3rd Straight for T. Buckwalter; Snyder Nabs 2nd 600 Sprint Main
Kutztown, PA (June 7)— Just like Jerry Reed sang it, “when you’re hot, you’re hot,” and Tim Buckwalter is currently scorching the SpeedSTR competition at Championship Energy Action Track USA on the Kutztown Fairgrounds.
The versatile chauffeur from Douglassville, PA registered his third consecutive SpeedSTR triumph on Wednesday, June 7, in the Prelude to the Storm 30 lapper. Joining him in Weaknecht Archery victory lane were Steven Snyder Jr. (Hyper Racing 600 Sprints), Dave Carraghan (All Star Slingshots), and Chase Schott (Junior Slingshots).
While the speedway will be dark this Wednesday, June 14, its clay will quake and there will be thunder in the skies on Sunday, June 18, as the USAC AMSOil National Sprint Car series makes its first-ever appearance at Berks County’s baddest bullring. Pit gates open at 4:30, grandstands at 5:30, and cars will be on the race track at 6:30 for this Father’s Day “can’t miss” spectacular. The Hyper Racing 600 Sprints are also on the menu that serves as the final event of USAC’s 2023 Eastern Storm Tour.
On June 7, Tim Buckwalter snatched the top spot from TJ Mayberry on the 13th trip around the racy oval, leaving Mayberry to scuffle with Briggs Danner and Billy Pauch Jr. for the runner-up slot. Pauch shot from fourth to second at the halfway point, but Buckwalter had already checked out. Even a caution flag with five to go could not help Pauch Jr., who was driving the Rodota Trucking & Excavating No. R7 after his mount suffered mechanical issues just as he took the checkered flag to win his heat race. His dad stepped aside and offered the R7 seat to Billy Junior so the younger Pauch could remain in the thick of the point chase.
Danner, who won the first two events of the season at Action Track USA, finished third while Mike Bednar raced home in fourth and Mayberry faded to fifth.
Opening night victor Steven Snyder Jr., from Rising Sun Maryland, recorded his second win of the season in the 25 lap Hyper Racing 600 Sprint feature.
Shelby McLaughlin wrestled the lead away from James Roselli on the third circuit, then galloped to a big lead over Colin White, who grabbed second on the eighth tour. Snyder threaded his way forward, moving into third and immediately challenging White for the runner-up position. The middle portion of the race was highlighted by a tremendous fight for second between White and Snyder. The duo swapped the spot at least twice per lap for several revolutions, trading haymakers (slide jobs) at both ends of the track. The “Snyder Sliders” were on full display, and White did not back down as he executed numerous slide jobs of his own. Even though the pair battled fiercely among themselves, they were able to close on race leader Shelby McLaughlin. When Snyder finally prevailed in his epic struggle with White, he set his sights on the race leader. He quickly caught the young charger from Stroudsburg, then zipped by McLaughlin to snare the top spot with four laps remaining. Once in front, Snyder separated himself from his closest pursuers and went on to win by 1.186 seconds over White. Christian Bruno rolled the bottom to nip McLaughlin for third at the stripe, and Briggs Danner completed the top five.
Both the All Star and Junior Slingshots competed in Super National races on Wednesday. In the All Star 20 lapper, Dave Carraghan, from Emmaus, PA, led all the way to win his first of the season at Action Track USA.
Brett Bieber motored into second well before halfway, but Carraghan was too strong although Bieber, who was on a three-race win streak, keep the leader in his sights and even shoved his nose under Carraghan’s mount on a few occasions. Carraghan had his right rear tire on the cushion and pulled ahead each time Bieber went bottom-feeding to try and steal the lead.
Carraghan’s car was strong on corner-exit, and he pulled away by a few car lengths over the final frantic laps. At the finish, it was Carraghan beating Bieber to the line, with opening night winner Tyler Hoch getting back to the podium with a solid third place effort. Tyler Ulsh and Dylan Hahn made up the rest of the top five.
Chase Schott slipped past Matthew Laubach to grab the lead on lap six of the Junior Slingshot Super National. Schott went on to win the 15 lapper over Laubach, with Trevor Houghton finishing third. Christopher Tittle and Christopher Buffalino crossed the line in fourth and fifth.
After the June 18 visit by the USAC National Sprint Cars, Wednesday racing will return on June 21st—and that is the final event before the annual three week summer hiatus for the Folk Festival that takes over the fairgrounds in Kutztown.
RESULTS:
Speedway Entertainment All Pro SpeedSTRs, 30 laps: 1.Tim Buckwalter, 2.Billy Pauch Jr., 3.Briggs Danner, 4.Mike Bednar, 5.TJ Mayberry, 6.Dustin Morris, 7.Mario Page, 8.Shea Wills, 9.Josh Dalrymple, 10.Dan Schumaker, 11.Cale Zangli, 12.Mark Manieri, 13.Alex Bright, 14.Matt Janisch. DNS: Steve Young, Doug Snyder, Billy Pauch Sr.
Hyper Racing/EVO Injection 600 Sprints, 25 laps: 1.Steven Snyder Jr., 2.Colin White, 3.Christian Bruno, 4.Shelby McLaughlin, 5.Briggs Danner, 6.Preston Lattomus, 7.James Roselli, 8.Lavar Scott, 9.Connor Gross, 10.Kenny Miller III, 11.Mason Beinhower, 12.Tim Buckwalter, 13.Pat Bealer, 14.Zack Weisenfluh, 15.Zack Bealer, 16.Reese Nowatarski, 17.Aidan Donaldson, 18.Jasper Ziegafuse, 19.Billy Koch, 20.Lukas Kostic, 21.Ryan Kunkle, 22.Cole Dewease, 23.Joe Nemeth, 24.Corey Colaluce, 25.Tyler Henry, 26.Maddie Boyd, 27.Alex Ruppert.
DNQ: Garth Rickards, Connor Mirabelli, Kaitlyn Swist, James Thomas, JT Bierman, Kris Thompson, Gunnar Pio, Weston Doklan, Richie Baker Jr., Kyle Herve.
All Star Slingshots Super National, 20 laps: 1.Dave Carraghan, 2.Brett Bieber, 3.Tyler Hoch, 4.Tyler Ulsh, 5.Dylan Hahn, 6.Nolan Layser, 7.Taylor Mills, 8.Shawn Dengler, 9.Andrew Turpin, 10.Jax Yohn, 11.Faith Turnbaugh, 12.James Benz, 13.Luke McCloskey, 14.Chaz Surman, 15.Charlene Benz, 16.Karter Adams, 17.Matt Kiefert, 18.Gavin Danner, 19.Brayden Morrison, 20.Bobby Klein, 21.Austin Kroboth, 22.Hunter Handlelong, 23.Tucker Jones, 24.James Hendricks, 25.Griffin Hendershot, 26.Garrett Chillot, 27.Amanda Angstadt, 28.Pat Weiss.
DNQ: Lucas Pittenger, Tom Mawson, Brianna Snyder, Tyler Lilick, Mason Lineman, Mason Pittenger, Cole Armstrong.
Junior Slingshots Super National, 15 laps: 1.Chase Schott, 2.Matthew Laubach, 3.Trevor Houghton, 4.Christopher Tittle, 5.Christopher Buffalino, 6.Jocelynn Darinsig, 7.Daniel Betz, 8.Cody Williamson, 9.Brantley Flozak, 10.Mason Noll, 11.Ryan Rutski, 12.Darian Danyluk.
