ECKERT CAPTURES THIRD WIN OF THE SEASON IN ACTION TRACK SPEEDSTRS

World of Outlaw Late Model competitor, Rick Eckert of York, PA picked up his third win of the season at the JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA, the night before boarding a plane and heading to the midwest for his next scheduled event.

Eckert won the opening day Sunoco USAC Championship SpeedSTR race and then added his second win just two weeks later. Eckert and Billy Pauch, Jr. now lead the SpeedSTR field with three wins a piece.

“These cars (SpeedSTRS) are a lot of fun to race,” Eckert commented following his win. “If I race on the cushion – now that’s saying something!” Eckert continued. “That’s what’s really fun about these cars – you can race them anywhere on the track!” Eckert had just concluded a conversation with Billy Pauch, Sr. “Pauch was just teasing me about racing on the cushion,” Eckert continued. “I’m usually on the bottom of the track and Pauch wanted to know what happened!”

Kenny Brightbill, who earned his first SpeedSTR win just two weeks earlier, was the race leader for the first twelve circuits. Brightbill took the lead from polesitter, Brian Montieth before the end of the first circuit. Jeff Strunk moved into second following a lap two restart and chose the low line to Brightbill’s high and wide choice. The two drivers raced side by side for several laps with Brightbill’s outside line carrying the momentum for the popular veteran to maintain the lead.

But Brightbill’s race ended on lap thirteen when he came to a stop in turn two. Strunk led the field to the lap thirteen restart but when Montieth came to a stop in turn two on the next circuit, another caution was needed. On the subsequent restart, Strunk was immediately challenged by Eckert . Eckert became the race leader just one lap before the half way mark.

Eckert led Strunk, Pauch, Sr., Dale Planck and Brandon Rahmer at the half way point. Planck took a nasty ride in turn four after making contact with the back of Pauch’s #9 on lap seventeen. Chuck Schutz moved into fifth and raced with Rahmer for fourth and then took third as Pauch dropped to fifth. With Eckert well out in front, the race was for the third spot as Schutz and Rahmer battled side by side in the final laps.

Eckert led Strunk to the checkered flag as Rahmer just edged Schutz for third at the finish line. Pauch finished fifth. Billy Pauch, Jr. finished in sixth and took a slim lead in the point standings after Brightbill was sidelined with mechanical problems.

Sunoco USAC Championship SpeedSTR Finish (30 laps): 1.Rick Eckert, 2.Jeff Strunk, 3.Brandon Rahmer, 4.Chuck Schutz, 5.Billy Pauch Sr., 6.Billy Pauch Jr., 7.Mike Bednar, 8.Brittany Wixon, 9.Paul Lotier Jr., 10.Dale Planck, 11.John Kovatch, 12.Brad Brightbill, 13.Kenny Brightbill, 14.Craig VonDohren, 15.Brian Montieth, 16.Mike Vermeulen, 17.Matt Janisch, 18.Al Arrisher, 19.Joey Allen, 20.Wayne Weaver, 21.Joey Sanfilippo.

DNQ: Freddie Rahmer Jr., Gary Huber.

BY DEB SMITH