ABBOTTSTOWN
To say that Lucas Wolfe is enjoying the Dupont Tyvek Keystone Cup Sprint
Series would be an understatement.
The young Mechanicsburg driver came out on top of a thrilling four car
battle for the lead to win his first career Sprint car feature at Lincoln
Speedway on Saturday night.
Wolfe’s win was the second of the Keystone Cup series with his other coming
on Thursday night at Big Diamond Raceway.
Wolfe thanked fellow driver Brian Leppo for aiding in his win.
“I have to thank Brian Leppo for the pill draw and the misfortune of two
other drivers not qualifying to put us on the pole tonight,” said Wolfe in
front of a huge Lincoln crowd on Kline Services Night. “It put us on the
pole. Some nights this deal works out for you and tonight it put us on the
front row and we were able to stay up there.”
Wolfe led the first two laps of the 30-lap feature before yielding to
defending Lincoln track champion Doug Esh on lap three.
A red flag was needed on lap four for a fuel spill following a three car
crash involving Cody Darrah, Bobby Weaver and Jeff Busby.
Esh continued to set the pace while Wolfe closed the gap at the halfway
point of the event and would make the race winning move on lap 16 after
driving by Esh entering the third turn.
With slower traffic playing into the mix, Wolfe held a slight advantage
over Lance Dewease, who got around Esh for the runner up spot on lap 18. Esh
and seventh starting Greg Hodnett were also in the mix for the top spot
until a yellow flag for Brian Montieth, whose car suffered a flat tire on
the 19th lap.
The yellow was a big break for Wolfe who then drove away from Dewease over
the final 11 laps for the win in the Jim and Laura Allebach owned, Beerhill
Gang No. 5W.
“After Doug got by me, I just slowed down and hit my lines, and it’s always
tough in lapped traffic,” said Wolfe, who earned $5,500 for his win. “After
that restart, I kinda tried to slow down so I wouldn’t have to get back into
traffic but I knew Lance was in second so you can’t waste too much time. I’m
just very happy to finally win a race at Lincoln Speedway.”
Dewease, of Fayetteville finished in the runner-up spot with Esh of
Lancaster settling for third over Thomasville’s Hodnett and current track
points leader Rahmer of Salfordville.
Keith Kauffman, Cory Haas, Niki Young, Mark Smith and Brian Leppo completed
the top 10 finishers.
Following his Lincoln win, Wolfe is the current points leader of the
Keystone Cup series with 523 points over Rahmer (516), Hodnett (488), Smith
(415) and Leppo (346). Wolfe is not planning on running the finale at Port
Royal on Monday as the team is expected to head to New York’s Rolling Wheels
Speedway for a World of Outlaw show.
Leppo paced the 41-car field during time trials with a lap of 13,155
seconds
Heats for the sprints were won by Hodnett, Rahmer, Young and Todd Shaffer.
The B-Main went to Steve Buckwalter.
The Dupont Tyvek Keystone Sprint Series tour continues tonight at
Selinsgrove Speedway with a 7 p.m. start and will conclude tomorrow with a 1
p.m. start at the Port Royal Speedway.
Lincoln Speedway
30-lap Keystone Cup 410 Sprint
1. Lucas Wolfe, 2. Lance Dewease, 3. Doug Esh, 4. Greg Hodnett,
5. Fred Rahmer,
6. Keith Kauffman, 7. Cory Haas, 8. Niki Young, 9. Mark Smith,
10. Brian Leppo,
11. Steve Buckwalter, 12. Todd Shaffer, 13. TJ Stutts, 14. Kevin
Nouse, 15. Mike Erdley,
16. Chris Knopp, 17. Nick Schlauch, Jr., 18. Stevie Smith, 19.
Brian Montieth, 20. Alan Cole,
21. Bobby Weaver, 22. Cody Darrah, 23. Jeff Busby, 24. Jim
Siegel.
Did Not Qualify: Brooke Tatnell, Don Kreitz, Jr., Doug Dodson,
Alan Krimes, Mike Bittinger,
Bob Bennett, Craig Keel, Josh Wells, Bob Howard, John Rudisill,
Joe Ilg, Bill Brian, Jr.,
Jonathon Eriksen, Cris Eash, Joey Hershey, Pat Cooper, Steve
Clabaugh. |