SELINSGROVE, Pa. May 13, 2006 - A hurricane warning has been issued. Mike "The Hurricane" Walter of Penns Creek made a late-race pass by Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove for his second win of the season in the 25-lap sprint car feature Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.
Walter, taking the point lead with the victory, was tied with Heimbach in the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass track title point chase entering Saturday's race. Joey Borich of Sunbury and Wes Irwin of Lebanon were transported to the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville following a lap 11 three-car sprint car crash in turn three that also involved Larry Kelleher of Scranton. Gary Beward of Thompsontown won his second Ink Spot Printing Pro Stock 20 championship race and collected $1,000 for the victory. Beward was the fast qualifier with a lap time of 25.827.
The racing program was delayed for more than one hour due to a rain shower that hit the speedway at 7 p.m. The 25-lap late model feature was postponed until this Saturday, May 20, when the speedway will present a four division show of sprints, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners at 7 p.m. The 12-lap roadrunner feature will be made up on Saturday, May 27.
Polesitter Wes Irwin led the first four laps of the sprint car feature. A lap three red flag stopped the race for a multi-car crash in turn four involving last week's winner Duane Mausteller, Nate Snyder, Adrian Shaffer, Pat Cannon and Troy Funck. All drivers escaped injury.
On the fifth circuit, 12th-place starter Blane Heimbach stormed by Adam Romig for second in turn one, then passed Irwin for the lead exiting turn two. Heimbach quickly stretched his lead over the rest of the field. On lap 11, Larry Kelleher collided with Irwin entering turn three. Irwin's car took a series of flips before being struck by Joey Borich's sprinter in a violent crash. Both Irwin and Borich were transported to the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville for treatment.
When the race resumed, Heimbach was in command of the field while 15th-place starter Mike Walter began to reel in the leader. On the 20th lap, Walter powered by Heimbach in the second turn and went on to win the race. Heimbach settled for second, while Charlie Anderson, Pat Cannon and Colby Womer completed the top five. Second-place starter AJ Stroup powered into the lead at the start of the Pro Stock 20. Stroup was chased by fourth-place starter Gary Beward for the first 13 laps. On the 14th circuit, Beward made the winning pass using the inside lane in turn two.
For the duration of the event, Stroup remained in striking distance but came up short by 1.68 seconds at the finish. Beward took the checkered flag ahead of Stroup, 2005 winner Troy Miller, Dustin Hoffman and 2002 winner Gerald Kratzer.
SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY SUMMARY - 13 May 2006
Sprint Cars - 33 Entries
25-Lap A-Main: 1) 63 Mike Walter $1,200 2) 12 Blane Heimbach 3) 71
Charlie Anderson 4) 3 Pat Cannon 5) 6 Colby Womer 6) 1 Brian Nornhold 7)
2 Jason Shultz 8) 81 Bob Beidleman 9) 37 Scott Flammer 10) 99 Kyle
Bachman 11) 19 Jordan Frontz 12) 77 John Matrafailo 13) 99B Nyle Berkes
14) 10 Jeff Furlong 15) 5 Phil Walter 16) 48 Wes Irwin 17) 70 Larry
Kelleher 18) 7 Joey Borich 19) 1 Adam Romig 20) 4B Adrian Shaffer 21) 1A
Cale Reigle 22) 68 Troy Funck, Jr. 23) 21 Duane Mausteller 24) 5 Nate
Snyder
Heat Winners: Joey Borich, Adam Romig, Charlie Anderson, Blane Heimbach
Consolation Winner: Bob Beidleman
Late Models - 25 Entries
25-Lap A-Main: Postponed until May 20
Heat Winners: Bud Witmer, Dustin Hoffman, Jim Yoder
Pro Stocks - 34 Entries
5th Annual Pro Stock 20: 1) 19 Gary Beward $1,000 2) 26 AJ Stroup 3) 115
Troy Miller 4) 19M Dustin Hoffman 5) 10 Gerald Kratzer 6) 23 Jim Somers
7) 21 AJ Hoffman 8) 8 Brad Trump 9) 99 Peanut Heintzelman 10) 2 Jason
Schmidt 11) 70 Matt Johnson 12) 23 Todd Snook 13) 07 Tim Krape 14) 14B
Dave Brouse, Jr. 15) 54 Sammy Troup 16) 66 Scott Dorman 17) 711 Jim
Jurasich 18) 28 Jason Smith 19) 5 Neil Langtry 20) 8C Jace Cresswell 21)
70G Bill Glass 22) 6 Dan Jensen 23) 7 Meade Hahn 24) 7T Terry Shedden
Fast Time: Gary Beward, 25.827
B-Main Winner: Dan Jensen
Roadrunners - 25 Entries
12-Lap A-Main: Postponed until May 27
Heat Winners: Ray Rothfuss, Donnie Murphy
