8.14.21 Pennsylvania Sprint Series Results
By: Frank Buhrman
After a number of “almosts,” Domenic Melair of Warrington scored a convincing first PA Sprint Series victory in Saturday night’s 20-lap IMCA/RaceSaver feature at Selinsgrove Speedway.
It also was the first win for the team of Melair driving for PASS Director Rod Ort’s Glen Del Labradors/Black Rock Container #36.
Melair started on the pole and led all the way in the non-stop race, chased by outside front-row starter Kassidy Kreitz of Sinking Spring, who equaled her career-best PASS finish as runner-up. Kruz Kepner of Kreamer also posted a career-best in third, with defending PASS and IMCA/RaceSaver National Champion Garrett Bard of Wells Tannery fourth and the race’s Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Hard Charger Ken Duke Jr. of Selinsgrove coming from 14th starting position to finish fifth.
Kenny Heffner, Mike Melair (the winner’s brother, who also earned his first career win earlier this year), Logan Spahr, Ryan Lynn and Doug Dodson completed the top 10.
Melair’s first win came in his 60th PASS event. In most of those previous races, he had competed in his family-backed #55 car, part of a team that consisted of his brother, Mike, and their mother, Eileen. Engine problems earlier this season parked the family car, and the opportunity arose to join Ort’s team, although he continues to run the #55 as well.
Now in his fourth season with PASS, Melair had two previous runner-up finishes and eight thirds, and for the last two seasons, he had been a regular contender for that first win. On Saturday, it happened.
Heat races for the 36 PASS sprinters on hand Saturday were won by Cale Riegle, Lynn, McVay and Dom Melair. Rick Romig won the 15-car B-Main. All the PASS races ran non-stop, and only four cars failed to finish a race all night.
This weekend, PASS returns to Port Royal Speedway for another popular “Open Wheel Madness” program, also featuring 410 sprints and USAC 360 wingless sprints. Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, with racing set to begin at 7:00.
PASS sprinters will run preliminaries and a 20-lap feature. Penns Valley Meat Market, which sponsors the division at Port Royal, will offer its Hard Charger cash award, and VP Racing Fuels will award a case of oil to the highest finisher using its products and displaying its decal.
Adult general admission is $20, $10 for ages 13-18 and free for kids under 12. This will be “Salute to the Military Night,” with current and former service members admitted free with proper identification. Pit admission is $30.
For the latest news and schedule information, visit www.pasprintseries.com, the PA Sprint Series Facebook page, or @pasprintseries on Twitter.
Results from Selinsgrove Speedway August 14
HEAT 1 – 1. 14-Cale Riegle; 2. 19-Kruz Kepner; 3. 5-Logan Spahr; 4. 19A-Tim Iulg; 5. 7-Drew Young; 6. 71-Josh Spicer; 7. 21C-Jarrett Cavalet; 8. 88-Fred Arnold; 9. 1M-Paul Moyer.
HEAT 2 – 1. 26-Ryan Lynn; 2. 54-Mike Melair; 3. 69K-Kassidy Kreitz; 4. 67-Ken Duke Jr.; 5. 25-Dustin Young; 6. 55B-Rick Romig; 7. 87-Austin Graby; 8. 28R-Jason Roush; 9. 51-Dave Graber.
HEAT 3 – 1. 83-Larry McVay; 2. 20-Doug Dodson; 3. 97-Kenny Heffner; 4. 0Z-Zach Rhodes; 5. 2-Erin Statler; 6. 34-Austin Reed; 7. 8-Will Brunson; 8. 39X-Scott Frack; 9. 23M-Tom Wise.
HEAT 4 – 1. 36-Dom Melair; 2. 31-Roger Weaver; 3. 95-Garrett Bard; 4. 11M-Mikell McGee; 5. 99-George Riden; 6. 56-Tyler Snook; 7. 8-Nick Sweigart; 8. 98-Croix Beasom; 9. 17KX-Steve Kenawell (DNF).
B-MAIN – 1. 55B-Rick Romig; 2. 56-Tyler Snook; 3. 34-Austin Reed; 4. 71-Josh Spicer; 5. 8-Nick Sweigart; 6. 21C-Jarrett Cavalet; 7. 8-Will Brunson; 8. 39X-Scott Frack; 9. 87-Austin Graby; 10. 28R-Jason Roush; 11. 1M-Paul Moyer; 12. 88-Fred Arnold; 13. 23M-Tom Wise; 14. 51-Dave Graber; 15. 98-Croix Beasom. DNS – 17KX-Steve Kenawell.
FEATURE – 1. 36-Dom Melair; 2. 69K-Kassidy Kreitz; 3. 19-Kruz Kepner; 4. 95-Garrett Bard; 5. 67-Ken Duke Jr.; 6. 97-Kenny Heffner; 7. 54-Mike Melair; 8. 5-Logan Spahr; 9. 26-Ryan Lynn; 10. 20-Doug Dodson; 11. 83-Larry McVay; 12. 11M-Mikell McGee; 13. 0Z-Zach Rhodes; 14. 7-Drew Young; 15. 2-Erin Statler; 16. 34-Austin Reed; 17. 99-George Riden; 18. 8-Nick Sweigart; 19. 19A-Tim Iulg; 20. 56-Tyler Snook; 21. 21C-Jarret Cavalet; 22. 25-Dustin Young; 23. 55B-Rick Romig; 24. 14-Cale Riegle (DNF); 25. 31-Roger Weaver (DNF); 26. 71-Josh Spicer (DNF).