Driver Takes Sprint Car A-Main As Companion To Super DIRTcar Series Event
Story By: SHAWN BROUSE / WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY Photos By:DAN DEMARCO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
MECHANICSBURG, PA -June 23, 2016- A three-car crash on the frontstretch involving Kody Lehman, Adam Carberry and Will Eggimann brought out the red flag on the initial start of the United Racing Club 360-Sprint car feature.
When the race resumed, Robbie Stillwaggon grabbed the race lead over Jason Shultz, Mark Smith and seventh starter Hodnett.
The caution flew with one lap completed for a spin by Chuck Hebing.
Hodnett had passed Smith before the caution and got Shultz with a pass off turn two. Hodnett was running the bottom and Stillwaggon pounding the top.
Smith moved by Shultz for second as Hodnett and Stillwaggon were about even at the backstretch bridge. They were still close at the flagstand with Stillwaggon leading to complete lap seven.
Hodnett finally made the bottom groove work off turn two to take the lead. Stillwaggon fought back entering turn three in traffic, but Hodnett got back by off turn four to complete lap 10 as the leader.
Smith passed Stillwaggon and had a run on Hodnett coming off the second turn, but the race was slowed when Jason Clauss slowed to a stop on the backstretch with 12 laps completed.
Hodnett pulled away from Smith on the restart. URC point leader Davie Franek passed Shultz and Stillwaggon and was up to third as Hodnett worked the bottom and Smith the top.
Hodnett closed on a group of lapped cars with three laps to go, but stayed smooth and straight on the bottom. Smith closed on the final lap, but Hodnett passed three slower cars in the final turn to keep Smith in second by 1.203 seconds at the checkers.
“The car has been really good,” said Hodnett. “Rider just built this motor this year. It runs really good. We’ve been fortunate to have great starting positions and able to move through the heat races. We were bad in one and two. I thought in three and four as long as we had track position, we’d be okay.”
Smith, Franek, Stillwaggon and Shultz completed the top five. Curt Michael, Lucas Wolfe, Josh Weller, Glenndon Forsythe and Chris Arnold rounded out the top 10.
Heat races for the 24 URC Sprints were won by Franek, Hebing and Hodnett.
URC Sprint Car Feature (25 laps): 1. Greg Hodnett. 2. Mark Smith. 3. Davey Franek. 4. Robbie Stillwaggon. 5. Jason Shultz. 6. Curt Michael. 7. Lucas Wolfe. 8. Josh Weller. 9. Glenndon Forsythe. 10. Chris Arnold. 11. Jimmy Stitzel. 12. Justin Whitall. 13. Eric Tomecek. 14. Troy Betts. 15. Paulie Colagiovanni. 16. Mike Walter. 17. Brent Michalski. 18. Jason Clauss. 19. Keith Prutzman. 20. Chuck Hebing. 21. Kody Lehman. 22. Adam Carberry. 23. Will Eggimann. DNS: Derek Locke
