Hodnett Takes Over For Leppo To Win Williams Grove 410 Sprints,
Mark Smith Gets Cool URC $4,000 Nationals
8/2/13
Mechanicsburg – Greg Hodnett took the lead from Brian Leppo on the final lap to win the 410 sprint car feature at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night after Leppo ran out of fuel on a restart.
In the $4,000 to win URC Sprint Nationals it was Mark Smith who parted the waters from the 12th starting spot to take the rich victory.
The initial start of the 25-lap 410 sprint main saw Leppo and Steve Buckwalter lined up on the front row and as the field rolled toward the green flag, Leppo climbed the inside of Buckwalter’s car and got out of shape although the start continued on under green.
The first 12 circuits of the race went non-stop with Buckwalter leading over Leppo but on the restart following a lost wheel by Curt Stroup, Leppo drove underneath Buckwalter in the first corner to slide up and take the lead.
Buckwalter tried to come back a lap later in the same spot but Leppo was up to the task as eighth starter Greg Hodnett motored into third.
On lap 17 Jim Siegel dropped out of fourth and on the restart Hodnett got around Buckwalter for second while Brian Montieth drove into third a lap later.
And then with five to go both drivers dropped out of the race, again slowing the pace.
Leppo handled his mount well when action resumed and thwarted attempts by Hodnett to get alongside and indeed Leppo appeared home free when Chad Layton grenaded a motor on the final lap, bringing out the red flag.
But as Leppo tried to refire for the final tour, his car began sputtering as the field raced toward the restart green, allowing Hodnett to go by along with three others, relegating him to fifth at the finish.
“We don’t wanna’ win by somebody running out of fuel.” Hodnett said.
“We’ll take it any way we can, they’re hard to come by.”
Including bonus money, Hodnett took home $4,360 for the regular event victory.
Fred Rahmer started 11th and finished second followed by Adam Wilt, Cory Haas and Leppo.
Sixth through 10th went to Don Kreitz Jr., Alan Krimes, Brent Marks, Ryan Smith and Gerard McIntyre Jr.
Heats for the 21 cars went to Siegel, Krimes and Leppo.
Smith took the green from the 12th starting spot in the 25-lap URC feature but had his march forward halted on the first lap when Aaron Ott and Eric Riggins Jr. flipped in the third turn.
Third starter JJ Grasso led from the beginning and with four away when a caution flag bunched the field, Smith was up to eighth.
The restart moved him to seventh and by the seventh lap itself, he had cracked the top five.
Both he and Josh Weller got by Ed Aikin to take third and fourth respectively by lap nine while Grasso continued at the front with Kevin Nouse in second after taking the position with five away.
Nouse was unable to challenge Grasso however but the same was not true for Smith, who dusted off Weller with 15 laps to go and then Nouse with 13 to go.
Grasso entered traffic with the lead with six to go and just about that time the races final caution flag unfurled, setting up a double file restart.
And that was all it took for Smith to get the lead as Grasso chose the inside groove giving Smith the outside momentum to seal up his win.
After starting 15th, Pat Cannon raced into second with four to go but failed to gain on Smith for the win, crossing the line a half straightaway behind.
Ryan Bohlke finished third followed by Grasso and Nouse.
Sixth through 10th went to Weller, Tyelr Ross, Davie Franek, Brian Carber and Aikin.
Heats for the 36-car URC field went to Troy Betts, Jonathan Swanson, Grasso and Nouse with Aaron Ott taking the B Main.
August 2, 2013 Feature Finishes:
410 sprint cars, 25 laps: 1. Greg Hodnett, 2. Fred Rahmer, 3. Adam Wilt, 4. Cory Haas, 5. Brian Leppo, 6. Don Kreitz Jr., 7. Alan Krimes, 8. Brent Marks, 9. Ryan Smith, 10. Gerard McIntyre Jr., 11. Curt Michael, 12. Lucas Wolfe, 13. Chad Layton, 14. Nicole Bower, 15. Troy Fraker, 16. Brian Montieth, 17. Steve Buckwalter, 18. Jim Siegel, 19. Glenndon Forsythe, 20. Curt Stroup, 21. Lance Dewease
URC sprints, 25 laps: 1. Mark Smith, 2. Pat Cannon, 3. Ryan Bohlke, 4. JJ Grasso, 5. Kevin Nouse, 6. Josh Weller, 7. Tyler Ross, 8. Davie Franek, 9. Brian Carber, 10. Ed Aikin, 11. Randy West, 12. Ryan Wilson, 13. Jonathan Swanson, 14. Jay Galloway, 15. Andy Best, 16. Billy Johns, 17. Kramer Williamson, 18. Troy Betts, 19. Duane Mausteller, 20. Dan Mazy, 21. Scott Lutz, 22. Chris Arnold, 23. Chad Trout, 24. Aaron Ott, 25. Eric Riggins Jr.
DNQ: Art Leidl, JR Berry, Chandler Leiby, Dave Ely, Billy Pauch Jr., Joe Zuczek, Glenndon Forsythe, Denny Garl, Keith Prutzman, Brock Zearfoss, Aaron Eichelberger