DIETRICH STUNS PORT ROYAL CROWD AND ZEARFOSS FOR LABOR DAY CLASSIC WIN

DIETRICH STUNS PORT ROYAL CROWD AND ZEARFOSS FOR LABOR DAY CLASSIC WIN
Gettysburg driver wins third career Classic and second in a row

Stock cars go to Eric Irvin and Eric Boozel

Story By: Port Royal Speedway

Photos By: Dan DeMarco/RacersGuide.com

Port Royal – For the third year in a row, the Port Royal Speedway Labor Day Classic for sprint cars was a true classic with multiple leaders and action at the front that kept the fans guessing all the way to the finish.

In the end on Monday afternoon, it was Gettysburg’s Danny Dietrich taking his third career Labor Day checkers and second in a row in a rousing finish that even surprised Brock Zearfoss, who exited turn four thinking he was going to win the race along with the throng of fans in attendance.

The 66th annual running of the prestigious event, sponsored by Foss Jewelers of Lewistown, saw Dietrich take home $4,000 for the payday and primed him with confidence for this weekends two-day, 50th annual Tuscarora 50 races.

In the 355 econo-late model main it was Petersburg’s Eric Irvin taking the victory while Eric Boozel took the four cylinder main.

Dietrich started the 66th annual Port Royal Labor Day Classic from the 10th spot while second starter Dale Blaney took command at the start.

Blaney was leading with five laps down when the caution flag unfurled for a stopped Vince Snyder.

At that time Brock Zearfoss was hounding Blaney for the lead while Dietrich raced sixth.

The last 20 laps went non-stop in what turned into a hair raising affair with Zearfoss ducking under Blaney for control on a few occasions before finally getting the top spot with a low swoop in the first turn with 14 away.

Meanwhile, the cars of Lucas Wolfe, Dylan Cisney and Dietrich were working forward, battling between themselves for position under a blanket while gaining on the leader.

Dietrich made his presence known for sure at the front on the 18th lap when he made a bold two-car pass of both Wolfe and Blaney to blast from fifth into second.

And with that the race was on as Zearfoss worked traffic and Dietrich cut into his advantage.

Still, Zearfoss looked relatively safe at the front as he rode the cushion nearly flawlessly as the race neared its finish.

However Dietrich was like a lion stalking his prey, repeatedly swooping across the third and fourth turns to catch the cushion while trying to cut down the leader’s advantage.

And by the time the white flag unfurled, Dietrich was within striking distance but still in need of a fantastic move in order to steal the win with another final, last turns swoop in the third and fourth corners.

However Zearfoss slammed the door in turn three and thwarted what may have been Dietrich’s swoop.

And with that, Dietrich rode the cushion through the turns as Zearfoss slid up and caught the cushion off of the fourth corner in order to jet toward the finish line.

Zearfoss then shot onto the frontchute headed for the checkers and in fact was seen pumping his fist out of the cockpit as he sped toward the checkers.

And just then, a little slip by Zearfoss and a tremendous bite by Dietrich off of turn four as he turned the car down across the frontstrech stunned the fans and Zearfoss as Dietrich drove by for the payday as the cars got to the edge of the stage, just feet from the finish line.

The margin of victory for Dietrich was a scant .111 seconds.

Dietrich went to victory lane, the fans were left speechless and Zearfoss was relegated to bridesmaid.

Dylan Cisney kept his title hopes alive with just two races to go this weekend by driving his way into third at the finish although his margin in the points is now shrunk to 85 markers over Zearfoss.

Lucas Wolfe was fourth followed by Blaney.

Sixth through 10th went to Mike Wagner, Mike Walter II., Kody Lehman, Greg Hodnett and TJ Stutts.

Heats went to Wolfe, Cisney and Wagner.

Eric Irvin led all 18 laps in the econo late model main to pick up the victory by 2.421 seconds over Ryan Walls.

Irvin started sixth in the field for the victory.

Third was Shaun Miller with Tim Krape in fourth and Tim Fedder finishing fifth.

Heats went to Shaun Miller, Irvin and Tim Krape.

Eric Boozel led all 15 laps of the four cylinder main for the win over Kent Leonard, Travis Brown, Matt Worley and Justin Williamson.

Stay up to date with all the latest Port Royal news and information by visiting the oval’s official website at www.portroyalspeedway.com or by following the track on Facebook or Twitter.

Feature Finishes

9/4/17

410 sprints, 25 laps: 1. Danny Dietrich, 2. Brock Zearfoss, 3. Dylan Cisney, 4. Lucas Wolfe, 5. Dale Blaney, 6. Mike Wagner, 7. Mike Walter II., 8. Kody Lehman, 9. Greg Hodnett, 10. TJ Stutts, 11. Jared Esh, 12. Kevin Nouse, 13. Joey Hershey, 14. Daryl Stimeling, 15. Curt Stroup, 16. Mike Wagner II., 17. Darren Pifer, 18. Troy Fraker, 19. Trenton Sheaffer, 20. AJ Flick, 21. Vince Snyder

Econo late models, 18 laps: 1. Eric Irvin, 2. Ryan Walls, 3. Shaun Miller, 4. Tim Krape, 5. Tim Fedder, 6. Cam Zeigler, 7. Trent Brenneman, 8. Dave Leidy, 9. Alan Sagi, 10. Derrick Garman, 11. Eric Hohol, 12. Andrew Yoder, 13. Andrew Stotler, 14. Doug Ishler, 15. Kenny Yoder, 16. Matt Cochran, 17. Garrett Gray, 18. Troy Miller, 19. Curt Dunn, 20. Rob Harling, 21. Harold Ranck Jr., 22. JR Toner

Four cylinders, 15 laps: 1. Eric Boozel, 2. Kent Leonard, 3. Travis Brown, 4. Matt Worley, 5. Justin Williamson, 6. Noah Swank, 7. Darly Sipe, 8. Tim Raup, 9. Justin Oberlin, 10. Tony Hubler, 11. Travis Semple, 12. Anthony Varner, 13. Robbie Carroll, 14. Pap Moist, 15. Adam Campbell, 16. Matt Chronister, 17. Zach Wright, 18. Zack Moist, 19. Jeff Foster, 20. Kayla Varner, 21. Bruce Beatris, 22. Noah Myers, 23. Ryan Underkhoffer, 24. Jaren Rudy

Additional starters: Adam Bailer, Roy Denike, Tim Campbell, Andrew Moist, Rusty Garlock, Charlie Varner, Kenndey Courter, Lee Zook, Chrales Stallman, Zach Baldwin, Kurtis Hardy, Ricky Weaver