9.5.20 Pennsylvania Sprint Series Results
By: Frank Buhrman
Seizing his final opportunity, Lebanon’s Devin Adams executed a perfect inside pass in traffic on the final turn of the final lap of Path Valley Speedway Park’s 25-lap PA Sprint Series feature race Saturday, then held off Domenic Melair’s determined bid for his first PASS win and scored the victory by 0.087 seconds in a thrilling side-by-side finish.
It was the fourth career IMCA/RaceSaver win for the driver of the Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel/Adams Auto Sales/Garden Spot Auto Auction #99, but it was Adams’ first victory in what had been a somewhat frustrating 2020 season and his first at Path Valley.
For Melair, it was a heartbreaking loss. The Warrington driver passed Adams and pole-winning Garrett Bard to take the early lead in his Glen Del Labradors #55 but fell inches short of the win. Still, it was the best career finish yet for a young driver who, like Adams, is in his third season with PASS. Melair now has four top-6 finishes in his last six races and has become a regular contender.
John Walp battled with the lead contingent throughout the race and came home third, ahead of Bard and Ryan Lynn. Nathan Gramley, Jake Frye, Dustin Smith, Jeffrey Weaver and Scott Frack rounded out the top 10.
Bard had to take the initial lead three times after the first two starts were negated by minor incidents, then survived a scary bounce in turn one that cost him his lead. Lynn moved steadily through the field and earned the hard charger award, advancing 11 positions.
There actually was a tie for hard charger, but the win went to Lynn as the highest finisher. Special mention went to the other charger, though: Tom Carberry advanced from 23rd to 12th after having his car bounce over the guard rail and into the second turn catchfence at the start of his heat race. Despite the car’s precarious perch and the difficulty for track workers to bring it back to earth, Carberry’s team was able to make repairs and put him in position for an impressive feature run.
Heat races for the 24-car field were won by Adams, Melair and Frye.
For schedule information and the latest news, visit www.pasprintseries.com or the PA Sprint Series Facebook page.
Results from Path Valley Speedway Park, September 5, 2020
HEAT 1 – 1. 99-Devin Adams; 2. 52-Jeffrey Weaver; 3. 23-Nathan Gramley; 4. 17K-Kyle Keen; 5. 13-Kurt Knepper; 6. 26-Ryan Lynn; 7. 80-Dave Wickham; 8. 1X-Tom Carberry (DNF).
HEAT 2 – 1. 55-Domenic Melair; 2. 39X-Scott Frack; 3. 6X-Brad Mellott; 4. 5-John Walp; 5. 1-Rowdy Heffner; 6. 4C-Cody Hackenberry; 7. 7-Jim Kennedy. DNS – 24/7-Mikell McGee.
HEAT 3 – 1. 56-Jake Frye; 2. 21-Rob Felix; 3. 11-Dustin Smith; 4. 95-Garrett Bard; 5. 83-Larry McVay; 6. M1-Justin Mills; 7. 46-Mike Alleman; 8. 17R-Frank Rusnock.
FEATURE – 1. 99-Devin Adams; 2. 55-Domenic Melair; 3. 5-John Walp; 4. 95-Garrett Bard; 5. 26-Ryan Lynn; 6. 23-Nathan Gramley; 7. 56-Jake Frye; 8. 11-Dustin Smith; 9. 52-Jeffrey Weaver; 10. 39X-Scott Frack; 11. 83-Larry McVay; 12. 1X-Tom Carberry; 13. M1-Justin Mills; 14. 1-Rowdy Heffner; 15. 4C-Cody Hackenberry; 16. 46-Mike Alleman; 17. 80-Dave Wickham; 18. 6X-Brad Mellott; 19. 13-Kurt Knepper; 20. 7-Jim Kennedy; 21. 17R-Frank Rusnock; 22. 21-Rob Felix; 23. 17K-Kyle Keen. DNS – 24/7-Mikell McGee.