Hamlin, PA. May 12th, 2012:  The Mid Atlantic Gold Tour event for the All Star Slingshots was the last event on the schedule but the headline attraction for the great evening of racing entertainment. Keystone Stater Don Schmidt and New Jersey speedster Danny Buccafusca brought the 26-car starting field down for the green flag and it was Buccafusca flexing his muscles early on with a drive to the topside in turn two to grab the lead with Schmidt following. Behind the pair, the side by side racing action was phenomenal as pockets of battles raged on throughout the field and truly tested a driver's skill as they battled back and forth for real estate. Kyle Rode set his sights on the lead and worked his magic to the inside of the raceway as he finally was able to slip by Schmidt for the runner-up role. Just as quickly, former Empire Regional Champion Charlie Lawrence was on the move from his eighth place start as was former National Slingshot Champion Cody Kline.

 

The action remained fierce with the drivers refusing to surrender anything at anytime and it was Kline who suffered with a spin in turn three. On the restart, it was Mack Brink covering ground quickly as he slipped by Lawrence and just as quickly Egan, Joe Bodenschatz and John Bockhorn became locked up in a battle that allowed the leaders to slip away from them. As the laps wound down, Shannon Smith became a player in the event as the former National Champion drove a borrowed car from 20th starting place into the top ten. Upfront, Buccafusca continued to work the top lane of the raceway and Rode was able to peek under on many occasions but unable to get the desired run to pull even with him. Brink kept the pressure on Rode and that battle became very significant as Lawrence was back on the attack and followed by as many as five drivers going nip and tuck for racing space. In the end it would be Buccafusca in for the win with Rode in second, Brink in third, Lawrence in fourth and Egan completing the top five. The second five included Bodenschatz, Shannon Smith from 20th, Ben Whitaker, Paul Ennes from 15th, and Bockhorn.

 

In Super Slinger action, Tommy Vroom Jr took the lead at the start of the event only to pull up short as he hit turn three with mechanical woes. On the restart it was Tom Arntz blasting into the lead and holding on to it for six laps until Wes Hearn motored by. Once in front, Hearn was in command until the checkered flag fell to secure the win with Arntz in second and Jimmy Johnston in third. Paul Ennes and John Rooks Sr completed the top five. Bob Clark, Kevin Olver, Jerry Hughes, Del Howell and Dale Kober completed the top ten.

 

The Junior Slingshot event proved to be Taylor Eccles night as he scooted away from the field at the start but was soon challenged by Tommy Zwart as the new York Speedster clicked off the fastest times of the evening for the division as he chased Eccles for the lead. Zwart, while making a bid for the lead got into turn three too hot and turned his Chessari Construction mount around. On the restart it was Thomas "Sonny" Strupp applying the pressure to Eccles and last week's winner Jared Labagh putting pressure on Strupp. The laps clicked off and Eccles was able to counter everything thrown at him to claim his first win of the season with Strupp in Second and Labagh in third. The much improved Leo Fotopolous enjoyed a solid fourth place run and newcomer Ryan Quackenbush rounded out the top five. Kevin Predmore, Matthew Henneforth, Cole Hentschel, another newcomer in her first event Kelby Quackenbush and the rallying Tommy Zwart filled out the top ten.

 

Heat winners included Simon Egan, Cody Kline, Ryan Raidline and Ben Whitaker in the first round of Slingshots and Jacob Dunn, Don Schmidt, Paul Ennes and John Bockhorn in the second round.

 

All Star Slingshots: (Mid Atlantic Tour)  Danny Buccafusca, Kyle Rode, Mack Brink, Charlie Lawrence, Simon Egan, Joe Bodenschatz, Shannon Smith, Ben Whitaker, Paul Ennes, John Bockhorn, Dale Kober, Billy Clark, Chris Kurtz, Richie VanOrden, Henry Anderson, Don Schmidt, Jacob Dunn, Joe Howey, Cody Kline, Ryan Raidline, Troy Langendoerfer, Jimmy Johnston, John Rooks Jr, Hunter Smith, Tony Kowalchuk, Wyatt Clark

 

Junior Slingshots: Taylor Eccles, Thomas Strupp, Jared Labagh, Leo Fotopolous, Ryan Quackenbush, Kevin Predmore Jr, Matthew Henneforth, Cole Hentschel, Kelby Quackenbush, Tommy Zwart, Bobby Flood, Alex Yankowski, Charlie Towner, Tyler Peet, Evan VanValkenburg, Kyle Dice, Paul Tigue, Collin Dubois

 

Super Slingshots: Wes Hearn, Tom Arntz, Jimmy Johnston, Paul Ennes, John Rooks Sr, Bob Clark, Kevin Olver, Jerry Hughes, Del Howell, Dale Kober, Tommy Vroom Jr

Myerstown, PA. May 11th, 2012:  The Slingshot by Tobias race teams had their first week of three week points handicapping come into play for Friday night's main event. Matt Miller in the 16M lead the 14 car field to the green flag. Miller held the lead until lap eight when fourth place starter Cody Kline of Bangor, PA would drive by and just beat Miller back to a yellow flag. Miller took the lead back off a double file restart and led one lap before Kline regained the lead for good.

 

It was Kline’s first Linda’s win. It came over 2011 Linda's Slingshot point champion Justin Thompson, Miller, 8th place starter Brett Bieber, and 14th place starter Alex Schoffstall. Heat races went to Miller and Bill Weaver. Slingshot heat races were guest flagged by a young fan named Tyler. Tyler is seen twirling the silks in the grandstands each week.

 

Kyle Hieber will be looking to increase his SpeedSTR points lead, but

a stellar field of drivers will have something to say about that.

 

Myerstown, PA. May 2nd, 2012:  The Speedway Entertainment promoted May 27th event at Path Valley for the 358 sprints,270 micros, SpeedSTR's and Great American Enduro is quickly gaining interest. The Summer Fest is looking to give the big cars and the micros a chance to pickup some holiday money as the Sunday afternoon program will conclude with the Great American Enduro racers putting their stock cars on the grid to end the day's racing program.

 

A $1000 payout awaits the winner of the 358 sprint main and also included will be a guaranteed starting spot for the July 29th Posse at the Path event, which will see the return of the 410 sprints to the wide, clay oval located in Spring Run, PA.

In addition to the winner getting a spot in this prestigious race, second and third will also get a spot and a share of the nice payout offered for both sprint events planned by promoter Rich Tobias of Speedway Entertainment.

"The March 17th event saw the limited late models go 2 and 3 wide. the SpeedSTR's go 3 deep and the Slingshots taking a 4 wider into the turns, so with the racing surface stretching over 100 feet, action will be aplenty", quipped Tobias.

 

The Path Valley 270 micro regulars can expect to see some competition from weekly competitors from Linda's Speedway, Lanco Speedway, Trail-Way Speedway and Selinsgrove Raceway Park. Many of these 270 micro teams have experience at Path Valley and this race is shaping up to be a run to the checkered and the nice payout offered by Tobias.

 

"Emails and phone calls are coming in daily, asking for more info for both upcoming races and I want the race teams to have these dates circled on their must attend calendar", Tobias stated. Contact info is 717-866-7450,by phone and speede17@aol.com with any email responses.

 

We have had some drivers confirming that they will be attendance on the 27th,those being Niki Young, Eric Tomecek, Todd Berkheimer, Tim Wagaman, Joe Trone,Jr. ,Kyle Moody, Wes Irwin and Nathan Berwager. Other drivers awaiting to hear from are Keith Prutzman, TJ Stutts, Nate and Dale Hammaker, Davie Franek, Kevin Nouse, Adrian Shaffer, Amy Ott and Pat Cannon among the 358 sprint drivers.

 

Richie Hartman, Dane Tobias, Pete and Nick Skias are looking to be in the micro sprint field, as the race date gets closer more teams are making plans on being at Path Valley.

 

The SpeedSTR tour will be settling in for this race and a 15 lap "Mad Scramble" has been added by Tobias, giving the SpeedSTR's 2 paying races as slated to strap into a SpeedSTR will be former URC winner, Don Wolfe to do battle with Kyle and Gary Hieber, Brandon and Freddie Rahmer ,Paul Lotier, Jr. ,"Big" Al Arrisher, Brittany Wixon, Matt Dealaman and the "Bulldog", Scott Munroe and many more. On track time will begin at 12:30.Gates will open at 11 AM.