PORT ROYAL
 Jim Nace knew he would have a tough time of just running the bigger sprint car shows in Central Pennsylvania with his driver Sean Michael. It was going to be a tough task competing against the weekly full time races that this area has to offer.

 Nace, along with “Bus Nace” put Michael in their car to run the high profile 410 Sprint car races this season and so far, they have been pretty successful.

 Successful to the tune of $30,000 as Michael raced his way by Greg Hodnett on the 48th lap of Saturday night’s 50-lap Dream Race Extreme at Port Royal Speedway.

 Michael hounded Hodnett for the final 25 laps of the biggest race in Port Royal history before taking the upset win in front of a capacity crowd. 

 For Michael, it’s rejuvenated what was a near-dead sprint car career. For his car owner Nace, it’s keeping him in good spirits as he battles cancer.

 “A couple of years back, Zemco fired me and I really didn’t have the drive to race back then,” said Michael, a professional firefighter from Coplay, Pa. “I really didn’t even want to come to the races back then. But Jimmy Nace called me this spring and asked me if I wanted to drive this car. Now I want to race more than ever and I think it shows in my driving. I’m up on the wheel more than ever.”

 Michael started eighth in the field as Mike Wagner set the early pace.

 Stevie Smith was the man on the move early in the event, moving into second place on the ninth lap. Smith’s good run ended with motor problems on lap 12.

 Hodnett, who set fast time over the 48-car field, took the lead from Wagner on lap 15 and set sail until Lucas Wolfe was spun out on the 24th lap.

 Michael had moved into second spot on the 21st and applied heavy pressure to Hodnett for the remainder of the race.

 Michael tried to get around Hodnett on the outside on lap 36 but Hodnett was up to the challenge and pulled away from the Nace Bus Service, Charlie Garrett powered Schnee chassis.

 Michael was able to track the leader down and moved until Hodnett off the fourth turn on lap 47. He entered turn one under Hodnett, who had no choice but to slide out of the bottom groove as Michael sped away for the big payday.

 “I knew it was going to come down the final laps because he wised up to my moves earlier in the race,” said Michael. “I got out of the rubber and got down on the bottom and I just hoped we didn’t crash because I wasn’t lifting when we got into one.”

 Nace was thrilled about the popular win.

 “Everyone told me it would be difficult to be competitive to run just the big races and I knew that but this is all we have,” said the veteran driver. “What you see is what we got. Charlie Garrett has supplied us with one heck of a motor and Brian Schnee built us a good car.”

 Nace and company headed to Knoxville for the Knoxville Nationals following their big win.

 “I told the boys this week we were coming in here to get the thirty thousand and head to Knoxville with it,” Nace added.

 Hodnett settled for the $12,000 runner-up paycheck with Wagner finishing third over Jeff Shepard and Mike Erdley.

 Mark Smith, Fred Rahmer, Todd Shaffer, Doug Esh and Brian Leppo were the top 10 finishers.

 Hodnett won Thursday night’s Extreme Race qualifier at the Port with a late race pass on Esh for his second win of the year at the Port.
 Esh, Shaffer, Leppo and Mark Smith were the top five finishers.


WANNER TOPS GROVE
 Stan Wanner won for the first time this season in Super Sportsman action at Williams Grove Speedway.

 Wanner inherited the lead on lap 16 when Dave Berkheimer lost a wheel and then held off Gregg Foster on the final lap for the win. Dave Socks, Frankie Herr and Rich Eichelberger were the top five finishers.

 Randy Croop captured his first 358 late model win of the year over Shaun Jones, Gene Knaub, Derrick Zirkle and Pat Beard.

 Kory Sites topped Rodney Clouser to win the street stock main while John Stoll, Jr. won the 4-cylinders over Kevin Thomas.


ROHRBAUGH WINS AT LINCOLN
 Jeff Rohrbaugh nursed a sputtering motor Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway and captured his second 358 Sprint car win of the year.

 Rohrbaugh held off Matt Boland, Danny Dietrich, Cory Haas and Aaron Ott for the win.

 Craig Wagaman ended Nat Tuckey’s win streak with his first thundercar win of the year over Duane Watson, Neil Smith, Tuckey and Ronnie Thomas.

 Mark Jago won the All American Outlaws feature.


KELLEHER TAKES THIRD WIN
 Larry Kelleher won for the third time in 358 Sprint action Saturday at Selinsgrove Speedway.

 Kelleher took the lead on lap four and held off track points leader Blane Heimbach for the win with Carlisle drivers Dave Calaman and Jason Shultz next in line over Matt Miller.

 Coleby Frye was the late model winner over Brett Schadel, Chris Shuey, Jeff Smith and Tony Adams.

 Gary Beward was the pro stock winner while Ray Rothfuss won the roadrunners.


WITMER TOPS SSP
 Bud Witmer captured his second 358 late model win of the year Saturday at Susquehanna Speedway Park over Richard Walls, Sterling Kinard, Carl Billet and Steve Billet.

 Newville’s Wes Alleman won the street stock feature over Todd Bowersox and Eric Walker while Smoke Christine was the Xtreme Stock car winner.


OTHER WEEKEND RACING
 Troy Funck, Jr. captured his first career 358 Sprint car feature Friday at Trail-way Speedway. He held off Rohrbaugh for the win with Brian Eichelberger, Tim Wagaman and Danny Dietrich the top five finishers.

 Josh Richards topped the Independent Racing Series late model 40 lap feature Saturday at Hagerstown Speedway over JT Spence, Robbie Blair, Gary Stuhler and Jason Covert.

 Bo Gordon picked up the 600 Micro Sprint feature at Shippensburg Speedway on Saturday over Tim Dietz, Greg Kone, Jim Dawson and Jim Young.

 Ryan Greth topped Trail-Way Speedway 600 Micro Sprint competition Saturday night over Todd Carmichael, Keith McIntyre, Brent Marks and Jake Murphy.

 Mark Watkins was the PA 305 Sprint car winner Friday at Path Valley Speedway over Mike Freet, Craig Laudermilch, George Riden and Michael Wagner.

 Jim Brookens took the win in the 600 Micros over Heath Hehnly, Greth, Kevin Steele and Tom Naylor while Hehnly took the 270 Micro Sprint win over Sean McAndrew, Sean Stolz, Steve Dunmire and Levi Peck.

 Selinsgrove Speedway’s Sunday night program was rained out.