Eriez Speedway
Knight edges Hess, wins Litz Memorial
By Jay Pees
DirtonDirt.com correspondentHAMMETT, Pa. (June 2) — Reigning Eriez Speedway champion Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., overtook polesitter Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., with six laps remaining Sunday for a $2,900 victory in the 29-lap Dick Litz Memorial.
Hess settled for second with outside front-row starter and fellow Waterford resident Rich Gardner in third. Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., and Greg Oakes of Franklinville, N.Y., rounded out the top five in the caution-free affair.
Hess and Gardner started up front with Hess taking command early while Gardner and Knight gave chase. Knight took second from Gardner after four laps and Knight took up the pursuit of the leading Hess.
With seven laps remaining, Knight was hot on the heels of Hess, then slipped by at the start of lap 24 to take over the lead.
Knight led the final six laps to win a race honoring Litz, one of the long-time fan favorites who competed in the track’s first-ever event in 1961. Litz raced into his 60s and went on to become the oldest feature winner in track history. He drove No. 29 through most of his career.
Notes: Knight’s Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Jay’s Auto Wrecking, Arrowhead Wine Cellars, Knight Operating Services, Country 98 WXTA, Ripley Machine & Tool, Keystone Alliance, Sprague Farm & Brew Works, Jim’s Automotive, Parts Plus and Maloney Tool & Mold. ... The track’s Late Model division is also sponsored by Jay's Auto Wrecking . ... Chad Wright won the Fastrak Crate feature while Ryan Scott won the Limited Late Model feature. ... Eriez returns to regular-season action June 9. ... The track hosts a Fastrak-sanctioned touring special for Crate Late Models on June 23.
Dick Litz Memorial: (1) Mike Knight, (2) Dave Hess Jr., (3) Rich Gardner, (4) Chub Frank, (5) Greg Oakes, (6) Boom Briggs, (7) Scott Johnson, (8) Darrell Bossard, (9) Andy Boozel, (10) Chris Hackett, (11) Damon Haught, (12) Scott Gurdak. Heat race winners (among 12 cars): Hess, Gardner.
