Cannon Breaks Through For Elusive Williams Grove Sprints Win
Hammaker gets second of season in 358s and takes point lead
8/7/15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mechanicsburg – Pat Cannon of Etters broke through for an elusive 410 sprint car victory at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night, taking the win over Greg Hodnett.
In the 358 sprint feature, Grantville’s Doug Hammaker scored his second victory of the season in the division while taking over the point lead.
Rick Lafferty started second and took the lead when action began in the 25-lap 410 sprint main over fourth starter Cannon.
Cannon chased Lafferty, racing less than a second behind him, for numerous laps, trying to get by him on the inside as the leader worked the cushion.
After failing in a few attempts, Cannon finally made an inside drive in turns three and four work as the pair raced toward the stripe to complete lap 14.
But while Cannon was working at the front, ninth starter Danny Dietrich was bolting through the pack, taking fifth with 10 away before getting around Lucas Wolfe on the 12th tour.
A lap later Dietrich was around Tim Glatfelter and chasing down the front duo and with 10 to go, Dietrich had passed Lafferty as well to be running down Cannon.
Cannon had stretched out a healthty lead by the time Dietrich took second but shortly after the Gettysburg driver got into the spot, he came up with a severe vibration in the rear of the car that ended up sidelining him for the night after he dropped off the pace for several laps.
A caution flag for a stopped Dietrich with five to go placed Lucas Wolfe directly on Cannon’s tail for a restart but Cannon proved up to the task when action resumed and then he pulled away from Wolfe yet again on another restart with two laps to go to pick up his fifth career win in full sprint competition at the track.
On the final restart, Greg Hodnett drove low to get around Wolfe for second however Hodnett failed to challenge for the victory, crossing the line 1.286 seconds behind at the finish.
Wolfe was third followed by Glatfelter and Lafferty.
Sixth through 10th went to Lance Dewease, Brian Montieth, Austin Hogue, Alan Krimes and Steve Buckwalter.
Heats went to Dewease and Hodnett.
Todd Reed took the early lead in the 358 sprint main chased by fourth starter Chandler Leiby.
However Chad Trout moved quickly forward from the sixth starting spot to be challenging Reed for the lead when a caution flag unfurled with three laps down in the 20-lapper.
Reed withstood challenges on the restart and then along came ninth starter Doug Hammaker to take the top spot.
Hammaker got by Reed on the sixth tour with Trout, Kevin Nouse and Chase Dietz still in the picture.
Dietz started 11th in the field and tracked to the front to be third at the halfway point.
The only other driver to own more than one oval victory this season coming into the race, Dietz took second from Nouse with four to go but ran out of time to run down the leader.
Nouse was third followed by Leiby and Phil Walter.
Sixth through 10th went to Matt Campbell, Kody Lehman, Reed, Rich Eichelberger and Bill Stine.
Heats went to Trout, Nouse and Lehman.
August 7, 2015 Feature Finishes:
410 sprints, 25 laps: 1. Pat Cannon, 2. Greg Hodnett, 3. Lucas Wolfe, 4. Tim Glatfelter, 5. Rick Lafferty, 6. Lance Dewease, 7. Brian Montieth, 8. Austin Hogue, 9. Alan Krimes, 10. Steve Buckwalter, 11. Nicole Bower, 12. Brock Zearfoss, 13. Freddie Rahmer, 14. Rodney Westhafer, 15. Cory Haas, 16. Troy Fraker, 17. Danny Dietrich, 18. Jim Shuster, 19. Jay Reichard
358 sprints, 20 laps: 1. Doug Hammaker, 2. Chase Dietz, 3. Kevin Nouse, 4. Chandler Leiby, 5. Phil Walter, 6. Matt Campbell, 7. Kodey Lehman, 8. Todd Reed, 9. Rich Eichelberger, 10. Bill Stine,11. Leah Starner, 12. Nyle Berkes, 13. Russell Hammaker, 14. Matt Findley, 15. Adam Lyman, 16. DJ Montgomery, 17. Chad Trout, 18. Amy Ott, 19. Cody Fairchok
DNS: Adrian Shaffer, Brie Hershey, Scott Fisher,