Dover’s Gene Knaub picked up his first SSP feature win of 2009 at the Susquehanna Speedway Park on Saturday Night, July 18, becoming the 11th different winner in as many races for the Late Model division. In other racing action, Craig Morgan of Halifax won his second Street Stock feature of the season by claiming the 20-lap feature. York’s Tommy Slanker edged out Donnie Broderick by less than 6 inches to win fourth in the Xtreme Stock feature as Dover’s Jeremy Stremmel won the XSC Rookie Rumble race. Lucas Montgomery of York claimed the Legends Cars feature event. The Speedway Auto Sales Mini Van feature was won by Daryl Sipe of York Haven.
The 20-lap Late Model feature event saw Alex Updegraff grabbing the lead from the pole position to lead the first two circuits. Travis McClelland wrestled away the lead on the third lap until 11th place starter Gene Knaub worked his way up to the runner-up spot on lap 9. Knaub tried the high side many times before he finally made the winning pass on lap 14 by driving in 5 car lengths deper into turn 3. Knaub went on to pick up the feature victory with McClelland charging hard to finish second. Gary Potts finished third with Cam Zeigler and D.J. Mease rounding out the top five. D.J. Mease, Kanub and Updegraff picked up the heat race qualifiers.
Chad Smith took command of the 20-lap Street Stock feature event from the outside of the front row at the start of the race. Smith controlled the race until Craig Morgan, like Knaub in the Late Model feature, moved in behind Smith from the 11th place starting spot on lap 9 while battling Doug Bennett. Morgan made the pass for the lead on lap 11 passing both Bennett and Smith on the same lap. Morgan went on to pick up the win over Bennett and Scott Thunberg. Smith Settled for fourth with Randy Zechman coming across the finish line in fifth. Jimmy Slaseman, Randy Zechman and Doug Hoffman won the heat races. Greg Diehl won the consolation race.
The always exciting Xtreme Stock Car feature found Patrick McClane grabbing the lead on lap one and reliquishing it to Donnie Broderick on the second lap. Broderick’s lead was short lived as Mike Zeigler Jr. shot by on the fifth lap. A wild scramble behind Zeigler saw great door-to-door action between Broderick, Travis Horan, Tommy Slanker and Sam Rial. The position swapping behind Zeigler ensued until lap 17 when Zeigler’s car slowed on the frontstretch with mechanical failures, collecting Travis Horan. On the restart, the battle for the top spot continued between Slanker and Broderick. On the final lap, Slanker and Broderick battled side-by side with Slanker edging Broderick at the line by less than 6 inches, arguably the closest finish in the speedway’s 55-year history. Rial come across a close thrid, followed by strong runs Adam Smith and Andrew Frye in fourth and fifth. Zeigler, McClane and Slanker claimed the heat races.
Lucas Montgomery won the 20-lap Legends Cars featur followed by Stephen Nederostek and Brian Weitzel. Randy Kissinger and T.J. Mayberry rounded out the top five.
Daryl Sipe collected the 10-lap Speedway Auto Sales Mini Van feature event besting Bill Wise Jr. and Jeff Svendsen.
Then action continues at the SSP Outback Track on Friday night, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. featuring quarter midget, kart and Speedcar racing action. This will be the third race of the Summer Shoot-Out Series.
| 
|