It's All Hodnett In Selinsgrove Open

It's All Hodnett In Selinsgrove Open

By Brad Vores Sept. 16, 2007

Greg Hodnett turned in a dominating performance in Saturday night’s 30-lap National Open at Selinsgrove Speedway.

The Thomasville driver lined up sixth in the 24-car field and wasted little time in showing his Jim and Sandy Kline owned No. 22 as the car to beat.

The race started with a hard crash on the start that saw Mark Smith and Clark Simonton flip on the front stretch.

Hodnett blew by Doug Esh and Bob Bennett on lap one then got by Sean Michael a lap later.

Hodnett drove around Rick Lafferty for the lead coming off turn four to lead lap the third lap.

Esh’s night ended on the fourth lap in turn two with problems.

Hodnett opened up a big lead over Lafferty until Bob Bennett slowed for another caution on lap eight.

Fred Rahmer’s run into the top five ended with a motor problem on lap 11.

Chad Layton’s car went up in flames on lap 13 as the race was stopped for fuel with Hodnett setting the pace.

Jeff Shepard’s broken axle brought out another yellow on lap 17 wiping out another large lead for Hodnett.

Lucas Wolfe, who started seventh found the power late in the event, moving into third on lap 21 and then raced by Lafferty for second spot with five laps to go when Brian Montieth’s flat tire caused another yellow flag.

Wolfe challenged Hodnett for two laps but Hodnett was able to keep the young Mechanicsburg driver at bay over the final few circuits to bring home the big $10,000 payday for his third career National Open win.

“We probably didn’t have the best car tonight but we were able to get the job done,” said Hodnett, who leads the area with 12 overall wins on the year. “The guys are doing a good job and we’re just trying to get better every week. Things are the same for next season and we just hope to keep improving on things and come out and keep winning races.”

Wolfe’s second place finish gave him the 2008 Selinsgrove 410 Sprint title.

Brian Leppo started 13th and battled a broken front wing the entire night and finished a respectable third over Lafferty and Sean Michael with Lance Dewease, Mike Erdley, Keith Kauffman, Alan Cole and TJ Stutts completing the top 10 finishers.

Smith set fast time over the 32 car field with a lap of 16.547 seconds.

Gary Beward won for the ninth time in pro stock action over Jim Somers, Jr. and AJ Hoffman.

FRY WINS SPORTSMAN 100
What a difference a year makes for JR Fry.

Last September, the Summerdale driver was sitting at home and drinking beer when the Sportsman 100 was being decided at Lincoln Speedway.

This year, Fry dominated the 100 lap event for his first ever win in the race Saturday at Lincoln.

Fry, who was hired to drive for Daine Hursh to pilot the No. 22H machine for the 2007 season, took the lead on lap two and stayed out front for the remainder of the race to score the $4,000 paycheck and an extra $1,000 in lap money for his first win of the season.

While Fry was never challenged while out front, 17th starting Carmen Perigo, Jr. was storming his way through the field. Perigo passed second running Frankie Herr on lap 67 and closed on Fry but Fry was able to bring home the win.

Herr, Danny Hager and 21st starting Derek Locke were the top five followed by Paul Miller, Dave Socks, Jake Raudabaugh, Russ Mitten and Aaron Eichelberger.

Harrisburg’s Kory Sites captured the street stock feature overt Bob Gutshall, Kevin Sigler, Rodney Clouser and Gary Johnston while Neil Smith won the thundercars over Duane Watson, Sam Gallagher, Scott Fisher and Mike Zeigler, Jr.

WITMER ON TOP AGAIN AT SSP
Bud Witmer won for the fourth time in Susquehanna Speedway Park 358 late model action Saturday night.

Witmer led the final 10 laps for the win over Jeremy Knoll, Scott Richwine, Sterling Kinard and 2007 SSP track champion Carl Billet.
Dustin Hollinger was the street stock winner over Scott Thunberg, George Eash, Todd Bowersox and Paul Morgan, who won the 2007 street stock title.

Drew Heistand was the ARDC Midget winner over Ryan Smith and Eric Heydenreich while Jason Rochelle topped Legends car action over Steve Nederostek and Josh Morrow.

Grant Adams topped 4-cylinder action over John Henry and Eric Hollenbach.

OTHER WEEKEND ACTION
Hagerstown Speedway’s Hub City National Open 150 was postponed by Friday night rain. Qualifying took place Saturday night with Jeremy Miller turning in fast time. Gary Stuhler’s main car suffered motor problems and he jumped into a backup Buckler Motorsports car and set second quick time. Miller and Stuhler, both driving for Buckler were scheduled to start on the pole for Sunday night’s first two 50 lappers. Results will appear Thursday.

Bo Gordon continues to dominate 600 Micro action at Shippensburg Speedway with another Saturday night win over Mike Holley, Jeremy Glass, Jay Sheaffer and Lance Newlin.

Other Ship winners were Tommy Grum in thundercars, Wes Hurd, Jr. in mini stocks, Dillon Stake in Cyclones and Jeremy Eutzy in slick track.

Enola’s Jake Murphy had a great weekend at the 600 Micro Nationals at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas as he brought home seventh place finishes in both the preliminary night feature and then again in Saturday’s 30-lap $10,000 to win A-Main which was won by Jerrod Wilson. Mike Dicely had an eighth place finish in the Saturday night finale. Murphy’s brother Ben made both shows as well with finishes of 20th and 15th. A total of 129 cars were in competition.

Friday night racing at Williams Grove and Trail-Way was both rained out. Both tracks will be back in action this Friday night. Friday will serve as the final points race for the 358 sprints at Trail-Way.

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