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Jones, Walker, Zeigler and Buckwalter Find the Way to Victory Lane at SSP on Saturday Night for Season Opener

Monday April 13, 2009

 

Newberrytown, PA (April 11, 2009) – The 2009 season opener at the Susquehanna Speedway Park on Saturday night, April 11 found Shermansdale’s Jake Jones winning the 25-lap Late Model feature. Eric Walker of Middletown won the 25-lap Street Stock main feature event. Spring Grove’s Mike Zeigler Jr. picked up where he left off last season by winning the 25-lap Xtreme Stock Car feature. Zeigler won the final point race of 2008. Steve Buckwalter of Royersford also picked up the 20-lap ARDC Midget feature event win with a thrilling late race pass after starting 16th in the field.

The 25-lap Late Model feature event began with polesitter Jake Jones grabbing the early lead on lap one. Jones set the pace early on with Gene Knaub Jones picked up his first feature win since 2007 over Knaub, Craig Wagaman, Carl Billet and Charles Potts. Rounding out the top ten spots were Billy Wampler, Pat Beard, Justin Ehrhart, Chase Billet and Jerry Bard. Qualifying heat races were won by Bard, Zeigler and Potts. Derrick Mease won the consolation race.

The 25-lap Street Stock feature event was won by Eric Walker after he took the lead from early leader Dustin Hollinger on lap 15. Walker, the 2008 Street Stock Track champion, won his second SSP season opener in a row. Scott Thunberg finished second, followed by Hollinger, Jim Palm and Steven Dover. Doug Bennett and Kory Sites won their respective qualifying heat races.

The 25-lap Xtreme Stocks feature had exciting wheel-to-wheel action throughout the event with Mike Zeigler Jr. taking the win over Tommy Slanker. Sam Rial finished third, followed by Travis Horan and Jason Failor. Chris Heller who originally finished fourth was relegated to the rear of the lead lap after he failed to report to post race technical inspection. Zeigler, Horan and Failor won the XSC qualifying heat races.

The 20-lap ARDC Midgets feature had Steve Buckwalker coming from a 16th starting spot to take the lead on the 19th circuit to pick up his sixth career feature win. Buckwalter is the all-time career Midget feature win leader at SSP. P.J. Gargoulo came to the line second after leading laps seven through eighteen. Greg Robinson collected a career best third place finish, followed by Nick Wean and Zack Martini. Ryan Watt, Steve Buckwalter and Martini won the qualifying heat races with Eric Heydenreich winning the consolation event.
Action returrns to the Susquehanna Speedway Park next weekend will include the Season Opener for the SSP Outback Track on Friday night, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. featuring quarter midget and go kart racing action. Then on Saturday night, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. the Big Track will feature the Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars, PENNMAR Vintage Cars and Mini Vans.

It will also be the first “Hometown Heroes” night of the season featuring the towns of Manchester, Mount Wolf and York Haven. Before the races begin, the drivers from those hometowns will have the opportunity to display their cars and meet the fans at the front gate of the speedway. The drivers will also be interviewed during the night’s racing program. Also, all fans entering the speedway from that driver’s hometown being honored will be admitted FREE to the grandstands by showing proper photo identification and filling out an information card at the ticket booth.

The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net. On raceday, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information at the “Big Track” and (717) 932-1608 for the “Outback Track.”

Race Results from Saturday, April 11, 2009
Late Models Feature (25 laps): 1. Jake Jones; 2. Gene Knaub; 3. Craig Wagaman; 4. Carl Billet; 5. Charles Potts; 6. Billy Wampler; 7. Pat Beard; 8. Justin Ehrhart; 9. Chase Billet; 10. Jerry Bard; 11. Steve Bailor; 12. Pancho Lawler; 13. Shaun Jones; 14. Derrick Mease; 15. Scott Fisher; 16. Randy Christine Jr.; 17. Carl Graves; 18. Kyle Saylor; 19. Matt Henry; 20. Cam Zeigler; 21. Travis McClelland; 22. Mike Walls; 23. Gary Potts; 24. Steve Billet; DNQ – Denny Willey; Darrel Henry;.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Jones (1-25).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Bard; Zeigler; C. Potts.
CONSOLATION WINNER: Mease.

Street Stocks Feature (25 laps): 1. Eric Walker; 2. Scott Thunberg; 3. Dustin Hollinger; 4. Jim Palm; 5. Steve Dove; 6. Garrett Shover; 7. Dave Thompson Jr.; 8. Doug Bennett; 9. Kory Sites; 10. Jenn Scott; 11. Jimmy Slaseman; 12. Pat McNeal; 13. Jaynee Zeigler; 14. Paul Witmer; 15. Bruce McClane; 16. Brett Pickel; 17. Doug Hoffman; 18. John Greider; 19. Calvin Herman; 20. Jamey Huls; DNS – Eric Lingle; Chad Smith; Brandon Ort.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Hollinger (1-14); Walker (15-25).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Bennett and Sites.

Xtreme Stock Car Feature (25 laps): 1. Mike Zeigler Jr; 2. Sam Rial; 3. Sam Rial; 4. Travis Horan; 5. Jason Failor; 6. Tim Hahn; 7. Larry Landis; 8. Adam Smith; 9. Ray Broderick; 10. Lance Danmyer; 11. Ricky Hippensteel; 12. Sean Todd; 13. Tim O’Sheehan; 14. Randy Blank; 15. Chris Heller; 16. Cameron Benyou; 17. Ken Braafhart; 18. Andrew Frye; 19. Mike Taft; 20. John Frye; 21. Mike Michalski; 22. Kenneth Jones; DNS – Steve Ramsey; Matt Adams; Donnie Broderick.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Failor (1-5); Heller (6-8); Zeigler (9-25).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Zeigler; Horan; Failor.

ARDC Midgets Feature (20 laps): 1. Steve Buckwalter; 2. P.J. Gargiulo; 3. Greg Robinson; 4. Nick Wean; 5. Zack Martini; 6. Steve Lenig; 7. Frank Polimeda; 8. Stephanie Stevens; 9. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr.; 10. Eric Heydenreich; 11. Ryan Watt; 12. Shane Penny; 13. Tracy Readinger; 14. Justin Grosz; 15. Jason Rice; 16. Dusty Heistand; 17. Donald Hoffman; 18. Jimmy Commock, Jr.; 19. Trvor Kobylarz; 20. Drew Heistand; 21. Donnie Trent; 22. Steve Craig; 23. Dave Shirk; 24. Scott Zipp; 25. Brett Arndt; 26. Chris Zrinski; DNQ – Donnie Trent; Randy Reid.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Martini (1-6); Gargiulo (7-18); S. Buckwalter (19-20).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Watt; S. Buckwalter; Martini.
CONSOLATION WINNER: Heydenreich.

The Next Wednesday Night Test & Tune is on April 22
The next Wednesday Night Test & Tune session will be on April 22, 2009. It is open to any type of racecars capable of competing on the 4/10 mile oval. The cost is $12.00 per person for pit passes and a $20.00 fee for each racecar entering the pit area ($32.00 per car & driver combination). Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with open track time from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. by class. The fuel pumps from Miller’s Racing Parts will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each session will be 6 – 8 laps per session. The grandstands are open free to the public. The main concession stand will also be open throughout the night. Each class will receive 4 to 5 rounds of 6/8 laps each or more if time permits.

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This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

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