Gomola and Stremme Share the Spotlight at Clinton County Speedway
Mill Hall, PA – Jacob Gomola won his third feature of the season in the RaceSaver Sprint Cars feature event on Friday night at the Clinton County Speedway with a stellar field of 29 cars. Former NASCAR driver David Stremme came from the 10th position to win the IMCA Modified main event. Tanner Jones won the Central PA Legends, Ross Perchak won the 270s and Hunter Flook won the 4 cylinders.
Polesitter John Walp jumped into the early lead of the RaceSaver 25 lap feature event with Jacob Gomola following in second place. Scranton’s Johnny Smith, who has won the last two events at the speedway charged from his fourth place starting spot and passed Gomola on lap number four. Smtih caught Walp and made a pass for the lead on lap number eight. With ten laps complete, Smith was leading Walp, Gomola, Owen Dimm and Dale Schweikart.
On lap number 11, the leaders began to encounter lapped traffic, as Gomola slipped in the second spot. Two laps later, the caution came out for two separate incidents with Josh Beamer spun in turn two and Nolan Groves in turn number three. Smith and Gomola restarted first and second. The caution flagged waved on laps 17 and `18 with Smith being able to hold off the challenges of Gomola on both occasions. Owen Dimm moved into third on lap number 19. With three laps remaining, Smith and Gomola were in a heated battle for the lead. Gomola would pull alongside Smith down the back stretch and Smith would hold him off as they exited turn number four headed to the line. The pair of drivers were side by side at the start-finish line as the white flag waived. Gomola and Smith touched going into turn number one, resulting in Smith spinning in front of the field. Gomola led the field back to green and held off Dimm for the win. “That was just a racing incident with two drivers going for the same piece of real estate,” said an apologetic Gomola. Dale Schweikart, John Walp and Timmy Bittner rounded out the top five. Kruz Kepner, Matt Tebbs, Derek Swartz, Josh Fox and Kasey Weaver completed the top ten. Heats were won by Groves, Dimm, and Steve Kennewell. Timmy Bittner won the B-Main.
The IMCA Modifieds sanctioned by the NY Penn IMCA Modifieds signed in for competition with a 20-car field including former NASCAR drivers Ken Schrader and David Stremme
Jake Maynard and Rodney Morgan brought the field to the green flag, with Morgan grabbing the early lead. David Stremme and Rich Michael Jr started 10th and 12th respectively, with Stremme breaking out first, moving to 3rd by lap 5 and pressuring Maynard for 2nd. Michael Jr cracked the top five on lap 6 and battled with Keith Jack Lamphere and George Dixon as the first caution flew for debris on lap 7
On the restart, Stremme lined up alongside race leader Morgan on the inside of the front row, with Stremme taking over the lead while Keith Jack Lamphere fought with Maynard, taking third. Michael Jr slid wide in turn four and lost several spots, dropping into eighth in front of Ken Schrader. Lamphere had contact with another car and fell back to sixth as Brad Sites jumped forward to third. Schrader’s night ended with a mechanical issue just before the halfway point, as he headed pit-side with Shawn Bruce. Following a caution on lap 22 Stremme held off Morgan on the final restart to take the victory by five car lengths over Morgan, followed by Brad Sites, Rich Michael Jr, and Eddie Sites. Heat races were won by Stremme, Morgan, and Rich Michael Jr.
Youngster Colton Guiher and Hunter Zimmer led the field of 270 Micro Sprints to the green flag. Jeffrey Weaver quickly moved from his sixth starting spot to the front of the field with Ross Perchak, who started eighth following in his tracks. Weaver and Perchak were approaching lapped traffic by the race’s midway point. On lap number eight, Weaver’s car suffered mechanical issues as his car stopped on the front stretch giving Perchak the race lead. Cody Siegel, who started seventh, raced his way to the front but couldn’t catch Perchak who claimed his second victory of the season. Hunter Zimmerman was third, Denny Rinehimer was fourth and Jillan Maurer was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Mac Wert, Zachary Glass, Cory Stabley, Matt Dixson, and Colton Guiher. Heat races were won by Weaver and Perchak.
Tanner Jones charged to the front of the pack at the drop of the green flag during the Central PA Legends feature event. Jones was being chased by Chris Transeau and Rick Hartwig in the early stages of the race. The event’s only caution occurred on lap number seven for Hunter McElroy. Jones maintained the lead as Hartwig, Transeau, and Devin Friese battled for second, third and fourth positions. Hartwig took second on lap number nine, Transeau took second for laps twelve and thirteen with Devin Friese taking the runner up position with 2 laps remaining. Jones cruised to his third win of the season over Devin Friese, Chris Transeau, Colton Friese and Rich Hartwig. Heats were won by Jones and Transeau
Front row starter Dylan Hoover led the first three circuits of the Four Cylinder feature event. On lap number four, Garret Lucas took the lead with Hoover in second, Hunter Flook in third. On lap number five, Zak Kline moved into the top five. Flook took the lead on lap number seven, but Kline was on the move and gaining ground on the race leader. Kline caught Flook and was trying to make a pass for the lead. On the final lap, Kline gave it his best effort as the pair raced to the checkered flag with Flook edging out Kline by .006 seconds. Matt Weaver, Kyler Stahl, and Andrew Ricketts completed the top five. Heats were won by Flook, Weaver, and Ricketts.
The Clinton County Speedway returns with action in two weeks for the season finale on Saturday, September 30th. The Limited Late Models will compete in a $2,000 to win event sponsored by Snyder’s Concessions. The Pro Stocks will run for $1,000 sponsored by Keystone Rail Recovery. The four cylinders will have a $1,000 to win feature event sponsored by NAPA Toner Auto Parts and the 270 Micros will race for $500 to win. Gates will open at 4PM and Hot laps begin at 6PM. For the latest information about upcoming events, visit the speedway’s website, www.clintoncountyspeedway.com or follow the speedway on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
RaceSaver Sprints: 1. Jacob Gomola 2. Owen Dimm 3. Dale Schweikart 4. John Walp 5. Timmy Bittner 6. Kruz Kepner 7. Matt Debbs 8. Derek Swartz 9. Josh Fox 10. Kase Weaver 11. Jared Zionkowski 12. Austin Greenland 13. Josh Beamer 14. John Fraker 15. Wyatt Walizer 16. Dustin Prettyleaf 17. Andrew Boyer 18. Johnny Smith 19. Fred Arnold 20. Nolan Groves 21. Steve Kennewell Jr. 22. Todd Lynn 23. Jeffrey Weaver 24 DJ Cassler DNS Reed Thompson, Chris Kreider, Kyle Hart, Jim Kennedy, Ryan Lynn
IMCA Modifieds 1. David Stremme 2. Rodney Morgan, 3.Brad Sites, 4. Rich Michael Jr, 5.Eddie Sites, 6. Jake Maynard, 7. Tyler Stoddard, 8. Tyler Belcher, 9. Keith Jack Lamphere, 10. Jakub Ingham, 11. Jacob McConnell, 12. Gary Roberts,13. Bobby Maynard, 14. Shawn Bruce, 15. Matt Benjamin, 16. AJ Hunsinger, 17. Ken Schrader, 18. JW Lamphere, 19. George Dixon, DNS Lance Conley .
270 Micros: 1. Ross Perchak 2. Cody Siegel 2. Hunter Zimmerman 4. Denny Rineheimer 5. Jillian Maurer 6. Mac Wert 7. Zachary Glass 8. Cory Stabley 9. Matt Dixon 10. Colton Guiher 11. Mathew Dixson 12. Jeffrey Weaver 14. Tyler Groft 14. Will Karas DNS Cameron McClure
Central PA Legends: 1. Tanner Jones 2. Devin Friese 3. Chris Transeau 4. Colton Friese 5. Rick Hartwig 6. Kevin Boylan 7. Cory Phillips 8. Crady McGrew 9. Kelby Friese 10. Dave Benner 11. Brian Rampmeyer Jr. 12. Hunter McElroy
Four Cylinders: 1. Hunter Flook 2. Zak Kline 3. Matt Weaver 4. Kyler Stahl 5. Andrew Ricketts 6. Kevin Trimpey 7. Cody Stover 8. Coty Maines 9. John Bower 10. Joey Snook 11. Michael Barrett 12. Nick Snook 13. Brian Stouse 14. Dylan Hoover 15. Garrett Lucas 16. Josh Norton 17. Chris Small 18. Kyle Stouse 19. Larry Beachel Jr. 20. Brett Shirk 21. Toby Maines 22. Kayla Leigey DNS Nate Wray, Troy Bennett.