Press release by Terry Whetstone
SMEAL GETS AMP WIN; HOFFNER REPEATS AND MOTHER NATURE WINS
CLEARFIELD – America’s Motorsports Park was able to complete two features and seven laps of the Pure Stock main before the skies opened up postponing the rest of the program until July 6.
Luke Hoffner of Turbotville won the Randy Sterling Trucking Late Model main while Dan “The Ramey Rocket” Smeal of Ramey picked up his first Harter and Son’s Garage Street Stock feature of the season.
The Late Models took to the track with Rich Runyan Jr. and Bernie Whiteford on the front row, with Luke Hoffner starting third. The opening lap saw Runyan get high in turn four, spinning, as the entire field, somehow, was able to avoid him. This reset the field, with Runyan at the rear, but putting Hoffner on the front row. At the drop of Allan Luzier’s green flag, Hoffner took the lead and set the pace, as Whiteford sat in second with Chris Farrell moving to third and then to second on lap two. As the race went on, Farrell was chasing Hoffner, as the rest of the field kept the crowd entertained, as there was racing the whole way around the quarter mile. Duane Brooks and Whiteford battled for the third spot most of the race, as Tom Vilello and Tom Shaffer also had a battle of their own. In the later stages of the race, the leaders encountered lapped traffic and Farrell began to reel in the leader, but Hoffner was able to hold on for his fifth win of the season. Farrell, Brooks, Whiteford and Vilello completed the top five. Heat wins went to Joe Moyer, Randy Sterling and Farrell while Scott Alvetro won the consolation.
Dan Smeal and Kyle Shannon lined up on the front row of the Street Stock feature, with Smeal taking the lead and setting the pace. As they were pulling away from the field, Jamie Price, Ray Hickok, Bob Rosman and Bruce Hartzfield were keeping the fans on their feet, as they were three wide several times. In the meantime, Smeal was still holding off Shannon, who hung with the leader the whole race, but could not muster up the extra power to get the win. At the finish the top five were: Smeal, Shannon, Rosman, Hickok and Hartzfield. Heat wins went to Price, Shannon and Smeal.
The rest of the show will be made up this Saturday night, resuming with lap seven of the Pure Stock feature.
PIT NOTES: There were a total of 94 cars in the pits, including 25 Late Models, 7 Semi Lates, 22 Street Stocks, 18 Pure Stocks, and 22 4 Cylinders…Coming up on July 3 is a special appearance by the 410 Sprints. The 30 lap event will pay $3,000 to win and $300 to start. The Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders and Fireworks are also on the schedule…Coming up on July 6 watch Red Farmer, an original member of the famous Alabama Gang and a former NASCAR driver compete with the Late Models…On July 13 the Third Annual Conner Bobik Memorial will be held for the Late Models. The 30 lap event will pay $1,500 to win…For more information check the website at www.americasmotorsportspark.com
Randy Sterling Trucking Late Models: 1. Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 2. Chris Farrell; 3. Dwayne Brooks; 4. Bernie Whiteford; 5. Tom Vilello; 6. Tom Shaffer; 7. Joe Moyer; 8. Randy Sterling; 9. Justin Kanouff; 10. Scott Alvetro; 11. Butch Moyer; 12. Duane Stiner; 13. John Brady; 14. Denny Fenton; 15. Tom Decker, Jr.; 16. Roswell Babcock; 17. Rich Runyan, Jr.; 18. Joe Petyak; 19. Dwayne Taneyhill, Sr.; 20. Dan Gill.
Did not qualify: Paul Carter, Steve Scaife, Tom Decker, III, Tom Merryman and Jason Read.
Harter and Son’s Garage Street Stocks: 1. Dan Smeal, Ramey; 2. Kyle Shannon; 3. Bob Rosman; 4. Chris Hickok 5. Bruce Hartzfeld; 6. Jamie Price; 7. Fuzzy Fields; 8. Johnny Lindenpitz; 9. Tim Fannin; 10. Joe Jordan; 11. Tony Brown; 12. Curtis Teats; 13. Scott Winslow; 14. Rich Howell, Jr.; 15. Joe Kot; 16. Doug Tibbens; 17. Ron Mertz; 18. #23; 19. Mike Krause; 20. Todd Mathews; 21. Matt Hugill; 22. Dustin Challingsworth.