7.13.19 Pennsylvania Sprint Series Results
By: Frank Buhrman
Drew Ritchey made his move for the lead early, then held off challenges from “Nitro” Nick Sweigart and Ken Duke Jr. to post his second straight victory at Path Valley Speedway Park in Saturday’s 20-lap PA Sprint Series feature.
The Everett racer had already scored a heat win in his R&N Tire/LaSalle’s Racing Engines/Bedford Valley Petroleum #880, and it took him only two laps to grab the feature lead from pole-sitter Sweigart.
But Sweigart didn’t give up easily, and made repeated attempts to retake the lead in the early laps, never falling far off the leader’s pace. On the last of the night’s caution periods, though, Duke, who had picked up a position on each previous restart, slipped past Sweigart in the third turn and aimed his Fairfield Chevrolet/Apache Tree Service/sprintcarunlimited #67 at the leader.
The final two laps brought the leaders closer and closer, but time ran out for Duke, and Ritchey scored the win by .438 seconds.
Ritchey and Duke have now split the four PASS/IMCA races at the fast quarter-mile.
Sweigart (Myerstown; A.H. Moyer/Ditchcreek Utility Services/C&L Siding & Decks #8) held on for third place, followed by Jaremi Hanson (Harrisburg Heat/Blazer’s Body Shop #36), who finished fourth, and Kassidy Kreitz (Sinking Spring; Rock-It Pizza & Subs/Maxim Chassis/Schannauer Plumbing & Heating #69K), who was fifth.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Friday night’s Trail-Way Speedway winner John Walp (Wapwallopen; GMS Piling Products/La Napoli II Pizza/Dotzel Trucking #5), Randy Sterling (Morrisdale; #00S); Zach Newlin (Millerstown; Smith Concrete & Construction/Heather Sims Realtor/Newport VFW #11Z), Jake Frye (Lewisberry; Shope’s Landscape Maintenance/McCarthy Tire & Auto/RS Mechanical Services #56) and Garrett Bard (Wells Tannery; CG Racing Engines/Lias Tire #95), who was making only his second PASS/IMCA start and who later won the 600cc micro sprint feature.
Heat races for the strong field of 22 cars were won by Duke, Sterling and Ritchey.
Frye was the night’s hard charger and will receive a replica of his RaceSaver sprint car from Jeff Jacobs of Artwerks.
A large crowd was on hand for Kids Night. The activities, including bike and other giveaways and an autograph session at intermission, was presented by the Wingless Super Sportsman drivers and teams, but several PASS teams took active part, with Newlin’s bar service team holding a candy scramble.
Next weekend the PASS racers join the Laurel Highlands Sprint Series for a co-sanctioned event Friday night at Clinton County Speedway, then return to Port Royal Speedway Saturday. The Port Royal night will feature another extensive schedule of kids activities on 4-H Night, and it’s also Salute to the Military Night, with all members of the military admitted free with proper ID. The 410 sprints and late models also are on the racing schedule.
Results from Path Valley Speedway Park, July 13, 2019
HEAT 1 – 1. 67-Ken Duke, Jr.; 2. 69K-Kassidy Kreitz; 3. 36-Jaremi Hanson; 4. 20-Doug Dodson; 5. 31-Donnie Hendershot; 6. 46-Mike Alleman; 7. 24L-Dan Leaper; 8. 00-Lawrence Jewell.
HEAT 2 – 1. 00S-Randy Sterling; 2. 17K-Kyle Keen; 3. 8-“Nitro” Nick Sweigart; 4. 11Z-Zach Newlin; 5. 56-Jake Frye; 6. 6X-Brad Mellott; 7. 54M-Mark Zimmerman.
HEAT 3 – 1. 880-Drew Ritchey; 2. 92-Dylan Proctor; 3. 5-John Walp; 4. 79-Ian Cumens; 6. 95-Garrett Bard; 7. 7-Jim “Cowboy” Kennedy.
FEATURE – 1. 880-Drew Ritchey; 2. 67-Ken Duke; 3. 8-“Nitro” Nick Sweigart; 4. 36-Jaremi Hanson; 5. 69K-Kassidy Kreitz; 6. 5-John Walp; 7. 00S-Randy Sterling; 8. 11Z-Zach Newlin; 9. 56-Jake Frye; 10. 95-Garrett Bard; 11. 17K-Kyle Keen; 12. 46-Mike Alleman; 13. 31-Donnie Hendershot; 14. 6X-Brad Mellott; 15. 79-Ian Cumens; 16. 54M-Mark Zimmerman; 17-24L-Dan Leaper; 18. 92-Dylan Proctor; 19. 13-Kurt Knepper; 20. 20-Doug Dodson; 21. 00-Lawrence Jewell; 22. 7-Jim “Cowboy” Kennedy.