6.29.19 Pennsylvania Sprint Series Results
By: Frank Buhrman
Drew Ritchey of Everett collected his first PA Sprint Series win of 2019 Saturday in the 20-lap feature race at Path Valley Speedway.
Ritchey’s last PASS/IMCA victory had come nearly a year ago at Path Valley (where two of his three previous wins occurred). The driver of the R&N Tire/LaSalle’s Racing Engines/Bedford Valley Petroleum #880 has been a multiple race winner this season in the Laurel Highlands Sprint Series.
John Walp (Wapwallopen; GMS Piling Products LLC/La Napoli II Pizza/Dotzel Trucking #5) grabbed the early lead after starting alongside Zach Newlin (Millerstown; Scott Concrete & Construction/Heather Sims Realtor/Newport VFW #11Z) on the front row. The leaders were about to encounter lapped traffic when first Ken Duke Jr. (Selinsgrove; Fairfield Chevrolet, Apache Tree Service, sprintcarunlimited.com #67) and the Jake Frye (Lewisberry; Shope’s Landscape Maintenance/McCarthy Tire & Auto/RS Mechanical Services #56) dropped out.
Ritchey moved up throughout the race and on lap 16, he dove inside Walp going into Turn 1 and slid up the track in Turn 2, causing Walp to nearly stop as he avoided contact. That gave Ritchey the lead, which he held for the final laps.
Walp came home second, 2.357 seconds behind Ritchey, with Newlin third. Scott Lutz (Jonestown; Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel/Speedway Mart & Car Wash/Adams Auto Sales #33) was fourth, and Ryan Lynn (Hollidaysburg; Ken Imler’s Machine Shop/Lingenfelter’s Awnings/GBC Landscaping #26) was fifth.
Rounding out the Top 10 were “Nitro” Nick Sweigart (Myerstown; A.H. Moyer/Ditchcreek Utility Services/C&L Siding & Decks #8), Doug Dodson (Middletown; Powermist Racing Fuels/Crockett Log Homes/Fastener Specialties #20), Alex Schanz (Manheim; Awesome Ice Etc./Rustoleum/Tree Center #59), Kyle Keen (Carlisle; Capri Tools/J. Davis Construction/Clelans Custom Welding #17K) and Mark Zimmerman (Carlisle; Army National Guard/Victorian Signs/Fayjan Tools #54M).
Ritchey and Frye were the heat race winners for the 12-car field, a number likely affected by rain earlier in the day.
This Saturday night (July 6), the PASS/IMCA sprinters join the Super Sportsman cars, street stocks and extreme stocks for RKL Paving Night. The Street Stock 40 will be a special event for that division, and a bike giveaway will be held for kids. Pit gates will open at 4:00 p.m., grandstands at 5:00, with racing beginning at 7:00.
On Friday, July 12, PASS/IMCA will make its only appearance of 2019 at Trail-Way Speedway, leading a racing card that also will include 600cc micro-sprints, street stocks and limited stocks.
Results from Path Valley Speedway, June 29, 2019
HEAT 1 – 1. 880-Drew Ritchey; 2. 33-Scott Lutz; 3. 11Z-Zach Newlin; 4. 67-Ken Duke Jr.; 5. 20-Doug Dodson; 6. 17K-Kyle Keen.
HEAT 2 – 1. 56-Jake Frye; 2. 5-John Walp; 3. 8-”Nitro” Nick Sweigart; 4. 26-Ryan Lynn; 5. 54M-Mark Zimmerman; 6. 59-Alex Schanz.
FEATURE – 1. 880-Drew Ritchey; 2. 5-John Walp; 3. 11Z-Zach Newlin; 4. 33-Scott Lutz; 5. 26-Ryan Lynn; 6. 8-“Nitro” Nick Sweigart; 7. 20-Doug Dodson; 8. 59-Alex Schanz; 9. 17K-Kyle Keen; 10-54M-Mark Zimmerman; 11. 56-Jake Frye; 12. 67-Ken Duke Jr.
Hard Charger Award
Adams received the Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic Hard Charger Award, which was awarded based on combined performance for the two races over the weekend. His advance from 14th starting spot to second at Selinsgrove topped all combined performances but was equalled by John Walp; however, Adams’ second-place finish was the tie-breaker.