Davey Franek Wins 2nd Of The Season

Heimbach & Cannon Tango In Turn Three In Nightcap Feature

SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- Pat Cannon of Etters and Davie Franek of Wantage, N.J., each won one of the twin 25-lap 358 sprint car features Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.

Cannon’s seventh win of the season at the track and his 12th overall came in the make-up feature that was rained out on July 24. The victory marked the 24th of his career at the track at the wheel of the Highland’s Tire Service No. 3.

For Franek, who dueled with Cannon for the lead in the second feature, his victory at the wheel of the No. 4R was his second of the season at Selinsgrove and the sixth of his career at the Snyder County oval.

Selinsgrove Speedway will present the Rislone URC sprint cars, 358 sprint cars, and roadrunners at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. Track gates will open at 5 p.m.

Track officials also announced the tenth annual NRG Controls North National Open for 358/360 sprint cars on Saturday, Sept. 4, will be a 35-lap event paying $6,000 to win and $300 to start.

In the chase for the 358 sprint car championship, Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove entered the night’s racing program with a 105-point lead over Cannon, fell behind by 15 points after the first feature, only to regain the lead by 45 points following the second feature. Cannon crashed out of the second feature on lap 18 while dueling with Franek for the lead.

Heimbach, who was racing third, was also involved in the third-turn tangle but able to rejoin the race and finish ninth.

In the regularly scheduled 358 sprint car feature, polesitter Beidleman powered into the lead at start of the race. Beidleman was trailed by sixth-place starter Phil Walter for the first two laps until P. Walter made an exciting pass for the lead entering turn three. On the fifth circuit, however, P. Walter’s car rolled to a stop in turn four, moving Beidleman back into the lead.

On the sixth lap, following a spirited wheel-to-wheel duel, ninth-place starter Franek took the lead from Beidleman with an inside pass entering turn three. On a lap seven restart, Cannon, who started the second feature in the 10th position, horsepowered his way from fourth to second in less than half of a lap.

With 10 laps completed, Franek was leading Cannon, Beidleman, second-place starter Derek Locke, and 15th-place starter Blane Heimbach. By lap 15, the leaders began to encounter heavy traffic, closing the gap in the race for the front spot.

On lap 18, Franek and Cannon dueled for the lead entering turn three. Contact between Franek and Cannon caused Cannon’s car to spin across the race track, hit the outside wall and flip over. B. Heimbach, who was racing a close third, made contact with Cannon’s car and rolled to a stop. All drivers escaped injury from the wild turn three melee and B. Heimbach was able to rejoin the race.

When the race resumed, Franek continued to set a torrid pace while 11th-place starter Snyder began to show his speed again late in the race and moved into second. At the finish, Franek posted a convincing 4.3 second margin of victory over Snyder, Beidleman, Larry Kelleher and Mike Walter.

Regular 25-Lap A-Main: 1) 4R Davie Franek 2) 56 Nate Snyder 3) 81 Bob Beidleman 4) 76 Larry Kelleher 5) 63 Mike Walter 6) 77 Derek Locke 7) 99B Nyle Berkes 8) 14 Matt Heimbach 9) 12 Blane Heimbach 10) 71 Jessica Anderson 11) 66 Ryan Kissinger 12) 16H Matt Horst 13) 1 Jason Shultz 14) 42 Alan Spriggle 15) 99M Kyle Moody 16) 3 Pat Cannon DNF 17) 21 Adrian Shaffer DNF 18) 9 Wes Irwin DNF 19) 23M TJ Stutts DNF 20) 5B Josh Beard DNF 21) 19 Colby Womer DNF 22) 80M Dan Richcreek DNF 23) 99K Cody Keller DNF 24) 5 Phil Walter DNF
Heat Winners: Davie Franek, Pat Cannon, TJ Stutts
Consolation Winner: Mike Walter