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Dirt Racing

Rudolph Tops BRP Mods, Shultz in Sprints at Lernerville

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Photo: Lernerville Speedway

SARVER, PA (July 11, 2025):  Lernerville Speedway completed just its third Friday night event of the 2025 racing season. The Action Track hosted the BRP Modified Tour, along with the 410 Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks, and RUSH Weekly Series (Crate) Late Models. Getting the big wins were Erick Rudolph (BRP Modifieds), Jason Shultz (410 Sprints), Cody Koteles and Jacob Dietz (Pro Stocks), and Michael Norris (RUSH Late Models).

Dalton Slack jumped out to the early lead from the pole position in the thirty-five lapper for the BRP Modifieds. Nestling into second was Kyle Fink, followed by Brian Swartzlander, Garrett Krummert, and Colton Walters. Further back in the top ten were Erick Rudolph and Rex King, Jr.

As Slack built his lead, Swartzlander took over the second position.

Rudolph was on the move early, reaching fourth by lap five, and second by lap seventeen. He took advantage of a restart on lap twenty-one to close the gap on the leader, Slack, and the second-place runner, Swartzlander. Rudolph moved into the lead coming off turn four on lap twenty-two.

Also coming forward was Rex King, Jr. He started a few rows behind Rudolph and it took King a bit longer to get to the front. He made it to fourth by lap twenty, but the restart five laps later set him back two spots when he got above the tricky cushion.

At the checkers, it was Rudolph picking up Mod Tour win thirty-seven in his career. He was followed by Slack, King, Swartzlander, and Krummert, Justin Shea, Ayden Cipriano, Dave Murdick, and Jeremiah Shingledecker.

“It seemed like the car really settled into (turns) one and two,” Rudolph explained. “It was getting good grip on the inside of (turns) three and four.”

Slack was disappointed to see the first caution flag come out on lap twenty-one, as he had a commanding lead at the time. “I thought we were pretty good. I don’t know what kind of a lead we had.”

The third-place finisher, King, had to recover from his mistake on the lap twenty-five restart. “Starting back there (row six), everybody’s going to float the middle or head to the bottom.” That left the top groove open for him. What helped him early was almost his undoing, however. “We had a bad restart and fell back to sixth and looked pretty stupid. We should have run tenth.”

The four heats for the BRP Modified Tour went to Rex King, Jr., Dalton Slack, Ayden Cipriano, and Garrett Krummert. The B Main went to Rick Regalski.

In the 410 Sprint Car Main, Central PA racer Jason Shultz made a rare appearance at Lernerville Speedway. But, the extra distance tow paid off, as he drove past two of Lernerville’s best, in Dan Shetler and A.J. Flick, to pick up the victory.

“We don’t usually come here. Usually, it’s pretty tacky, but tonight we got to work on our slick set-up,” Shultz added.

Shetler had the early advantage from his outside front row starting spot. Flick was up to second, followed by Jacob Begenwald, Shultz, and Vivian Jones, whose 305-powered car was holding its own on the slick surface.

Flick moved ahead of Shetler on lap four, and Shultz was up to fourth. Flick opened a lead of several car lengths, which evaporated when he got into traffic, By then, Shultz was second and closing. Shultz took command on lap nine and was never headed.

Shultz was followed across the finish line by Flick, Shetler, Carl Bowser, and Roman Jones. Roman, also piloting a 305 Sprinter, passed his sister, Vivian in the final laps, She was followed by Dan Kuriger, Pete Landrum, Begenwald, and Rayce Jacobs.

The pair of Sprint Car heats were picked up by A.J. Flick and Dan Shetler. There was no B Main.

The Pro Stocks had double features due to a make-up race. The make-up started the night, with the win going to Jacob Dietz. He finished second to Cody Koteles in the regularly scheduled feature.

Cody Koteles claimed the front spot early in the regularly scheduled race. Dietz ran second throughout. Logan Koteles worked his way up to third by the mid-point of the race, and he held it to the finish. Brett Hutira and Mike Bordt rounded out the top five. Ageless Larry Kugel was sixth, trailed by Mike Miller, Brett McDonald, Dalton Gabriel, and Joey Anderson.

Logan Koteles and Mike Bordt took the heats for the Pro Stocks. There was no B Main.

In the make-up feature for the Pro Stocks, Jacob Dietz went wire-to-wire to capture his first feature win of the season. His trip to Victory Lane was slowed by a pair of cautions during the second half of the twenty lapper. Joey Zambotti raced his way up to second from the tenth spot on the grid. Points leader Cody Koteles was third, followed by Mike Bordt and Brett McDonald. Joey Anderson, Tyler Schneider, Brett Hutira, and Larry Kugel rounded out the top nine. Andrew Hammond dId not start the event.

The nightcap for the RUSH (Crate) Late Model Weekly Series went to Michael Norris, who was racing his brother-in-law’s car instead of a Super Late Model. Norris admitted that he has picked up some bad habits racing the more powerful car, but none of his miscues were fatal to his performance this night.

Norris went wire-to-wire to earn the win over Daryl Charlier. Christian Schneider was third, ahead of Clinton Hersh and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. Bud Watson, Logen Lockhart, Brandt Graham, Brian Huchko, and Craig Graham rounded out the top ten.

Norris and Schirnhofer won the preliminaries. There was no B Main.

Dirt Racing

Dietz Does It, Leads Posse Sweep

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Photo by Paul Arch

MECHANICSBURG, PA (October 3, 2025) – Chase Dietz, of York, PA, led a Posse sweep of four of the top five positions on night number one of the National Open Weekend at Williams Grove Speedway. Joining Dietz on the front stretch were second place finisher, Lance Dewease, and the third place runner, Danny Dietrich. Justin Whittall was fifth in the race. The only card carrying Outlaw was Carson Macedo, who led the first twenty-one laps before fading to fourth at the finish.

“I just want to soak it in,” Dietz said as he tried to catch his beath following the exhilarating victory, his first ever against the travelling band. Although Dietz noted that he had speed all year at the Grove, his team assembled a new car this week and, in doing so, they made a lot of changes. “The car was very maneuverable.”

Although Dietz ran most of the race in the top groove, he admitted, “I knew that the bottom was going to come in. I knew that I had to get down there before Lance (Dewease) did. I saw his nose.” As it turned out, Dietz barely got to the bottom ahead of Dewease, forcing the cagy veteran to move to the middle in the closing laps.

“We’re just extremely grateful to be here, this sport can be very humbling,” Dietz added. Even last year, when he was running his own cars, Dietz explained that they fought hard to be competitive with the Outlaws. Although they were winless, they showed good speed and had a podium finish against the Outlaws in the 2024 National Open. “I looked back at the nights when we didn’t win, and I tried to figure out what we needed to do to bet better.”

Dewease, who followed Dietz into second on lap twenty-two and wh briefly challenged him for the lead, commented, “the last three or four laps I wasn’t very good. The lapped cars made it interesting.”

Dietrich, who completed the podium for the Posse, felt that he may have had the fastest car in the final laps but, he added, “things didn’t go my way.” He explained that, when he did pass Dewease, he did not get enough of a gap on him, and that let him (Dewease) get back in.”

Macedo drew the pole for the Dash and his win in that event placed him on the pole for the twenty-five lap preliminary, which paid $12,000 to the winner. Dietrich lined up on his right, Dewease and Dietz made up row two, followed by David Gravel and Buddy Kofoid. Diason Pursley and Justin Whittall stacked our row four. Then came Daryn Pittman and Bill Balog. Row six paired Kody Hartlaub with Justin Peck.

The back of the field was almost as impressive as the first six rows. Back there were racers such as Kerry Madsen (fourteenth), Giovanni Scelzi (sixteenth), Brock Zearfoss (seventeenth), Brent Marks (eighteenth), Ryan Timms (nineteenth), Freddie Rahmer, Jr. (twentieth), Sheldon Haudenschild (twenty-first), Logan Schuchart (twenty-first), and Troy Wagaman (twenty-sixth).

Macedo held off Dietrich in turn one to assume control of the race. Dietz ran in third on the opening lap, but he drove under Dietrich in turn four to take over second one lap later. Dewease ran along in fourth, followed by Kofoid, Gravel, Whittall, Pittman, Pursley, and Balog in the early going.

The running order was pretty static through the first five or six laps. The top ten had a major shake-up on lap seven, though. Something broke on Pittman’s car in turn three, and he spun wildly toward the outside wall. In the process, he collected Pursley, Balog, and Hartlaub. Pittman and Pursely retired from the race due to the damage incurred, but Balog and Hartlaub were able to rejoin the field for the restart after pitting for repairs.

That fracas was the only caution of the race.

Macedo and Dietz resumed the battle for the lead on the restart. However, one lap later, Dewease moved into third, ahead of Dietrich, Kofoid, and Gravel. Whittall, Peck, Scelzi, and Rahmer made up the balance of the top ten. At that juncture, Wagaman was about six positions behind Rahmer in their race within the race for the point championship.

Through the middle stage of the race, Dietz began to close in on Macedo. Dewease continued in third, several car lengths behind the leaders. Dietrich was about the same distance back in fourth.

Dietz caught up to Macedo with about five or six laps remaining in the contest. He managed to pass Macedo on the inside of turn three on lap twenty-one, but Macedo countered in turn four to regain the lead.

Macedo dove to the inside heading into turn one, but he scrubbed off spme speed. Dietz was able to get some momentum coming through turn two and that propelled hin down the backstretch. He slid Macedo for the lead coming through turns three and four, and Dewease followed in his tire tracks to take over second coming off turn four.

Dietz missed the bottom entering turn one, and Dewease poked his nose under him going through the turn, Dietz recovered, and he got a good run off turn two to preserve his lead. Dietz then committed to the low line for the final laps, requiring Dewease to move more toward the middle of the track.

Dietrich dispatched Macedo and he got a run on Dewease near the end of the race. However, Dewease was able to reclaim second soon thereafter.

At the finish, it was Dietz by a tad under eight tenths of a second over Dewease. Dietrich was third, followed by Macedo and Whittall. Kofoid, Gravel, Scelzi,Peck, and Marks completed the top ten.

Rahmer was eleventh, and Wagaman sixteenth. Although Wagaman was the hard charger at plus ten, he lost valuable points to Rahmer. The two racers will be separated by 125 points, unofficially, heading into Saturday’s season finale.

Heat wins were scored by Gravel, Kofoid, Dewease, and Pursley. Ryan Newton won the non-qualifiers race. Kyle Spence recovered from a tipover in his heat race to capture the C Main. The B Main went to Haudenschild. Gravel was the evening’s fastest qualifier, with a lap of 16.409 seconds topping Group A. Dewease timed the best in Group B, with a lap of 16.760 seconds. Fifty-six cars participated in the event.

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Dirt Racing

Dale Blaney Wins World Of Outlaws At Sharon Speedway

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Photo by Paul Arch

HARTFORD, OH (September 27, 2025) – Dale Blaney had the hometown crowd on their feet and screaming after winning the World of Outlaws feature Saturday Night at Sharon Speedway, the track owned for years by the Blaney family.

Blaney started fifth and passed Cole Macedo on lap 11 for the lead then held off a furious last lap charge by Buddy Kofoid to win by just 0.136 seconds for the $12,000 payday!

The victory was Blaney’s first World of Outlaws victory in 10-years, becoming the oldest winner in Series history at 61 years 7 months and 28 days. Blaney broke the previous record set by his older brother Dave when he won at 58 years of age in 2021 at Sharon.

“There’re so many good young race car drivers out here, but to win a race at 61 (years old) is awesome,” said Blaney. ““I had the feeling that I was never going to win an Outlaw race ever again.  I don’t race much. This is our sixth race this year. I haven’t run in seven weeks. The car was awesome. We just got it back together this week. I don’t know what to say. It’s great and cool to win this at Sharon Speedway- it’s the only place I’ve run this year. This is a special freaking night. I know that.”

“I wanted traffic,” said Kofoid. “My car is usually amazing in traffic. He slipped up, and then I kind of got in his air and got me slipped up. And then I hit the wall coming to the checkered, and it shot me down the track. I tried to send it and was close. I’m just happy for Dale and Dave.”

Sheldon Haudenschild finished third follow by WoO points leader David Gravel in fourth.  Logan Schuchart rounded out the Top 5.

The night however belonged to the Blaney family, who fittingly closed out the the first year of the new ownership group of Dave Blaney, Ryan Blaney, and Will Thomas III in Victory Lane.

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Dirt Racing

Rain Halts Fallen Heroes Memorial at Lincoln Speedway

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File Photo

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (September 27, 2025):  A persistent, localized drizzle forced a stoppage of the Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Lincoln Speedway. The event, which was originally dubbed the Fallen Firefighters Memorial, was expanded to give tribute to the three York County police officers recently slain while serving a subpoena.

Brett and Jordan Strickler, policemen in the area, honored the fallen officers on the wings of their 410 Sprint Cars.

The 410 Sprint Cars were ready to take to the track for their feature event when the rain set in for the second time of the night. A brief shower interrupted the heat races for the 358 Sprint Cars. However, after the rain stopped, the track crew and push truck operators quickly prepared the surface so that all qualifications could be completed.

The line-ups for both feature races are set, and the events will be completed on October 18, along with the full program for both divisions in the Final 50. So, fans will be treated to four features that evening.

The point races in both divisions will conclude on October 18.

Dallas Schott, Kyle Moody, and Billy Dietrich won the heat races for the 410 Sprinters. Ryan “Fig” Newton prevailed in the B Main. Troy Wagaman, Jr. was the fastest qualifier of the twenty-nine cars on hand. His time was an astonishing 12.855 seconds. He was one of four racers to turn sub-thirteen second laps.

In the 358 Sprint Car preliminaries, the checkers waved for Cameron Merriman, Logan Spahr, and Cody Fletcher. There were twenty-one 358 Sprints checked in for the contest.

On October 4, Lincoln Speedway will present AMA Flat Track Motorcycles and Quads. There will be no auto races in consideration of the National Open to be held at Williams Grove Speedway. The World of Outlaws will take on the Pennsylvania Posse on October 11. The Lincoln season will conclude with the blockbuster event, the Final 50 plus the held over features.

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