Local Racing
Larson Boosts Winning Percentage to 50% with Port Royal WoO Triumph
PORT ROYAL, PA (October 9, 2020): Kyle Larson romped to the win on night one of the Nittany Showdown at Port Royal Speedway, The World of Outlaws victory was Larson’s 40th in 80 starts on dirt surfaces in Sprint Cars, Midgets and Late Models.
“I felt good in the dash, really, really, good,” Larson noted. “The balance in the car was a little different in the feature, but I was able to slide the slower cars.” Larson attributed his success to the frequency that he has been able to race with his crew chief, Paul Silva. “This is the most that I’ve ever gotten to race with Paul. We got to race a lot of days in a row and we got into a good rhythm.”
Second place finisher, Danny Dietrich, quipped, “hopefully, this guy goes back to NASCAR and we can be the winner.” Dietrich had one shot at Larson, a restart with ten laps to go, but it turned out to be a blank. “I had to go to the bottom and try to drive across (the middle) but couldn’t get enough speed.” Larson was able to keep his momentum up on the outside line and pulled away to the easy win.
Larson felt that his luck in the draw process was finally starting to improve. He pulled the number one pill for the dash, which meant that he would start first, and he drove effortlessly to victory over Dietrich to set the front row for the A Main. Sheldon Haudenschild lined up third, with Brock Zearfoss next to him. Donny Schatz and Gio Scelzi were in row three, with David Gravel and Anthony Macri in row four. Tony Stewart and James McFadden were in row five, with Kerry Madsen and Lance Dewease in the sixth row.
Larson powered into turn one with the lead on the opening lap, with Dietrich following him. Zearfoss nestled into third. Haudenschild, Scelzi, and Schatz followed. Over the next fourteen laps, the field strung out and there was no movement within the top ten.
The big shake-up came with fifteen laps in the books. There was a five-car skirmish in turn four, seemingly started by Brent Marks. Also involved were Brad Sweet, McFadden, Carson Macedo, and Dewease. All of these racers were between tenth and sixteenth in the running order at the time. Nobody was injured, but Dewease and Macedo were eliminated from the race.
Although Larson’s commanding lead was wiped out by the incident, he was all alone out front for the single-file restart. He was able to get away cleanly, and reeled off the remaining laps without any difficulty.
At the checkers, it was Larson over Dietrich and Haudenschild. Scelzi, zearfoss and Macri were next. Positions seven through ten went to Schatz, Gravel, Freddie Rahmer, Jr., and Madsen.
The four heats went to Schatz, Scelzi, Larson, and Dietrich. Dylan Cisney debuted his new machine and earned the win in the C Main. Logan Schuchart prevailed in the B Main. Larson was the dash victor. The fastest qualifier was Schatz, who topped Group A with a lap of 15.190. Tops in Group B was Haudenschild with a time of 15.349.
Dirt Racing
Hoffman and Fielding Reach the Top in Modified and Pro Stock Points, Respectively; Flick Closing In 410 Sprints; Maskal Still Ahead in Minis
FRANKLIN, PA (August 2, 2022): The big news coming out of Sunday’s event at Tri-City Raceway Park were the changes in the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modified ranks. But the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks also have a new name on the top of the standings. What is more, a battle is brewing for the title in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars!
Jeremiah Shingledecker, the most successful driver in the 358 Modified division, is at the center of the story. He sold the car that carried him to the 2021 title and that was best in class in the first half of the 2022 season. The 37MD now belongs to rookie Austin Eyler. And, if that name sounds familiar, it is because he is kin to former 410 Sprint Car racer Rob Eyler. Well, Eyler stripped off the “MD” and he now campaigns the car as the 37. So, that left Shingledecker without a ride for the balance of the 2022 season at the track.
But wait, there’s more.
Shingledecker signed in to drive the potent Hoffman Door 00 on Sunday. The owner and driver, Kevin Hoffman, was under the weather, so he asked Shingledecker to take the seat for the night. Shingledecker did the Hoffmans proud, taking the wins in his heat and in the feature event.
Under track rules, the points for Shingledecker’s successes were awarded to the car, and not the driver. So, the Hoffman 00 vaulted into first place in the championship standings, as Kevin was the winner before the track had consecutive cancellations due to weather.
It is anticipated that Kevin Hoffman will return to the seat this weekend, so it will be up to him to keep the winning streak alive. But, if he is unable to race again due to his health, he knows that he will have a capable substitute to fill in for him again.
So, the Hoffman 00 sits at the top of the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group standings, thanks to the assist from Jeremiah Shingledecker. Jimmy Holden, who was second to Shingledecker Sunday evening, is second in the season’s standings by just 13 points, so things are not so settled any more. Shingledecker is still third based on his outstanding performances in his own car before it was sold. Nick Joy, who travels down from New York to race at Tri-City, is just eight points back, so he could easily surpass Shingledecker this week. Lonny Riggs, who had a strong top five last week, is now fifth in the standings and he could move up a notch with another good run.
In the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, Pat Fielding now tops the points after getting his first career win in this division. Fielding has been in the Pro Stock game for a decade, just a few years less than his closest rival has been alive. Teenager Tyler Wyant trails by only ten markers, but his DNF (“did not finish”) on Sunday hurt him in the championship tilt. Josh Seippel, Charlie McMillen, and the Boozel brothers complete the top five.
Older brother Ayden Boozel started the season in the family car, wrenched by their grandfather, Bob Sloss, who was a successful Pro Stock driver in his day. But the younger sibling, Quinten, took his turn behind the wheel of the 44B on Sunday and he brought it home in the top five. Not bad for the first-time racer!
In the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars, A.J. Flick moved into second behind former champion Jack Sodeman, Jr. More importantly, Flick shaved a couple of points off the lead. He now trails Sodeman by 23. Just one point further back is Jeremy Weaver, who now drives Bob McMillin’s car re-numbered as 35W. Bob Felmlee and Chase Metheney complete the top five in the winged warriors.
Levi Maskal still sits atop the rankings in the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks. Matt Urey, a recent feature winner, is second. Chad Greeley, D.J. Macrae, and recently engaged Bodey McClintock make up the rest of the top five. Dalton Speer, who regained the winning ways last week, is seventh, behind Dillon Thorne.
The action will start for these racers, and many more, at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 8. Pit gates will open at 2 p.m., and spectators can enter the grandstands at 4 p.m.
Regular event ticket pricing will prevail on Sunday evening. Adult admission, for those aged 16 to 62, will be $15. Seniors (ages 62 and up) will be $13. Student tickets will be $10 for those ages 10 to 16. Children under the age of 10, will be free, as usual. The Family Pass (good for two adults of any age and two students) will be $45. Pit Passes will be $30.
If you cannot make it to the track on August 8, Tri-City Raceway Park will be back in action on August 15 with another Sunday Thunder event, which will include the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprints, the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks.
Then, on August 21, the speedway will host the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Joining the most powerful Late Models on the planet will be the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks. Please note this schedule change.
The track will close out the month of August with another Sunday Thunder program on August 28.
Get ready for the season-ending spectacular to be held over the Labor Day weekend. The activity will start with a practice session on Friday, September 2, with free grandstand admission. Racing will begin on Saturday, September 3, for the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprints, the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks, and the Junior Sprints. All five classes will return for the finale on Sunday, September 4, along with the RUSH Sprint Cars. Camping will be free throughout the weekend, and there will be fireworks and a bonfire Sunday to celebrate the end of the summer.
Further information about Tri-City Raceway Park can be obtained by calling the track office at 724-967-4601, or by e-mailing the office at tricityracewaypark2020@gmail.com. Or, you can check the web at Tri-CityRacewayPark.com, or the Facebook page at Tri City Raceway Park. Tri-City Raceway Park is located just a few miles north of Franklin, PA, at 3430 State Route 417 in Oakland Township.
MECHANICSBURG, PA (July 23, 2022): Brad Sweet made a late race pass of Sheldon Haudenschild and held off a charging Danny Dietrich to earn his first career at the venerable Speedway. The $20,000 check that awaited him as the winner of the Williams Grove Summer Nationals was just his second one of the season, the first coming way back in March at Vado, New Mexico.
While Sweet has not racked up very many wins, his consistency has kept him atop the season standings in his quest for a fourth World of Outlaws championship. “This has been a weird year, it’s teh Summer Nationals, and I just got my second win, and it’s at Williams Grove,” he said enthusiastically. Sweet conceded that the track does not suit his driving style and he has had to use both of his feet, one for the throttle and the other for the brake. He added that the team assembled a special car for Williams Grove and “the next race for it will be the National Open.”
Despite the rain delay of nearly two hours, the track was in remarkable condition. “It was a great race, a great track, you could move around a lot.” Sweet thought that he found something in the middle of the track that enabled him to catch and pass Sheldon Haudenschild, who was committed to the top. But, what Sweet did not realize was that the track also had a good bottom groove, and it was used by Dietrich to take second. What is more, Dietrich caught Sweet on the last lap, bringing the Pennsylvania faithful to their feet in the hope that the Posse member could steal the win.
But, it was not to happen this night. “I’m happy to be second,” Dietrich said. “We were running the same line, and I think I may have used up my tire.” Dietrich did agree that the track was outstanding. “When it gets slick, it is fun.”
The final podium spot went to Haudenschild, who took over the lead on lap six and held it for twenty-two circuits of the half mile. Speaking of his preferred high line, Haudenschild noted, “I think it was alright. I had my wing back and I had to start cheating in three,” meaning that he had to enter lower than he would have preferred and let the car slide up to catch the cushion. Haudenschild added that he was looking forward to returning for the National Open, in October, “I feel like as long as you qualify good and can get in the dash, you have a chance to win.”
SARVER, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Daryl Charlier led all 30-laps to win the RUSH Late Model Series victory Friday night at Lernerville Speedway. Charlier started on the outside of the front row and used the high side to his advantage to claim the $3,000-main event win.
“It feels really good, especially here, I love racing here,” said Charlier. “We’ve struggled with the setup for a while, we tried some stuff at Sharon and was able to come home with third, we ran the same thing here with little minor adjustments and, glad we were able to pull it off.”
Jeremy Wonderling finished second and Kyle Lukon came home in third.
Isaac Chapple made it two-in-a-row at ‘The Action Track’ taking the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (BOSS) feature win. The victory was the first in 2022 for Chapple, who also won the 2021 BOSS feature.
“Nothing feels like winning, it’s good to finally get it done,” said Chapple. “The racetrack was a lot different than last year when we were here, we’re usually pretty good when it gets slick like this, but those guys were racing so hard in front of me, it took me a while to get a clear lane.”
John Mollick picked up his second career win in a RUSH Sprint Car Friday night. Mollick passed Brian Hartzell on lap 13 and was happy to get the win.
“I can’t believe we just won on that racetrack,” said Mollick. “This class is getting tougher and tougher every year, everybody’s picking up their game and learning. It’s a struggle to keep up with these guys, these young kids are coming up quick.”
Garrett Krummert passed Rob Kristyak with two laps-to-go to win the RUSH Sportsman Modified victory. Kristyak faded to third after being passed by Ayden Cipriano on the last lap.
Greg Dobrosky took home the victory in the Allegheny Sprint Tour 305 feature.
Scott Dixon wins NTT INDYCAR SERIES Music City Grand Prix; Moves to 2nd in Championship
Kevin Harvick wins NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan
Reutzel Richer at Knoxville
Pato O’Ward wins 2nd race of INDYCAR doubleheader after Newgarden crashes
Brown Bags Second Prelim at Knoxville
Posse Proud
Scott Dixon wins in Toronto; ties Mario Andretti for 2nd in All-time INDYCAR wins
OPINION – Chip Ganassi, Scott Dixon and Mike Hull’s leadership put focus back on-track in Toronto
Logan Zarin gets first career Super Late Model win at Lernerville
