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Hagerstown Speedway
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (May 17) - Following an ARCH night rain out on May 3rd and the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass late model feature postponed two weeks at Hagerstown Speedway, Les Hare had no problem with the wait. It's been a long time coming for the Stewartstown, PA veteran, although not a regular for numerous years, it was his first Hagerstown score since June 22, 1996 and career fourth.
"I almost lost my way (to victory lane), it's been so long," Hare said. "I brought my youngest son with me tonight and the last time I took him, I won. I think he's going along all the time now."
For the third consecutive race date and sixth time this season of 12 events, Mother Nature intervened. Rain arrived before qualifying was completed in all divisions on scheduled Student Night with the entire event cancelled and rain checks being honored for 18 months.
The Maryland Clash, Limited /Late Model Sportsman Hagerstown/ Allegany County event will be made up as part of the July 5th program as will the Enduro Dash event that was lost.
When David Williams had a suspension problem and his fender brace was wearing two grooves in his tire, Hare took the top spot before the last caution flag waved on lap 16. He led the final ten circuits to edge Gary Stuhler by .72 seconds.
Frankie Plessinger held a slight advantage on Dave Troutman Jr. on the first lap but slipped high in the second turn as Troutman and several other cars drove by including sixth starter, David Williams who took over following a second lap restart when Paul Crowl came to a stop in turn four.
Williams appeared to be the car to beat until he started showing some smoke before the halfway mark when he was just over two seconds ahead of fifth starting Hare, who took second from Troutman on lap five.
Williams slid high in the second turn of the 15th lap as Hare and Stuhler scooted on by for the top positions as the caution then waved the next circuit to regroup the field.
With Williams still hanging on to third, he got sideways in turn three of the 20th circuit as eighth starting Kirk Ryan , Roy Deese Jr., from 12th and 15th starter Billy Wampler charged past.
Hare wasn't shaking Stuhler, who was close enough to smell Hare's exhaust but unable to mount a challenge as Hare got to the line .72 seconds ahead.
"I've been doing this a long time and I looked over at the score board and saw 90 (Stuhler),' Hare said. "I thought 'Well, he's going to have to earn it, I'm running as hard as I can.' I know Gary is tough wherever he goes, so I was just trying to stay on my line and not make any mistakes and it paid off."
"Clair Leiphart put me in this car a few years…we ran limited that one year and decided to come back to super lates. Diehl Motor Company, if it wouldn't be for them, we wouldn't be here."
Ryan, Deese and Wampler finished off the top five spots while 14th starter, Alan Sagi ended sixth while Williams, Nathan Durboraw, hard charger Jack Pencil from 23rd and 17th starting Jamie Lathroum completed the top ten.
Heat races held May 3rd were won by Ryan, Steve Gibney, and Durboraw while J.T. Spence won the consolation.
While Student Night was progressing without delay with a full pit area of 37 late models, 37 late model sportsman and 28 pure stocks plus 25 enduro cars, Han Stamberg, Bobby Taylor and Steve Lowery were Ernie's Salvage yard heat winners. In the second attempt at getting the Maryland Clash event in the records books, Barry Miller, Dave Troutman Jr and Robbie Black had won heats with Matt Sponaugle leading with two to go in the fourth heat when the rains arrived.
On Friday, May 23rd, the special charity late model sportsman event was scheduled and it now includes two sportsman features including the postponed May 3rd event along with the Enduro Dash from that same night. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted for Speedway Children's Charity.
Pit gates open at 4 p.m., grandstands at 5:00 p.m. and warm ups begin at 7:30 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, 32 entries, (Lap Leaders - Frankie Plessinger 1, Dave Troutman Jr, 2, David Williams 3-15, Les Hare 16-25) 1.Les Hare; 2.Gary Stuhler; 3.Kirk Ryan; 4.Roy Deese Jr.; 5.Billy Wampler; 6.Alan Sagi; 7.David Williams; 8.Nathan Durboraw; 9.Jack Pencil (Hard Charger); 10.Jamie Lathroum; 11.Mike Atherton; 12.Jim Yoder; 13.Darryl Hills; 14.Frankie Plessinger; 15.Mike Lupfer; 16.Scott LeBarron; 17.Steve Axtell Jr; 18.Steve Gibney; 19.D.J.Myers; 20.Dave Troutman Jr.; 21.J.T. Spence; 22.Wayne Johnson; 23.Jason Covert; 24.Paul Crowl; DNQ - Rick Hulson, Matt Quade, Larry Baker II, Jeff Johnson, Al Shawver Sr., Larry Baer, DNS - Ronnie DeHaven, Marvin Winters
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