Stevie Smith Kickstarts PA Speedweek With Williams Grove Victory
Gargiulo takes ARDCs
6/26/15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mechanicsburg – Stevie Smith kicked off the 25th annual Jakes Wayback Burgers/Trone Outdoor PA Speedweek series for 410 sprint cars at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night, taking a $5,000 flag to flag victory over Greg Hodnett whom he held at bay for the entire 25-lap distance.
In the 20-lap ARDC Midget feature, PJ Gargiulo took his first victory of the season with the club.
Smith started on the pole of the sprint car main and took off ahead of Hodnett and Danny Dietrich.
Three yellow flags and a red flag hampered Smith’s winning pace during the event, the first occurring on the third lap for a stopped Mark Smith.
Four laps later a stopped Cory Haas again regrouped the field with seventh starter Brian Montieth turning heads after blasting into third on the previous restart.
The field ran the next 13 laps non-stop with Montieth challenging Hodnett early for second and then Hodnett closing on Smith for the lead during the mid stages.
But as the race wore on, Smith got away from Hodnett and was out of reach when Montieth stopped in the second corner with five laps to go.
Hodnett was unable to challenge when action resumed however only two more laps were recorded when the red flag appeared for a two car connection on the frontchute involving Brock Zearfoss and Lance Dewease.
Stevie Smith was home free on the restart, clearly powering away from Hodnett during the final three laps for his second victory of the season at Williams Grove Speedway.
“They (the crew) had the car really good,” Smith said of his Fred Rahmer-owned mount.
“It needs to be driven hard. The harder I raced it, the better it felt.”
Danny Dietrich was third followed by Lucas Wolfe and 14th starter Brent Marks.
Sixth through 10th went to Alan Krimes, Aaron Ott, Ryan Taylor, Steve Buckwalter and Montieth, who tagged to the rear of the field after replacing a tire.
Heats for the 33-car field went to Montieth, Hodnett, Wolfe and TJ Stutts with Dewease taking the consolation race.
Stevie Smith set quick time with a lap of 16.506 seconds.
6/26/15 WILLIAMS GROVE 25 LAPS 33 CARS 0 INVERT
1. 51 Stevie Smith
2. 27 Greg Hodnett
3. 48 Danny Dietrich
4. 1 Lucas Wolfe
5. 19M Brent Marks
6. 87 Alan Krimes
7. 25 Aaron Ott
8. 20 Ryan Taylor
9. 17B Steve Busckwalter
10. 21 Brian Montieth
11. 15 Adam Wilt
12. 3 Pat Cannon
13. 23 T J Stutts
14. 44 Chase Dietz
15. 11c Cory Haas
16. 21 Kyle Reinhardt
17. 75 Frankie Herr
18. 3z Brock Zearfoss
19. 14 Lance Dewease
20. 93 Glenndon Forsythe
21. 52 Austin Hogue
22. 69K Donnie Kreitz Jr
23. M1 Mark Smith
24. 07 Doug Esh
Lap Leaders; S. Smith 1-25
Fast Time; S. Smith 16.506
Heat Winners; Montieth, Hodnett, Wolfe, Stutts
B-Main Winner; Dewease
DNQ; 39 Tim Glatfelter, 99 Brady Bacon, 71 Ryan Wilson, 7W Logan Wagner, 36D Wayne Dadetto, 33 Curt Stroup, 12B Brad Frank, 12W Troy Fraker, 27G Jay Galloway
2015 SPEEDWEEK POINTS
1. 51 Stevie Smith 181*
2. 27 Greg Hodnett 155
3. 48 Danny Dietrich 140
4. 1 Lucas Wolfe 136
5. 19M Brent Marks 124
6. 87 Alan Krimes 122
7. 25 Aaron Ott 116
8. 17B Steve Buckwalter 104
8. 20 Ryan Taylor 104
10. 21 Brian Montieth 100
11. 15 Adam Wilt 94
12. 3 Pat Cannon 92
13. 23 T J Stutts 82
14. 3z Broack Zearfoss 68
15. 44 Chase Dietz 58
15. 11c Cory Haas 58
17. 75 Frankie Herr 45
18. 21 Kyle Reinhardt 44
19. M1 Mark Smith 42
20. 69K Donnie Kreitz Jr. 41
21. 93 Glenndon Forsythe 35
22. 14 Lance Dewease 34
23. 07 Doug Esh 32
24. 52 Austin Hogue 29
25. 71 Ryan Wilson 10
26. 33 Curt Stroup 8
27. 7W Logan Wagner 7
28. 99 Brady Bacon 5
29. 39 Tim Glatfelter 4
30. 36D Wayne Dadetto 3
31. 12B Brad Frank 2
32. 12W Troy Fraker 1
33. 27G Jay Galloway 0
* 2015 Speedweek Wins
