MECHANICSBURG
 Alan Cole is glad his Sorokach Motorsports team decided to make a rare regular Friday night start at Williams Grove Speedway.

 Cole normally only competes in time trial events at Williams Grove, but the team decided to make the trek to the Grove Friday night because they knew they would be handicapped towards the front of the feature field.

 The decision paid off to the tune of $3,000 after Cole led the final seven laps of the 25-lap 410 Sprint car feature to capture his second career win at the Monroe Township facility.

 “We towed around all last week and had a bunch of trouble and we figured we would get handicapped here tonight since we were here for the Outlaws so that’s why we came down,” said Cole, of Berwick. “I’m glad we did!”

 Two red flags slowed action during the first three laps of the event.

 The first occurred on lap two when Ryan Bohlke made contact with Doug Esh on the front stretch resulting in a violent five car crash that saw the cars of Bohlke,
Esh and Pat Cooper destroyed. Chad Layton and Cody Darrah were also involved and finished for the night.

 On the next lap, young AJ Michael flipped in turn four.

 Dillsburg’s John Westbrook set the pace from his pole starting spot as Cole ran second.

 Fred Rahmer, who started 13th moved into the top five by lap 11 as Westbrook led Cole, Mike Erdley and Rick Lafferty.

 Rahmer moved into fourth on lap 13 as Cole began to close on Westbrook, a 410 sprint car rookie.

 Cole showed his nose a few times forcing Westbrook to change his line.

 But Cole then went to the outside and shot by Westbrook for the lead with a move off the second turn on lap 18.

 Erdley then moved Westbrook back to third a lap later and then Rahmer drove into the side of Westbrook exiting the fourth turn causing Westbrook to do a 360 spin and a yellow flag. Westbrook never stopped and was moved back into the third spot on the restart.

 “I didn’t want to burn up the tires before the race was over and I just wanted to stay with the 3 car and be there at the end,” said Cole, a long-time sprint car veteran. “I got alongside him a few times and he moved down to block and I just went to the top. I was actually pretty good through the middle of the track so I wasn’t real worried.”

 Cole stated his Charlie and Dawn Sorokach owned team are using Charlie Garrett horsepower this season.

 “Clean air in these cars means everything today,” he said. “Charlie Garrett built us a motor that runs very well. I think everything is starting to click now.”

 Rahmer, of Salfordville padded his Cindy Rowe Auto Glass points lead by getting around Erdley on the final lap for the runner-up spot.

 Erdley of Elizabethville finished third over Westbrook and Denver’s Alan Krimes.

 Rounding out the top 10 were Craig Keel, defending champion Todd Shaffer, Lafferty, Mark Smith and Lance Dewease.

 Pat Cannon, of Etters came from his 12th starting spot to pick up his second win of the year in the 20-lap 358 Sprint car feature.

 Cannon’s Highlands Tire Service sprinter defeated Gerard McIntyre, Jr., Adrian Shaffer, 21st starting Kevin Nouse and Chad Myers with Chad Criswell, Aaron Ott, Cory Haas, Scott Geesey and Glenndon Forsythe completing the top 10.

 Heats for the 28 Sprints were won by Niki Young, Westbrook and Michael with Greg Hodnett winning the consolation.

 Shaffer, Ott, McIntrye and Dave Calaman were 358 Sprint car heat winners. Nouse won the consolation for the 36-car field.

 Williams Grove returns to action tonight with the Saturday Night Series of Super Sportsman, 358 late models, street stocks and 4-cylinders on Camera and Autograph Night. Gates open at 4:30pm.