4.17.21 Pennsylvania Sprint Series Results
By: Frank Buhrman
Full circle.
Mikell McGee, fourth-generation member of the family that built Path Valley Speedway, collected his first PA Sprint Series feature victory in Saturday night’s 25-lap feature at his home track.
In only his tenth PASS race, the resident of nearby Doylesburg survived a fierce battle – and contact – with Kenny Heffner, who also was seeking his first PASS win. Then there was the green-white-checkered finish with 2020 PASS and IMCA/RaceSaver National Champion Garrett Bard on his bumper.
McGee and his CM Fuels #11M faced and rose above those challenges and came home the winner.
Bard, of Wells Tannery, hung on for second, with second-year PASS driver Rowdy Heffner of Red Lion scoring a career-best third. Will Brunson of Middleburg also posted a career-best finish with his fourth and was the evening’s hard charger, advancing nine positions after starting 13th. Austin Reed of Etters completed the top five.
The remainder of the top ten included Mike Alleman, rookie Zach Rhodes, John Walp, Dave Wickham and Andrew Jacobus.
The night was most disappointing for Watsontown’s Kenny Heffner, who grabbed the early lead after fellow front-row starter (and last week’s Selinsgrove winner) Justin Mills jumped the cushion and had to retire his car. That made McGee Heffner’s challenger, and the two battled fiercely until they collided as McGee tried go get by on the low side in turn four. Heffner was knocked out of shape but held on to the runner-up spot in his Morgan Paving/Maloney Builders #97 and continued to challenge until he spun in turn four and was clipped by John Walp. That ended Heffner’s run.
McGee still had a couple of restarts to survive, including the final green-white-checker, but he delighted the large contingent of his fans on hand to hold the lead and record the win.
McGee and Alleman were heat winners for the 17-car field.
The PASS sprinters return to Port Royal Speedway this Saturday for their first repeat visit to a speedway. “Nitro Nick” Sweigart bested a 54-car field to record the win on April 3. It will be the first of two straight Saturday night shows for PASS at the Port.
For the latest schedule and other information, visit www.pasprintseries.com or the PA Sprint Series Facebook page.
Results from Path Valley Speedway April 17
HEAT 1 – 1. 46-Mike Alleman; 2. 2-Aaron Jacobus; 3. M1-Justin Mills; 4. 34-Austin Reed; 5. 80-Dave Wickham; 6. 19-Chris Kreider; 7. 21-Andrew Boyer; 8. 21C-Jarrett Cavalet; 9. 7-Andrew Jacobus.
HEAT 2 – 1. 11M-Mikell McGee; 2. 1-Rowdy Heffner; 3. 95-Garrett Bard; 4. 97-Kenny Heffner; 5. 5-John Walp; 6. 0Z-Zach Rhodes; 7. 8-Will Brunson; 8. 17R-Frank Rusnock.
FEATURE – 1. 11M-Mikell McGee; 2. 95-Garrett Bard; 3. 1-Rowdy Heffner; 4. 8-Will Brunson; 5. 34-Austin Reed; 6. 46-Mike Alleman; 7. 0Z-Zach Rhodes; 8. 5-John Walp; 9. 80-Dave Wickham; 10. 7-Andrew Jacobus; 11. 97-Kenny Heffner (DNF); 12. 21C-Jarrett Cavalet; 13. 19-Chris Kreider (DNF); 14. 17R-Frank Rusnock (DNF); 15. M1-Justin Mills (DNF). DNS – 2-Aaron Jacobus; 21-Andrew Boyer.