MECHANICSBURG

 Doug Esh was greeted by boos louder than when Donny Schatz wins at Williams Grove Speedway after his win Friday night.

 Esh, of Lancaster won his first 25-lap 410 Sprint car feature of the season but it came amid controversy when he and Adam Wilt made contact on lap 22, just after Esh had put a slider on Wilt in the third turn. The end result was Wilt’s No. 15 sprint car launching out over the fourth turn wall and Esh driving to the win.

 “It’s awesome I’m getting booed,” Esh said to the chorus of boos from the crowd. “I must be doing something right. I don’t know what Adam or Aaron Ott was thinking tonight.
When you slide somebody and you have them out of your vision, and they run into the back of you. My back bumper is bent so obviously he hit me in the back.”

 That led to an even louder chorus of boos for the unpopular win.

 Esh’s 17th career win was worth $3,500 to the Trone Outdoor Motorsports team after coming from the 10th starting spot.

 Wilt, who started second set the early pace until a lap eight caution flew for Brian Montieth, who apparently suffered motor problems.

 While Wilt continued to lead, Esh and Ott were battling hard with Esh throwing a slider on Ott, who hit the rear of the No. 39 sprinter of Esh.

 Esh moved into fifth place on lap 12 and took fourth spot on lap 17.

 Esh moved by Steve Buckwalter on lap 19 for the third spot as Wilt led rookie driver Brent Marks.

 Esh drove by Marks on lap 22 just as Chad Layton’s stopped car slowed the field again with three laps to go.

 On the restart, Wilt moved low in turns one and two, in attempt to block an Esh slider but it was Esh who pulled alongside Wilt going down the backstretch and used the slider in turn three when the contact occurred as Wilt continued to drive around the outside of turn four. Wilt ended up outside the track but was not injured.

 “The car was real good and I was determined to win tonight,” said Esh, who became the 10th different winner at the track this season. “I don’t think I purposely used anybody up or did anything wrong. But I’m glad to be standing here and thanks to John Trone for keeping this deal rolling and thanks for the boos by the way. You can stop now.”

 And they got louder.

 “This is great, keep it coming guys,” said Esh. “Boo me more. I really don’t care. It’s nice to be back here with a win but I don’t want to be a fan favorite.”

 Marks, of Myerstown held on for a career best Grove finish in the runner-up spot over Etters driver Pat Cannon, board the Highlands Tire Service sprinter. Fourth went to Tower City’s Mark Smith over Royersford’s Buckwalter.

 Dave Ely, Aaron Ott, Keith Kauffman, consolation winner Todd Shaffer and MikeErdley were the top 10 finishers.

 It was a good points night for Shaffer who gained 140 points on Greg Hodnett with his ninth place finish. Hodnett was slated to start 14th but the J & S Fabrication sprinter would not start while lining up for the feature. Shaffer now holds a 260 point advantage.

 Robbie Stillwaggon won the 25-lap URC feature over URC points leader JJ Grasso, six-time URC champion Curt Michael, Josh Weller and Kramer Williamson.

 Heats for the 27 410 Sprints were won by AJ Michael, Buckwalter and Ott while Shaffer won the consolation.

 Williams Grove returns to action tonight with the Saturday Night Series with Twin 20s for the Super Sportsman along with 358 late models, street stocks and 4-cylinders.