ABBOTTSTOWN, PA
Alan Krimes had an old car and an old motor but was still the fastest car
on the track Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway.
Krimes took the lead early then survived a marathon of caution flags to put
together his first win of the year in the 25-lap Cindy Rowe Auto Glass 410
Sprint car feature Saturday night.
With track conditions to his liking, the Denver driver was able to get
around Brian Leppo for the top spot with just six laps complete and drove
off from the field for his fifth career feature win at the track. He started
in the ninth spot.
“This car has a lot of races on it and we ran it all last year and the
motor has a lot of laps on it but it still runs strong,” said the second
generation racer. “We need to run good to keep this car going so tonight
will help out an awful lot.”
Jeff Busby turned over before a lap could be completed to bring out a red
flag.
Four consecutive yellow flags over the next four laps kept the field slow
as Jim Siegel, John Rudisill, Pat Cooper and a Cody Darrah/Niki Young tangle
were the drivers involved in the first four yellow flags.
Krimes was already up to third as Leppo set the pace from the second lap.
Krimes drove under Leppo in turn four on lap six but then had to withstand
numerous cautions during the next 10 laps.
“I hate caution flags when you are leading the race,” he stated. “I thought
we ran like six or seven laps and it was actually only three. I just wanted
to get the race over because I hate when you get to the front early because
you are just waiting for someone to pass you.”
Krimes didn’t have to worry about that.
The action behind Krimes was intense as Leppo, Doug Esh, Stevie Smith and
Fred Rahmer, who moved into contention on lap 15.
Rahmer, who started 12th made some late race moves to take the runner-up
spot from Leppo on lap 21 but could not track down the Conestoga Valley
Garage, Krimes Machine Shop No. 87 sprinter, who held a 10-car length margin
of victory.
“I told Fred before the race I needed him to slow down a little bit,
“commented Krimes about the three-time 2008 winner Rahmer.”I see he finished
second so he must have been coming but we were pretty good tonight. “
Ironically, three of Krimes’ five Lincoln wins came after starting ninth in
the field.
“I don’t know what it is about starting ninth here, but my crew guys get
pretty excited when we start ninth,” he added. “Three out of our five wins
here we have started ninth, so I don’t know what it is about that spot but
we beat a good field of cars again tonight.”
Rahmer, of Salfordville finished second, strengthening his Lincoln points
lead with Leppo, of New Oxford finishing a season-best third over
Lancaster’s Esh and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Smith.
Completing the top 10 were Nick Schlauch, Jr., Niki Young, Brian Montieth,
Aaron Ott and Mike Bittinger.
Dover’s Gene Knaub led all 20 laps of the Weikel Racewear 358 late model
feature.
Knaub started on the pole by virtue of a nine car inversion and was never
challenged in his second straight win in the Pigeon Hills.
Fellow front-row starter Dan Zechman finished in the runner-up spot over
Jerry Bard, Craig Wagaman and Shaun Jones with Tyler Hershey, Kyle Lear, Roy
Miller, Travis Mease and Jake Lettich completing the top 10 finishers.
Sprint car heat winners were Leppo, Michael and Cris Eash while Montieth
was the consolation winner for the 25-car field.
Miller, Travis Mease and Lear were heat winners for the 32 358 late models.
The consolation was won by Corey Houck.
Gary Welsh and Rodney Clouser won the heat races for the 11 street stocks.
Lincoln Speedway returns to action next Saturday night with the 410
Sprints, 305 Sprints and the thundercars and it will be Williams Grove Old
Timers Night. Race time will be 7 pm.