7.11.20 Pennsylvania Sprint Series Results
By: Frank Buhrman
By this time a year ago, Ken Duke already had five PA Sprint Series wins and 10 top-five finishes, on his way to becoming PASS and IMCA/RaceSaver National Champion. Saturday night, the effort to make 2020 memorable for the right reasons took a big step forward when the hometown racer took the 20-lap PASS feature at Selinsgrove Speedway.
Duke took advantage of starting on the pole and wired the field for his first win of the year, capping his comeback from a slow start – and two months with COVID-19 restrictions putting a stop to racing.
“We blew up an engine the first week (of the season) and took a few weeks to get things sorted out,” Duke explained of his start, adding praise for his hard-working crew. “But two weeks ago we ran at BAPS and here and finished in the top three in both races and finally got things going in the right direction.”
As for Saturday’s win in the Fairfield Chevrolet/Apache Tree Service/Dynamic Wings and Subs/Fred Keller #67, Duke kept it simple.
“It was pretty much flat on the floor and hang on,” he said in victory lane of his performance. “We got lucky and drew a good pill and got to start on the pole. Every time we come to Selinsgrove, it’s a special trip for us.”
The winner also took the opportunity to give some credit to his fellow competitors.
“You know, everybody did good. Anytime a race goes non-stop like that . . . all the guys in the PA Sprint Series do a great job. It attests to the talent we have. We might not all have enough money to run with some of these other guys in the other divisions but the talent is second to none.”
Middletown’s Doug Dodson took his second runner-up finish in a row (and fourth top-three in the last six races), but on a lightning fast track couldn’t catch Duke.
Devin Adams and Jake Frye claimed the next two positions with two of the best hard charging performances for the night, with Adams advancing eight spots and Frye 11 over their starting positions.
Three-time 2020 winner Garrett Bard came home fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 were Derek Hauck, Jaremi Hanson, Scott Frack, Landon Price and Fred Arnold. Another charge of note was mounted by Ron Aurand, who came from 22nd to 12th.
A rain shower before the racing began made the track heavy and very fast, but PASS competitors found ways to put on a show, regardless.
Heat races for the 34 RaceSaver teams were won by Will Brunson, Hanson, Adams and Arnold, with Kyle Keen taking the B-Main.
Next weekend, PASS teams visit Trail-Way Speedway on Friday night and Port Royal Speedway Saturday. For the latest schedule and other information, visit www.pasprintseries.com or the PA Sprint Series Facebook page.
Results from Selinsgrove Speedway July 11
HEAT 1 – 1. 8B-Will Brunson; 2. 2H-Derek Hauck; 3. 95-Garrett Bard; 4. 23-Nathan Gramley; 5. R6-Reed Thompson; 6. 19-Kruz Kepner; 7. 86-Ron Aurand; 8. 53W-Jimmy White; 9. D57-Jeff Miller.
HEAT 2 – 2. 36-Jaremi Hanson; 3. 25D-Dustin Young; 4. 61J-Johnny Scarborough; 5. 69P-Landon Price; 6. 17K-Kyle Keen; 7. 51-Dave Graber; 8. 21-Andrew Boyer; 9. 92-Dylan Proctor (DNF).
HEAT 3 – 1. 99A-Devin Adams; 2. 39X-Scott Frack; 3. 67-Ken Duke; 4. 56-Jake Frye; 5. 1-Rowdy Heffner; 6. 79-Ian Cumens; 7. 2-Erin Statler. DNS – 00-Josh Roush.
HEAT 4 – 1. 88-Fred Arnold; 2. 20-Doug Dodson; 3. 71-Josh Spicer; 4. 69K-Kassidy Kreitz; 5. 55-Dominic Melair; 6. 03-Branstin Shue; 7. 55R-Rick Romig; 8. 00S-Randy Sterling.
B-MAIN – 1. 17K-Kyle Keen; 2. 86-Ron Aurand; 3. 19-Kruz Kepner; 4. 51-Dave Graber; 5. 55R-Rick Romig; 6. 21-Andrew Boyer; 7. 2-Erin Statler; 8. D57-Jeff Miller. DNS – 53W-Jimmy White; 92-Dylan Proctor; 79-Ian Cumens; 00-Josh Roush; 03-Branstin Shue; 00S-Randy Sterling.
FEATURE – 1. 67-Ken Duke; 2. 20-Doug Dodson; 3. 99A-Devin Adams; 4. 56-Jake Frye; 5. 95-Garrett Bard; 6. 2H-Derek Hauck; 7. 36-Jaremi Hanson; 8. 39X-Scott Frack; 9. 69P-Landon Price; 10. 88-Fred Arnold; 11. 61J-Johnny Scarborough; 12. 86-Ron Aurand; 13. 17K-Kyle Keen; 14. 8-Nick Sweigart; 15. 1-Rowdy Heffner; 16. 55-Dominic Melair; 17. 25D-Dustin Young; 18. 51-Dave Gruber; 19. R6-Reed Thompson; 20. 8B-Will Brunson (DNF); 21. 71-Josh Spicer (DNF); 22. 19-Kruz Kepner (DNF); 23. 69K-Kassidy Kreitz (DNF); 24. 23-Nathan Gramley (DNF). DNQ – 55R-Rick Romig; 21-Andrew Boyer; 2-Erin Statler; D57-Jeff Miller; 53W-Jimmy White; 92-Dylan Proctor; 79-Ian Cumens; 00-Josh Roush; 03-Branstin Shue; 00S-Randy Sterling.