Schweikart Claims Career First at Clinton County Speedway
Mill Hall, PA – Linden’s Dakota Schweikart grew up watching his father Dale Schweikart race at their hometown track, Clinton County Speedway. The father-duo finished first and second on several occasions with Dale as the winner as recently as two weeks ago. However, this past Friday night, Dakota Schweikart was able to get the job done, advancing from his seventh place starting spot to win his first career sprint car feature at Clinton County. Other winners of the night included Brandon Moser of Milerstown, in the Pro Stocks, Jeffrey Weaver of Lock Haven in the 270 Micro Sprints, Derek Swartz of Jersey Shore in the 600 Micro Sprints, and Blake Snyder of Montgomery in the 4-Cylinders.
Jeffrey Weaver of Lock Haven and Josh Beamer of Picture Rocks, led the field of sprint cars to the green flag for the 25 lap main event. Weaver took the early lead with fourth place starter Ryan Lynn of Holidaysburg in pursuit. By the third circuit, defending track champion and 2020 IMCA National champion Garrett Bard of Wells Tannery took over the third spot and began to pressure Lynn. On that same lap Dakota Schweikart moved into the top five.
Weaver at times maintained a half of a straight away advantage over Lynn, Bard, Josh Beamer and Schweikart, as the leaders began to encounter lapped traffic. The event’s first caution occurred on lap number 14 for Frank Rusnock.
The event’s final caution occurred on lap number 17 when Dave Guss Jr. and Quinn Roberts spun coming out of turn number four. Dakota Schweikart was able to use the restart as an opportunity to wrestle the third position away from Bard, as Dale Schweikart moved into the top five. On lap number 19, Dakota Schweikart was able to pass Lynn for second and he set his sites on catching Weaver. As the field got the two laps to go sign from the flag stand, Schweikart made the winning pass. Weaver finished second, Lynn was third, Dale Schweikart claimed fourth on the final lap with Bard rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Ken Duke Jr., Aaron Jacobus, Scott Lutz, Derick Hauck, and John Walp. Heat races were won by Aaron Jacobus, Dakota Schweikart and John Walp.
Gary Mellott of Flemington started on the pole for the Pro Stock feature event and led the opening lap. Second place starter Ray Rothfuss claimed the lead by the completion of lap number two. As Rothfuss continued to lead the race, the battle between fifth and sixth place starters, Cory Long and Brandon Moser became contested. The pair of drivers raced hard for the runner up position lap after lap. Following a caution on lap number 7 for Gary Mellott and Noah Jensen, the field regroup on the back bumper of Rothfuss. At the race’s midway point, Moser was able to take second place from Long, as AY Schilling, and AJ Stroup ran in the top five. On lap number 13, Moser took the top spot from Rothfuss who then had to contend with Long, Schilling and Stroup. Coming to the checkered flag, Moser was in control of the field, while Rothfuss, Long and Schilling battled for second. Rothfuss drifted high coming out of turn four, allowing Long to finish second, Schilling was third, Rothfuss was fourth and AJ Stroup was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Robert Tressler, Brad Myers, Noah Jensen, Rich Fye, and Jason Smith. Heat races were won by Schilling and Moser.
Levi Brungard of Mill Hall and Denny Rinehimer led the field of 270 Micro Sprints to the green flag. Rinehimer took the lead with fourth place starter Bobby Sanso of Jersey Shore on his back bumper. The field began to encounter lapped traffic by the completion of lap number five with Rinehimer leading Sanso, Skeetz Hockenbrock, Jeffrey Weaver and Hunter Zimmerman. By the completion of lap number nine Weaver took the runner up position from Sanso.
Rinehimer led every lap and appeared to be on his way to claiming his first win of the season. As the driver entered the third and fourth turns, misfortune struck as the car suffered a mechanical issue to bring out the caution. Weaver inherited the lead with one lap to go and held off the challenges from Sanso, Hockenbrock Whitesel and Nick Whitesel. Sixth through tenth were Gary Keister, Logan Hammaker, Matt Dixson, Tom Quiggle and Dan Wertman. Heat races were won by Nick Whitesel, Weaver, and Rinehimer.
Derek Swartz of Jersey Shore started on the pole of the 600 Micro Sprint feature event. Schwartz led the first lap with Cody Hauck, Jeffrey Weaver, Ethan Spots and Sierra Hauck in the top five. On lap number four, Spotts moved into the third position. At the midway point of the race, the top five remained unchanged. Swartz led every lap but did not want to see a caution which occurred on lap number 12 when Josh Beamer’s car stopped. The restart gave Cody Hauck an opportunity, but Schwartz was flawless on the restart and went on to claim his first career win over Hauck, Spotts, Sierra Hock and Timmy Bittner. Weaver finished sixth, Dustin Roberts was seventh, Dexter Strawser was eighth, Mitchell Holden was ninth, and Josh Beamer finished tenth. Heat race winners were Sierra Hauck and Ethan Spotts.
On the opening lap of the four cylinder feature event, pole sitter Dylan Craft rolled his car several times in turn number two. The driver was uninjured. Upon the restart, Scott Englert took the lead over John Bower with Maddox Smith, Keith Haagen and Jimmy Moyer in the top five. Smith made the pass for the lead by the completion of lap number five as eighth place starter Blake Snyder moved into the top five. On lap number eight, Smith led Snyder, Moyer, and Tim Raup. As Smith exited turn number four and appeared to be on his way to victory, something broke in the motor allowing Blake Snyder to take the win over Raup, Moyer, Sam Creveling and Corey Small. Smith crossed the finish line in sixth, followed by Mike Helper, Skyler Witchley, Joey Snook, and Kyle Strouse. Heat races were won by Small, Emily Brouse and Tim Raup.
The speedway returns on Friday with a five division show presented by Murray Motors featuring the Limited Late Models, Pro Stocks, 270 Micro Sprints, 600 Micro Sprints, and the 4-Cylinders. Gates will open at 5PM, Hot laps at 7PM and Racing at 7:30PM. For more information, visit www.clintoncountyspeedway.com or visit the speedway on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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SPRINT CARS: 1. Dakota Schweikart 2. Jeffrey Weaver 3. Ryan Lynn 4. Dale Schweikart 5. Garrett Bard 6. Ken Duke Jr. 7. Aaron Jacobus 8. Scott Lutz 9. Derek Hauck 10. John Walp 11. Jarrett Cavalet 12. Reed Thompson 13. Matt Tebbs 14. Devin Brenneman 15. Dustin Prettyleaf 16. Austin Greenland 17. Andrew Jacobus 18. Dave Guss Jr. 19. Mariah Romig 20. Quinn Roberts 21. Frank Rusnock 22. Josh Beamer 23. Dylan Proctor
PRO STOCKS: 1. Brandon Moser 2. Cory Long 3. AY Schilling 4. Ray Rothfuss 5. AJ Stroup 6. Robert Tressler 7. Brad Myers 8. Noah Jensen 9. Rich Fye 10. Jason Smith 11. Rooster Peters 12. Gary Mellott 13. Kris Orwig Sr. 14. Logan Hile 15. Todd Geyer 16. Marc Bitler 17. Brad Benton
270 MICRO SPRINTS: 1. Jeffrey Weaver 2. Bobby Sanso 3. Skeetz Hockenbrock 4. Troy Whitesel 5. Nick Whitesel 6. Gary Keister 7. Logan Hammaker 8. Matt Dixson 9. Tom Quiggle 10. Dan Wertman 11. Preston Phillips 12. Mitchell Holden 13. Hunter Zimmerman 14. Mac Wert 15. Levi Brungard 16. Jake Jones 17. Buddy Kramer 18. Cory Stabley 19. James Bilger 20. Denny Rinehimer 21. Wyatt Rotz 22. Sam Chamberlin 23. Bill Frederick 24. Timmy Bittner 25. Rich Damore
600 MICRO SPRINTS: 1. Derek Swartz 2. Cody Hauck 3. Ethan Spotts 4. Sierra Hauck 5. Timmy Bittner 6. Jeffrey Weaver 7. Dustin Roberts 8. Dexter Strawser 9. Mitchell Holden 10. Josh Beamer 11. Dermont Thompson 12. Eric Knopp 13. Kyle Knopp 14. Sam Hinkle 15. Trevor Teats 16. Don Werner
4 CYLINDERS: 1. Blake Snyder 2. Tim Raup 3. Jimmy Moyer 4. Sam Creveling 5. Chris Small 6. Maddox Smith 7. Mike Hepler 8. Skyler Witchley 9. Joey Snook 10. Kyle Strouse 11. Zach Rill 12. Hunter Flook 13. John Bower 14. Scott Englert 15. Keith Haagen 16. Chloe Smith 17. Dillan Hoover 18. Dylan Craft 19. Emily Brouse 20. Tim Muthler 21. Austin Rothfuss DNS: Johnny Stringfellow
Attached Photo: Sprint car driver, Dakota Schweikart of Linden is excited after his first career win at Clinton County Speedway.