MECHANICSBURG
 While certain drivers in the pits might not have liked Friday night’s racing surface at Williams Grove Speedway, the fans were treated to one of the best races of the season thanks to feature winner Mark Smith and Greg Hodnett.

 With the hottest day since last August on Friday with temps hitting 90 and the humidity sky high, obviously weather would win out on the track conditions but in the end, it was Smith and Hodnett putting on a thrilling battle over the final 14 laps of the 30-lap Dupont Tyvek, Keystone Cup Sprint Series event.

 And feature winner Smith didn’t even have any idea how much the race paid to win.

 “This isn’t a Speedweek race but I guess it’s the same thing,” said Smith about the race which is part of the first ever Keystone Cup series. “I don’t even know how much it pays tonight.” Smith’s first Williams Grove win for new car owner Mark Coldren paid $5,000.

 Chris Meleason, of Carlisle and Ryan Bohlke started on the front row by virtue of time trials but Meleason’s night ended when the rear axle broke on the start causing cars to scatter all over the front stretch. Doug Esh hit the inside wall and TJ Stutts’ car sustained damage in the melee.

 Hodnett then inherited the pole position and jumped out front early over Brian Leppo.

 Smith started sixth in the Keeler Co MACH 1 Chassis and moved into third with five laps complete.

 Smith drove by Leppo for second spot on the eighth lap and was able to line right up on Hodnett’s bumper when two straight yellow flags on laps 10 and 11 slowed the field.

 Smith actually took the lead in turn two during lap 13 but Hodnett battled back to lead the lap but Smith got the upper hand going into turn three on lap 14 to take the top spot.

 When fifth running Brian Montieth jumped the cushion and spun on the 16th lap, a fuel stop was needed.

 Hodnett then applied heavy pressure to Smith over the next few laps as Smith bounced off the cushion and Hodnett kept the Jim and Sandy Kline owned machine tight on the bottom.

 The two raced side by side through the corners but Smith managed to lead every lap through the checkered flag for the big win.
 “That’s a lot of fun especially when you are racing a guy like Greg,” said Smith, of Selinsgrove. “I’ve had a lot of good races here with Greg and he runs you clean and I try to run him clean. Hopefully he feels the same way.”

 The win was also the first ever win for the homemade built MACH 1 Chassis.

 “I built this car myself and we’re selling them but I can’t build them fast enough to keep up,” said Smith, who is a co-owner of Selinsgrove Speed and Fab, which builds the chassis. “It seems like we’re non-stop doing something and can’t ever get a break but so far, the car’s been pretty good.”

 Smith tied Hodnett as the leading feature winner in Central Pennsylvania this season with three overall. His other two came earlier this year at the Port Royal Speedway.
 Fred Rahmer started 13th after the first lap crash and finished third with fourth going to Jeff Shepard and Leppo finishing in the fifth spot.

 Completing the top 10 were Kevin Nouse, Lucas Wolfe, Stevie Smith, Mike Erdley(who pitted on the first lap) and Bohlke.

 Meleason paced the 36-car field in time trials with a lap of 17.218 seconds.

 Heats were won by Rahmer, Erdley, Lance Dewease and Don Kreitz. Montieth was the B-Main winner.

 The Dupont Tyvek Keystone Cup Series moves to the Lincoln Speedway tonight where it will be Kline Services Night paying $5,500 to win. Joining the 410 Sprints will be the Legends and Thundercars. Race time is 7 p.m.