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Dirt Racing

Smith Takes Kauffman Classic at Port Royal

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Photo: Paul Arch

PORT ROYAL, PA (April 26, 2025): Ryan Smith, of Reading, PA, led twenty-nine of thirty laps to claim his first career Keith Kauffman Classic at the Port Royal Speedway. Smith’s second win of the season, and second win since being reunited with car owner Don Kreitz, Jr. and chief mechanic Davey Brown, was worth a cool $15,000.

Also grabbing wins on this night were Christian Bruno in the USAC East Coast Sprints, and Tony Jackson in the Wingless Sportsmen.

“This was definitely the biggest win of my career,” Smith said elatedly.

Smith had to fight off a late race challenge from Chase Dietz, who was gunning for his first career victory at the Speed Palace. “He came inside of me in turn one,” Smith observed, “but I was able to roll through the middle to hold him off.”

“The track was really technical, lots of bumps and small holes,” Smith noted. Nonetheless, he had no difficulty maneuvering in the inside and middle lanes.

The front row for the event, run in honor of the track’s most prolific driver, had Kasey Kahne and Lucas Wolfe on the front row. Brenham Crouch and Ryan Smith made up row two. Red hot Anthony Macri and Troy Wagaman, Jr. covered row three. Brock Zearfoss, the evening’s fastes qualifier, and John Karklin were the last two participants eligible for the redraw. Chas Dietz and Justin Whittal claimed row five, followed by Jeff Halligan and Lance Dewease.

The leaders were three wide entering turn one on the opening lap. Wolfe emerged with the lead, but Smith was close behind him. Kahne held third, followed by Wagaman, Crouch, Zearfoss, Dietz, Macri, Karklin, and Halligan. On the second lap, Smith used his preferred line to take the lead from Wolfe coming through turn two. Wolfe remained in second through lap twenty. Meanwhile, Dewease was picking his way through the top ten.

Wolfe got shuffled back a couple of positions on lap twenty-one. Dietz and Dewease moved ahead of him.

On lap twenty-three, debris from Zearfoss’ car led to the only caution of the contest. Despite losing the right sideboard from his top wing, Zearfoss stayed out on the track. However, he was unable to keep pace with the other cars in the top ten when the race resumed.

Smith scooted away from Dietz when the green light flashed on again. Dewease was pressing Dietz for second, and Dewease did claim the position briefly. Dietz was able to reclaim the spot though.

Smith got hung up in lapped traffic in the final laps. That enabled Dietz to close in. The two veterans raced hard, with Dietz trying a slider in turn one on lap twenty-eight. Smith was up for the challenge and scooted away. Dietz went back to the top in an effort to chase him down again, but he brushed the outside wall between turns one and two on the final trips around the speedway. Dewease dropped to the inside, but could not complete a pass for second.

At the checkers, it was Smith over Dietz and Dewease. Macri was fourth, and Wolfe held on for fifth. Positions six through ten went to Wagaman, Kahne, Danny Dietrich (up from eighteenth), and Logan Wagner.

Smith, Macri, Crouch, and Karklin were the heat winners. Gerard McIntyre, Jr. won the B Main. Zearfoss’ quick time was 15.832 seconds.

The second feature called to the post was for the USAC East Coast 360 Sprint Cars. The pole belonged to Dale Schweikart, who had the only 305 Sprint in the field. Next to him was Ed Aiken. National touring series racer Briggs Danner aand Bruce Buckwalter were in row two. Kenny Miller, III and Steve Drevicki departed from row three. Behind them were Chris Allen, Jr. and Tommy Kunsman. In row five Mike D’Agostino, who made the long trip from Massachusetts, and Tim Glatfelter. Row six paired Christian Bruno with Jason Cherry.

Schweikart got a good jump and led teh field into turn one. However, his underpowered machine could not hold off Danner, who surged ahead coming through turn two. Aiken and Miller also moved ahead of Schweikart on the opening lap, while Drevicki and Buckwalter fought for fifth.

Three Rivers Karting

Miller maneuvered past Aiken in turn two to take second on lap two. Soon thereafter, Drevicki, D’Agostino, and Buckwalter shuffled Scweikart back in the running order. Surprisingly, Schweikart remained in the top ten through the only caution in the event, on lap ten for the disabled cars of Tony Jackson and Billy Ney.

When the race git going again, Danner led Miller and Drevicki. There was an intense three-car battle for fourth involving Aiken, Buckwalter, and Bruno. At times the three racers were side by side ny side! By the midpoint in the race, Bruno clawed his way to fourth with Aiken and Buckwalter trailing.

As Miller continued to stalk Danner for the lead, Bruno was making progress. With five to go, there was a three car tussle for the lead. Bruno took second one lap later and now it was his turn to chase Danner.

Danner got hung up behind a lapped car coming off turn two, and that opened the door for Bruno, He ducked under both of them to take the lead racing to turn three.

Bruno led the final laps to take the win over Danner and Miller. Drevicki was fourth, followed by Aiken. Cherry, Mike Haggenbottom, Kyle Spence, Kunsman, and Allen completed the top ten.

The pair of heat victories went to Danner and Allen. There was no B Main.

Bruno explained that he tried the top groove early, but he could not get his car going properly. “I found the bottom down here (pointing toward turn one) first.” Then, he added, he “took a lesson from the 69k and did the slow roll around the bottom.” He added that his only concern was when he closed in on Drevicki around lap fifteen. “When you show him your nose like I did, he’ll come down and take your line away.”

The twenty lapper for the Wingless Sportsmen was the final event of the night. Dexter Ehrenzeller and ageless Steve Wilbur paced the field, with Brandon Shearer and Tony Jackson in row two. The third row belonged to Brett Perigo and Curt Stroup. The fourth consisted of Billy Brian, Jr. and Trent Yoder. Row five matched Kevin Gutshall with Try]oy Rhome. In row six were Jay Fannasy and Craig Perigo.

It took three tries to get the final started. The initial start was waived off due to the flip by Fannasy in turn one. Debris near the flag stand accounted for the second attempt.

On the one that counted, Wilbur wrestled the lead from Ehrenzeller in turn one. Jackson moved into second entering turn three. Stroup held down fourth, with Stroup in fifth. Ehrenzeller reclaimed second in the early going, with Yoder up to fourth and Stroup in fifth.

The lone caution appeared on lap five for a spin by Brett Perigo.

On the restart, moved back into second in turn two. He chased Wilbur for the next ten laps before nipping him at the scoring loop on lap fifteen.

Jackson led the final five rounds, with Wilbur staying within striking distance. Bill Brian advanced to third in the second half of the contest. Ehrenzeller was fourth, followed by Yoder. Stroup, Craig Perigo, Rhome, Shearer, and Cliff Brian, Jr. rounded out the top ten.

Wilbur and Bill Brian split the heat victories. There was no B Main.

Port Royal Speedway will host the Lucas Oile Late Model Dirt Series on Sunday, April 27. Saturday action will be held on May for the 410 and 305 Sprints and the Limited Late Models. The track will be dark on May 10 in respect to the World of Outlaws events at Williams Grove Speedway. Saturday racing will resume on May 17, with the Super Late Models back in action along with the 410 Sprints and the Winged Super Sportsmen. Then, the much anticipated Weikert Memorial Weekend will be held May 23-25 for the High Limit Sprint Car Series.

Dirt Racing

Rahmer and Norris Get Second Wins of the Season at Lincoln Speedway in Fallen Firefighters Memorial

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Photo: Jeremy Zarfos

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 17, 2025): A brief delay for a passing shower did not dampen the spirits of those attending the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway. Freddie Rahmer, Jr. fought off a desperate late race charge from Chase Dietz to bank $6,000 for the 410 Sprints. Dylan Norris rebounded from a disappointing run in that race to capture the 358 Sprint finale, collecting in excess of $1,500 for his efforts. For each driver, it was their second victory of the season in the Pigeon Hills.

Rahmer had no idea that Dietz was closing until he saw the nose of car a split second before he lost the lead at the scoring loop. However, Rahmer rallied to regain the lead in turn three heading for the white flag. Dietz wasn’t quite finished, though, as he dove low off turn four heading for the checkers. Rahmer nipped him at the line to score the exciting win.

Rahmer, who rode the rim for most of the race, said that he was starting to struggle with the lapped cars. So, when the field aligned for teh final restart with six laps remaining, he decided to move to the bottom groove. He thought that there would be some clean rubber there. However, he added, “it slowed the pace down too much.” Then, after Dietz charged by on the insdide, Rahmer moved up to the middle of the track, picking up enough speed to drive by on the back stretch so he could close the door at the entry to turn three.
Dietz, who came so close to picking up his second win of the weekend, commented that he waited too long to move back to the top after passing Rahmer for the lead.

With the starting line-up determined by PA Speedweek procedures, Rahmer was fortunate to draw the pole position. He was flanked by Aaron Bollinger. Matt Campbell and Kyle Moody were in row two. The last driver in the re-draw, Tyler Ross, was inside of row three, with Ashton Torgerson as his runningmate. Cameron Smith and point leader Troy Wagaman, Jr. made up row four. The fifth belonged to Ryan Newton and Brandon Rahmer. Then came Chad Trout and Chris Frank.

Rahmer, Jr. claimed the early lead over Bollinger, Moody, Campbell, Torgerson, Ross, Wagaman, Smith, Brandon Rahmer, and Frank. While the first three ran in single file formation, Torgerson, Campbell, and Ross were battling for the fourth spot. Torgerson took iy moments before the first caution, on lap four, for a spin by Dallas Schott to turn four.

Campbell regained the position soon after the race resumed. When the leaders entered lapped traffic, Campbell began to gain on them.

He moved into third by lap eighteen, the midpoint of the race. After another brief stoppage, on lap twenty-one, Campbell moved into second. Although he got within a car length of Rahmer, Jr., Campbell could not make a move for the lead.

Campbell was not the only racer making progress in the event. Dietz, who started thirteenth, was running in the middle of the pack through the first half of the contest. In the second half, though, his car came to life, and he began to move ahead.

He was sitting eighth for the restart on lap twenty-one, and he cracked the top five by lap thirty, when the final caution was displayed.
When the green light came on again, Dietz was ready. He picked off Moody and Bollinger almost immediately. Soon thereafter, be shot past Campbell. The excitement built as he closed in on Rahmer. As the lead duo crossed the scoring loop for lap thirty-three, Dietz was a nose ahead of Rahmer, Jr. Dietz cleared him in turn one, but Rahmer fought back. Rahmer got a good run down the backstretch and he was able to shut the door on Dietz entering turn three,

Three Rivers Karting

Rahmer stayed in the middle groove and Dietz went back to the top. He built some moementum on the final lap and turned under Rahmer coming through the final corner. Dietz came up short in the stretch run by .045 seconds.

Campbell crossed in third, followed by Bollinger, and Moody. Torgerson, Wagaman, Ross, Smith, and Newton rounded out the top ten.

The three heat winners were Moody, Campbell, and Bollinger. They each picked up $100. Kody Hartlaub won the B Main. He also earned a $500 bonus as the evening’s fastest qualifier with a lap of 14.430 seconds. Dietz was the hard charger, good for an extra $400.

In the nightcap for the 358 Sprint Cars, Ayden Hare and Bo Gordon drew the front row. Jude Siegel and Seth Schnoke were in the second row, followed by Aistin Reed and Ashley Cappetta. However, a multi-car tangle in turn one on the opening lap substantially altered the remainder of the line-up.

When the race got going, Hare led Gordon, Cameron Merriman, Cappetta, Siegel, Dylan Norris, Andy Best, Frankie Herr, Jayden Wolf, and James Roselli. Merriman quickly moved into second and took over the point on lap four. Norris followed into third.

Cautions on laps seven, nine, and ten interrupted the flow of the race, but they did not dter the advancement of Norris into second position.

Norris charged past Merriman on lap eleven and was never headed.

Merriman held on for second and Hare for third, followed by Gordon and Cappetta. Siegel, Wolf, Best, Herr, and Steve Owings completed the top ten.

The four heat wins, with an undisclosed bonus for each winner, went to Tyler Ulrich, Herr, Austin Reed, and Norris. Chase Guttshall won the B Main. Owings received the $200 hard charger bonus.

Next week, Lincoln Speedway presents the Bob Leiby Memorial for 410 Sprint Cars joined by the Limited Stocks. On May 31, the Steve Smith Tribute Race will be held for the 410 and 358 Sprints. The revived All Star Circuit of Champions will roll into town on June 7. They will be accompanied by the 358 Sprints. That will be the Elijah Hawkins Memorial.

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Dirt Racing

Macri Defends the Home Turf Against the Outlaws

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Photo by Paul Arch

MECHANICSBURG, PA (May 10, 2025): Anthony Macri remains undefeated at the Williams Grove Speedway in 2025. He led wire to wire in the World of Outlaws main event to retain the Morgan Cup for the Pennsylvania Posse. And, he added another cool $20,000 to his bank account for his first ever Outlaws triumph at the Grove.

Macri described the experience of defeating the Outlaws at the Grove as “surreal.”

He was challenged briefly in turn one by the ten-time Outlaws champion, Donny Schatz. However, Macri rode the high groove to fend off the attack. “I just figured we had the groove up top, and I had the wing back.”

David Gravel came on in the late stages of the contest to take second spot, but he was no match for Macri on this night. Gravel was fortunate to avoid a multi-car crash in turn four that claimed Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart, who were contending for teh fourth spot at the time. Gravel explained “i said “aw shit” when I went into three and that lapped car spun. I went low and they all went high.” He added, “I felt good on the bottom, but (when I got to second) only the top was open and I wasn’t as good up there.”

Danny Dietrich was in contention for much of the race but he got shuffled back on the lap fourteen restart. He battled back though to give the Posse two of the three podium positions. “I wish it would have stayed green,” he said. “I was on the inside and that wasn’t the place to be. I got freight-trained and I had to fight back from there.”

Bill Balog was the unexpected pole sitter for the thirty lap affair. after his Dash win. Macri was to his right. Schuchart and Schatz made up the second row. Then came Gravel and Dietrich. Justin Whittall and Conner Morrel were the final cars from the Dash. Row five belonged to Buddy Kofoid and Carson Macedo. Row six consisted of Troy Wagaman, Jr. and Giovanni Scelzi.

Although Balog was first into turn one, he left the top groove open for Macri. Macri took advantage of the opportunity and he powered off turn two with the lead. Balog’s time among the leaders ended on the next trip around the historic half mile. He spun in turn two to bring out the first caution. Fortunately no other competitors were collected in the incident.

Macri had the inside line for the restart with Schatz on his flank and Dietrich on his rear nerf bar. Schuchart, Gravel and Macedo were next in the running order.

Three Rivers Karting

When the green flashed on again, Macri drove away from Schatz and Dietrich. There was good separation between them until Macri entered lapped traffic. Schatz closed in and he managed to pull up next to Macri in turn one on once occasion. However, he could not complete the pass. Macri continued to lead Schatz and Dietrich until the lap fourteen calamity which required a red flag. That melee was triggered by T.J. Stutts.

The departure of Macedo and Schuchart from the lead group moved Gravel into fourth, followed by Kofoid, Whittal, Scelzi, Freddie Rahmer, Jr., Morrel, and Shelcon Haudenschild for the final restart of the night.

While Macri and Schatz held the top two positions, Gravel moved into third, followed by Whittal. Dietrich slipped back to fifth and he was being challenged by Rahmer.

Gravel picked off Schatz in traffic on lap twenty-two, but he was nearly a full straight behind Macri when he took over second.

Macri maintained a safe margin the rest of the way. Schatz held third for several laps. However, Dietrich got rolling again and he chased him down in the final laps. Dietrich took third with twenty-eight complete.

Schatz held on for fourth, followed by Whittall, who logged his first top five against the touring pros. Kofoid, Rahmer, Haudenschild, Scelzi, and Wagaman completed the top ten.

The heats were evenly split between the two factions. Schuchart and Gravel took the checkers for the visitors, and Macri and Whittal prevailed for the home team. Daryn Pittman won the C Main and parlayed that into a transfer from the B Main. The B Main winner was Ashton Torgerson. The evening’s fastest time was logged by Schuchart, who topped Group A with a lap of 16.471 seconds. Macri was the best in Group B with a time of 16.515.

Williams Grove Speedway will be back in action on Friday, May 16 with the 410 and 358 Sprints. May 23 will offer the 410 and 305 Sprints. The month of May will conclude with another 410 and 358 Sprint program.

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Dirt Racing

Kofoid Takes Gettysburg Clash

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Photo by Paul Arch

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 7, 2025): Buddy Kofoid captured the Northeastern opener for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway. Although Kofoid led all thirty-five laps, he did lose the lead briefly to Chase Dietz in turn four following a lap eight restart.

Kofoid admitted that he did not anticipate Dietz’s move. After Dietz slid him at the entry to that corner, Kofoid deftly turned back under Dietz coming off the turn to regain the lead before the duo reached the scoring loop. Hence, there was no official lead change recorded. “I just could cut the middle,” Kofoid noted of his unexpected path to recovery. “As the leader, you don’t know until you know.”

Kofoid explained that his car was very maneuverable. “I could move around pretty good. But, I was good enough to stay on top.”

Track conditions favored his lane choice. He explained that the top was not very difficult in turns three and four “because it is a little wider. (Turns) one and two got kinda slick and I needed to be careful. I cut it down through one and two.”

Dietz, who has one win so far this season, said that he was “sick and tired of finishing second.” He added that his car was a “little tight on the top.” Nevertheless, “right at the end, I got closer (to Kofoid) But I couldn’t do a slider.”

Anthony Macri came on strong at the end of the race as well. He made up considerable ground on David Gravel and made a last lap pass to reach third. “There was rubber off (turn) two and I got my wing back and I had a good run down the straight. He (Gravel) got hung up behind some lapped cars.”

Kofoid earned the pole position by dominating the Dash. Gravel, the top winner on the Outlaws circuit so far this season, was his running mate. Skyler Gee and Danny Dietrich made up teh second row, with Lucas Wolfe and Dietz in the third. The final two Dash participants, Macri and Giovanni Scelzi, occupied row four. Then came Kyle Moody and Hunter Schuerenberg. Carson Macedo and Bill Balog lined up in row six.

Kofoid snatched the lead, with Gravel and Gee in hot pursuit. Dietz held fourth. Dietrich, Scelzi, Wolfe, Macri, Schuerenberg, and Haudenschild followed. In the early rounds.

A caution was displayed on lap four for the two-car tangle of Ryan Smith and Parker Price Miller in turn four. Although only one more trip around the speedway was completed before the next interruption, it was a productive lap for Dietz, who edged Gravel for second at the scoring loop moments before the pace was slowed.

Three Rivers Karting

The second caution came when Wolfe went around in turn one collecting Freddie Rahmer, Jr. and Cole Macedo. Conner Morrell was also involved.

On the restart, Gee and Gravel swapped positions a couple of times. Dietrich, who was watching that action just ahead of him, but he faded out of the top ten before stopping at the entry to turn three with a flat right rear tire. Dietrich got new rubber and returned at the rear of the field.

The remaining twenty-seven laps spun off with no other incidents. Dietz brought the Lincoln faithful to their feet with his slider in turn four, but Kofoid reclaimed the lead, disappointing the crowd.

Kofoid built his lead again as the race progressed. Dietz, Gravel, Gee, and Macri made up the top five for much of that long run.
Just after the halfway mark, Macri began his march to the front. He took fourth by lap twenty. His final five laps were masterful as he chased down and passed Gravel for the third position.

Sheldon Haudenschild was fifth, followed by Carson Macedo, Gee, Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, and Dietrich.

Schuchart was named the hard charger for advancing eleven positions.

Dietz, Dietrich, Gee, and Scelzi won their respective heat races. Matt Campbell took the B Main and Brandon Rahmer was first in teh C Main. Dietz was the fastest qualifier of the night, topping Group A with a lap of 13.344 seconds. Gee paced Group B with a lap of 13.521 seconds.

Lincoln Speedway will be dark on Saturday, May 10, in consideration of the Outlaws event at Williams Grove Speedway. Lincoln will return to action on the seventeenth with the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial featuring the 410 and 357 Sprints. Two more memorial events will close out the month. The Bob Leiby Memorial will be on May 24 with the 410 Sprints and Stock Cars on tap.

The Steve Smith Tribute will go on May 31 for the 410 and 358 Sprints.

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