DANNY SMITH WINS FIRST CAREER FEATURE AT LERNERVILLE 6.5
DANNY SMITH WINS FIRST CAREER FEATURE AT LERNERVILLE
By Eric J. Westendorf
Sarver, PA (June 5, 2007) Under a gray, gloomy sky the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars invaded the Lernerville Speedway for a midweek rendezvous. For the first time in almost 30 years of trying, long time All Star regular Danny Smith (#4) of Danville, IN won his first A-main feature at the famed 4/10-mile oval of the Lernerville Speedway and first of the 2007 season on the O'Reilly All Star Circuit. Smith chased early race leader Brian Ellenberger (#20E) of Butler for 30 laps. He temporarily gave way to Rod George (#4G) of Kittanning for second, but used the same low line George used to pass him, to regain second, then take the lead from Ellenberger coming out of turn two on lap 30. Smith and George dueled for the lead after Ellenberger faded back quickly through the field. George was giving Smith all he could handle hammering the cushion on the high side. As the leaders approached the checkered flags, Ellenberger was stopped at the base of the flag stand, bringing out a caution that resulted in a green, white, checker finish. Smith was able to hold back another furious charge by George, and after clearing the scales in the pits, made his way to victory lane for the First Time at the Action Track.
The first 30 laps of the 35 A-main feature saw local driver, turned All Star regular Brian Ellenberger dominate and apparently seemed to be on the way to his first career O'Reilly All Star A-main feature win. However, after losing the lead to Smith, Ellenberger slid off the back straightaway and faded fast before bring out the lap 34 caution. He was officially scored 17th.
Local Favorites Rod George and Ed Lynch Jr. (#2L) of Apollo finished second and third respectively. Former Track Champion, now All Star regular Dale Blaney (#2) of Fowler, OH fought off an overheating motor to finish fourth. Brian Paulus (#28) of Mechanicsburg, OH rounded out the top five of an exhilarating feature event.
The six fastest All Star regulars who transferred through their heat races took the track for the All Star Dash. Brian Ellenberger won the dash and started on the pole for the feature.
The University of Northern Ohio B-main feature was won by Bob Felmlee (#6) of Seneca who transferred into the A-main along with Scott Priester (#11) of Rimersburg, Gus Wasson (driving the Ferkel #0) of Charlotte, NC and Jesse Hockett (#75) of Warsaw, MO.
Heat race action saw Arnie Kent (#18) of New Castle, Greg Wilson (#W20) of Benton Ridge, OH, Ed Neumeister (#11N) of Upper Sandusky, OH, and Rob Chaney (#24H) of Millersburg, OH take checkered flags in their qualifying events.
Despite shutting down after one lap, Ed Lynch Jr. (#2L) of Apollo set quick time in the Huggins Cams Time Trials with a lap of 13.071 seconds. Former track champion Dale Blaney (#2) of Fowler, OH was second quick, followed by Rod George (#4G) of Kittanning, Danny Smith (#4) of Danville, IN, and Brock Mayes (#11B) of Bucyrus, OH rounding out the top five.
Reigning Track Champion Kevin Schaeffer (#9) of Kittanning did not race due to a death in the family.
The UMP Modifieds were back in action in a support role for the third time this season. The feature was marred by cautions including a seven-car melee on the opening lap. Collected in the first lap carnage was last month's winner Randy Hall (#10) of Olean, NY. Through a myriad of cautions, Dave Groves (#T3) of Morgantown, WV led wire-to-wire to win the UMP Modified 20-lapA-main feature event. Russ Dunn (#47) of Fenelton finished second, followed by Dave Willoughby (#00) of Brookfield, OH, Chris Basich (#71C) of Adena, OH, and Junior Nolan (#13) of St. Clairsville, OH. Heat races were won by Hall, Groves and Dunn.
The All Stars agreed tonight to return for a second visit to the Lernerville Speedway for the Sonia Bullis Memorial Sprint Race on August 31. The MACS Late Models will also be on hand that evening. All Fab Four Divisions will be back in action this Friday June 8 for All-State Career Night
Lernerville Speedway Race Results
313 N. Pike Road Sarver, Pa 16055
Phone: 724-353-1511 Fax: 724-353-2650
www.lernerville.com
Date: June 5, 2007
All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Feature - 35 Laps
1 Danny Smith, Danville, IN
2 Rod George, Kittanning
3 Ed Lynch Jr, Apollo
4 Dale Blaney, Fowler, Ohio
5 Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg
6 Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO
7 Bob Felmlee, Franklin
8 Rob Chaney, Millersburg, Ohio
9 Kevin Nouse, Mechanicsburg
10 Brock Myers, Bucyrus, Ohio
11 Lance Dewease. Fayetteville
12 Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, Ohio
13 Brandon Martin, Attica, Ohio
14 Arnie Kent, New Castle
15 Paul May, Terre Haute, IN
16 Terry Bowser, Butler
17 Brian Ellenberger, Butler
18 Bill Kiley, Cabot
19 Bill Rose, Plainfield, IN
20 Dan Shetler, Johnstown
21 Craig Mintz, Gibsonburg, Ohio
22 Gus Wasson, Charlotte, NC
23 Ed Neumeister, Upper Sandusky, Ohio
24 Scott Priester, Rimersburg
All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Time Trials
1 Ed Lynch Jr 13.071
2 Dale Blaney 13.077
3 Rod George 13.086
4 Danny Smith 13.189
5 Brock Myers 13.189
6 Brian Ellenberger 13.250
7 Bob Felmlee 13.260
8 Craig Mintz 13.265
9 Brian Paulus 13.272
10 Greg Wilson 13.316
11 Brandon Martin 13.336
12 Scott Priester 13.348
1 3 Gus Wasson 13.348
14 Bill Rose 13.355
15 Paul May 13.355
16 Rob Chaney 13.355
17 Kevin Nouse 13.379
18 Terry Bowser 13.386
19 Ed Neumeister 13.398
20 Lance Dewease 13.449
21 Arnie Kent 13.515
22 Rob Eyler 13.544
23 Dan Shetler 13.545
24 Brent Covell 13.564
25 Carl Bowser 13.575
26 Jesse Hockett 13.615
27 Andy McKisson 13.626
28 Davey Jones 13.817
29 Cory Good 13.842
30 Gary Rankin 13.906
31 Brent Matus 13.969
32 Bill Kiley 14.454
33 Sheila Rankin 14.735
34 Joe Butera 15.654
35 Rich Reinhart 15.782
36 Danny Holtgraver NO TIME
Heat Races Winners: Arnie Kent, Greg Wilson, Ed Neumeister, Rob Chaney
Sprint "Dash" - 6 Laps
1 Brian Ellenberger, Butler
2 Craig Mintz, Gibsonburg, Ohio
3 Brock Myers, Bucyrus, Ohio
4 Dale Blaney, Fowler, Ohio
5 Danny Smith, Danville, IN
6 Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg
Sprint "B-Main" - 12 Laps
1 Bob Felmlee, Franklin
2 Scott Priester, Rimersburg
3 Gus Wasson, Charlotte, NC
4 Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO
5 Rob Eyler, Franklin
6 Carl Bowser, Sarver
7 Brent Matus, Wampum
8 Andy McKisson, Strattanville
9 Joe Butera, Wampum
10 Bill Rose, Plainfield, IN
11 Davey Jones, Warrendale
12 Gary Rankin, Renfrew
13 Brent Covell. Titusville
14 Rich Reinhart, Freedom
E-Mod Feature - 20 Laps
1 Dave Groves, Morgantown, WV
2 Russ Dunn, Fenelton
3 Dave Willoughby, Brookfield, Ohio
4 Chris Basich, Adena, Ohio
5 Junior Nolan, St Clairsville
6 Shawn Domhoff, Harmony
7 Larry Walters, Evans City
8 Tim Henrich, West Middlesex
9 Andy Sweetland, Warren
10 Fred Bratchie, Valencia
11 Jack Young, Thompson, Ohio
12 Jonathan Taylor, Saltsburg
13 Evan Taylor, Saltsburg
14 Jim Turley, Cranberry Twp
15 Jeff Walters, Evans City
16 Craig Perigo, Stoystown
17 Louie Krushansky, Morgantown, WV
18 Randy Hall, Olean, NY
19 Vince Crisanti, Renfrew
20 Bobby Powell, Meadville
21 Dane Laraway, Irwin
22 Joel Johns, Pittsburgh
23 Rod Lanham, Hazelton, WV-DNS
E-Mod Heat Winners: Randy Hall, Dave Groves, Russ Dunn