Storms Halt Action Track USA’s Dick Tobias Classic After Qualifying
Kutztown, PA (May 19) – They took the risk, and it almost paid off…
Championship Energy Action Track USA co-promoters Rich Tobias and Doug Rose tried everything in their power to run the season opening Dick Tobias Classic on Sunday night, even though the chance for a “spotty thunderstorm” loomed in the forecast. Warm-ups and the heat races were quickly and efficiently spun off, and the last chance “alphabet mains” were just about wrapped up when the dark clouds over the speedway began to disperse some rain drops. Facing the unenviable task of whipping the track back into shape, combined with the (now) very probable threat of significant lightning and heavy rain headed their way, Tobias and Rose reluctantly threw in the towel and postponed the remainder of the program to a future date.
“We have not decided on the date or dates for the rest of the event, but we will certainly announce it as soon as the date(s) have been confirmed,” said Rose.
Because the majority of qualifying was completed (just one B-Main remains to be run for the Hyper Racing 600 Sprints), rain checks from the May 19 Tobias Classic will not be honored. The May 19 program is considered complete because the 600 B-Main and all of the A-Mains will be run in the not-too-distant future. On that date (or dates), fans will be able to see the resumption of the Dick Tobias Classic PLUS a full show of heats, B-Mains, and A-Mains for the USAC SpeedSTRs, Hyper Racing 600 Sprints, and the All Star Slingshots.
Up next for those three divisions is a Memorial Day Monday event, highlighted by the King of No Wing Showdown, a 40-lap feature paying $1,000 to win (with Gambler’s Fee) for the 600 Sprints. The USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs and All Star Slingshots are also on the holiday card, with a Monday, May 27 starting time of 6:15 for warm-ups, with qualifying heats going green a few minutes after the hot lap sessions. Pit gates open at 4:00 and grandstand gates swing open at 5 p.m.
On May 19, Billy Pauch Jr. set quick time for the field of 25 SpeedSTRs with a fast lap of 12.216-seconds. USAC star and National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Dave Darland was second fastest at 12.294 and Pat Bealer recorded the third fastest lap at 12.438. Pauch Jr. and Darland locked themselves into the A-Main while everyone else had to participate in heat races. Tim Buckwalter, in a borrowed ride, won the first heat, with New York’s Mike Mahaney captured heat race number two. Steve Buckwalter won the third heat. Kevin Graver Jr. won the B-Main.
Thirty-six Hyper Racing 600 Sprints took part in four heats, with victories going to Kenny Miller III, Eddie Strada, Jason Swavely, and Doug Snyder. Eric Ankiewicz won the C-Main, and the aforementioned B-Main fell victim to the weather.
Justin Thompson set quick time for the All Star Slingshots with a lap of 13.972-seconds, as the Slingers used a group time trial format to determine their starting line up for a 30-lap feature. Dave Carraghan, Scott Neary, Dylan Hoch, and Tanner VanDoren made up the top five on the speed chart.
Following the Monday, May 27 Memorial Day event, Championship Energy Action Track USA goes back to Sundays on June 2nd and June 9th before switching to Wednesdays with the June 12 racing program.
For additional information and all the latest news from the oval on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, check in to www.actiontrackusa. Search for Action Track USA at Facebook.com, and @ActionTrackUSA on Twitter and Instagram.
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