Lancaster’s Doug Esh made it two in a row in 410 sprints at Williams Grove Speedway Friday night and in doing so became the first driver of the season to claim the $1,000 bonus for any one who can win from rows seven through 12 in the feature.
Glenndon Forsythe of Aspers claimed the Coliseum 358 sprint championship race.
Esh began the 25-lap 410 main in 17th and began working the pack as polesitter Adam Wilt of York paced the field. Much like last week, Wilt looked strong early and throughout the mid-stages.
Fourth starter Jim Siegel of New Oxford drove into second on just the first circuit and gave chase only to see the pace slowed with four away when Jeff Busby stopped sideways in the first corner. Sutliff point leader Todd Shaffer withdrew from the event under caution.
Siegel exchanged the lead with Wilt momentarily just before lap five was scored but on clear track Wilt got away from Siegel once in a rhythm. The leaders entered traffic on the 13th circuit.
Siegel’s run came to an end with 17 down when he looped his car in the second corner and it was then that all eyes turned to Esh, who was up to third behind Dave Ely.
A near catastrophe on the restart when Ely jumped the right rear of the lapped machine of Randy Baughman in the first corner allowed Esh to squeeze into second, putting him on Wilt’s tail for a restart with seven to go after Baughman stopped with a flat.
Wilt withstood Esh’s challenge at the new green but couldn’t muster another lap over “The Hammer” as Esh drove by with five to go for the 18th victory of his Grove career, worth $4,000 plus an additional $500 posted by sponsors Tom and Dick Leach.
Sixth starter Rick Lafferty rode home second followed by 11th starter Brian Montieth. Fourth and fifth went to Ely and Wilt respectively.
Positions six through 10 went to Mike Erdley, Pat Cannon, Mark Smith, Chad Layton and Donnie Kreitz.
Esh also garnered Hard Charger laurels.
Heats for the 26 cars went to Ely, Lafferty and Siegel with Mark Smith taking the consolation.
Glenndon Forsythe of Aspers claimed the extra-distance Coliseum 358 sprint championship race, worth $1,200 after starting sixth.
Polesitter Brian Gorland held the lead for the first 17 circuits before Forsythe could get by with a low move in the second corner. Forsythe had trouble tracking down Gorland after motoring into second on the third lap. It wasn’t until later in the race that a somewhat faltering Gorland gave Forsythe his opportunity.
The race pace was halted with three laps to go in the 25-lapper when point leader Cory Haas and Jay Galloway connected in the third turn, collecting three other cars.
After the read, Forsythe cruised flawlessly to his third career Grove triumph and second of the season at the track.
At Port Royal, Todd Shaffer capitalized on Chad Layton's misfortune Saturday. Layton blew an engine with two laps to go. With the victory, Shaffer is now in line for another track championship.
Some information used in this story was provided by Williams Grove Speedway. Video is courtesy of Lynn Schaeffer Productions and www.SportsPlusVideo.com.
