August 20
Stateline Speedway,
Busti, NY
Sanction: UFO Championship Challenge (Sweetheart Special) - $5,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated August 21, 10:39 pm)
Gardner earns $5,000 UFO victory at Stateline
Sweetheart Special
- Rich Gardner
- Max Blair
- Dave Hess Jr.
- Matt Lux
- Rob Blair
- Bump Hedman
- John Lacki
- Darrell Bossard
- Mike Pegher Jr.
- David Scott
- Dutch Davies
- Dylan Yoder
- Jake Finnerty
- Chris Hackett
- Brent Rhebergen
- Damian Bidwell
- Rick Singleton
- Joel Watson
- Mike Mort
- Steve Kania
- Chad Valone
- John Lobb
- Doug Eck
- Greg Oakes
- Kirk Bradley
What won the race: Rich Gardner raced to his first career UFO Championship Challenge Series victory, outrunning Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., at Stateline Speedway for $5,000 in the Sweetheart Special. Gardner took the lead from second-starting Doug Eck on the third lap and held it for the remainder of the 50-lap distance.
Key notes: Max Blair made a late bid for the lead in traffic but came up short. .... Seven drivers were caught up in a turn-two scramble on the race's initial start. ... Greg Oakes slowed on lap 10; Eck retired from the third spot under caution. ... Brent Rhebergen spun in the third turn on lap 13. ... Another stoppage came on lap 21. ... The Sweetheart Special celebrated the 50th anniversary of Jim and Jean Scott, two of the track's co-owners along with Brian Horner. ... The race was sanctioned by the UFO Championship Challenge, which temporarily disbanded earlier in 2016 but revived mid-season. ... Dennis Lunger Jr. won the Crate Late Model feature.
On the move: Consolation race winner Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., climbed from 18th to finish third.
Winner's sponsors: Gardner's No. 1G is sponsored by Jim's Automotive, Parts Plus, Freedonia and Genesis Racing Shocks.
Car count: 33
Polesitter: Rich Gardner
Heat race winners: John Lobb, Jake Finnerty, John Lacki, Doug Eck
Consolation race winners: Joel Watson, Dave Hess Jr.
Next series race: August 27, Pittsburgh Pa. Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA) $3,053
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.