HESSTON, PA – Three drivers, all about 21 years old, graced victory lane at Hesston Speedway on Walters Auto Wrecking trophy night Saturday night.
Those winners include Derek Byler Alexandria in the limited late models, Mike Heckman of Chambersburg picked up the PA Auto Locator PA 305 Sprint main while Khi Swanger of Huntingdon in the street stocks.
The Walters Auto Wrecking Hobby Stocks were running for extra laps and double points as Joe Dearmitt of Alexandria topped that event.
The limited late models took to the track with Shawn Bilger and Mike Duck on the front row with Duck pulling into the lead at the initial waving of Todd Lynn’s green flag. He only led two laps as Derek Byler went to the outside of the track and flew into the lead on lap three.
Once Byler was leading second saw Jim Andrews Jr., Bilger, Rance Garlock and Scott Palmer swapping the spots. A late caution regrouped the field and Garlock was in second place, he tried to get past Byler, but Byler was after his first win on the season and he held off Garlocks challenges. At the line it was Byler, Garlock, Mike Altobelli Jr. from 14th, Palmer from 11th and Tim Smith Jr. from 10th. Jake Griffith, Rick Singleton and Tim Smith Jr. won the preliminaries.
The sprint feature started with Craig Robinson and Reed Thompson flipping off the track in turn one. Both drivers walked away unhurt, but done for the night.
On the complete restart Bill Jones Jr. and Nichole Bittner were on the front row, with Jones taking the lead and setting the pace. He was working his way to the 20th lap with Mike Heckman closing in on him on lap 17, as Heckman made his move for the lead on the front stretch, Jones made contact with DJ Holland and spun, in turn two. The race slowed and Heckman had the lead with three to go. Bittner stayed with Heckman the final three laps, but Heckman held on to win. Bittner was second, Rod Ort was third, Andy Haus was fourth and Jim Kennedy was fifth. Bittner failed to make weight at the scales and she was disqualified. Scott Ellerman then moved into fifth place. Bill Jones Jr., Nicole Bittner and Mike Heckman won the heats.
Khi Swanger and Tom Williams led the street stocks to the green flag in the street stock feature, with Swanger taking the lead and Williams settling into second. While Swanger may have led from green to checkered, he didn’t walk off with the win, as Williams and Scott White were there the whole time, but when the checkered flag waved it was Swanger taking the win. Williams, White, Jesse Snyder and Tim Brindle completed the top five. Heat wins went to Dave Swanger, Tom Williams and Khi Swanger.
The hobby feature was 25 laps long with double points and extra money on the line. Keith Russell and Bill Dearmitt led the field to the start with Russell taking the lead. He had Ryan Sager in second and Joe Dearmitt in third. The field was close as Joe Dearmitt went to the outside and by the sixth lap was leading. Once out front he simply had to ward off the challenges from Russell and Daren Desch. At the line it was Joe Dearmitt getting his sixth win of the season. Russell, Desch, Bill Dearmitt and Jake Gongloff completed the top five. Bill Dearmitt, Keith Russell and Ryan Sagers won the heats.
PIT NOTES: 88 cars filled the pits, including 21 limited late models, 23 sprints, 19 street stocks and 25 hobby stocks…Three generations of Andrews were competing together in the limited late models. Dad, Jim Andrews Sr., (#1J), son Jim Andrews Jr. (#37J) and grandson Jimmy Andrews III (#73J)…This weeks racing action is the Neil Clark Memorial sponsored by the Last Chance Garage. The limited late models, street stocks and hobby stocks will be in action. Track management has added at Sept. 1 and Sept. 8 as point races to make up for earlier cancellations…More information can be found at www.hesstonspeedway.com
Summary
Limited Late Models: 1. #5* Derek Byler; 2. #19 Rance Garlock; 3. #79 Mike Altobelli Jr.; 4. #86 Scott Palmer; 5. #39 Tim Smith Jr.; 6. #37J Jimmy Andrews; 7. #8\” Mike Shoemaker; 8. #50 Jake Griffith; 9. #77 George Dixon Jr.; 10. #88 Barry Welch; 11. #22 Chase Billet; 12. #80E Donnie Hedge; 13. #39J Jeff Geake; 14. #55 Tom Barron; 15. #1J Jim Andrews Sr.; 16. #14B Shawn Bilger; 17. #99 Rick Singleton; 18. #73 Mike Duck; 19. #73J Jim Andrews III DNS: Matt Parks and #38 Chad Walters
PA Auto Locator 305 Sprints: 1. #8H Mike Heckman; 2. #36 Rod Ort; 3. #76 Andy Haus; 4. #7 Jim Kennedy; 5. #10 Scott Ellerman; 6. #21C Ryan Lynn; 7. #12 Roger Irvine; 8. #33Z Joe Zap; 9. #4 Rodney Peters;10. #79 Mel Light; 11. #23J Dave Youtzy; 12. #47 Tom Worrick Jr; 13. #6 Tim Kline; 14. #12J Bill Jones Jr.; 15. #89 D.J Holland; 16. #22 Jim Marquette; 17. #23 Nathan Gramley; 18. #84 Cliff Conner; 19. #1 Brian Sweitzer; 20. #16 Craig Robinson; 21. #R6 Reed Thompson DQ\’ed #71 Nicole Bittner DNS #27K Allan Kumpf
Street Stocks: 1. #88 Khi Swanger; 2. #8T Tom Williams; 3. #13 Scott White; 4. #22 Jessie Snyder; 5. #45 Tim Brindle; 6. #151 Dave Swanger; 7. #59 Mike Desch; 8. #3 Chad Parks; 9. #34 Kris Leonard; 10. #24 Mike Duguay; 11. #6M Matt Mellott; 12. #87 Eric Irvin; 13. #25 Glenn Winnick Jr; 14. #17S Mike Stiffler; 15. #66 Cris Edwards; 16. #50 Bill Henney DNS #W8 Wayne Irvin; #64 Bill Heffner; #110 Dave Brown
Walters Auto Wrecking Hobby Stocks: 1. #21 Joe Dearmitt; 2. #36K Keith Russell; 3. #D16 Darren Desch; 4. #68 Bill Dearmitt; 5. #10 Jake Gongloff; 6. #60 Bill Replogle; 7. #69 Robbie Goss; 8. #17C Chris Chaney; 9. #8II Jeff Shoemaker; 10. #35 Steve Cowher; 11. #77 Lou Wannyn; 12. #30 Russell Lightner; 13. #29 Joe Hammers; 14. #0 Tom Eriksen; 15. #8C Curtis Guyer; 16. #1 Gary Morder; 17. #42 Charlie Walter; 18. #14 Bobby Witters; 19. #78 Ryan Sager; 20. #44 Brian Ayers; 21. #22S Mark Snyder;
22. #32 Dale Claycomb; 23. #77P Gerald Price; 24. #18B Tom Dearmitt DNS Curtis Heath