Rahmer preps for Outlaws; Henderson takes Port Royal

PORT ROYAL -- Midwesterner Justin Henderson won his first-ever Port Royal Speedway sprint car feature Saturday night after ripping around leader Chad Layton with a lap and a half to go in the 25-lap main. Henderson’s win was worth $3,000.

In the 20-lap late model main, Gary Beward of Thompsontown wired the field for the payday while Bruce Buckwalter Jr. sped to victory in the ARDC Midgets feature and Theresa Kepner won the powder puff event.

Henderson started on the pole of the Aumiller Insurance 410 sprint main and led just the first circuit before defending track champion Layton of Harrisburg took over from his third starting spot on a restart.

In a quest for his first feature win of the season anywhere, just like Henderson, Layton looked good out in front as the leader while Keith Kauffman motored up to second.

But after falling to fourth early on, it was second starter Cliff Brian of Ephrata who staged the first comeback of the race, to be back up to second after passing both Henderson and Kauffman before a red flag appeared with seven laps down for John Brennfleck.

Brian kept Layton in sight for the next 10 laps before running down the leader to be on his bumper as the pair raced off of turn four with five laps to go. It was then however that Brian lost the handle on his No. 16C, looping the car in front of the field on the frontstrecth forcing the rest of the field to take evasive action.

Then it was time for the second comeback story of the race as Henderson realigned third for the restart behind Kauffman and he quickly disposed of the Mifflintown veteran on the restart before coming after leader Layton.

And while Layton hugged the bottom, Henderson pitched his Sorokach No. 35 around the top side of the first and second turns after taking the two to go sign to rocket by Layton as the pair raced down the backstretch headed for the white flag.

Layton was second followed by Kauffman, 16th starter Greg Hodnett and 10th starter Tyler Walker.

The 20-lap ARDC Midgets feature saw fourth starter Alex Bright lead the first nine laps before crashing on the backstretch in a melee that caught up seven other cars and produced a lengthy red flag period.

Bruce Buckwalter Jr. restarted with the lead and rode the position all the way to the checkers.

Drew Heistand was second followed by Ryan Smith, Steve Buckwalter, who dropped out just prior to the red only to make repairs and rejoin, and Nick Wean.

Twin ARDC heats went to Steve Buckwalter and Bruce Buckwalter Jr.

Some information used in this report is courtesy of Port Royal Speedway. Video used in this report is courtesy of www.SportsPlusVideo.com and Lynn Schaeffer Productions.

NEWBERRYTOWN -- Fawn Grove’s Chris Knopp won the 25-lap Late Model feature Saturday at the Susquehanna Speedway Park. Doug Bennett of Chambersburg claimed his second Street Stock feature event of the season. Thomasville’s Mike Zeigler Jr. claimed his second straight Xtreme Stock Car main event. Jeff Svendsen of Etters won the Road Warrior feature. In only his sixth career start in Legends Car, East Berlin’s Bob Stough picked up the victory. Sherry Kitner of York Haven won the special Women on Wheel Mini Van Feature.

Before the features began, each child in attendance received a flowering plant for their mothers, compliments of Fisher’s Farm Market in Strinestown.

In Late Model action, polesitter Chris Knopp took the early lead with Randy Christine stalking every lap. Lap after lap Christine waited for Knopp to make a mistake. However, just behind Christine was last week’s feature winner Justin Ehrhart waiting for the same opportunity. All drivers remained flawless to take the first three spots with Knopp claiming his first victory of the season. Tommy Slanker and Alex Updegraff rounded out the top five on what many termed “a very racy track.” Ehrhart, Knopp and Moser.

The 20-lap Street Stock feature saw the polesitter, Matt Wampler lead the first eight circuits before retiring from the event with mechanical failure. Runner-up Brett Pickel inherited the lead with the veteran drivers of Doug Bennett, Scott Thunberg, Randy Zechman and Jim Palm Jr. breathing down his next. Bennett was able to move by Pickel on lap 11. Thunberg quickly moved into the runner-up spot on the next lap. At the end, Bennett claimed his second feature win of the season over Thunberg by three car lengths. Randy Zechman finished third, followed by George Eash and Dan Zechman rounding out the top five. Wampler, Bennett and Randy Zechman were heat race victors.

The 20-lap Xtreme Stock Car feature Chad Stine grabbed the early lead. Stine led the first five laps until Zeigler took the lead away on the sixth circuit. In the middle stages of the race, Rodriguez tried to make the pass for the lead but was unable. On lap 12, Johnny Palm moved into the runner-up spot and then once again challenged Zeigler for the lead. At the end, Zeigler took the win by a car length over Palm. Matt Wampler crossed the line, but was relegated to the rear of the field for failing to report to post-race technical inspection. This gave J.r. Rodriguez third place, with Davey Nester and Rich Lomman rounding out the top five. Rodriguez and Stine were the heat race winners earlier in the night.

The 15-lap Road Warrior feature event began polesitter Robert Fryberger leading the first lap, the last lap and all laps in between to take the feature win. Jeff Svendsen finished second but protested the winner. Fryberger refused the protest and was disqualified. Also, the fifth place finisher, Brad Shenk failed to report to post race technical inspection and was relegated to the rear of the field. After the dust settled, Svendsen was awarded the win with Brian Lefebvre scored second, Jim Jacobs, Thomas Thompson and Rick Burnham rounded out the top five. Curt McDade and Robert Fryberger were heat race winners.

In a 15 lap feature event for the Legends Cars, polesitter Lucas Montgomery grabbed the early lead and continued to lead until lap 12 when he retired from the event with mechanical failure. After the yellow on lap 12, Bob Stough bolted past tim Henry and Chad Glatfelter to take the lead. Stough held off Glatfelter by inches at the end to claim his first career Legends Cars feature win. Glatfelter settled for second with Scott Gobrecht taking third place. Henry and Scott Houdeshell rounded out the top five. Henry and Montgomery each won their qualifying heat races.

Racing action returns to the SSP Outback Track on Friday night, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. featuring quarter midgets, karts, Adult Speedcars and lawnmower racing action.

Some information used in this report is courtesy of SSP Racing.