Worth the wait

Article Photos

PORT ROYAL - A long night was well worth it to Greg Hodnett Saturday at Port Royal Speedway.

"It was kind of a marathon there to get finished", said Hodnett after winning the 30-lap Pete Swarmer Memorial race.

Nine caution flags and one red for fuel kept the field bunched up through most of the race. While it may have hurt some others in the field, the situation seemed to help Hodnett.

"I was having trouble in traffic," the winner said. "I was needing to run a certain line. It didn't matter as long as we kept up decent starts. The track was pretty fast around the top. For someone to blow around me and keep it moving was going to be very tough. So I think track conditions, decent restarts and clean air was going to be better for me."

The longest green flag run was just eight laps. Most caution periods were for spin outs or mechanical problems. Dave Hahn hit the backstretch fence exiting turn 2 on lap 27. Hahn was not injured and was towed to the pit area. One lap later Brian Ehrenzeller spun out in the same corner and was taken to the pits.

Hodnett started 10th and had already moved into third by lap two.

"We're very fortunate to be standing up here (in victory lane)," Hodnett said. "We had a great start and got into third after the second lap and kind of set sail from there and had some pretty clean race track."

Daryl Stimeling started on the pole and led the first two laps before what would be Hodnett's winning pass came following a restart. Once in front he was never challenged despite the field repeatedly being under yellow. Chad Layton drove the No. 7 to a second place finish after starting 12th. Mike Erdley came from eighth position to finish third. Todd Shaffer started 11th and finished fourth. Rick Lafferty came from ninth starting spot to finish fifth. Completing the top 10 were Dave Ely, Alan Cole, Stimeling, T.J. Winegardner and Michael Heckman. Heat races for the 24-car field were won by Heckman, Stimeling and Mark Smith.

Hodnett's win comes after some early-season struggles for his team.

"The guys have really stepped up," Hodnett said. "We're definitely trying to put ourselves in positions to win races, and race through the field and be competitive."

But the win wasn't just special for the driver.

"It was a marathon but it was well worth it," car owner Jim Kline said. "It's what you hope for. The guys are doing a heck of a job. It was a bad ... hot rod tonight." Kline also spoke about dealing with misfortune."

Hodnett was joined in postrace photographs by 84-year-old Norm Forry who was a pit crew member for the late Pete Swarmer. Forry was with Swarmer when he ended his career in 1974.

Dave Bowsman led every lap of the pro stock feature to earn his first win of the season in his third start of the year. Terry Naugle came from 11th starting position to finish second. Derick Garman was third with Tim Krape fourth. Herm Renninger completed the top five. Sixth through 10th were Keith Garman, Devin Frey, John Heane, John Wert and Harold Ranck Jr. Naugle and Bowsman each won heat races. There were 17 cars entered.

"They (competitors Derick and Keith Garman) worked on this car for five hours last night to get it set up," Bowsman said. "I haven't had time and they took it down to their shop and put their set up on it. I've got to thank everyone on the crew and my wife for putting up with this all."

Jason Zook outdueled Bill Powell for the second week in a row during enduro action. Brian Henry led the first 11 laps before giving way to Zook. Powell moved into the runner up spot on lap 17 while using the top of the speedway to attempt to pass Zook.

Steve Harlan came home third with Brady Cauffman fourth. Adam Yetter was fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Brian Sanders, Alan Noss, Scott Hopple, Ryan Renninger and Rich Adair. 17 cars started the event. Henry wound up 12th after dropping out on lap 19.

Racing continues Thursday night when the late models compete in the first Appalachian Mountains Late Model Speedweek. The six-race series is attracting the top race teams in the tri-state region to battle the Pa. stars. National traveling late model teams are also expected to invade the Juniata County oval. The event includes a 40-lap feature which pays the winner $5,000. Time trials begin at 7 p.m.

The sprint cars, late models and super sportsman cars return for another show on June 13.