Walt Cox
10-12-2008, 03:07 AM
‘Have Camera, Will Travel’
Photos by Walt Cox and
Cox Creative Communications
307 Water St.
Everett, PA 15537
coxxcomm@embarqmail.com
814-652-6138
Cell: 814-932-0338
Path Valley Speedway Park FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Spring Run, PA. 17262 Dated: Oct. 11, 2008
Track 717-349-7111 or Weekdays 717-349-0098, 717-426-2910
Bear, Mertz, Hartman and Watson Win Path Valley Sprints Nationals
“Does it get any better than this?” said Sidewinders racer Rohan Beasley of the Eighth Annual All Sprints Nationals Saturday at the Path Valley Speedway Park. “We got a high line, we got a low line, we got lots of action. This might have been the best race of the year!”
“They were making the best times of the year in all four classes,” explained head flagman Steve Murphy. He added that with only seven cautions in all four 30-lap features combined it was also one of the safest races of the year. Added Race Director John Winsett, “It was a driver’s track, they had to know how to drive and they showed us they really could!” He added that the lack of recent rainfall and work with his track crew all morning lead to the almost perfect racing surface.
And the four winners for at least $600 each plus bonuses were Tyler Bear in 305 Sprints, Tim Mertz in 1000cc Sidewinders, Richie Hartman in 270 Sprints and Tyler Walton, who also won the final points race the night before, in the 600 Sprints.
Meant to be the final race of the season, one additional event has been added at the request of Path Valley racers. A Halloween Special will run on October 25, but instead of costumes for the drivers, the cars will bear a strikingly different appearance. All of the four classes of Sprint cars will race topless without their wings, the Late Models will also race topless with no roof panels, and the combined four-cylinder class is to be “Run What You Brung” to allow the Mini Stocks and Thunder Cars to race together! Gates open at 3 p.m. for the Saturday show with racing starting at 5 p.m. for the regular purse event.
After the final fun-filled Oct. 25 race, the 2008 season closes with the annual Rewards Banquet Nov. 15 at the Pleasant Hall Firehall and a few tickets are still available at the track.
The 600 Sprints opened the night’s features and Ben Murphy took the lead on the first lap and with Kevin Steele and Brent Marks close behind. The fearsome trio began lapping slower cars by lap seven and Murphy put almost half the field a lap down by lap 21. But at that point Tyler Walton had raced from his start at spot 14 to pass into second place. Finally on lap 23 Walton managed to pass Murphy on the high side but, at lap 26, the only caution flag of the race waved and on the regrouped restart Walton took off with Murphy right behind him.
At lap 28 Murphy pulled alongside Walton on the front stretch but could not complete the pass into turn one. At the finish line Murphy gave one final burst of speed but Walton crossed the line barely a front wheel ahead of Murphy. The front five finishers were Walton, Murp0hy, Dwayne Gutshall, Ryan Greth and Kevin Steele.
The heat winners, for a ‘heads up’ start in all divisions, were Robert Kendall, Kevin Steele, Ben Murphy and Brent Marks, but in a signal case of bad luck Kendall blew his engine leaving the track and did not get to start on the pole position.
The Hard Charger award in 600 Sprints, sponsored by 600Scene.com, went to Jan Luckenbaugh who started 23 and finished 8th. General sponsors of the night’s racing were Path Valley Speedway Park, Two Wheel Promotions, American Tire with a tire certificate to each winner, Aero Wings of Chambersburg with a $50 certificate to fifth place in each class, and Rob Keller Photos with an 8x10 photo of each winner in a custom frame by Stocton Turner. General sponsors of just the 600 Sprints were Juniata Beverage, McIntyre Motorsports, T&T Construction, Saner Motorsports, Thru-It-All Body Shop, and Murphy Racing.
Richie Hartman started the 270 Sprints on their way from his pole start and led Brian Marriott and then Steve
Dunmire through two restarts into lapped cars on lap 20. With two lapped cars behind Hartman at lap 23 Marriott managed to pass for second place with Chad Thomas right behind. A final caution on lap 27 gave Marriott one final chance to catch Hartman, but at the finish Hartman had a lead of two lengths. Hartman, Marriott, Thomas, Mike Rutherford and Pete Skias were the front five finishers.
Matt Nulph who started first in the consi won it by a full turn. The heat winners were Hartman, Marriott and Steve Dunmire. The Hard Charger award, sponsored by McClelland Racing, went to Pete Skias who started 18 and finished in fifth place. Other sponsors of the 270 class were G.W. Transport, Melvin’s Auto Repair, and Interstate Batteries.
Tim Mertz started on the pole in the Sidewinders and led all the way to the final of only three caution flags on lap 15. On that restart Mertz led with Dwayne Gutshall and then arch rival Ryan Greth right behind him, going into lapped sprint traffic on lap 17 and leading by a full turn at lap 19. The three front runners charged to the checkers from there with Ben Murphy taking over fourth and Chad Hough in fifth.
Mertz and Gutshall won the heat races. The Hard Charger award sponsored by Steve Owens and Ronnie Hughes went to Jim Young who started 18 and finished 11. General sponsors of the 1000cc Sidewinders were Rohan Beasley, Jason Morrison and Saner Motorsports.
Tyler Bear started on the pole in the full size 305 Sprints and led them all the way to the checkers non-stop with cars going down a lap from lap eight on. From the start Mike Freet held onto second and Ben Naugle claimed third but they were separated from the leader by two lapped cars at the finish. The front five finishers were Bear, Freet, Naugle, Joey Hershey and Michael Heckman. The race ran start to finish on the hard, smooth track without any caution flags.
The Hard Charger award sponsored by Big Mike’s Video went to Joey Hershey who had started sixth. The heat winners were Bear and Freet. Five racers, including Bear, were rookies to the 305 Sprints this season. 305 Sprint sponsors included Worrick’s Garage, Hershey’s Race Engines, H.P. Engines of Thompsontown, Kumpf Motorsports, ‘Cowboy’ Jim Kennedy, Wood Naturally, Goshorn Racing Parts and Fuel, Jim Stenger of The Toyer’s Shop, and Hesston Speedway.
The Path Valley Speedway Park is located in Spring Run PA a mile north on PA Route 641 from the intersection with PA Route 75, halfway between Port Royal and Hagerstown. It is five miles east from the Willow Hill Exit 14 of the PA Turnpike. From March to October, Path Valley races stock cars and sprints Friday nights and AMA bikes or Strictly Stock junkyard cars Saturday nights.
The phone number at the track is 717-349-7111. For information on the 2009 schedule and rules, and the 2008 Rewards Banquet Nov. 15, race teams and fans can consult the website at www.pathvalley.com or they can email Two Wheel Promotions at twp@pathvalley.com.
30-
FINISH ORDER
305 Sprints - Tyler Bear (started 1), Mike Freet, Ben Naugle, Joey Hershey, Michael Heckman, George Riden, Jeff Sell, Todd Spangler, Rodney Westhafer, Logan Wagner, Ryan Lynn, Matt Mountz, Erin Statler, DNS Jim Kennedy. Heats to Bear, Freet. Hard Charger Joey Hershey.
1000cc Sidewinders - Tim Mertz (1), Dwayne Gutshall, Ryan Greth, Ben Murphy, Chad Hough, Stanley Fleming, Brendon Bright, Rohan Beasley, Jason Morrison, Jeremy Lynch, Jim Young, Donnie Hendershot, Brent Marks, Gary Funck, Denny Landvater, Mike Pychinka, Jared Hudson, Patrick Holler, Jerry Strausbaugh, Jimmy Campbell. Heats to Mertz, Gutshall; Hard Charger to Jim Young.
600 Sprints - Tyler Walton (14), Ben Murphy, Dwayne Gutshall, Ryan Greth, Kevin Steele, Brent Marks, Jim Brookens, Jan Luckenbaugh, Jake Murp0hy, Trevin Shank, Mike Freed, Pete Skias, Travis Saner, Timmie Barrick, Matt Puppello, Brie Hershey, Isaac Sneeringer, Brandon Yarlett, Joe Robertson, Lex Burritt, Keith McIntyre, Nick Saner, Jesse Fitz, Dane Delancey. Consi to Lex Burritt. Heats to Robert Kendall, Kevin Steele, Ben Murphy, Brent Marks. Hard Charger to Jan Luckenbaugh.
270 Sprints - Richie Hartman (1), Brian Marriott, Chad Thomas, Mike Rutherford, Pete Skias, Sean McAndrew, Steve Whary, Levi Peck, Tim Mertz, Nick Gower, Colby Dice, Tom Tice, Dave Schreiber, Greg Miller, Matt Nulph, Scott Gingrich, Tanner Hunsicker, Austin Treuchet, Angela Caruso, Steve Dunmire, Jason Houtz, Ryan McAndrew, Phil Bessette, Cody Phillips. Consi to Matt Nulph, Heats to Richie Hartman, Brian Marriott, Steve Dunmire. Hard Charger to Pete Skias.
PHOTOS:>
Photos by Walt Cox and
Cox Creative Communications
307 Water St.
Everett, PA 15537
coxxcomm@embarqmail.com
814-652-6138
Cell: 814-932-0338
Path Valley Speedway Park FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Spring Run, PA. 17262 Dated: Oct. 11, 2008
Track 717-349-7111 or Weekdays 717-349-0098, 717-426-2910
Bear, Mertz, Hartman and Watson Win Path Valley Sprints Nationals
“Does it get any better than this?” said Sidewinders racer Rohan Beasley of the Eighth Annual All Sprints Nationals Saturday at the Path Valley Speedway Park. “We got a high line, we got a low line, we got lots of action. This might have been the best race of the year!”
“They were making the best times of the year in all four classes,” explained head flagman Steve Murphy. He added that with only seven cautions in all four 30-lap features combined it was also one of the safest races of the year. Added Race Director John Winsett, “It was a driver’s track, they had to know how to drive and they showed us they really could!” He added that the lack of recent rainfall and work with his track crew all morning lead to the almost perfect racing surface.
And the four winners for at least $600 each plus bonuses were Tyler Bear in 305 Sprints, Tim Mertz in 1000cc Sidewinders, Richie Hartman in 270 Sprints and Tyler Walton, who also won the final points race the night before, in the 600 Sprints.
Meant to be the final race of the season, one additional event has been added at the request of Path Valley racers. A Halloween Special will run on October 25, but instead of costumes for the drivers, the cars will bear a strikingly different appearance. All of the four classes of Sprint cars will race topless without their wings, the Late Models will also race topless with no roof panels, and the combined four-cylinder class is to be “Run What You Brung” to allow the Mini Stocks and Thunder Cars to race together! Gates open at 3 p.m. for the Saturday show with racing starting at 5 p.m. for the regular purse event.
After the final fun-filled Oct. 25 race, the 2008 season closes with the annual Rewards Banquet Nov. 15 at the Pleasant Hall Firehall and a few tickets are still available at the track.
The 600 Sprints opened the night’s features and Ben Murphy took the lead on the first lap and with Kevin Steele and Brent Marks close behind. The fearsome trio began lapping slower cars by lap seven and Murphy put almost half the field a lap down by lap 21. But at that point Tyler Walton had raced from his start at spot 14 to pass into second place. Finally on lap 23 Walton managed to pass Murphy on the high side but, at lap 26, the only caution flag of the race waved and on the regrouped restart Walton took off with Murphy right behind him.
At lap 28 Murphy pulled alongside Walton on the front stretch but could not complete the pass into turn one. At the finish line Murphy gave one final burst of speed but Walton crossed the line barely a front wheel ahead of Murphy. The front five finishers were Walton, Murp0hy, Dwayne Gutshall, Ryan Greth and Kevin Steele.
The heat winners, for a ‘heads up’ start in all divisions, were Robert Kendall, Kevin Steele, Ben Murphy and Brent Marks, but in a signal case of bad luck Kendall blew his engine leaving the track and did not get to start on the pole position.
The Hard Charger award in 600 Sprints, sponsored by 600Scene.com, went to Jan Luckenbaugh who started 23 and finished 8th. General sponsors of the night’s racing were Path Valley Speedway Park, Two Wheel Promotions, American Tire with a tire certificate to each winner, Aero Wings of Chambersburg with a $50 certificate to fifth place in each class, and Rob Keller Photos with an 8x10 photo of each winner in a custom frame by Stocton Turner. General sponsors of just the 600 Sprints were Juniata Beverage, McIntyre Motorsports, T&T Construction, Saner Motorsports, Thru-It-All Body Shop, and Murphy Racing.
Richie Hartman started the 270 Sprints on their way from his pole start and led Brian Marriott and then Steve
Dunmire through two restarts into lapped cars on lap 20. With two lapped cars behind Hartman at lap 23 Marriott managed to pass for second place with Chad Thomas right behind. A final caution on lap 27 gave Marriott one final chance to catch Hartman, but at the finish Hartman had a lead of two lengths. Hartman, Marriott, Thomas, Mike Rutherford and Pete Skias were the front five finishers.
Matt Nulph who started first in the consi won it by a full turn. The heat winners were Hartman, Marriott and Steve Dunmire. The Hard Charger award, sponsored by McClelland Racing, went to Pete Skias who started 18 and finished in fifth place. Other sponsors of the 270 class were G.W. Transport, Melvin’s Auto Repair, and Interstate Batteries.
Tim Mertz started on the pole in the Sidewinders and led all the way to the final of only three caution flags on lap 15. On that restart Mertz led with Dwayne Gutshall and then arch rival Ryan Greth right behind him, going into lapped sprint traffic on lap 17 and leading by a full turn at lap 19. The three front runners charged to the checkers from there with Ben Murphy taking over fourth and Chad Hough in fifth.
Mertz and Gutshall won the heat races. The Hard Charger award sponsored by Steve Owens and Ronnie Hughes went to Jim Young who started 18 and finished 11. General sponsors of the 1000cc Sidewinders were Rohan Beasley, Jason Morrison and Saner Motorsports.
Tyler Bear started on the pole in the full size 305 Sprints and led them all the way to the checkers non-stop with cars going down a lap from lap eight on. From the start Mike Freet held onto second and Ben Naugle claimed third but they were separated from the leader by two lapped cars at the finish. The front five finishers were Bear, Freet, Naugle, Joey Hershey and Michael Heckman. The race ran start to finish on the hard, smooth track without any caution flags.
The Hard Charger award sponsored by Big Mike’s Video went to Joey Hershey who had started sixth. The heat winners were Bear and Freet. Five racers, including Bear, were rookies to the 305 Sprints this season. 305 Sprint sponsors included Worrick’s Garage, Hershey’s Race Engines, H.P. Engines of Thompsontown, Kumpf Motorsports, ‘Cowboy’ Jim Kennedy, Wood Naturally, Goshorn Racing Parts and Fuel, Jim Stenger of The Toyer’s Shop, and Hesston Speedway.
The Path Valley Speedway Park is located in Spring Run PA a mile north on PA Route 641 from the intersection with PA Route 75, halfway between Port Royal and Hagerstown. It is five miles east from the Willow Hill Exit 14 of the PA Turnpike. From March to October, Path Valley races stock cars and sprints Friday nights and AMA bikes or Strictly Stock junkyard cars Saturday nights.
The phone number at the track is 717-349-7111. For information on the 2009 schedule and rules, and the 2008 Rewards Banquet Nov. 15, race teams and fans can consult the website at www.pathvalley.com or they can email Two Wheel Promotions at twp@pathvalley.com.
30-
FINISH ORDER
305 Sprints - Tyler Bear (started 1), Mike Freet, Ben Naugle, Joey Hershey, Michael Heckman, George Riden, Jeff Sell, Todd Spangler, Rodney Westhafer, Logan Wagner, Ryan Lynn, Matt Mountz, Erin Statler, DNS Jim Kennedy. Heats to Bear, Freet. Hard Charger Joey Hershey.
1000cc Sidewinders - Tim Mertz (1), Dwayne Gutshall, Ryan Greth, Ben Murphy, Chad Hough, Stanley Fleming, Brendon Bright, Rohan Beasley, Jason Morrison, Jeremy Lynch, Jim Young, Donnie Hendershot, Brent Marks, Gary Funck, Denny Landvater, Mike Pychinka, Jared Hudson, Patrick Holler, Jerry Strausbaugh, Jimmy Campbell. Heats to Mertz, Gutshall; Hard Charger to Jim Young.
600 Sprints - Tyler Walton (14), Ben Murphy, Dwayne Gutshall, Ryan Greth, Kevin Steele, Brent Marks, Jim Brookens, Jan Luckenbaugh, Jake Murp0hy, Trevin Shank, Mike Freed, Pete Skias, Travis Saner, Timmie Barrick, Matt Puppello, Brie Hershey, Isaac Sneeringer, Brandon Yarlett, Joe Robertson, Lex Burritt, Keith McIntyre, Nick Saner, Jesse Fitz, Dane Delancey. Consi to Lex Burritt. Heats to Robert Kendall, Kevin Steele, Ben Murphy, Brent Marks. Hard Charger to Jan Luckenbaugh.
270 Sprints - Richie Hartman (1), Brian Marriott, Chad Thomas, Mike Rutherford, Pete Skias, Sean McAndrew, Steve Whary, Levi Peck, Tim Mertz, Nick Gower, Colby Dice, Tom Tice, Dave Schreiber, Greg Miller, Matt Nulph, Scott Gingrich, Tanner Hunsicker, Austin Treuchet, Angela Caruso, Steve Dunmire, Jason Houtz, Ryan McAndrew, Phil Bessette, Cody Phillips. Consi to Matt Nulph, Heats to Richie Hartman, Brian Marriott, Steve Dunmire. Hard Charger to Pete Skias.
PHOTOS:>