Port Royal – Justin Kann of Hesston took just shy of $4,000 out of Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night, claiming the annual Butch Renninger Memorial for super late models as the kickoff race to the 160th annual Juniata County Fair.
In the 410 sprint main, Justin Barger of Montrose, Ny., recorded his first ever payday at the track after holding off Greg Hodnett.
The 15-lap econo late main was taken by Todd Snook for his third win of the season while Mike Goodwin scored the xtreme stock main event.
Jeff Miller Sr. started on the pole of the 33-lap Renninger Memorial, run in honor of the late three-time track champion.
Miller took the lead over third starter Kann when the race got started and was being chased by Kann when he entered the rear of the field on the 12th tour.
Miller slipped a bit on the turn two cushion amid heavy traffic on the 14th tour and that was all it took for Kann to take advantage and bolt into the lead.
Up to that point, Miller pocketed $429 in lap money.
A lap after giving up the lead to Kann, Miller looped his car in the second turn, bringing out the races first caution flag.
Kann restarted with Andy Haus and 12th starter Brett Schadel in pursuit.
Kann pulled his No. 66 away from any challengers when action resumed and appeared home free with four laps to go when the final yellow of the event unfurled for a stopped Eric Zembower.
By this time Mike Lupfer was up to third but no one had anything for Kann over the final two miles.
Including lap money and the fast time award, Kann walked away from the race with $3,993 plus other prizes and contingencies.
It was his first career win at the track and he became the 146th driver to claim a late model main at the oval.
Andy Haus rode home third followed by Mike Lupfer, Tim Smith Jr. and Schadel.
Sixth through 10th went to Patrick Bryner, Mitch Hack, Jason Schmidt, Waylon Wagner and Scott Flickinger.
Heats for the 21-car field went to Hack, Wagner and Haus with Kann setting fast time in qualifications with a lap of 18.416 seconds.
Barger started on the pole of the 410 sprint main and was chased by Nate Snyder when the race began but only two laps could be recorded before Lance Dewease slowed in the second corner, bringing out the yellow flag.
On the restart sixth starter Greg Hodnett made a two car pass of Rodney Westhafter and Davey Sammons to zoom into third.
Barger began lapping cars on the 10th tour and a lap later Hodnett bolted under Snyder for the second spot.
Hodnett was in hot pursuit of Barger, mounting a challenge when the final caution of the race occurred.
Hodnett stayed close to Barger on the restart and made attempts at low side moves but Barger was smooth and confident on the cushion to the finish, again entering traffic with less than five laps to go but clearing the cars just quick enough to keep Hodnett at arm’s length to the checkers.
Rick Lafferty rode home third and took over the division point lead followed by Snyder and Sammons.
Chad Layton was sixth followed by Brock Zearfoss, Brent Marks, Westhafer and Ryan Taylor.
Heats for the 28 cars in action went to Barger, Snyder and Sammons with Mark Zimmerman taking the consolation.
The second heat race was marred by a vicious crash in the first turn that saw Doug Esh slam the inside barrier and Mike Wagner smash into the outside wall before bouncing back onto the track and impacting Esh hard. Dave Hahn was also involved.
All drivers seemingly escaped injury and Wagner crawled into his son Logan’s car for the consolation in an effort to keep his title hopes alive as the point leader coming into the event.
But the start of the consolation saw Curt Stroup clout the inside turn two barrier before glancing back onto the track with Wagner making more hard impact, bringing out another red flag.
Wagner was being treated at an area medical center as of press time.
Devin Hart led the first five laps of the econo late feature before Snook took over.
Hart held on over the final 10 laps for the second spot at the finish followed by Eric Irvin, Tim Krape and Andrew Yoder.
Twin heats went to Hart and Krape.
Bill Powell led the first lap of the xtreme stock main before sixth starter Mike Goodwin took over, looking like a man on a mission as he throttled around the outside of the track for control.
Goodwin pulled away early but near the finish had Powell glued to his bumper for the final few circuits.
It was Goodwin’s second career win in the division at the oval.
Bob Bussey rode home third followed by Jason Zook and Jason Davis.
Powell unofficially claimed the 2014 xtreme stock track title with his run of second.
Race Results: 8/30/14
410 sprints, 25 laps,: 1. Justin Barger, 2. Greg Hodnett, 3. Rick Lafferty, 4. Nate Snyder, 5. Davey Sammons, 6. Chad Layton, 7. Brock Zearfoss, 8. Brent Marks, 9. Rodney Westhafer, 10. Ryan Taylor, 11. Mike Erdley, 12. Blane Heimbach, 13. Dave Ely, 14. Ryan Smith, 15. Curt Stroup, 16. Joey Hershey, 17. Trenton Schaeffer, 18. Mark Zimmerman, 19. Dan Shetler, 20. Tyler Bear, 21. Jim Shuster, 22. Dylan Cisney, 23. Lance Dewease, 24. Scott Wilson
DNQ: Doug Esh, Dave Hahn, Logan Wagner, Mike Wagner
Late models, 33 laps: 1. Justin Kann, 2. Andy Haus, 3. Mike Lupfer, 4. Tim Smith Jr., 5. Brett Schadel, 6. Patrick Bryner, 7. Mitch Hack, 8. Jason Schmidt, 9. Waylon Wagner, 10. Scott Flickinger, 11. Lindsay Barton, 12. Brian Hack, 13. Mike Mort, 14. Eric Zembower, 15. Tim Wilson, 16. Jeff Miller Sr., 17. Meade Hahn, 18. Derrick Casner, 19. Trent Brenneman, 20. Chuck Haydt Jr., 21. Tim Fedder
Econo late model feature, 15 laps: 1: Todd Snook, 2. Devin Hart, 3. Eric Irvin, 4. Tim Krape, 5. Andrew Yoder, 6. Jared Fulkroad, 7. Lucas Bryner, 8. Brett Hockenberry, 9. Troy Miller, 10. Jason Nace, 11. Teddy Richardson, 12. Danny Sollers, 13. Jason Peachey, 14. Chase Bowsman, 15. Rick Adair
DNS: Shaun Miller, Garrett Gray