Hodnett Wins Again With The United Racing Club
Greg Hodnett did it again on Friday night scoring another victory with the United Racing Club. This time, the win now makes him eligible for the $10,000 bonus if he can win all three races this Mid Atlantic Championship Weekend. The weekend now heads to Selinsgrove Speedway for the $10,000 to win Mach 1 Nationals and finishing up on Sunday night at the Utica-Rome Speedway and the $10,000 to win Cole Cup.
A total of 38 United Racing Club and Empire Super Sprint Cars signed into the pit area on Friday night all looking for the $4,000 to win top prize along with having a chance for the Lelands.com $10,000 bonus if any driver can sweep the weekend. Four heat races were needed with heat race wins going to Greg Hodnett aboard the Lealands.com, Heffner Racing Enterprises #27, Davie Franek aboard the Franek Auto Sales #28f, URC Rookie Adam Carberry aboard the R&S Concrete, Paving and Site Contractors #47 and Aaron Ott aboard the Bruner's Auto Center, Don Ott Engines #25. The B-Main win went to the #79 of Jordan Thomas. Provisionals went to the 10C Jeff Cook (ESS), 4 Jimmy Stitzel (URC) and the 706 of Mark Sasso (Selinsgrove)
With Hodnett pulling the "0" invert pill, it was a heads up start for the 25 lap feature event. From the green flag Hodnett put the Heffner #27 out front, but before the 3rd lap could be completed the caution flag was show for a slowing Mark Smith in turn 3. Mark Smith's Mach 1 Chassis M1 appeared to have a motor expire ending his night. On the restarted Hodnett chose the inside line and again put the #27 out front followed by the 25 of Ott and the 89 Quality Auto Body of Robbie Stillwaggon already up from the 6th position.
By lap 7 Hodnett was in control followed by the 25 of Ott, 89 of Stillwaggon, in 4th was the Cobra Chuck Hebing up from his 9th starting position. Hebing continued to march towards to front and put the 45 into the 3rd position on lap 9. A lap 12 spin by the 706 of Mark Sasso could have been disastrous for the 45 of Hebing as his right rear of the car made contract with the 706 of Sasso. Hebing stayed out on the track as the tire didn't appear to be going down.
Also on the move by lap 12 was the 63 of Josh Weller. Weller who started 19th was already shown just outside the top 10 in the 11th running position. Weller climbed into the top 10 by lap 13 when he was shown in the 7th position and finished in the 6th position.
Meanwhile Hodnett continued to show the way, with Cobra now in 2nd place followed by Ott, Stillwaggon, Sammons, Franek, Weller, Wolfe, Michael and the 21 of 24th starter Kyle Reinhardt.
In the end Hodnett cruised to his 4th URC win of the season and earning a chance at the $10,000 bonus if he can sweep the weekend. The top 5 was rounded out by the 45 of Chuck Hebing, the 25 of Aaron Ott, 89 of Robbie Stillwaggon, and the 28f of Davie Franek. A last lap motor explosion aboard the Pioneer Pole Buildings, Area Auto Racing News #747 of Davey Sammons put an end to a top 5 run for the New Jersey driver.
Results: 1. 27 Greg Hodnett, 2. 45 Chuck Hebing, 3. 25 Aaron Ott, 4. 89 Robbie Stillwaggon, 5. 28f Davie Franek, 6. 63 Josh Weller, 7. 5w Lucas Wolfe, 8. 5g Curt Michael, 9. 21 Kyle Reinhardt 10. 29 Jason Shultz, 11. 1w Eric Tomacek, 12. 47 Adam Carberry, 13. 747 Davey Sammons, 14. 28fm Steve Porier, 15. 4 Jimmy Stitzel, 16. 10 Paulie Colagiovanni, 17. 76 Larry Kelleher, 18. 23 Chris Arnold, 19. 22 Troy Betts, 20. 28 Keith Prutzman, 21. 19 Troy Wagaman, 22. 79 Jordan Thomas, 23. 10k Rob Dietrich, 24. 08 Jason Clauss, 25. 10c Jeff Cook, 26. 7o6 Mark Sasso, 27. M1 Mark Smith.
DNQ 2w Glenndon Forsythe, 1j Derrick Juliano, 18 Nyle Berkes, 77 Derek Locke, 67c Jason Cherry, 97 Brie Hershey, 87 George Suprick
- Robbie Stillwaggon on Jul 30, 2016
- Article Date: 7/30/2016 by Tim Moran