Marks Earns Impressive Williams Grove Sprints Win, Adrian Shaffer Takes 358s
6/15/12
Mechanicsburg, PA – Brent Marks of Myerstown turned in an impressive performance to claim the Lawrence Chevrolet 410 sprint car feature at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night.
In the Tool Shed of America 358 sprint main, Adrian Shaffer took over late from a faltering Dale Hammaker to record a victory.
Third starter Cory Haas of York drove from third into the lead on the first lap of the 25-lap 410 sprint feature ahead of Michael Ruttkamp.
Haas’ race was slowed with three in the books when Daryn Pittman spun after contact with Fred Rahmer in the second corner while the pair was racing for seventh spot.
Seventh starter Marks disposed of Ruttkamp on the restart to be running second with five away.
It took him nine laps to run down Haas’ advantage and get close enough to take his first swipe at the lead with a failed slide attempt in the first and second turns.
After regrouping he took another shot with eight laps to go and then again with six to go and this time he made it stick with a completed slider in the second corner.
A lap later, with five to go, Mark’s run at the front was stopped when Aaron Ott rolled in the fourth corner while racing fourth in the field.
A rapid running Brian Montieth, who started 15th in the field, was up to third for the restart but was forced to watch as Haas tried to regain control when action resumed.
In his No. 11C, he slid back into the lead in the first corner only to see Marks go back out in front on the backchute before Haas came back again deep in the third turn to lead the 21st circuit at the stripe.
But just a blink of an eye later, Marks dove low entering the first turn and again took control from Haas and this time held it as the pair exited the second corner.
Montieth withdrew with mechanical ills on the final lap, falling out of third.
It was the third win of Marks’ career at the oval, worth some $4,160 including a $500 bonus for winning from the fourth row and $60 in lap money.
Haas crossed second followed by Danny Dietrich, Greg Hodnett and Fred Rahmer.
Sixth through 10th went to 19th starter Rick Lafferty, Lance Dewease, Chad Layton, Frank Cozze and Pittman.
Three heats went to Ruttkamp, Ryan Smith and Logan Schuchart.
Hammaker took the lead from Denny Gross on the third lap to hold off the challenges of Shaffer on a trio of restarts, appearing headed easily to his first win at the oval in years.
But with less than two laps to go in the 20-lap feature, Grantville’s Hammaker began slowing and indeed started running out of fuel.
Eighth starter Shaffer of Mt. Wolfe then took over officially with a lap to go and recorded his sixth career 358 sprint victory at the track.
Point leader Pat Cannon was second followed by Eric Tomecek, Mark Smith and Nate Hammaker.
Sixth through 10th went to Jay Galloway, Ryan Wilson, Amy Ott, Aaron Eichelberger and Gross.
Three heats went to Shaffer, Cannon and Wilson.
Williams Grove returns to action with another 410/358 sprint doubleheader on Friday, June 22 at 7:30 pm.
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June 15, 2012 Feature Finishes:
410 sprint cars, 25 laps: 1. Brent Marks, 2. Cory Haas, 3. Danny Dietrich, 4. Greg Hodnett, 5. Fred Rahmer, 6. Rick Lafferty, 7. Lance Dewease, 8. Chad Layton, 9. Frank Cozze, 10. Daryn Pittman, 11. Ryan Smith. 12. Michael Ruttkamp, 13. Davey Sammons, 14. Nicole Bower, 15. Brian Montieth, 16. Troy Fraker, 17. Aaron Ott, 18. Gerard McIntyre Jr., 19. Logan Schucahrt, 20. Alan Krimes, 21. Adam Wilt,
DNQ: Austin Reed
358 sprint cars, 20 laps: 1. Adrian Shaffer, 2. Pat Cannon, 3. Eric Tomecek, 4. Mark Smith, 5. Nate Hammaker, 6. Jay Galloway, 7. Ryan Wilson, 8. Amy Ott, 9. Aaron Eichelberger, 10. Denny Gross, 11. Jay Reichard, 12. Jacob Allen, 13. Dale Hammaker, 14. Kevin Nouse, 15. Brie Hershey, 16. Dave Thursh, 17. Rodney Westhafer, 18. Scott Fisher, 19. Brian Garland, 20. Todd Berkheimer