STEVIE SMITH IS THREE FOR FOUR BY CLAIMING HAGERSTOWN’S SPEEDWEEK TRIUMPH
HAGERSTOWN, MD – It was a matter of clean air and a late race restart that propelled Stevie Smith into victory lane at Hagerstown Speedway on Wednesday night for the 25th Annual PA Sprint Car Speedweek triumph. The $5,000 victory was his third in the four events held so far aboard the Fred Rahmer sprint and also his first Hagerstown win since May 2009.
Defending winner and fast timer Greg Hodnett started from the pole with a zero invert and after swapping the lead numerous times in the middle of the race with Lincoln’s winner Danny Dietrich, Smith used a lap 23 restart to build up a head of steam to grab second and continue on and come out of the fourth turn like a cannon ball to take command on the 25th lap.
Moon (Byers) told me the car was perfect so I thought, ‘You better get your ass in gear,’” Smith said. “We got some clean air and got by Danny, then got another gasp of clean air and once we could get out in all clean air, it was pretty much over. I never give up , I just got a good break there; it’s hard to explain, I got some clean air on the top wing and the thing just set down better and I got a run on Hodnett going in, I thought “You know what, we can win this thing.’”
Hodnett turned the fast lap of 15.631 seconds around the half mile and heats were inverted four positions with Hodnett finishing second and later pulling a zero invert for the feature which put Dietrich alongside with Cory Haas and Smith in row two.
On the first start, the red was displayed for an Anthony Fiore incident on the back stretch when he made contact with the inside fence.
On the second attempt, another red flag brought out an open red as Glendon Forsythe, Freddie Rahmer and Alan Krimes were involved when Krimes was contacted from the rear and Forsythe tumbled down the front stretch while Rahmer’s car launched over the inside fence into the pit area only a few stalls from where the team was parked.
The third time was a charm as Hodnett took off with Dietrich, Smith and Haas in tow. The action heated up when Hodnett wasn’t escaping Dietrich and they caught the rear of the field by the tenth lap.
Dietrich led the 12th lap with Hodnett on the high side coming back the next and Dietrich not giving up. The lead was swapped at least six times in four laps.
Hodnett led until the lap 23 yellow when earlier fourth place runner Sheldon Haudenschild had motor issue and stopped off turn two.
Following the restart, Smith went into action and charged past Dietrich and just hammered under Hodnett off the fourth turn and checked out to claim the win by 1.46 second.
“We just really had a good race car, “Smith said. “These guys worked on this thing all night .It’s a great feeling to be here at Hagerstown in victory lane. Our goal is to win the championship and sure going to try our best. I’ve been in this racing business and anything can happen. We’re just going to enjoy each night as it comes and do the very best we can.”
“I’m feeling bittersweet,” Rahmer said. “I wish my boy would have got a chance to race. By far, the best driver in central Pennsylvania is standing right there beside the race car. I was thinking the car didn’t look that good and he drove the hell out of it. We had to change the motor, fuel tanks, fuel pump. We didn’t even know if was going to start for the feature. Stevie just got lucky there on the restart and got the car going. “
Dietrich ended third over Lucas Wolfe and Aaron Ott. Haas lost two spots on the final restart to finish sixth with Mike Wagner, Lance Dewease, Krimes (from 19th and a restart on the rear) and Doug Esh (22nd) to complete the top ten.
Heat wins went to Davey Sammons, Wolfe, Haudenschild and Wagner while Brock Zearfoss was the consolation winner.
Follow the speedway on Twitter and Facebook at Dirt Capitol LLC and also check out Ernie D’s Turn 5 on Facebook with information about events, driver’s interviews and more. The latest news, results, photos, schedule or rule changes can found be on the speedway’s website: www.hagerstownspeedway.com. Also check the website for any changes in weather conditions that may delay or cancel the program or contact the speedway office at 301-582-0640.
7/1/15 HAGERSTOWN 30 LAPS 33 CARS 0 INVERT
1. 51 Stevie Smith
2. 27 Greg Hodnett
3. 48 Danny Dietrich
4. 1 Lucas Wolfe
5. 25 aaron Ott
6. 11c Cory Haas
7. 55 Mike Wagner
8. 14 Lance Dewease
9. 87 Alan Krimes
10. 07 Doug Esh
11. 3z Brock Zearfoss
12. 21a Kevin Nouse
13. 747 Davey Sammons
14. 19M Brent Marks
15. 8 Billy Dietrich
16. 89 Robbie Stillwaggon
17. 71 Ryan Wilson
18. 44 Joey Hershey
19. 99 Brady Bacon
20. 16 Gerard McIntyre Jr
21. 93 Sheldon Haudenschild
22. 93 Glenndon Forsythe
23. 51 Freddie Rahmer
24. 91 Anthony Fiore
Lap Leaders; Hodnett 1-11, 13, 16-24, D. Dietrich 12, 14-15, S. Smith 25-30
Fast Time; Hodnett 15.631
Heat Winners; Sammons, Wolfe, Haudenschild, Wagner
B-Main winner; Zearfoss
DNQ; 21K Kyle Pruitt, 33 Curt Stroup, 49H Bradley Howard, 12W Troy Fraker, 51 Karl Baker, 36D Wayne Dadetto, 15R Jay Reichard, 23 T J Stutts, 17 George Streaker Jr
2015 SPEEDWEEK POINTS
1.+ 51 Stevie Smith 657***
2.+ 48 Danny Dietrich 590*
3.+ 27 Greg Hodnett 535
4.+ 1 Lucas Wolfe 527
5.+ 87 Alan Krimes 446
6.+ 25 Aaron Ott 441
7.+ 19M Brent Marks 420
8.+ 14 Lance Dewease 324
9. 21 Brian Montieth 291
10. 8 Billy Dietrich 238
11.+ 23 T J Stutts 236
12. 3z Brock Zearfoss 230
13.+ 11c Cory Haas 226
14.+ 07 Doug Esh 224
15.+ 99 Brady Bacon 219
16. 55 Mike Wagner 211
17. 20 Ryan Taylor 209
18.+ 71 Ryan Wilson 149
19. 44 Chase Dietz 145
20. 15 Adam Wilt 135
21. 51 Freddie Rahmer 131
22. 99M Kyle Moody 127
23. 17B Steve Buckwalter 123
24. 1* Tim Wagaman 116
25. 3 Pat Cannon 92
26.+ 93/2w Glenndon Forsythe 90
27. 52 Austin Hogue 87
28. 747 Davey Sammons 85
29. 39 Tim Glatfelter 81
30. 88 Brandon Rahmer 72
31. 89 Robbie Stillwaggon 67
31. 21a Kevin Nouse 67
33. 44 Joey Hershey 66
34. 22 Cole Duncan 56
35. 93 Sheldon Haudenschild 51
36. 8c Brian Carber 49
36. 59 Jim Siegel 49
38. 55K Robbie Kendall 46
39. 75 Frankie Herr 45
40. 21 Kyle Reinhardt 44
41. 16 Gerard McIntyre Jr 43
42. M1 Mark Smith 42
43+ 33 Curt Stroup 41
43. 69K Donnie Kreitz Jr. 41
45. 5 Tyler Ross 38
46. 91 Anthony Fiore 27
47. 36D Wayne Dadetto 18
48. 12B Brad Franks 16
49. 35 Steve Owings 8
50. 7W Logan Wagner 7
50. 12W Troy Fraker 7
50. 15R Jay Reichard 7
53. 21K Kyle Pruitt 6
54. 51 Karl Baker 3
54. 49H Bradley Howard 3
56. 3B Randy Baughman 2
56. 77 Derek Locke 2
58. 21T Scott Fisher 1
58. 15M Bobby Mazingo 1
58. 80Jr Kyle Colwell 1
58. 17 George Streaker Jr 1
58. 10 Joe Kata 1
58. 26v Sean Kirkpatrick 1
64. 27G Jay Galloway 0
64. 69 Shane Hoff 0
* 2015 Speedweek Wins
+ Perfect Attendance
