Walton Unstoppable; TK & McClelland repeat
It didn't pay to be a driver battling for the lead in the Jersey Joe's Boardwalk Cafe 270 Micro Sprint feature event Friday night. Brandon Firestine was in search of redemption after losing a race in lap traffic earlier this season. Firestine lead early from the pole position. By lap nine Logan Diehl had worked into the runner up spot and trying to work by Firestine. Diehl pulled to the inside of Firestine on lap 18, but when Firestine took the line away Diehl spun taking him out of contention for the win. Point leader Tommy Kunsman inherited the second spot. Firestine, even with a broken shock, was still holding off Kunsman before his car broke on lap 24 of the 25 lap feature. Kunsman held off all challengers on the next restart to drive to his second win of the season. Ken Miller finished in second. Both Mike Boyer and Logan Diehl recovered from yellow flags to finish inside the top five. Dylan Adams charged from 17 starting spot to finish fifth. Morgan Rochelle, John Wagner Jr, Jonathan Swift, Tajae Adams, and Christi Sweigart made up the top ten finishers in the 270 Micro Sprint feature.
Tyler Walton has yet to finish outside the top five in any Hoosier Tire winged 600 Micro Sprint feature event this year. Friday was no different as Walton shot to the lead front his front row starting spot. Jesse Maurer earned the pole for the feature after time trials and a dash. The problem for Maurer was the pole position placed him on the inside when the outside was the preferred line. Once Walton had the lead all Maurer could do is trail him until they got to lap traffic. A long green flag run in the middle of the race combined with lap car gave Maurer his one shot at Walton that quickly came to an end with a yellow flag for a spun Ken Murray. When the green flag came back out Maurer had a fend off challenges from Brendon Bright who was running third. In that time Walton put distance between he and Maurer. A lap 24 yellow for a blown engine slowed the field again. The caution was displayed for a considerable amount of time as oil was cleaned up on the race track. Once racing resumed Walton held off Maurer and Bright for his third win of the season. Jim Radney finished in fourth ahead of 11th place starter Steve Whary. Tommy Kunsman was sixth followed by 17th starting Hayden Miller, Bj Antonio, Jason Sechrist, and Ken Murray. Heat races were won by Walton and Jason Sechrist.
For the second race in a row at Linda's Speedway the ServiceMaster Clean Central Pa Legend Cars put on a thrilling show. Travis McClelland returned as a co star for the show, but this time it was Australian Hayden Pascoe in the battle for the win. Pascoe made an early race pass of Chris McKinney to take the top spot. Pascoe battle with McClelland and Scott Houdenshell over the next few laps before McClelland was able to take advantage of a lap 15 restart to secure the top spot. McClelland was able to pull away for the next few laps but felt the pressure in the final two laps from Pascoe and a hard charging Austin Bellemare. McClelland lead Bellemare, Pascoe, Houndeshell, and Bill Diehl across the line in the top five. Greg Burd came in sixth ahead of Chris Transeau, Chandler Pagnotta, Rick Hartwig, and Eugene Drew. Heat races for the Legend Cars were won by McClelland and Bellemare.
Travis McClelland won the Hard Charger bonus provided by 519 racing products. McClelland came from eighth to win.
Austin Graby shot into the race lead in the first appearance of the season of the 250 Stock/Sportsman Micro Sprints on Friday night. Once out front Graby was challenged by Brian Kramer, but he quickly drove away to a comfortable lead. Graby was in a good spot until a last lap yellow flag flew. A quick Michael Kreiser had moved into the runner up spot and was set to challenge on the last lap. Graby timed his restart perfect and drove to his second win of the season at the speedway. The first came I. 125 Micro Sprint racing. Kreiser was second followed by Kramer, Devin Adams, and Clint Hauser. Kate Vragovich crossed the line in sixth ahead of Charles Hellinger, Richy Sechrist, and Billy Logaman. Graby also won the heat race.
It took just under six minutes for Brett Bieber to catch his 16th career win at the speedway Friday night in the Slingshot feature event. Bieber came into the event as the all time leading Slingshot feature winner, but that didn't intimidate Dakota Kohler who shared the front row with Bieber. Kohler pressured Bieber for the first few laps before Bieber pulled away to the win. Kohler finished second followed by Mike Glass, Chuck Whary, and opening night winner Lindsey Garl. The rest of the top ten were filled in by Hunter Zimmerman, Scott Gray, Ronnie Spitler, and Haley Thumberg. Bieber also won the heat race for the Slingshots.
Friday night was Suicide prevention and mental health awareness night at the speedway. There were raffles of items donated from various sources including racers at the track and Harrisburg radio station Bob 94.9. Once the raffle was done a total of over $600 was brought in. Uncharted Kaos added in another $100 to bring the total to over $700 toward No Way Out Ministries and there efforts.
The Speedway would like to send their gratitude to the race fans, racers, and crews for taking part in this special night. Together we helped make a change.
This coming Friday night, June 9, is an Action Track take over night. The speedstrs will be an action along with the wingless 600 micro sprints and slingshots. Gates open at 5:30 and hot laps will begin at seven. Adult admission for the grandstands is $12 on Action Track take over nights. Admission to the pit area is $25.
For more information on the speedway or any of the upcoming event 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.
