PORT ROYAL -- Greg Hodnett drove to his fifth sprint car win of the season in Thursday night’s 30-lap Smokey Snellbaker Classic at Port Royal Speedway, kicking off the 2012 Keystone Cup Series.
Russ Mitten won the 20-lap super sportsman event, finally picking up his first-ever Port Royal feature win.
Hodnett, who took the lead on lap 9 when Pat Cannon had mechanical trouble, held off Lance Dewease's final push with one lap remaining and won by just a few car lengths for his 29th career victory at the oval. The victory was worth $5,000.
Danny Dietrich was third followed by 10th starter Alan Krimes and 14th starter Blane Heimbach.
Sixth through 10th went to Brent Marks, Daryn Pittman, Mike Wagner, Sam Hafertepe Jr., and Aaron Ott.
Mitten, of Newville, began the sportsman feature fourth and followed Jim Shuster for the first pair of laps before taking control with three away.
The race was red flagged on the first circuit for second place runner Scott Geesey who flipped in the third corner. Mitten raced to stay ahead of Scott Dellinger until lap 14 when he began trying to outrun Frankie Herr.
Herr started 10th and steadily advanced until all that was left to pass was the leader.
But Mitten pulled away during the final five laps to pick up the victory. Herr was second followed by Dellinger, Carmen Perigo Jr. and Jay Fannasy.
Information used in this story was provided by Shawn Brouse/Port Royal Speedway.
