Brian
Leppo knew it was a long time since he last won at Lincoln Speedway but
he really had no idea just long it had been.
Leppo’s last win at the Abbottstown oval came back in September 2006,
the final season he was aboard the family owned Leppo Racing Inc.
sprinter.
Leppo ended that dry slump with an impressive win last Saturday night
giving car owner Floyd Swope his first win at Lincoln in several seasons
as well.
“I never realized it had been such a dry spell at Lincoln until I read
the morning paper on Sunday,” said Leppo, whose win was his fifth career
win at the track. “I’m just really thankful for my sponsors, both
product and company support who have stuck with me for so long. And my
crew has always been there and work so hard every night and for them to
stay behind me and believe in me through all of the tough times. I just
really wanna give them what they work for and that’s success.”
Leppo joined the Swope Salvage and Recyling team prior to the 2007
racing season and it was that year that Leppo gave Swope his first ever
Williams Grove Speedway and World of Outlaws win all on the same night.
The following year, Leppo won some big races around Central PA but was
shut out of Lincoln again. And last season was just an overall terrible
year for the entire team.
“I know it felt really good giving Floyd his first Grove and Outlaw win
all in the same evening but I do feel really good after the Lincoln
victory as well,” he said. “He and his family business has sponsored a
race car for a really long time and he likes Lincoln and I’m just real
thankful to be a part of his career as his driver. Unfortunately he
missed the win on Saturday night.”
Leppo has been fast right out of the box this season despite two new
components with the team.
MACH-1 chassis and Goodyear Tires have been throw into the mix for the
first time and so far so good, other than Friday night at Williams
Grove, where the team struggled and have put that race in the past.
“With the addition of MACH-1 chassis to the team, I’m thinking we may
have stumbled onto a car manufacturer that is created with extreme
craftsmanship and built with an extreme amount of pride,” stated Leppo,
of the cars built by fellow driver Mark Smith. “Mark puts the most into
everything he builds for us and all of his customers and I’m very
thankful to have the opportunity to run his cars. Steve Smith has our
Penske Shocks up to snuff each and every week as does Lee Myers with our
Rob Cappetta Competition Engines. He has them race ready each and every
week.”
Leppo said the new tire rule hasn’t made that much of a difference.
“The Goodyear Tires are just going to have to work,” he said. “I mean,
we have a mandated tire rule to run them. I do like them and I do feel a
difference. Better or worse, we just need to make our car like them.”
With the addition of Smith, Leppo’s father-in-law as team crew chief
along with his crew and the rest of the components of the team, Leppo
feels everything is in place for a good season.
“We all know the year is very young and a lot can happen, but we are
also aware that we have a really nice package right out of the box and
everyone is very excited about the year, “ said Leppo, whose No. 71 is
sponsored by Swope Salvage, H & H General Excavating, Eastern Caisson
Corp, Route 30 Seafood, Wherley Automotive, Heather’s Nails and Tanning,
June Ellen’s Beauty Salon, the Sub Stop and Bling Salon & Spa. “We are
just looking forward to going out and being competitive at every race we
enter and try to win as many as we can. Anytime you win a race around
here, it’s a big deal because it’s tough to win in PA anymore. We just
need to stay focused and keep working hard as a team.”
Confidence is a big part of it and with a big win in just the second
week of the season, Leppo’s elbows are up and the confidence has
returned, the same confidence he had years ago when he was winning races
and running up front every night. It could be that kind of year.
KASEY KAHNE HEADED TO CENTRAL PA
NASCAR star Kasey Kahne is headed to Central PA to compete this
weekend.
Kahne plans to complete Friday at the Grove and again Saturday at
Lincoln Speedway,
Lincoln officials have changed up the schedule a little this weekend
and will present the Spring Classic for 410 Sprints, paying $4,000 to
win and the lineups will be set according to time trials.
The 358 Sprints are on the card Friday at the Grove with the 410
Sprints while the 358 Sprints and 358 late models are on the program
Saturday at Lincoln.
Trail-Way Speedway opens for the first time this season with Friday
night 358 Sprint car action then back on Saturday with micro sprint
racing.
Port Royal Speedway swings back with 410 Sprints, Super Sportsman and
late models Saturday night while the 358 sprints and roadrunners are
back on the track at Selinsgrove Speedway on Saturday.
Hagerstown Speedway will present a regular show featuring late models
and late model sportsman Saturday night while Path Valley Speedway is in
action Friday night with the 358 late models, 305 Sprints and micro
sprints.
PIT STOPS
More bonus money is up for grabs this season at Williams Grove.
Eshenaur’s Fuels will give a driver a $100 bonus for any driver that
makes a last lap pass for a win in a sprint car race. Of course bonus
money is up for grabs every week from the track depending on starting
position in the feature event…
The Elmer Stoltzfus team and driver Kevin Nouse picked up a new sponsor
in York-based Penn Waste for the 2010 URC sprint tour…
