SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Selinsgrove Speedway will close out the 2009 season with the running of the Ninth Annual Paul Stine Chevrolet National Open for 358 sprint cars at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 26. The 30-lap A-main will pay $3,000 to win out of a $13,605 purse.
Qualifying for the main event will include time trials, heat races, and a B-main. The race, which will pay $235 to qualify, will start 25 sprint cars, including one provisional for the highest Selinsgrove Speedway points driver who does not qualify through a heat race or the B-main. Selinsgrove Speedway 2009 rules will be in effect.
The roadrunner division will compete in a 12-lap main event paying $200 to win. Rounding out Saturday night’s racing card will be the Tobias SpeedStrs in the division’s second-ever appearance at the track. Gates will open at 5 p.m. No rain date has been set for the Saturday night event.
Pat Cannon of Etters, this year’s leading feature winner with seven victories, is the two-time defending champion of the 358 sprint car Open with wins in 2007 & 2008. TJ Stutts of Liverpool won the inaugural 358 Open at the speedway in 2001 and took the checkers again in 2003. Adrian Shaffer of York was the 358 Open champion in 2002. The 2004 race was won by Nate Snyder of Halifax. Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove won the event in 2005, with Phil Walter of McClure taking home the trophy in 2006.
Jeff Rohrbaugh and Billy Dietrich were both happy after Friday night’s 30-lap Trone Outdoor Advertising “358” sprint car championship event at Trail-Way Speedway. Rohrbaugh returned to victory lane and the Roy Vincent Racing #7V took home the $2,000 winner’s share. In doing so, Rohrbaugh also returned to the top of the all-time win list with his 21st career win at the McSherrystown oval.
And Billy Dietrich reclaimed the track championship after earning the title in 2005 and watching Rohrbaugh win three straight championships from 2006 through 2008.
“I don’t get 30% unless I win,” quipped Rohrbaugh in victory lane, “So I had to step it up!”
Rohrbaugh drew pill #9 to start the championship event. He was already into fifth by the end of the first lap, but was passed by eighth-starting Dale Hammaker on lap six and was running sixth when the red flag came out for a flipping Jessie Morrison in turn one of lap 12. Morrison, who was running fourth at the time, collected fifth-place Nick Palmerino, who struck the outside wall in turns one and two. Both drivers were uninjured in the only caution of the race.
On the restart, Rohrbaugh drove back around Dale Hammaker to move into third. At the same time, Brad McClelland won a drag race down the back stretch to pass polesitter Phil Walter for the race lead. Rohrbaugh then caught Phil Walter for second in heavy lapped traffic on lap 22, and made his race-winning pass under Brad McClelland on lap 26.
“I hate to brag, but there is nobody better in lapped traffic,” said Rohrbaugh, “Trail-Way’s a great place to race. I really like it here. The competition here on Friday night…bar none…is the best.”
Hammaker caught McClelland with three to go, but was unable to catch Rohrbaugh. McClelland settled for third, with 12th-starting Billy Dietrich fourth and Walter fifth.
Completing the top ten were Tim Wagaman, Austin Reed, Randy Davis, Jr., 19th-starting Rick Horn, and 21st-starting Keith Prutzman.
Dietrich’s fourth-place finish was good enough to take the 2009 track title by 21 points over McClelland.
“We had a good year,” said Dietrich, “That was a heckuva race there. We weren’t close enough to catch Jeff, but we’re very happy. Our crew and sponsors did a great job this year.”
Heats for the 27 “358” sprint cars on hand were won by Wagaman, Steve Storrie, and Walter.
Feature (30 Laps)
1. 7V-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 2. 66-Dale Hammaker; 3. 6-Brad McClelland; 4. 8-Bill Dietrich; 5. 5-Phil Walter; 6. 1-Tim Wagaman; 7. 34-Austin Reed; 8. 98-Randy Davis, Jr.; 9. 01-Rick Horn; 10. 28-Keith Prutzman; 11. 64-Randy Whisler; 12. 4U-Nathan Berwager; 13. 10W-Brian Bruckner; 14. 65-Cale Griffin ; 15. 0-Steve Storrie; 16. 23-Chris Arnold(DNF); 17. 18J-Jessie Morrison(DNF); 18. 51-Nick Palmerino(DNF); 19. 59T-Tim Stallings(DNF); 20. 93-Mike Bittinger(DNF); 21. 99-Joe Trone, Jr.(DNS); 22. 00-Shane Smith(DNS); 23. 20S-Derek Sell(DNS); 24. 35-Steve Owings(DNS). No Time.
Lap Leaders- Phil Walter (1-10), Brad McClelland (11-25), Jeff Rohrbaugh (26-30).
Scott Geesey won the 20-lap 358 c.i. sprint main, Geesey started 13th, took the lead from Pat Cannon with an inside move through turn two and went on to score his first career in 358 c.i. sprint car competition at Williams Grove.
