9.11.15 Williams Grove Speedway Results
“I don’t like winning like this,” Ralph Morgan said moments after arriving in Williams Grove Speedway’s victory lane. Although Gene Knaub crossed the finish line first in the 30-lap Topless30 for the Credit Connection Auto Sales 358 Late Models, Knaub’s machine did not pass a weight check. With Knaub’s disqualification the victory went to Ralph Morgan.
The spotlight was on the 358 Late Model division. The fifth edition of the Topless 30 was presented by Williams Grove Speedway and former driver Kenny Riland. Each team removed the roof off their 358 Late Model to compete for$2,000 to win and $300 to take the green flag. Thirty-five 358 Late Model competitors were in the pits.
Ralph Morgan started on the pole and sprinted into a first-lap lead ahead of Grant Adams, Randy Christine Jr., Kyle Lee, and Gene Knaub. Morgan had a 10-length lead lost due to a third-lap caution.
Following the restart Gene Knaub advanced to third behind Morgan and Christine. Ralph Morgan had an eight-length advantage on lap seven when Gene Knaub passed Randy Christine Jr. for second. One lap later the race went under caution conditions.
Gene Knaub struck on the restart. Knaub went to the outside line in turns three and four. Using the upper line Gene Knaub swept past Ralph Morgan. Knaub held an eight-length edge before the third caution of the event came on lap 14.
Gene Knaub, after the restart, set a blistering pace with Ralph Morgan in second and Randy Christine Jr. was third. There was an intense battle for fourth between Kyle Lee, D.J. Myers, Dan Zechman, Ron Kline, and Shaun Jones.
Knaub had a 4.2 second lead when the final caution came during the 21stcircuit. The yellow flag did not deter Knaub and he continued his rampage following the restart. Gene Knaub crossed the finish line an eighth-mile ahead of Ralph Morgan, Randy Christine Jr., Kyle Lee, and Dan Zechman.
Following the race each car went to the scale for a check of weight. The speedway technical crew weighed Gene Knaub’s No. 1 three times but his car was nine pounds light. With Knaub’s disqualification the victory went to Mt. Union’s Ralph Morgan. Randy Christine Jr., Kyle Lee, Dan Zechman, and Shaun Jones completed the top five. The victory by Morgan is his first at Williams Grove Speedway making him the 41st driver to win in the division’s history.
Sixteen-year old Kyle Lee had fast time at 20.526 and received $200 from Miller’s Racing Parts. The Jacobson and Julius Law Firm heat wins went to Knaub, Adams, Lee, and Matt Nailor. Bobby Beard was the victor in the B-Main. Justin Weaver won the Appalachian Speedweeks Hard Charger award.
Steve Fannasy, driving his brother Jay’s car, and Rich Eichelberger started in the front row for the 20-lap Blazer’s Body Shop Super Sportsman main event. By the completion of lap one Eichelberger was in front with Fannasy, Russ Mitten, Doug Dodson, and Mike Enders in pursuit.
Rich Eichelberger had a 10-length lead when the event’s only caution occurred on lap seven. Eichelberger continued his rapid pace with Steve Fannasy in second and Russ Mitten was third. Chad Trout charged into fourth with Doug Dodson in fifth.
Chad Trout disposed of Steve Fannasy and challenged Russ Mitten for second. Trout made several bids for second with Mitten denying each attempt.
The duo of Mitten and Trout began to narrow Rich Eichelberger’s 12-length lead. Eichelberger encountered slower traffic in the final five laps and his lead continued to shrink.
Rich Eichelberger, from York Springs, was supreme on this evening and crossed the finish line six-lengths ahead of Russ Mitten and Chad Trout. Steve Fannasy was fourth with Doug Dobson in fifth. The victory for the 65-year old driver is his 11th with the Saturday Night Series tying him for third on the series’ win list. Eichelberger has 20 career victories at Williams Grove which is second on the all-time winner’s list.
Mitten, Jay Fannasy and Scott Dellinger won the qualifiers for the 22-car field.
Doug Hoffman started on the inside of the front row in the 15-lap Aquafun Pools Street Stock feature. After a lap-two restart Hoffman was in front with Chris Heller, Wayne Dutterer, Jeff Haag, and Kevin Sigler close behind.
By the completion of lap five Jeff Haag, the leading 2015 Street Stock feature winner, was in second. In the seventh circuit Haag made contact with the rear of Hoffman’s Camaro entering turn one. Hoffman slid up the track and Jeff Haag became the new leader.
Jeff Haag maintained a four-car length edge over Doug Hoffman. Chris Heller, Kevin Sigler and Sean Dawson were battling for third.
Three laps from the finish fluid came out of leader Haag’s Camaro as he entered turn three. Jeff Haag spun in the fluid creating a caution. During the caution period Haag retired to the pits.
Doug Hoffman was the new leader. Throughout the final three laps Hoffman, Chris Heller and Dean Dawson were in a tight competition for first. On the final lap Heller went to the bottom lane in turns three and four. Hoffman and Heller exited turn four even. Doug Hoffman, from Mechanicsburg, crossed the finish line one length ahead of Heller. Sean Dawson, Jasen Geesaman and Mike Buckley completed the top five.
Doug Hoffman’s victory is his 12th with the Saturday Night Series. He is in a three-way tie for second on the all-time wins list.
Preliminaries for the 20 entries went to Kory Sites and Chris Derr.
This is the final event of the 2015 Saturday Night Series. A big thank you goes out to everyone for their support during the year. For more information on Williams Grove Speedway events please visit the speedway webpage at www.williamsgrove.comor the speedway Facebook page.
Williams Grove Speedway 9/11/2015:
Credit Connection Late Models – Topless 30 (35 Cars)
1) 44 Ralph Morgan Jr. 2) 74 Randy Christine 3) 2T Kyle Lee 4)2Z Dan Zechman 5) 2M Shaun Jones 6) 112 DJ Myers 7)21Z Randy Stoudt 8) 98W Justin Weaver 9) 000N Matt Nailor 10) 51 Jake Jones 11) 5 Bobby Beard 12) 2 Scott Richwine 13) 121 Larry Neiderer 14) 72 Wayne Pfeil 15) 67 Tommy Slanker 16) 1 Gene Knaub 17) 5J Chad Julius 18) 64 Grant Adams 19) NINE Ron Kline 20) 31 Dave Ogin 21) 116 Travis Mease 22) 25 Jed Latshaw 23) 08 Zach Kauffman 24) 57 Brad Shank 25) 19L Dave Latsha
DNS: Pat McNeal, Shaun Miller, Randy Croop, Daulton Bigler, Garrett Walls, Matt Murphy, Brad King, Jake Moser, Pat Beard, Billy Wampler
Blazer’s Body Shop Super Sportsman ( 22 Cars ):
1) 8 Rich Eichelberger 2) 77 Russ Mitten 3) 7c Chad Trout 4) 222 Steve Fannasy 5) 54 Doug Dodson 6) 3B Mike Enders 7) 99c Chad Smith 8) 32 Gregg Foster 9) 11 Jay Fannasy 10) 30 Scott Dellinger 11) 25 Bobby Hockenberry 12) 75 Kenny Edkin 13) 45 Dave Socks 14) 318 Teddy Thomas 15) 91 Lanny Hake 16) 32J Justin Foster 17) 14 Nate Young 18) 11s John Stoll Jr. 19) 39 Joe Orsulak 20) 5 Dave Berkheimer 21) 5G Bob Gutshall 22) 318M Jared Miller
AquaFun Pools Street Stocks (20 Cars)
1) 27 Doug Hoffman 2) X99 Chris Heller 3) S7 Sean Dawson 4) 81 Jasen Geeseman 5) 94 Mike Buckley 6) 7s Kevin Sigler 7) 59 Ryan Smith 8) 39 Wayne Dutterer 9) 8 Eric Tripp 10) 2 Randy Zechman 11) 71 Sean Todd 12) 4 Kyle Barrick 13) 29 Jeff Haag 14) 99K Dave Bowermaster 15) 16 Walt Lemmon 16) 21K Kory Sites 17) 18 Chris Derr
DNS: Doug Bennett