MECHANICSBURG
 Jeff Shepard more than lived up to his nickname “The Jet” Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway.

 Shepard blasted by leader Fred Rahmer on lap 17 of the 25-lap 410 Sprint car feature and ran away and hid from the field in his first win of the season at the track in the John and PeeWee Zemaitis owned sprinter.

 Pat Cannon piloted the Zane and Vicki Highlands owned No. 3 sprinter to its third win of the year in the 20-lap 358 Sprint car feature.

 “My grandmother could have driven this car tonight,” said Shepard after destroying the field for his ninth career Williams Grove victory. “We’ve been right there all year and this is only our second win but I feel like we could have ten by now. But the guys had this car perfect tonight. I could drive it anywhere on the track.”

 Shepard was buried midpack in the 12th spot for the start of the feature event.

 Bob Bennett led early as Rahmer was the man on the move early in the event.

 Rahmer, still looking for his first Grove win of the year moved into third place on the third lap and then five laps later, disposed of Chris Meleason for the runner-up spot with a move in turn two.

 Rahmer then drove under Bennett for the lead a lap later as Shepard moved into the top five on the same lap.

 While Rahmer stretched his lead over Bennett, Shepard took third on the 10th lap and a lap later moved Bennett back to third.
 Rahmer held a three-second advantage over Shepard on the 11th lap but Shepard’s Zemco Speed Equipment Maxim was the fastest car on the track at this point.

 He cut into Rahmer’s lead lap after lap and worked around some lapped traffic before making the race winning move on the 17th lap off the second turn.

 Shepard’s win moved him back on top of the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass sprint car point standings and he is hoping to carry the momentum into next week’s invasion by the World of Outlaws for the Cleveland Brothers Summer Nationals.

 “The track has been real good lately and hopefully this will give us an edge next week,” the Upperco, Maryland driver stated. “I think we can race with those guys and if I have a car like I did tonight, I will feel real good about coming out here next week and putting on a good show.”
 Rahmer, of Salfordville was second but it was Phoenixville’s Brian Montieth thrilling the crowd once again with his 18th to third performance and he was coming in a hurry, finishing right behind Rahmer.

 Fourth went to Liverpool’s TJ Stutts over Harrisburg’s Chad Layton with Lance Dewease, Mark Smith, Ryan Bohlke, Don Kreitz and Bennett completing the top 10 finishers.

 Cannon started 12th in the 358 sprint car feature as JR Fry set the early pace in the Daine Hursh owned sprinter.

 Cannon moved into second place on lap 13 and a lap later passed Fry, of Summerdale for the race lead.

 Cannon then drove away for his sixth overall win this season in the Highlands Tire and Service, Newville Construction Services sponsored entry.

 Fry, Cory Haas, Carlisle’s Dave Calaman and Stewart Smith were the top five finishers with Mechanicsburg’s Derek Locke sixth over Craig Myers, Chad Criswell, Glenndon Forsythe and Adrian Shaffer.

 Bennett, Meleason and Bohlke won heats for the 28 sprint cars with Mike Erdley winning the consolation.

 Shaffer, Fry, Chad Myers and Smith were 358 sprint heat winners. Mike Walter and Nate Hammaker were the consolation winners for the 38-car field.

 Williams Grove returns to action tonight with a 358 late model championship along with street stocks and 4-cylinders at 7pm.