The 19th annual Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek is in the
history book as Greg Hodnett and the Jim and Sandy Kline
owned team used a fantastic week to secure the 2009
championship.
For Hodnett, it was the second time he’s won Speedweek. His
first came back in 2002 when he drove for the Bob Stewart
owned team.
For the Kline’s, the Speedweek title was also their second.
The Grantville car owners won Speedweek in 2006 with Fred
Rahmer as their driver.
Hodnett served notice early that he would be the man to
beat this year.
With the addition of Lee Stauffer, his former Apple
Motorsports crew chief to the J & S Fabrication team earlier
this season, the team has been very consistent heading into
Speedweek, including a win against the World of Outlaws at
Williams Grove Speedway.
Hodnett was a one time feature winner during the week at
Port Royal Speedway but had seven top five finishes in the
seven races. He also had three fast times during the week.
Hodnett amassed 1,062 points to win the top prize over
Daryn Pittman, who had 823 points. Mark Smith (822), Chad
Layton (770), Chad Kemenah (730), Cody Darrah (729), Doug
Esh (683), Rahmer (612), Stevie Smith (581) and Mike Erdley
(528) were the top 10 point finishes.
“We had a good week,” said Hodnett, who recently turned 40.
“It definitely helped to start more towards the front but we
were fast enough in qualifying to put ourselves in the top
eight most nights. If you weren’t there, it lent itself to
put yourself in some bad sports like getting in crashes and
stuff like that.”
Hodnett, of Thomasville set quick time at Grandview and
both nights at Williams Grove. However, he drew the number
eight feature inversion twice and the number six once. That
hindered what could have been a few more wins on nights
where track conditions were less than ideal.
“We are so happy with the team and we couldn’t have asked
for a nicer Speedweek,” said car owner Sandy Kline on
Monday. “As far as Jim and I are concerned, we are tickled
to death and to have won Speedweek again, it was good for
our team. As far as I’m concerned we have the best driver
and the smartest driver. Greg is very smart and he is really
on his game right now. He’s so driven and we are hoping we
can continue this momentum with some big races coming up. We
know everybody struggles and we’re going to enjoy this while
it lasts.”
Hodnett’s Port Royal win was his 17th career Speedweek win,
putting him in second spot on the all-time Speedweek win
list. He’s competed in less than half of the PA Speedweek
series since moving to Pennsylvania to race.
Hodnett knows that having Stauffer on board is what the
team needed.
“We were okay at the beginning of the year but we weren’t
nearly as consistent as we are now,” he added. “Having Lee
on board, going back to an almost identical program that we
had when we were winning in the Apple car, putting the
package back under me and Lee knowing how to massage it, has
made a huge difference. We’re not winning every race but
we’re there every night now and we have that consistency
back that we were missing.”
The duo has a dedicated crew behind them that has made it
possible as well.
“Without them, we would be no where,” Sandy Kline added.
“They give up a lot to help us and they make everything work
for all of us. Cosmo (Matt Kramer), Mike, Bob and our crew
chief Lee make it all happen and they are a great group of
guys that we consider our second family. We can’t thank them
enough for everything.”
The team will now concentrate on upcoming World of Outlaws
events at Williams Grove and Lernerville, the Knoxville
Nationals and making an effort to win the Williams Grove
Speedway points championship.
Brian Montieth won his first two Speedweek races, his first
in the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial at Lincoln and then waited
out a two hour rain delay to win the Thursday night show at
Williams Grove.
The surprise of the week had to be Ohio driver Kemenah, who
came east to drive the Dawn and Charlie Sorokach owned
sprinter. Kemenah had wins at Grandview and then in the
finale at Selinsgrove.
Pittman gave the Jesse Keen team its first win in the Mitch
Smith Memorial at Williams Grove on Friday night.
While rain was an issue several nights, Hagerstown Speedway
was the only track to completely lose its show this year.
Seventy-two different drivers competed in at least one
Speedweek show with 10 of these drivers making an attempt to
qualify for all seven shows.
Seventeen different drivers had at least one top five
finish during the series with another eight drivers
finishing in the top 10 at least one time.
With his big $10,000 Grove win, Pittman earned the most
money during the week at $18,512.50 followed by Hodnett’s
$17,650, Kemenah ($14,362.50), Montieth ($13,275) and Layton
($11,950) were the top five money earners for the series,
including point fund money. Darrah and M. Smith also earned
over $10,000 during the week.
WHATS HAPPENING
Williams Grove will feature 410 and 358 Sprints on Friday
night while the 358 Sprints are back at Trail-Way on Friday.
It will be Totally Topless Night at Williams Grove on
Saturday night with the wingless Super Sportsman, wingless
ARDC Midgets and topless 358 late models. Steve Buckwalter
is slated to drive a sportsman car owned by Mike Callahan.
It will be a regular show at Lincoln featuring 410 and 358
Sprints, Kids Night at Port Royal featuring the 410 Sprints
and late models, the Ernie D’s Late Model Special at
Hagerstown paying $2,500 to win while Selinsgrove and
Susquehanna will both be dark this weekend.
PIT STOPS
Michael Carber was released from the John Pinter owned No.
92 car on the URC tour and will be replaced by Justin
Collett. Carber was fifth in URC points. Speaking of Collett,
his family team still has some cars and their truck and
trailer for sale at good prices. He is excited about the
opportunity to return to the cockpit…
Carlisle’s Scott Richwine won his second 358 late model
feature Friday at Path Valley Speedway over Rance Garlock
and Brad Kling…
Danny Lasoski won his third WoO Sprint car event of the
season Saturday at Eagle Raceway. He won over Sammy Swindell,
Joey Saldana, Craig Dollansky and Lucas Wolfe. Saldana
closed to within 44 points of Donny Schatz for the WoO
points lead…
Jim Nier was the All Star sprint car winner Friday night at
KC Raceway over Dale Blaney, Brandon Wimmer, Tim Shaffer and
Jimmy Stinson. Shaffer continues to hold a commanding lead
in All Star points…
The Ollie’s Bargain Outlet “Battle at the Grove” is
scheduled for Wednesday, August 5 at Williams Grove
Speedway. The URC Sprints and Williams Grove 358 sprints
will be on the card along with the super late models, making
it quite a big night. Kahne will compete in the sprint cars
while Kyle Busch and David Stremme will compete in late
models that night. All proceeds will go to the Kasey Kahne
Foundation. Advanced tickets are on sale now by contacting
the speedway…
