BAPS Motor Speedway
Knaub triumphs again at Susquehanna
NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. (Sept. 1) — Gene Knaub of Dover, Pa., stayed perfect in Steel Block Bandits action at Susquehanna Speedway Park by leading all but one lap of Saturday’s York County Nationals. Knaub, who also on in series action at SSP on May 12, earned $1,500 for the 32-lap victory.
Dover’s J.R. Rodriguez finished second while series points leader Andy Fries of Mercersburg, Pa., rallied from 24th to finish third. Walker Arthur of Forest, Va., and John Moser of East Berlin, Pa., rounded out the top five.
Randy Stoudt took the lead from outside the front row, but after a quick caution, Knaub took command and began to click off laps before another caution slowed the action on the ninth lap.
With Bob Minnich and Rodriguez restarting on Knaub’s tail, the leader once again pulled away before reaching lapped traffic. He stayed in control through the middle portions of the event while the final caution on lap 26 set up a final dash to the checkers.
Knaub wasn’t headed the rest of the way in taking the checkers ahead of Rodriguez while Minnich slipped back to sixth.
Notes: Knaub’s Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Superior Homes, Route 30 Seafood and 382 Auto Sales. ... Fries earned hard charger honors for his 24th-to-third run. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Eric Irvin, Nathan Ottensmeyer, Travis McClelland, Mike Goodwin, Larry Neiderer, Denny Willey, Walter Crouch, Steve Weikel, Chaz Walls, Randy Christine Jr., Scott Richwine, Eddie Drury, Rick Hulson, Eric Markle, Steve Billet, Bernie Beard, Ben Whitaker and Wes Bonebrake. ... Susquehannah goes back to regular-season racing Sept. 8. ... The Steel Block Bandits head to Virginia for Sept. 7-8 events at Eastside Speedway in Waynesboro and Natural Bridge Speedway.
York County Nationals: (1) Gene Knaub, (2) J.R. Rodriguez, (3) Andy Fries, (4) Walker Arthur, (5) John Moser, (6) Bob Minnich, (7) Grant Adams, (8) Steve Clabaugh, (9) Ron Coleman, (10) Tyler Armstrong, (11) Paul Cursey, (12) Chad Julius, (13) John Baker, (14) Kris Eaton, (15) Glen Elliott, (16) Billy Beachler, (17) Derrick Mease, (18) Dan Zechman, (19) Carl Billet, (20) Bruce Kane, (21) Denny Bonebrake, (22) Randy Stoudt, (23) Chase Billet, (24) Justin Ehrhart, (25) Billy Wampler. Heat race winners: Rodriguez, Stoudt, Minnich, Knaub. Consolation winners: Clabaugh, Elliott.