seasoned veteran. He began to open some distance over Shaffer, driving a Pennsylvania based car for Jim Wainwright.

 Cannon went unchallenged to the checkered flag over the final laps to put his name in the record books.

 “Wow, your first race in a 410 and you win, you really can’t top that,” said the excited 29-year-old former New Jersey native. “When you start up front, you gotta take advantage of it and we did tonight. But racing up front, you never know what’s going on behind you and you just gotta get the job done. It’s certainly a great accomplishment.”

 Cannon complemented  the Highlands crew for a good race car.

 “I have to thank the team for giving us the opportunity to race and the guys had a great race car again tonight,” he added. “We’re still going to stick to our plan of racing the 358 sprints but we’ll race this car quite a few times and we hope to be back here in victory lane a few more times.”

 Tim Shaffer, of Aliquippa finished second over Fredon, New Jersey’s Ryan Bohlke, Phoenixville’s Brian Montieth and Rahmer, of Salfordville.

 Completing the top 10 were Brian Paulus, Don Kreitz, Jr., Lance Dewease, Chad Layton and Greg Hodnett.

 Andy Anderson held off repeated challenges from Gary Stuhler to win the 25-lap late model feature.

 Stuhler was driving a team car for JT Spence, who finished third over Jason Covert and DJ Myers.

 Heats for the 31 sprint cars were won by Cannon, Tim Shaffer and Todd Shaffer with  Jeff Shepard winning the consolation.

 Thirty-four late models signed in for competition with heat races going to Al Shawver, Jr., Chuck Clise, Myers and Covert. The consolation went to Randall Paxton.

 Williams Grove returns to action tonight with the Saturday Night Series featuring Super Sportsman, 358 late model, 4-cylinders and an Enduro. Race time is 7pm.

 The Super Sportsman join the 410 Sprints next Friday night at 7:30pm.