Laudermilch Wins First in Path Valley Sprints

Craig Laudermilch raced to his first win ever in 305 Sprints Friday night at the Path Valley Speedway Park.

Laudermilch said in victory lane, “Now that the pressure is off and I have my first win I can have fun racing.”

Laudermilch dashed from his pole start with Todd Spangler right behind him but, by lap 7, Laudermilch was using lapped cars to protect his lead. The only caution came on lap 14 when Mike Freet bounced off the turn three wall and at the restart it was again Laudermilch in the lead with Spangler close behind. On the final lap Wes Zimmerman eased past Spangler but Laudermilch still won the race for his first win ever. The front five were Laudermilch, Zimmerman, Spangler, Mike Heckman and Reed Thompson and the heat winners were Laudermilch and Freet.

305 Sprints _ Craig Laudermilch (started 1), Wes Zimmerman, Todd Spangler, Michael Heckman, Reed Thompson, Jim Kennedy, Tyler Bear, Ben Naugle, Jason Brandt, Alan Kumpf, Mike Freet. Heats to Freet and Laudermilch.

Due to threatehning weather Hesston has cancelled for saturday 5/3/2008. Next event is Path Valley 5/9

Thunderstorms halted action before any racing started Friday at Path Valley and again on Saturday at Lincoln after qualifying races were completed. The Lincoln feature will be added to our scheduled race August 30th.

The PA 305 Sprints took to the speedway with Scott Ellerman and Roger Irvine on the front row. Ellerman took the lead at the start with Irvine a close second and Nathan Gramley in third. While they were working against each other Mark Watkins had moved into the third spot on lap three after passing Cliff Conner on lap two. In once sweeping move on the same corner, Watkins went past both Irvine and Ellerman for the lead on lap 9 and never looked back, taking the opening night win. Irvine, Conner, Heckman and Gramley completed the top five. Heat wines went to Scott Ellerman, Roger Irvine and Cliff Conner.

Mike heckman picked up the Pancho's contingency award.

PA 305 Sprints :
1. #17W Mark Watkins
2. #12 Roger Irvine
3. #84 Cliff Conner
4. #8H Michael Heckman
5. #23 Nathan Gramley
6. #76 Andy Haus
7. #R6 Reed Thompson
8. #33Z Joe Zap
9. #7 Jim Kennedy
10. #33T Todd Spangler
11. #71 Nicole Bitner
12. #3 Johnny Hagen
13. #47 Tom Worrick
14. #6 Tim Kline
15. #2 Erin Statler
16. #4 Rodney Peters
17. #24/7 Ben Naugle
18. #86 Ron Aurand
19. #30 Jon Henney
20. #27K Allen Kumpf
21. #22 Jim Marquette
22. #10 Scott Ellerman

Path Valley Rained out again Sunday. Next up on the schedule is the 2008 season opener at Hesston Speedway