Thrilling Features go to TK, Murray, Hollenbach, & McClelland

Mike Boyer was the fastest car early in the night for the Jersey Joe's Boardwalk Cafe 270 Micro Sprints. Boyer jumped to the race lead in the feature event and led the first five trip before Scott Gingrich muscled the top spot away. Gingrich looked like the car to beat holding a strait away lead over the field for much of the race. As Gingrich got to lap traffic the lead began to shrink and Tommy Kunsman along with Boyer began to creep back into the picture. Kunsman really pressure Gingrich as the race leader weaved through the traffic. The top two were all but side by side with the white flag in the air. Kunsman had his plan set to try to drive past Gingrich in the final corner when the yellow flag came out. During the yellow flag Gingrich peeled off to the infield with engine trouble handing the lead to Kunsman. Boyer poked to the inside of Kunsman on the start, but Kunsman was able to drive away to the win extending his point lead. Boyer, Collin Ginther (Making his first start of the season), Devin Harron, and Josh Stoyer made up the top five finishers. Logan Diehl, Kyle Weiss, Stone Keller, Tyler Ulrich, and Greg Miller closed out the top ten. Boyer and Ulrich were heat race winners for the field.

Kenny Harris led the way early on in the Hoosier Tire Wingless 600 Micro Sprint feature event Friday. Harris was in search of his first Linda's Speedway 600 Micro Sprint win while trying to fend off Steve Whary. Soon the duo was joined by Kenny Murray in a tight three car battle at the front of the field. And the three drivers exchanged the race lead Whary made his move but he caught the left rear tire on the leader’s car and it's on his machine around. Whary went to the pit area leaving Kenny Murray as the only driver in the field with an opportunity to be a repeat winner. If any other driver one it would be a first time victor. Harris continue to show the way but on a mid race restart, Murray would take advantage of a slide job in turn one to take the race lead on lap 15. Once Murray was out front he was there to stay, driving to his way to his first win at the track in over a year. Harris earned a hard fought second place just ahead of 13th place starter Brandon Heist. Tyler Brehm and Dustin Stoltzfus rounded out the top five finishers. Devin Gundrum, BJ Antonio, Nash Ely, Ben McGowen, and Dakota Barlet crossed the line in sixth through tenth. Harris, Gundrum, and Steve Whary were heat race winners.

"He lost a tire" was a big part of the season opening event for the Appalachian auto LLC chargers on Friday night. Many of the top contenders struggle to race with the heavy cushion on the outside of the race track with tires peeling off of their rims. It happened to early race leader Jeremy Ott as well as Josh Michael who was running third. Troy Hostetter showed that way once Ott went pitside on lap five. Hostetter lead for the next 10 laps before he to suffered a tire issue handing the lead to his teammate Ed Hollenbach. Hollenbach would wage a battle with ninth place starter Aaron Updegraff over the last five laps of the 20 lap feature event. Hollenbach was sure to stay in the middle of the race track to avoid contact with the cushion. Hollenbach's right rear tire was actually starting to lose air itself coming to the checkered flag. Hollenbach's win is a little bit of redemption after losing the last race of the 2016 season, the charger championship race, by the smallest margin in Charger history. Hollenbach dedicated the win to his Uncle Lynn who passed away this winter. "He's the one who got me started into all this craziness" Hollenbach said. Updegraff showed his skill had not fallen off over the winter grabbing the runner up followed across the line by Eric Hollenbach, Rob Pyle, and the Jasen's Automotive Hard Charger Chris Smith. Smith also received a free pit pass for the next race for sporting the Race Chasing Facebook page bonus sticker. The top ten was rounded out by Paul Lambert, Josh Denny, Chucky Kimmel, John Swavely, and Sean Yeagley. Ott, Hostetter, and Justin Riegel crossed the line for heat race wins while Chris Smith won the consolation.

The Central Pa Legends presented by ServiceMaster Clean have always gave a fans a good race. Friday night some fans were on their feet as the race came to a close and race longer leader Travis McClelland was trying to wrestle away the top spot from Scott Houdenshell. Rocky Magaro showed the way early from the pole. Magaro held the top spot until McClelland took it from his fifth starting spot. McClelland ran the inside line while Scott Houdenshell used up the cushion on the outside of the track. Houdenshell moved into the top spot on lap 12. By that point the leaders were exchanging the race lead multiple times a lap. McClelland was scored ahead again on lap 15. Houdenshell looked like he was in front for good when he took the race lead back on lap 18. Lap traffic quickly became a factor and McClelland had his shot. When the white flag flew McClelland was right on Houdenshell rear bumper as the race leader stayed loyal to the outside to pass the lap car of Robert Shaw. Shaw held the middle of the track allowing McClelland to go to the inside on the final corner to make it a three wide race to the finish. McClelland edged Houdenshell at the line for his first Linda's Speedway win. Houdenshell earned the hardest fought second place finish of the night. Magaro, Chris Transeau, and Rick Hartwig crossed the line in the top five. Transeau and Todd Rahley won heat races for the Legends who will return to Linda's Speedway June 2.

Next Friday is the first race of the season for the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) Midgets. Joining the Midgets in competition will be the 270 Micro Sprints, Wingless 600 Micro Sprints, Modifieds, Slingshots, and a race for the rookie 600 Micro Sprints at the end of the evening.

Gates open at 5:30 with hot laps starting at 7 and racing scheduled for 7:30. For more information on the speedway or any of the upcoming events you can visit LindasSpeedway.com or follow the speedway on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can also call the speedway hotline at 717-865-5330.