It didn’t take Danny Dietrich long to give his new car owner
his first career 410 Sprint car feature win.
Dietrich led all 25 laps of Saturday night’s 25-lap 410 Sprint
car main at Lincoln Speedway to give his rookie sprint car owner
Gary Kauffman that first ever win.
Dietrich also became the fifth different winner in as many
races this season in the Pigeon Hills.
“He counted on me during the winter to get this deal started
and he’s given me everything we need to run up front,” said
Dietrich, who won two sprint car mains last year during his
rookie campaign. “We just have had some rough luck and some
stupid decisions on my part this season but I think we’ve got
the bugs worked out now where we hopefully can keep it up front
every week.”
Dietrich missed a few crashes during the first few laps of the
feature and was able to hold off 410 rookie driver Brad
McClelland for the $3,000 first place prize.
Josh Wells spun on the initial start and then on the restart,
front row starters Kevin Nagy and Tim Glatfelter got together
and collected Kyle Moody, Adam Wilt and Brian Leppo.
Two time track champion Brian Montieth spun on lap two and on
the following restart, Doug Dodson spun collecting Leppo, Doug
Esh and Wells.
Once the dust settled, Dietrich grabbed the lead as Montieth
was marching his way back through the field, moving into eighth
spot by lap eight.
Chad Layton stopped on the front stretch to bring out a caution
on lap 10 and Montieth took his sprinter to the pits with
mechanical problems.
McClelland applied pressure on the restart but Dietrich was up
to the challenge and pulled away until the final yellow on lap
18 for Fred Rahmer, who was spun out by Daryn Pittman.
It was all Dietrich over the final seven laps as he scored the
win by 1.714 seconds over the Westminster, MD driver.
“The car was good tonight but I was a little cautious on the
restarts because I know Brad was back there and he ain’t no
rookie,” said “DD”. “I know what happens when you screw up going
into one so I just tried to put it up against the wall and not
screw up.”
Dietrich’s win was his first top five finish of the season at
Lincoln in the Sandoe’s Fruit Market No. 48 Sprinter.
“If we can keep it going in the right direction, we’ll be
okay,” said the young Aspers racer. “I’m just trying to adapt to
the new cars and new motors but I think we’re headed the right
way now.”
McClelland’s finish was his best in a 410 sprint as last week’s
winner Aaron Ott, of East Berlin came from 12th to finish third
over Fayetteville’s Lance Dewease, who started 20th and Tower
City’s Mark Smith, who started 18th.
Completing the top 10 finishers were Pittman, Johnny Mackison,
Jr., Brent Marks, Gerard McIntyre, Jr. and Wilt.
York's Jeff Rohrbaugh took the lead on lap 14 and went onto
win his second 20-lap 358 Sprint car feature of the season. He
defeated early racer leader Jason Clauss, John Barnett, Doug
Hammaker and Dale Hammaker.
Will Walls won the 20-lap thundercar feature over Gino Comi,
Larry Neiderer, Brian Walls and Jamie Zentmyer.
Tim Glatfelter, Danny Dietrich and Kyle Moody were heat race
winners for the 410 Sprints. The consolation went to Cory Haas.
There were 30 cars pitside.
Amy Ott, Jason Clauss, Troy Becker and Nicole Bower won heats
for the 41 358 Sprint cars in competition. The two consolations
were won by Billy Johns and Chad Trout.
Lincoln Speedway returns to action next Saturday night with the
same program of 410 Sprints, 358 Sprints and thundercars
beginning at 7pm.
PIT STOPS…Port Royal and Selinsgrove Speedway both canceled
Saturday night programs. Port Royal sustained damage from Friday
nights storm while Selinsgrove cited cold and windy conditions
as their reason for cancellation…
