SELINSGROVE, Pa. - TJ Stutts of Liverpool drove by Greg Hodnett of York on lap 14 for his victory in the 25-lap 410 sprint car season opener Friday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.
Stutts was at the wheel of Gary and Patti Beam's No. 88 for the $3,000 win. It was Stutts' second career victory in a 410 sprint car.
Mark Smith of Carlisle was transported to an area hospital for observation following a violent first turn flip on a lap 14 restart.
The 15-lap pro stock main event was postponed until next Friday due to freezing track conditions.
Track officials announced Saturday night's racing program of 358 sprints, late models and roadrunners is postponed until next week due to cold temperatures.
Selinsgrove Speedway will present another program of 410 sprint cars and pro stocks at 8 p.m. Friday, March 24.
Third-place starter Greg Hodnett powered into the lead at the start of the sprint car feature. Hodnett was chased by polesitter TJ Stutts for the first half of the event.
The leaders were forced to take evasive action when John Westbrook brought out the first caution flag for spinning his 1W in turn four. At the same time, Fred Rahmer withdrew from the race when the top wing collapsed on the No. 22.
When the race resumed, Hodnett held off Stutts in lapped traffic. The next caution flag unfurled on lap 12 when Blane Heimbach's No. 12 rolled to a stop on the frontstretch. On the ensuing restart, Mark Smith's racer made contact with another car, launching Smith's out over the first turn guardrail. Although Smith was able to walk away from his destroyed race car, he was transported to an area hospital for evaluation.
Stutts passed Hodnett with an outside move entering turn three on the 14th circuit. With only a few laps remaining, eighth-place starter Joey Saldana charged into second and set his sites on the leader. At the finish, Stutts was victorious by .53 of a second over Saldana, Hodnett and 10th-place starter Chad Layton.
The 410 Sprints were clocked by radar at 130 mph on the backstretch, as the track conditions were in excellent condition all evening, until the temperatures dropped below the freezing point causing officials to cancel the remainder of the Pro Stock feature. Sprint heats were won by Ryan Bolkhe, Fred Rahmer, & Todd Hestor.
SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY SUMMARY - 17 March 2006
410 Sprint Cars - 27 Entries
25-Lap A-Main: 1) 88 TJ Stutts 2) 9 Joey Saldana 3) 77 Greg Hodnett 4)
12 Chad Layton 5) 4 Todd Hestor 6) 13 Cliff Brian 7) 18 Ryan Bolhke 8)
25 Lance Dewease 9) 5W Todd Shaffer 10) 30 Doug Esh 11) 11 Mike Erdley
12) 17B Mark Freeland 13) 69 Michael Carber 14) 7 Keith Kauffman 15) 07
Mark Coldren 16) 03 Clark Simonton 17) 64 Kyle Purks 18) 1 Mark Smith
19) 12B Blane Heimbach 20) 0 Rick Lafferty 21) 1W John Westbrook 22) 22
Fred Rahmer 23) 28 Davey Franek 24) 14 Matt Heimbach
Heat Winners: Todd Hestor, Fred Rahmer, Ryan Bolhke
Consolation Winner: Keith Kauffman
Pro Stocks - 21 Entries
15-Lap A-Main: Postponed until March 24
Heat Winners: Gary Beward, AJ Hoffman
