Lernerville Speedway
Hess outduels King, wins at Steel City Stampede
Dave Hess Jr. (44) works the top groove against Russ King (56) and Jared Miley (H1). (jmsprophoto.com)
SARVER, Pa. (April 14) — Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., won a back-and-forth duel with Russ King of Bristolville, Ohio, for a $3,000 DIRTcar-sanctioned victory at Lernerville's Steel City Stampede. Hess captured a victory in the season opener for Lernerville that was a makeup of 2012’s postponed season finale.
King settled for a second-place finish in the Sunday afternoon affair with Doug Eck of Corry, Pa., in third. Jared Miley of South Park, Pa., and Garrett Krummert of New Castle, Pa., rounded out the top five.
King took the early lead from outside the front row, but Hess went ahead with a slide job through turns one and two on the lap-13 restart.
Hess and King traded wicked slide jobs again late in the race, with Hess scoring the final slider in turn two on lap 22 and holding on the rest of the way.
In a non-points Fastrak Northeast event for Crate Late Models, Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., drove a borrowed car from Pat Wellar to victory from the 14th starting spot. Blair overtook runner-up Kyle Zimmerman on a late restart while Mike Pegher Jr., who started 13th, was third.
Notes: Hess drives a Rocket Chassis sponsored by Hess Garage & Salvage, Linda's Notary Service and Plyler Overhead Door. ... Hess won the modified feature at the 2011 Steel City Stampede. ... The nine-division event drew 211 race cars and 83 enduro entries. ... There were 21 DIRTcar Late Models and 26 Fastrak Late Models. ... Dale Blaney won the sprint feature. ... Russ King finished fourth in the big-block modified feature. ... Lernerville opens its regular season April 19 with the first points events.
Steel City Stampede (DIRTcar Super Late Models): (1) Dave Hess Jr., (2) Russ King, (3) Doug Eck, (4) Jared Miley, (5) Garrett Krummert, (6) Chuck Sarver, (7) Kenny Schaltenbrand, (8) Chris Rhodes, (9) Brian Swartzlander, (10) Michael Norris, (11) Chris Schneider, (12) Dan Swartzlander, (13) John Garvin Jr., (14) Bill Davis, (15) Sam Eichelberger, (16) Todd Bachman, (17) Greg Kent, (18) Tom Bateman, (19) Bobby Watt, (20) Mike Blose, (21) Alex Ferree.
Steel City Stampede (Fastrak Crate Late Models): (1) Max Blair, (2) Kyle Zimmerman, (3) Mike Pegher Jr., (4) Butch Lambert, (5) Chad Ruhlman, (6) Colton Flinner, (7) Matt Latta, (8) Will Thomas III, (9) Chad Wright, (10) Dennis Lunger, (11) Justin Tatlow, (12) John Over, (13) John Garvin Jr., (14) Ricky Meglaye, (15) Ryan Montgomery, (16) Kyle Lukon, (17) Chuck Medved, (18) Shane Weaver, (19) Joe Martin, (20) Mike Laughard, (21) Rocky Kugel, (22) Bobby Rohrer Jr., (23) Jason Reagle, (24) Randy Wyandt.
