PORT ROYAL
 Kevin Nouse did what he had to do Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway.

 Nouse captured the final 25-lap points race for the 410 Sprints but the Lewisberry driver came up 35 points short to Keith Kauffman in the battle for the 2007 Port Royal track championship.

 Nouse took advantage of Lucas Wolfe’s bad luck late in the race to put together his third win of the year but it was 57-year-old Kauffman clinching his 13th career track championship with his seventh place feature finish.

 “Lucas Wolfe probably had the fastest car here tonight but his car fell to pieces three laps too early,” said Nouse, who actually lost 50 points in the points battle after missing the Memorial Day Keystone Cup race at the track when his son Logan was in the hospital. “I feel bad for him but you take these anyway you can get them and it feels good to win. You never know when this deal is going to end. You never know if tomorrow you’re going to have a ride or next week or whatever. So you have to enjoy it while you are here and we are going to enjoy this one.”

 Nouse made it known early that he meant business as he blasted from his 10th starting spot into third place by the completion of lap one.
 Justin Seigler set the pace  with Nouse taking the runner-up spot on lap 10 with Wolfe, who started 12th following into third spot.

 Wolfe moved by Nouse in traffic on lap 12 then made a bold move on Seigler in turn one on the next lap to move out front in the Allebach Racing sprinter.

 Nouse stayed glued to Wolfe’s bumper until Alan Cole’s smoking car brought out a yellow flag on lap 20.

 Wolfe’s great run went sour on the next lap when the top wing panel on his race car flew off bringing out a yellow flag. Under caution on the next lap, Wolfe’s left rear tire went flat sending him to the pits for a tire change.

 Nouse assumed command and was able to hold off defending Port Royal champion Mike Erdley for the win, his fourth overall this season in Bryan Golden’s Womex, Inc., Golden’s Roofing Supply, John Gleim Excavating, Theo’s Bar and Grill, Gold’s Gym, Fineline Auto Body, Rider Racing Engines No. 12.

 “I wanted to get back here before the end of the year,” said Nouse after the $2,700 win. “We started off like gangbusters then we hit a big slump. I knew we could get back here because we have a great team and great car owner in Bryan Golden. All we need is people to believe in us and this group of people standing right here believe in us.”

 Nouse was honored to be in a tight points battle with Kauffman, the all time winningest driver at the Port.

 “Congratulations to Keith and his team,” he said. “He’s a helluva driver and I’ve never had any problems with him and I he’s never had any with me. I have a lot of respect for him and to be mentioned with guys like with Keith Kauffman and Mark Smith in  my first full year in these things, is a total honor.”

 Todd Shaffer finished third with 17th starting Greg Hodnett bringing home the fourth place finish. Fifth went to Mark Smith over Mike Wagner, Kauffman, Craig Keel, Clark Simonton and Matt Horst.

 Hodnett and the J & S Fabrication team competed at Port Royal after crew chief Moon Byers and Hodnett both received fines from the track this week. The team is planning on heading to Lernerville and Sharon this coming weekend for All Star Sprint car competition.
 Heats for the 29 sprints were won by Seigler, Nouse and Bob Howard with Dave Hahn winning the consolation.

 Port Royal returns on Monday afternoon September 3 with the annual Labor Day Classic as part of the Juniata County Fair.