Unexpected Rain Sets Up Pair of HUGE Events at Action Track USA, Carraghan Wins All Star Slingshot Main Event
Kutztown, PA (July 13)— It may not have been Friday the 13th, but Wednesday, July 13 proved quite unlucky for track staff, racers, and fans attending the USAC East Coast Sprint Car event at Championship Energy Action Track USA on the Kutztown Fairgrounds.
With a terrific field of USAC East Coast Sprint teams, Hyper Racing 600 Sprint racers, and All Star Slingshots assembled in the pit area and the largest crowd of the season seated in the bleachers, the PA system’s main amplifier decided to draw its last breath and die, leaving Berks County’s baddest bullring without a sound system. Thanks to the never-give-up attitude of co-owner Doug Rose, a “loaner” amplifier was located, delivered, and hooked up before the heat races were completed. But that wasn’t the end of the evening’s misfortune…
In the days leading up to the highly anticipated E.Schneider & Sons Iron Cowboy Classic at Action Track USA, all of the local forecasts called for a zero-percent chance of rain on Wednesday. ZERO!
With qualifying complete and the All Star Slingshot feature in the books, the skies unexpectedly opened up and dispersed a steady, soaking rain that forced the postponement of the USAC East Coast Sprint Car and Hyper Racing 600 Sprint features.
There is a silver lining, however…the precipitation has set up not one, but TWO huge racing programs on July 27 and August 3.
The Rapid Tire USAC East Coast Sprint Cars were already scheduled for a second appearance on August 3rd, so that is a natural date for the postponed feature from this past Wednesday. That means there will be two, 30 lap features plus a full slate of qualifying heats and a Semi-feature (last chance qualifier) for the non-wing 360 Sprint Cars.
One week prior to the Iron Cowboy make-up, the Hyper Racing 600cc Sprints will run their postponed 25-lapper from July 13. On Wednesday, July 27, fans will be treated to qualifying heats, alphabet mains, and a pair of 25 lap features for the always exciting wingless 600’s.
The heart-pounding, thrill-a-minute competition provided in each class at Acton Track USA kicks off next Wednesday, July 20, as Hyper Racing 600 Speedweek takes center stage. Close to 80 of the nation’s best non-wing 600 Sprint teams have entered the 2022 edition of Speedweek, with the event in Kutztown being penciled in as race No. 3 in this year’s miniseries.
These next three racing programs will see pit gates open at 4 p.m. with grandstand gates swinging open at 5:00. Hot laps get underway at 6:15 with qualifying beginning just a few minutes after the warm up sessions.
On Wednesday, July 13, USAC East Coast Sprint Car heat race winners included Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Bobby Butler, and Briggs Danner. The Semi-feature went to Preston Lattomus. Chris Allen and Aidan Borden will lead the field to green when the 30 lap Iron Cowboy Classic goes green on August 3rd.
Fifty-one entries competed in 600 Sprint heat races, with wins going to Pat Bealer, Mike Nolf, Tim Buckwalter, Billy Pauch Jr., and Jackson White. A pair of C-Mains fell to Connor Gross and JT Ferry, while the B-Main victory was claimed by Adrianna Delliponti. Jacob Fisher won the Mad Scramble for the previous event’s non-qualifiers.
The All Star Slingshot feature was captured by Dave Carraghan from Emmaus, PA. Carraghan started second, grabbed the lead early, then held off a determined Tyler Ulsh to notch his first win of the year at Action Track USA. It was Carraghan’s fourth career triumph at the oval located across the street from Kutztown University.
Ulsh was able to hang with the leader for the entire 20 lap distance, but could not find the opening he needed to scoot past Carraghan. Brett Bieber challenged Ulsh and Carraghan before he got tagged and spun. Two-time winner Tyler Hoch was involved in an early race scuffle, then charged from the rear of the field to finish third. Nate Freed wound up fourth and James Hendricks completed the top five when the checkered flag waved.
The next three Wednesdays will see some incredible shows at Championship Energy Action Track USA, so come on out for your midweek motorsports adrenaline rush at Berks County’s baddest bullring…where the Superstars come to race!
RESULTS:
All Star Slingshot Feature, 20 laps: 1.Dave Carraghan, 2.Tyler Ulsh, 3.Tyler Hoch, 4.Nate Freed, 5.James Hendricks, 6.Molly Struss, 7.Amanda Angstadt, 8.Austin Kroboth, 9.Brianna Snyder, 10.Ryan Bilello, 11.Chase Gular, 12.Brett Bieber, 13.John Redner, 14.Gavin Danner, 15.Logan Dontonville, 16.Kylie Hendricks, 17.Shelby McLaughlin, 18.Sam Cunningham.
