18th annual PA Speedweek
Points after Port Royal 7/5
1. Fred Rahmer 560
2. Cody Darrah 522
3. Brian Leppo 461
4. Doug Esh 457
5. Greg Hodnett 443
6. Jeff Shepard 438
7. Mark Smith 412
8. Chad Layton 376
9. Todd Shaffer 329
10. Stevie Smith 328  

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18th annual PA Speedweek
Port Royal Speedway
Saturtday
1. Cody Darrah
2. Rick Lafferty
3. Doug Esh
4. Greg Hodnett
5. Keith Hoffman

SPEED WEEK EVENT RAINED OUT AT WILLIAMS GROVE
MECHANICSBURG, PA - The Pennsylvania Speed Week sprint car race was rained out Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway.

A persistent light rain and the forecast of showers and thunderstorms caused the event to be cancelled.

A double header featuring sprint cars and 358s was originally scheduled for July 11.  A change in the schedule will find the sprint car teams competing for an increased purse, which will pay the winner $5000.

HAGERSTOWN’S SPRINT SPEEDWEEK VICTORY TO SHEPARD

Hagerstown, Md. –  After Jeff Shepard and Fred Rahmer put on a driving clinic with the lead being swapped at least eight times following a 3rd lap restart. Shepard retook the point on lap 20 and drove away to pick up the Wednesday’s $5,000 triumph during Night 4 of the 18th Annual Cindy Rowe Auto glass Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek. It was the first ever win at Frank Plessinger’s Hagerstown Speedway for Shepard, of Upperco, MD as he held a 1.63 second advantage on Rahmer at the line.

“We were on our way here and I thought to myself, ‘I’ve never won at this race track.’ It’s always bit me,” said the driver of the John and Pee Wee Zemaitis Zemco sprint car. “I’ve ended up in the infield, out of the park, you name it.”

One thing for certain, the race fans got to see sprints in action, especially at the front with sliders on every turn until Shepard closed in.

“I don’t think there’s a better racer out there than Fred Rahmer. To get a chance to race wheel to wheel with him is priceless,” Shepard said. “We were close. That was the most fun I’ve had in a while. He was good, no question about it. Lapped traffic plays a hell of a role. I though he was going to pass us back.”

And then late in the race, Shepard’s engine began showing a whisp of smoke.

“We blew the motor up with about eight laps to go and I thought for sure he was going to get back around us but the car was good. We worked on it all night,” he said. ”We didn’t get a good start at the beginning. I did some adjustments under the yellow inside the car but pretty much determination was what it was.”

With a damp humid night, the track was a while in getting ready but it was smooth and quick. The top 28 sprints were separated by only .964 seconds in time trials. For the third straight night, Rahmer was the quick one with a lap of 15.268 and then pulled a number eight inversion.

Shepard began from the pole but Mark Smith powered off the top of turn two to take command with Rahmer to fourth by the first circuit and took third from Doug Esh by the second.

The red was displayed on lap three when Doug Esh ended on his side in turn four and Keith Kauffman got a flat tire out of the deal when he made contact.

On the restart, the show began with Rahmer under, then Shepard back in front, and more of the same lap after lap until Rahmer finally secured the spot and broke free on lap nine with Smith and Todd Shaffer trailing Shepard.

Rahmer closed on traffic as Shepard quickly arrived on the scene and became a challenger again. He blew by Rahmer on the 20th lap and later started showing some smoke from the car. His lead of 2.2 seconds on lap 27 slowed to 1.63 in the final circuits. 

Shepard’s celebration ended by saying, “Fred’s hard to pass….he came from eighth…he had a fast race car, but I have two words, Fred WHO!”

Shaffer got by Smith for the third spot on 20th while Brian Leppo picked off several spots in the closing laps to move into fifth on the final circuit.

Chad Layton was sixth after coming from 16th with defending winner, Lance Dewease next while Cody Darrah, Brian Paulus and 19th starter Stevie Smith completed the top ten. Heats went to Layton, S.Smith and Esh while Craig Keel was the B Main winner.

The speedway returns to action Saturday evening with a full night of racing entertainment. The 1st Annual Red Nininger Memorial Shootout II 40-Lap Late Model which is postponed from June 14 the will take center stage with the 13th Annual Cornett Tribute 20-lap event for the pure stocks as the premier event for that popular division. The Late Model Sportsman and a postponed 30 lap Enduro Dash are also included on the program.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m., grandstands open at 5 p.m and warm ups begin at7:00 p.m. Check the speedway website for any changes in weather at: www.hagerstownspeedway.com or contact the speedway office at 301-582-0640.

Hagerstown Speedway Results
Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek, 30 Laps,  30 entries (Lap Leaders – Mark Smith 1-3, Jeff Shepard 4-8, 22-30, Fred Rahmer, 9-19) 1.Jeff Shepard; 2.Fred Rahmer; 3.Todd Shaffer; 4.Mark Smith; 5.Brian Leppo; 6.Chad Layton; 7.Lance Dewease; 8.Cody Darrah; 9.Brian Paulus; 10.Stevie Smith; 11.Mike Wagner; 12.T.J. Winegardner; 13.Keith Kauffman; 14.Alan Cole; 15.Aaron Ott; 16.Niki Young; 17.Greg Hodnett; 18.Michael Carber; 19.Michael Heckman; 20.Bob Bennett; 21.Craig Keel; 22.Bob Howard; 23.Kramer Williamson; 24.Doug Esh -  DNQ: Jeff Busby, Randy Baughman, Joey Hershey, Mark Zimmerman, Richie Fitz, Cale Grub

Time Trials: 1Fred Rahmer, 15.268; 2.Brian Leppo, 15.299; 3.Todd Shaffer, 15.322; 4.Brian Paulus, 15.341; 5.Cody Darrah, 15.358; 6.Lance Dewease, 15.362; 7.Mark Smith, 15.431; 8.Jeff Shepard, 15.436; 9.Michael Carber, 15.440; 10.Mike Wagner, 15.449; 11.Alan Cole, 15.457; 12.Doug Esh, 15.462; 13.Greg Hodnett, 15.518; 14.Keith Kauffman, 15.523; 15.Niki Young, 151.527; 16.Chad Layton, 15.573; 17.Stevie Smith, 15.628; 18.T.J. Winegardner, 15.855; 19.Crai Keel, 15.882; 20.Bob Bennett, 15.888; 21.Kramer Williamson, 15.911; 22.Cale Grubb, 15.977; 23.Aaron Ott, 16.031; 24.Michael Heckman, 16.048; 25.Richie Fitz, 16.049; 26.Jeff Busby, 16.101; 27.Bobby Howard, 16.149; 28.Randy Baughman, 16.232; 29.Mark Zimmerman, 17.496; 20. Joey Hershey, No Time

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CAPACITY CROWD CHEERS FRED RAHMER & DOUG MANMILLER TO VICTORY IN THUNDER ON THE HILL MID-WEEK HOLIDAY SPECIAL AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series presented still another star-studded show as the Pennsylvania  410 Sprint Speed Week Series and the 358 Modifieds teamed-up for a block-buster special that kicked off the Independence Holiday celebration.  The crowd budged the large Grandview Speedway grandstands to watch the thirty sprint cars and thirty 358 Modifieds battle it out on the "hill" in grand style.    

Fred Rahmer of Salfordville, PA pocketed a hefty $5,000 for the win in the thirty-five lap sprint feature event as Doug Manmiller collected the cash for winning the 25 lap modified feature  It was a great show from start to finish as the racing was absolutely awesome.

In the COMDIAL Telephone Communications Time Trials Fred Rahmer set fast time, stopping the clocks with a time of 12.024 and collecting an additional $200.    Three qualifying events were presented for the 410 Sprints with victories going to  Steve Smith, Michael Carber and Greg Hodnett as the "B" victory went to Sam Schlosberg.

Twenty-four cars then took the green flag in the 35 lap sprint feature with Brian Leppo gunning to the early lead followed by Doug Esh and Fred Rahmer.  Leppo ran to hide from the field in the early going, but on lap six, a wild mix-up with slower traffic found Robbie Stillwaggon flipping just as the leaders were charging into turn one.  Second place runner Doug Esh made contact with the flipping
car that pulled Nick Schlaugh into the accident. All drivers walked away uninjured with Doug Esh able to continue.

On the restart, Leppo ran to hide but now Fred Rahmer was in the runner-up spot and in the chase.  Mark Smith and Lance Dewease locked-up in a battle for third, with Dewease taking the spot on lap eleven. At the front of the pack, Rahmer was closing in on Leppo as the leader approached lapped traffic. On lap sixteen, Rahmer took the lead followed by Leppo, Dewease, Mark Smith and Jeff Shepard.

By lap twenty-three, Lance Dewease was in second and closing on the leader. Jeff Shepard had a tire go flat on lap twenty-six and theyellow flag was displayed for the final time.   When green flag racing resumed, Dewease made a serious run at Rahmer. But as the laps ticked by, Rahmer extended his lead. With five laps remaining, Rahmer, Dewease, Leppo, Mark Smith and Cody Darrah were the top five.  

Rahmer maintained his lead to take the win with Dewease second, Brian Leppo third, Cody Darrah fourth and  Greg Hodnett squeaking into the top five in the closing laps.   For Rahmer, this was his ninth career Thunder victory, with his previous win taking place on June 26, 2005. On the career win list, Billy Pauch has eleven wins, Lance Dewease is a ten time winner and Rahmer is ranked third with nine.

The 358 Modifieds competed in three qualifying dashes with victories going to Danny Erb, Stewart Freisen and Kevin Hirthler taking the victories.  The thirty car feature field was then called to the speedway for their 25 lap feature event.  John Tschudy set the early pace with Doug Manmiller taking the lead on lap seven.  Tschudy held on to second with Jason Hamilton third, Kevin Hirthler fourth and Rick Laubach fifth.

All eyes were watching deep in the  pack as Duane Howard and the BPG Racing #4 were on a charge.  By lap fourteen, Howard was fifth and on lap sixteen, he had advanced to fourth.  Manmiller and Hamilton were leading the field and on lap seventeen, Howard moved into third.  One lap later, Howard was second and chasing down Manmiller.  The yellow flag was displayed  on lap nineteen when Matt Sheppard spun in turn two.

With just six laps remaining, Howard was now on the rear bumper of Manmiller as green flag racing resumed.  Manmiller had a flawless start and quickly pulled away to a six car length lead.  As the laps ticked by, Howard slowly closed in once again on Manmiller, then the yellow was displayed on lap twenty-four when Ryan Beltz spun in turn three.

The race now came down to a two lap shootout with Manmiller on point and Howard on his rear bumper.  With the green flag waiving, Manmiller once again excelled on the start to establish the lead position.  With the white flag waiving, Howard once again had closed in on the leader, but just ran short of time as Manmiller dashed under the checker flag for this third Thunder on the Hill modified victory.  Howard delivered an impressive second place finish with Jason Hamilton third, Kerry Kratz fourth  and Rick Laubach fifth.

410 Sprint Feature - - Fred Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Brian Leppo, Cody Darrah, Greg Hodnett, Mark Smith, Stevie Smith,  Michael Carber, Doug Esh, Brian Montieth, Alan Cole, Bobby Howard, Jeff Shepard, Chad Layton, Todd Shaffer, Josh Weller, Ryan Taylor, Sam Schlosberg, Dave Hahn,  J.R. Berry, TJ Winegartner, Jeff VanDusen,  Nick Schlaugh Jr.,  Robbie Stillwaggon. Fast Time- - Fred Rahmer 12.024.  

358 Modified Feature- - Doug Manmiller, Duane Howard, Jason Hamilton, Kerry Kratz, Rick Laubach, Kevin Hirthler, Craig VonDohren, John Tschudy, Stewart Freisen, Ryan Godown,  Billy Pauch Jr., Mike Gular, Sean Merkel, Jeff Strunk, MeMe DeSantis, Brad Missimer, Tom Umbenhauer, Shawn Reimert, Brad Brightbill, Ryan Watt, Danny Heiber, Matt Sheppard, Troy Wink, Jason Smythe, Ryan Beltz, John Willman, Danny Erb, Terry Meitzler, DNS Don Norris.

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Bedford Rained out on Sunday and Monday

The second of eight nights of racin fell to rain on Sunday and then again on Monday at Bedford Speedway.

Race number three is set for Tuesday night at Grandview Speewday.

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ESH CLAIMS 2008 PA SPEEDWEEK OPENER EARLY SUNDAY AT LINCOLN SPEEDWAY

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 6/28/08 - Doug "the Hammer" Esh took the green flag from wife Kelly and never looked back in scoring the $7,000 win on opening night of the 18th annual Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek early Sunday morning at Lincoln Speedway.

Esh started on the pole and led every lap of the 9th Annual Kevin Gobrecht Memorial after the packed house waited through a 3-hour, 40-minute rain delay which began when a thunderstorm stopped action in the middle of the third heat at 8:45 p.m. 

By the time the "410" sprint cars resumed action, it was 12:25 a.m. During the delay, organizers of a fund-raising raffle to benefit the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial Fund selected Kelly Esh's number as the winner of the drawing to determine the honorary starter for the start of the "A" main. She stood behind the officials in the flagstand for the remainder of the event and watched as her husband was challenged numerous times by Brian Montieth and Fred Rahmer over the middle stages of the race. Several times between laps 14 and 18, the Premier Auto Works/Auto Locator #21 pulled alongside the leader with Rahmer right behind as the leaders worked through lapped traffic.

The three-car race cooled down after a caution flag was waived for a bizarre turn of events on the front stretch. The string of red lights dropped down dangerously close to the top wings of the sprint cars, and had to be removed before the race could continue. When the green waived again on lap 19, Esh pulled away to a comfortable lead until the leaders again entered lapped traffic on lap 25. Esh's .97-second lead on lap 23 evaporated to .66-seconds on lap 26, and a final charge by Montieth over the last two laps reduced the margin of victory to a scant .22-seconds at the end.

Rahmer crossed third, with Chad Layton and Greg Hodnett completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Jeff Shepard, Niki Young, Cody Darrah, Brian Paulus, and 20th-starting Brian Leppo. Heats for the 410 Sprinters were won by Young, Layton, Paulus and Shawn Weaver, with Darrah winning the B-Main. 

Fast time in time trials over the 36-car field was set by Rahmer, with a one-lap time of 13.510-seconds (99.926 MPH).

A.J. Michael was transported to York Hospital for a check-up after he and Jeff Busby both flipped into the turn one catch fence in heat #4. A.J. was conscious and talking with emergency crews as he was placed into the ambulance. Todd Shaffer was uninjured when he plowed into the outside wall in turn one and brought out the red flag in heat #3. The thunderstorm hit when crews were cleaning up from his crash, leading to the lengthy delay.

Esh left Lincoln with the PA Speedweek points lead (167), six points ahead of 10-time Speedweek champ Fred Rahmer (161). Brian Montieth (145), Chad Layton (133), and Greg Hodnett (127) were third through fifth in Speedweek points after the first night.

RACE RESULTS
Saturday - June 28, 2008
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA
18TH ANNUAL 410 SPRINT PENNSYLVANIA SPEEDWEEK OPENER
9TH ANNUAL KEVIN GOBRECHT MEMORIAL
Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 30-Doug Esh ($7,000); 2. 21-Brian Montieth; 3. 51-Fred Rahmer; 4. 25-Chad Layton; 5. 22-Greg Hodnett; 6. 1-Jeff Shepard; 7. 10N-Niki Young; 8. 89-Cody Darrah; 9. 28-Brian Paulus; 10. 71-Brian Leppo; 11. 17E-Cris Eash; 12. 6W-Josh Wells; 13. 59-Jim Siegel; 14. 11C-Cory Haas; 15. 7-Keith Kauffman; 16. 7M-Mark Smith; 17. 38N-Nick Schlauch Jr.; 18. 12-Mike Bittinger; 19. 22Z-Michael Carber; 20. 47J-Jeff Busby; 21. 19-Stevie Smith (DNF); 22. 87-Alan Krimes [alternate] (DNF); 23. 25-Aaron Ott; 24. 4-John Rudisill. DNS-Shawn Weaver. No time.

Lap Leaders - Doug Esh (1-30)

1st Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 10N-Niki Young; 2. 17E-Cris Eash; 3.51-Fred Rahmer; 4. 30-Doug Esh; 5. 25O-Aaron Ott; 6. 6W-Josh Wells; 7. 45L-Scott Geesey; 8. 3-Bob Bennett; 9. 49-Bob Howard. Time - 2:24.665

2nd Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 25-Chad Layton; 2. 59-Jim Siegel; 3.7M-Mark Smith; 4. 19-Stevie Smith; 5. 71-Brian Leppo; 6. 89-Cody Darrah; 7. 7-Keith Kauffman; 8. 11T-TJ Winegardner; 9. 43-Doug Dodson (DNF). No Time

3rd Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 28-Brian Paulus; 2. 11C-Cory Haas; 3.22-Greg Hodnett; 4. 22Z-Michael Carber; 5. 38N-Nick Schlauch Jr.; 6. 87-Alan Krimes; 7. 26-Pat Cooper; 8. 5-Adam Lawrence; 9. 88-Todd Shaffer (DNF). Time - 3:40.00 (With rain delay)

4th Heat (10 Laps/5 to qualify) - 1. 69-Shawn Weaver; 2. 4-John Rudisill; 3. 21-Brian Montieth; 4. 12-Mike Bittinger; 5. 1-Jeff Shepard; 6. 18-Adam Gordon; 7. 47J-Jeff Busby (DNF); 8. 45-A.J. Michael; 9. 9-Craig Keel (DNS). No Time

B-Main (12 Laps/4 to qualify) - 1. 89-Cody Darrah; 2. 7-Keith Kauffman  3.6W-Josh Wells; 4. 47J-Jeff Busby; 5. 87-Alan Krimes; 6. 49-Bobby Howard; 7. 26-Pat Cooper; 8. 5-Adam Lawrence; 9. 11T-T.J. Winegardner; 10. 3-Bob Bennett (DNF); 11. 18-Adam Gordon (DNS).

Time Trials - 1. 51-Fred Rahmer, 13.510 seconds (99.926 MPH); 2. 89-Cody Darrah, 13.559; 3. 87-Alan Krimes, 13.563; 4. 21-Brian Montieth, 13.655; 5.30-Doug Esh, 13.670; 6. 7-Keith Kauffman, 13.784; 7. 22-Greg Hodnett, 13.843; 8. 1-Jeff Shepard, 13.866; 9. 6W-Josh Wells, 13.876; 10. 25-Chad Layton, 13.882; 11. 28-Brian Paulus, 13.886; 12. 47J-Jeff Busby, 13.936; 13. 10N-Niki Young, 13.942; 14. 43-Doug Dodson, 13.950; 15. 38N-Nick Schlauch Jr., 13.991; 16. 69-Shawn Weaver, 14.008; 17. 17E-Cris Eash, 14.012; 18. 59-Jimmy Siegel, 14.040; 19. 11C-Cory Haas, 14.050; 20. 4-John Rudisill, 14.074; 21. 25O-Aaron Ott, 14.094; 22. 7M-Mark Smith, 14.174; 23. 22Z-Michael Carber, 14.182; 24. 9-Craig Keel, 14.196; 25. 45L-Scott Geesey, 14.215; 26. 71-Brian Leppo, 14.217; 27. 26-Pat Cooper, 14.231; 28. 12-Mike Bittinger, 14.262; 29. 3-Bob Bennett, 14.287; 30. 19-Stevie Smith, 14.313; 31. 88-Todd Shaffer, 14.388; 32. 45-AJ Michael, 14.424; 33. 49-Bobby Howard, 14.677; 34. 11T-TJ Winegardner, 14.699; 35. 5-Adam Lawrence, 15.068; 36. 18-Adam Gordon, 15.099.

2008 PA Speedweek points: 1. 30-Doug Esh, 167; 2. 51- Fred Rahmer, 161; 3. 21- Brian Montieth, 145; 4. 25-Chad Layton, 133; 5. 22-Greg Hodnett, 127; 6. 1-Jeff Shepard, 117; 7. 10N-Niki Young, 115; 8. 89-Cody Darrah, 113; 9. 28-Brian Paulus, 107; 10. 17E-Cris Eash, 89.

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