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Hagerstown Speedway
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (August 9) - After struggling for months and months, it was time for Frankie Plessinger to get a new horse. Plessinger picked up a new Rocket Thursday and put it to the test Saturday night in the 28th Annual Shorty Bowers / Bull Durham Championship. Passing with flying colors, he added his name to the prestigious list of names that have preceded him in winning the event. He became the 13th different winner this season in the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass late models and it was also his first victory since March 5, 2006.
From Big Cove Tannery, Pa, Plessinger took the lead from Mike Lupfer on lap five and later won by .82 seconds over Andy Anderson in the 40-lap special event worth $2,500.
"This car is number 1 now," Plessinger said. "The car was flawless, it was fun to drive. I saw Andy (Anderson) got into second and knew he started back a ways, then (J.T.) Spence had a flat tire or something. They're all tough guys to race with. It's just good to run good here again."
Other winners included Ashley Barrett of Shippensburg, Pa who sped to his second triumph of the season in the Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic late model sportsman event with a 2.80 second score over Scott Palmer along while Hans Stamberg of Hedgesville, WW stormed to front of the Ernie's Salvage Yard pure stock feature from the previous winner's 12th starting place to make it two in a row and four for the season. He stretched his lead following a single caution on lap four, to 3.84 seconds over Dean Holmes at the checkered.
Mike Lupfer and Plessinger began on the front row as Lupfer took command but the start was recalled when Billy Wampler got to the outside and backed his mount into the turn one fence. Lupfer again took over with Plessinger and Brent Smith chasing him. Several cars got together on lap three as Lupfer led another lap on the restart until Plessinger stood on the gas around the top side of three and four to exit with the lead on lap five.
He began to stretch his lead while Lupfer fell into the clutches of J.T. Spence who took the second position on lap 14 while Plessinger was 2.9 seconds ahead. Roy Deese Jr. followed into third the next lap while Kirk Ryan then took fourth on the 16th circuit.
Plessinger continued to maintain a comfort zone and at the halfway mark, still had 2.4 seconds on Spence but then began to slowly pull away to nearly three seconds.
On the 28th circuit, Ryan's car spewed water on the track to regroup the field as Spence had a tire going down but stayed on the track. On the restart, 12th starter Andy Anderson, who took over fourth for the restart, put his racer on the edge and blasted past Deese and Spence to grab second while Plessinger continued to hold just better than three quarter of a second in the waning laps and ended .822 seconds ahead.
"I have to thank Curt Hershey for building good motors, Robbie Allen and Rocket Chassis and dad," Plessinger said. "I was actually loose getting in, but I could pick the throttle back up and the car would just take right off."
Deese held onto third with Spence and Marvin Winters completing the top five. Sixth went to Scott LeBarron, while Nathan Durboraw, Lupfer, Steve Axtell and Brian Booze completed the top ten. Heats were won by Smith and Winters. Anderson was the Ernie's Salvage Yard hard charger.
Scott Palmer took the late model sportsman lead from Michael Collins on the second lap while Barrett started third and took second on lap five. Following a sixth lap yellow, Barrett charged low to slip past Palmer off the second turn with the lead. Following a lap 13 yellow when several cars got together, Barrett easily stretched his lead over Palmer each lap until winning by 2.80 seconds.
"Dustin Kendall is hooking me up week after week, but last week, we screwed something up," Barrett said. "As soon as we got on the track we were out to lunch. I just held on for 11th. We ran good for so many weeks. I don't want to sound too cocky, but this thing was hooked up. I have to thank Pete and Fran Neuder; they're the ones that got me here. It's Fran's birthday so I guess this is a good present."
Kyle Lear won the battle for third over the final six laps with Andy Fries and Dylan Yoder ending fifth. Palmer and Collins won the heat wile Cory Houck, who ended seventh was the St. Thomas Towing/Checkered Flag Lube hard charger.
After Danny Beavers led the pure stocks from the outside pole, Stamberg was on his way from 12th and arrived in second on the fourth lap when Wayne Hawbaker dropped out. Stamburg passed Beavers, leaving him to battle with Dean Holmes for the position. Holmes finally won out at the white flag but Stamberg was long gone and circled the track one final time to win by 3.84 seconds.
"I've had a couple bad races but four wins,"Stamberg said. "I've never had two in a row and never had more than two in a season. It's been a pretty good year. The track was a little bit of black and real slick. I just love it when it's like that."
Beavers, 17th starting Dale Hollidge who was the J & M Sportsworld hard charger and Steve Lowery completed the top five. Heats went to Tony Catlett, Mike Sanders and Holmes.
Following two big weekends of late models specials, the speedway returns this Saturday with Small Fry Night with the Ernie's Auto Enterprises Pure Stocks showcasing their division in the Ernie's Salvage Yard 20-lap Special while all the youngsters will get a ride around the track during intermission. Other racing includes a regular feature programs for the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass Late Models and Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic Late Model Sportsman divisions.
Pit gates open at 4: p.m. with grandstands opening at 5:00 p.m. Hot laps get underway at 7:00 p.m. Check the speedway website for information and any changes in weather at: www.hagerstownspeedway.com or contact the speedway office at 301-582-0640.
Hagerstown Speedway Results
28th Annual Shorty Bowers/Bull Durham Championship - Cindy Rowe Auto Glass Late Models, 40 laps, 21 entries, (Lap Leaders - Mike Lupfer 1-4, Frankie Plessinger 5-40) 1.Frankie Plessinger; 2.Andy Anderson(Ernie's Enterprises Hard Charger); 3.Roy Deese Jr.; 4.J.T. Spence; 5.Marvin Winters; 6.Scott LeBarron; 7.Nathan Durboraw; 8.Mike Lupfer; 9.Steve Axtell ; 10.Brian Booze; 11.Brent Smith; 12.Larry Baer; 13.Kirk Ryan; 14.Jim Yoder; 15.Ronnie DeHaven Jr.; 16.D.J.Troutman; 17.Ray Kable Jr.; 18.Paul Crowl; 19.Harold Dorsey; 20..Billy Wampler; DNS- Les Hare
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Late Model Sportsman, 20 Laps, 22 entries (Lap Leaders - Michael Collins 1, Scott Palmer 2-6, Ashley Barrett 7-20) 1.Ashley Barrett; 2.Scott Palmer; 3.Kyle Lear; 4.Andy Fries; 5.Dylan Yoder; 6.Shawn Jones; 7.Cory Houck (St Thomas Towing/Checkered Flag Lube Hard Charger); 8.Richard Walls; 9.Michael Collins; 10.Mike Walls; 11.Barry Miller; 12.Wayne Walls Jr.; 13.Rick Stouffer; 14.Cody Lear; 15.Steeve McCartney; 16.Courtney Shreiner; 17.Ryan Walls; 18.Jerry Bard; 19.Pete Weaver; 20.James Myers; 21.Terry Flaherty; DNS Nick Pappas
Ernie's Auto Enterprises Pure Stocks, 15 laps, 27 entries (Lap Leaders - Danny Beavers 1-4 , Hans Stamberg 5-15) 1.Hans Stamberg; 2.Dean Holmes; 3.Danny Beavers 4.Dale Hollidge (J & M Sportsworld Hard Charger); 5.Steve Lowery; 6.Kenny Dillon; 7.Drew Fitzsimmons; 8.Brian Swiger; 9.Mike Sanders; 10.Kevin Keefer; 11.Bill Ecton Jr.; 12.Lin Supthin; 13.Bill Reitober; 14.Kenny Day; 15.Kevin Boyer; 16.Randy Kline; 17.Dave Boring; 18.Bill Ecton; 19.Frank Dibella; 20.Tony Catlett; 21.John Stamberg; 22.Wayne Hawbaker; 23.Kevin Dayhoff; DNS- Justin Snodderly, Eddie Catrell, Darrin Younker, Kim Ramer
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