HESSTON, PA – Brenneman’s Meat Market sponsored the opening night festivities at Hesston Speedway with Mike Shoemaker (limited late models), Mark Watkins (PA 305 Sprints), Cris Edwards, Jr., (street stocks) and Gary Morder (hobby stocks) picking up the first wins of the season Saturday night.
The limited late models hit the speedway with Brad Kling and Mike Duck on the front row. Kling jumped into the lead and was setting a torrid pace, with Duck in second and Mike Shoemaker in third. As the race progressed, Shoemaker was working to get past Duck, and on lap 13 he was able to find the right groove and took second. In the mean time, Rick Singleton, who started scratch on the field, was headed towards the front as well.
By the 15th lap Kling had a tire going down and Shoemaker took the lead and held off the advances of Duck, a fast closing Tim Smith, Rance Garlock held off Rick Singleton for fourth. The heats were won by Brad Kling and Mike Duck.
The PA 305 Sprints took to the speedway with Scott Ellerman and Roger Irvine on the front row. Ellerman took the lead at the start with Irvine a close second and Nathan Gramley in third. While they were working against each other Mark Watkins had moved into the third spot on lap three after passing Cliff Conner on lap two. In once sweeping move on the same corner, Watkins went past both Irvine and Ellerman for the lead on lap 9 and never looked back, taking the opening night win. Irvine, Conner, Heckman and Gramley completed the top five. Heat wines went to Scott Ellerman, Roger Irvine and Cliff Conner.
Cris Edwards out ran Randy Wible at the start of the street stock feature and never looked back. While he didn’t look back, he did look beside him several times, as Bill Henney tried to get past the #66, but Edwards held his advances off every time. When Todd Lynn threw the checkered flag it was all Edwards over Henney, Chad Parks, Wible and Dale Claycomb. Heat wins went to Randy Wible and Cris Edwards.
Gary Morder took the lead from front row starters Carl Snare and Jeff Shoemaker at the start of the hobby feature, from his second row starting spot, and held off Shoemaker then Dave Brown before Shoemaker was able to get back to second, but he still had Snare to contents with until the end. At the line it was Morder over Shoemaker, Snare, Terry Norris and Curtis Guyer. Heat wins went to Carl Snare, Jeff Shoemaker and Gary Morder.
PIT NOTES: 65 teams filled the pits, including 15 limited late models, 22 sprints, 10 street stocks and 17 hobby stocks…Next week the sprints will be off, but the limited late models, street stocks and hobby stocks will be in action with race time set for 7 p.m…Mark May 11 down, as Hesston Speedway welcomes back the MACS Late Model series for the first of two visits this season and the first Sunday Super Late Model Special. For more information check out the web site at www.hesstonspeedway.com.
RESULTS
Limited Late Models: 1. #8\” Mike Shoemaker; 2. #73 Mike Duck; 3. #39 Tim Smith Jr.; 4. #19 Rance Garlock; 5. #99 Rick Singleton; 6. #55 Tom Barron; 7. #80E John Hedge; 8. #6 Allen Lemin; 9. #38 Chad Walters; 10. #88 Barry Welch; 11. #11 Brad Kling; 12. #77 George Dixon Jr.; 13. #50 Jake Griffith; 14. #71 Curtis Heath; DNS: #5* Derek Byler
PA 305 Sprints : 1. #17W Mark Watkins; 2. #12 Roger Irvine; 3. #84 Cliff Conner; 4. #8H Michael Heckman; 5. #23 Nathan Gramley; 6. #76 Andy Haus; 7. #R6 Reed Thompson; 8. #33Z Joe Zap; 9. #7 Jim Kennedy; 10. #33T Todd Spangler; 11. #71 Nicole Bitner; 12. #3 Johnny Hagen; 13. #47 Tom Worrick; 14. #6 Tim Kline; 15. #2 Erin Statler; 16. #4 Rodney Peters; 17. #24/7 Ben Naugle; 18. #86 Ron Aurand; 19. #30 Jon Henney; 20. #27K Allen Kumpf; 21. #22 Jim Marquette; 22. #10 Scott Ellerman
Street Stocks: 1. #66 Cris Edwards; 2. #50 Bill Henney; 3. #3 Chad Parks; 4. #9 Randy Wible; 5. #32 Dale Claycomb; 6. #22 Jesse Snyder; 7. #45 Tim Brindle; 8. #88 Khi Swanger; DNS: #8T Tom Williams and #180 Kenny Taylor
Hobby Stocks: 1. #1 Gary Morder; 2. #8\” Jeff Shoemaker; 3. #66 Carl Snare; 4. #73 Terry Norris; 5. #8C Curtis Guyer; 6. #10 Jake Gongloff; 7. #16D Darin Desch; 8. #95 Dave Brown; 9. #35 Dallas Runk; 10. #01 Dereck Grabill; 11. #22S Mark Snyder; 12. #68 Tom Dearmitt; 13. #21 Joe Dearmitt; 14. #88 Kyle Grove; 15. #36K Keith Russell; 16. #77 Lou Wannyn; 17. #17C Chris Chaney