Hagerstown Speedway
Restart boosts Hartman to Hagerstown victory
By James Essex
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Hartman celebrates. (pbase.com/cyberslash)
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (Aug. 2) — Taking advantage of a restart with 11 laps to go, Bart Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio, regained the lead from Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., for a victory at Hagerstown Speedway. Hartman earned $10,000 for his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory in the last four events as he captured the 27th annual Stanley Schetromph Classic.
Hartman led the first 16 laps before yielding the lead to Owens, but Hartman went back around Owens on a lap-39 restart for the victory. Owens was second followed by Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., series points leader Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.
"I didn't think I had enough for Jimmy out there," said Hartman, who moved back into second place behind Pearson in Lucas Oil points. "On the restart, the race took off real good and I think Jimmy had softer tires on than us.
"This is a brand new car. We've had a tough weekend starting at Bedford (Pa.) and we didn't run well last night at Winchester (Va.), but I can't thank (crew chief) Austin Hargrove enough. The car was fast all night and it feels good to get in the Lucas Oil victory lane again."
The 50-lapper began with last year's series winner at Hagerstown, Scott James of Lawrenceburg, Ind., on the pole alongside Hartman. Hartman got the jump on the fast qualifier and was in control early over James, Owens, Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and Pearson. Owens took second from James on lap two as Hartman built a six-length lead in the early stages. As the frontrunners battled through lapped traffic, Owens pulled even with Hartman by the 15th circuit. They raced side-by-side two laps until Owens was finally able to clear Hartman and take the lead. Owens then opened a five-length spread over Hartman.
The race for third was heating up with Pearson taking third from Eckert on lap 22. Owens and Hartman had distanced themselves from the field as Owens built a straightaway lead over Hartman just past the halfway point. Richards was on the move as he took fourth from Eckert, but everyone was still chasing Owens, who had lapped all but 10 competitors with only 15 laps remaining.
Hartman cut the leader's huge lead to just five lengths before Matt Lux slowed to draw the race's lone caution on the 39th lap. On the restart, Owens was out front by himself, with Hartman and Richards lined up side-by-side on the Delaware double-file restart right behind him. Hartman picked the inside on the restart, and when Owens drifted up coming to the green flag, Hartman darted inside Owens on the frontstretch and regained the lead heading into turn one.
Hartman then eased away in setting a blistering pace over the final laps to deny Owens a victory in his first trip to the historic half-mile oval.
Notes: Hartman's Rocket Chassis has a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsorship from Imler's Poultry and LendX Check Cashing and Loans. ... Steve Casebolt's 21st-to-ninth run gave him the PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger award. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Darryl Hills, Dan Stone, Jason Covert, Vic Coffey, Devin Friese, Ronnie DeHaven Jr. and Freddy Smith. ... The next series event is Aug. 8-9 at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., for the $50,000-to-win North-South 100.
Lucas Oil @ Hagerstown: (1) Bart Hartman, (2) Jimmy Owens, (3) Josh Richards, (4) Earl Pearson Jr., (5) Steve Francis, (6) Rick Eckert, (7) Gary Stuhler, (8) Donnie Moran, (9) Steve Casebolt, (10) Scott James, (11) J.T. Spence, (12) Steve Shaver, (13) Billy Drake, (14) D.J. Myers, (15) Justin Rattliff, (16) Booper Bare, (17) Dan Schlieper, (18) Terry Casey, (19) Brian Booze, (20) Mike Lupfer, (21) Matt Lux, (22) Andy Anderson, (23) Ricky Elliott, (24) Jim Bernheisel, (25) Jeremy Miller. Fast qualifier (among 52 cars): James, 19.078 seconds. Heat race winners: James, Hartman, Eckert, Owens. Consolation winners: Shaver, Bare. Provisional starters: Rattliff, Casey, Lupfer.
