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Hagerstown Speedway
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (March 29) - "This is so cool. I always wanted to win here and I'm so glad I finally did it," said a very happy Jim Yoder as he celebrated his career first Hagerstown Speedway victory on Saturday night. "This thing flew down the straight-aways. This is the oldest car we have. It's a 2000 and should be worn out, but it's the fastest thing we got."
Yoder, of Selinsgrove, Pa. started from the pole in the eight car inverted Cindy Rowe Auto Glass late model feature to lead all the way and claim the win by less than a length over defending champion J. T. Spence.
Other features on Grand Opening night were just as fast and exciting as two time defending champion Andy Fries of Mercersburg, Pa claimed the Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic late model sportsman win while Hans Stamberg of Hedgesville, WV blistered the track in the Ernie's Salvage Yard pure stocks with a new track record of 6 minutes 14 seconds to finish eight seconds ahead of Dean Holmes.
Yoder and Marvin Winters brought the late model field to green but by the third lap, Yoder already was showing he was in a different time zone and two seconds ahead. Winters held to second until fifth starting David Williams took the runner up spot on lap six but Spence, who started alongside, blew by two laps later. By then, Yoder was just over four seconds ahead and was two cars into the rear of the field when Winters coasted to a stop on lap 12.
Following the restart, it was one real battle for second just over a length back as Spence, Williams and Roy Deese Jr. were putting on a driving show until Greg Fetters came to a stop on lap 15.
The restart saw the same as there was no let up behind Yoder as Alan Sagi had closed in from his 12th starting spot but he watched Deese challenge Williams while Williams was giving it his all to get around Spence and Spence gave it is all the final circuit and came up just short at the finish.
"I knew those guys were there and I was just keeping my line, trying to keep it going slow in," Yoder said. "That's the biggest thing you have to learn here. I guess we always went too fast in over the years since I've been coming here and I finally got it straight and figured out."
In order, Spence, William, Deese Jr., and Sagi while 10th starter, Devin Friese ended sixth, followed by Jamie Lathroum, from 18th, Gary Stuhler, from the consy win and 21st, Ronnie DeHaven and D.J. Myers.
Heats went to David Hills, Deese Jr., Spence and Williams, while Stuhler won the consolation after becoming involved in a third heat race incident.
Barry Miller led the late model sportsman from the outside pole in the six car inverted start but Fries, from sixth, was ready to challenge by the first lap completion as he went to the high side and took over. Jerry Bard took third with Terry Flaherty next but both dropped out with mechanical problems on laps nine and ten with Yoder's son, Dylan taking over third with Kyle Lear into fourth.
The final ten laps remained under green as Fries and Miller held a two second lead on Yoder but after taking the white flag, Yoder slowed in the first turns, the victim of a right front flat, possibly from contact with Bard when he slowed unexpectedly on lap ten.
"It's great to start the year out like this," Fries said. "I remember last year, first night out, Barry Miller, he beat me and I ran second. I thought, 'Man, I don't know if I can get him if he stays on the top', but he drove to the bottom and left the top open, I said 'It's my race' because I like that high side."
Lear continued on to finish third over Fred Harden and Richard Walls, who corrected some problems in his heat and came all the way from 20th spot. Paul Cursey was sixth with Mike Walls, Robby Beal, Corey Houck and Yoder, who nursed his car around to complete the top ten. Heat winners were Fries, Pete Weaver and Bard.
The pure stocks pulled a three car invert as Stamberg began on the pole and simply drove off, pulling way from Dave Stouffer who started alongside. Dean Holmes started sixth and took the runner up spot on lap five but Stamberg was three seconds ahead and still driving away. Stamberg caught rear cars on lap 11 but still didn't slow him as Holmes could only see the 50 on the scoreboard. Stouffer held to third with Dale Hollidge and Andy Holmes completing the top five.
"I didn't get any wins last year so I finally got one now," Stamberg said. "Actually last season was one of the best I ever had…I just didn't get a win, but had a lot of seconds and thirds.
The speedway returns to action Saturday April 5 for Fan Appreciation Day with all grandstand admissions only $7.00 for regular three division program and the first point races. Pit gates open at 4 p.m., grandstands open at 5 p.m and warm-ups begin at 7 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
Cindy Rowe Auto Glass Late Models, 25 laps, 33 entries, (Lap Leaders - Jim Yoder 1-25) 1.Jim Yoder; 2.J.T. Spence; 3.David Williams; 4.Roy Deese Jr.; 5.Alan Sagi; 6.Devin Fries; 7.Jamie Lathroum; 8.Gary Stuhler; 9.Ronnie DeHaven; 10.D.J.Myers; 11.Billy Wampler; 12.Ray Kable Jr.; 13.Paul Crowl; 14.Steve Axtell Jr.; 15.Scott LeBarron; 16.Jeff Johnson; 17.Wayne Johnson; 18.Larry Baer; 19.Mike Lupfer; 20.Jayson Dupont; 21.Greg Fetters; 22.Marvin Winters; 23.David Hills; 24.D.J. Troutman; DNQ - Larry Baker, Steve Gibney, Matt Sala, Al Shawver Jr., DNS - Al Shawver Sr., Mathew Quade, Donnie Lingo
Hoosier/Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Late Model Sportsman, 20 Laps, 22 entries (Lap Leaders - Barry Miller 1, Andy Fries 2-20): 1.Andy Fries; 2.Barry Miller; 3.Kyle Lear; 4.Fred Harden; 5.Richard Walls; 6.Paul Cursey; 7.Mike Walls; 8.Robby Beal; 9.Corey Houck; 10.Dylan Yoder; 11.Brian Lessley; 12.Nick Pappas; 13.Rob Gergel; 14.Scott Palmer; 15.Jerry Bard; 16.Terry Flaherty; 17.Mike Duck; 18.Pete Weaver; 19.Chuck Cox; DNS - Anthony Lupini, Ashley Barrett, Rick Stouffer
Ernie's Auto Enterprises Pure Stocks, 15 laps, 25 entries (Lap Leader - Hans Stamberg 1-15) 1.Hans Stamberg; 2.Dean Holmes; 3.Dave Stouffer; 4.Dale Hollidge; 5.Andy Holmes; 6.Steve Lowery; 7.Wayne Hawbaker; 8.Danny Beavers; 9.Kenny Dillon; 10.Kevin Keefer; 11.Kevin Dayhoff; 12.Rob Wells; 13.Jason Murray; 14.Billy Ecton; 15.Bill Reitober; 16.Justin Snodderly; 17.Charlie Pensinger; 18.Brian Swiger; DNS- Drew Fitzsimmons, Billy Ecton Jr., William Kerns, Tim Monn, Tony Catlett, Kenny Day, Darrin Younker
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