Path Valley report 2002-05-03

Path Valley youngsters win close Friday features.

Spring Run, PA_ In the most thrilling finish of the season Terry Peters passed Dusty Heistand in the final 50 feet of the 600 Sprints feature with a lapped car split for his first win.

Peters was the 2001 Saturday champion in 600 Sprints and a two-time national champion in quarter midgets. The 16-year-old from Tower City led the points standings going into the race and won his heat. He started fourth and passed Mike Dicely for second on lap eight. Amid lapped cars in the final circuit Peters and Jim Callahan passed to the outside out of turn four while Heistand was held up on the inside.

"He had a faster car," Peters said, "but I got a good break. The lapped cars definitely helped."

In the night's first feature young Sean Good of Middleburg took the lead from Josh Dressler on a lap three restart and then scooted ahead of Dave Socks and Mike Dicely for his second win this season. "Vince at VRP Shocks helped with my set up and I owe this win to him," Good said. Good survived ten cautions and restarts for his win.

Legends rookie Austin Kirby of Shippensburg, 17, got the pole position when Butch Brough drew a six-car inversion and he led every lap to win by about two feet ahead of Ray Swank. The former mini-stock driver said, "It's great to just race here in the Legends against the best in the country, and I owe this win to my dad who works on the car every night."

The 19 Dwarf Cars filling the spot of the thunder cars that were off had a yellow fever night with caution after caution as Dan Hageman and Josh Sigmon swapped the lead back and forth. Then Sigmon dropped out on lap 17 and Hageman three laps later won his first Path Valley feature.

In his first race of the season in a brand new #65, Mark Whitsel of Cassville led the final 16 laps to finish less than a full length ahead of defending champion Arlin Brougher of Gettysburg. Several times Brougher pulled alongside, but Whitsel held a tighter line going into the turns.

The only commanding win of the night went to Randy Patterson of Chambersburg who led by a full turn at the finish ahead of Steve Lowery. In the winners circle Patterson praised his wife and daughter for their help during the week and said, "This is a real family sport and my whole family helps during the races and during the week in the garage."

The bi-weekly PA 305 Sprints return next Friday, May 10, and the four-cylinder thunder cars return from their week off as the 600 Sprints and 270 Sprints have their regularly scheduled one night off every five weeks.

The innovative Path Valley schedule with a regular week off in rotation for each class is proving a huge success, according to Promoter Ken Geesey. "With a week off every month, the drivers have a chance to spend time with their families and the race teams can catch up on car repairs and maintenance," he said, "and everyone seems to appreciate that."

A Kart Spring National is scheduled next Saturday, May 11, that pays $300 to win in each of the senior classes. Next Saturday night is the second Junk Car race of the season with features for four, six and eight cylinder absolutely stock cars. The Vintage Stock Car Club is the support class for the Junk Cars. Printable Junk Car rules are available on the track's website.

According to manager Vicki Flowers of Two Wheel Promotions, early registrations are already coming in for the June 8 Darin Whitsel Memorial. The races pay $600 to win for the 600 Sprints and $1000 to win for the mini-stocks and street stocks. As a benefit for the children of the late racer Darin Whitsel, $5 from each pit pass and $1 from each grandstand admission goes to the benefit fund. Registration forms are available on the track's website at www.pathvalley.com.

The new phone number at the track for promoter Ken Geesey is 717-349-7111. The Path Valley Speedway Park is located in Spring Run PA a mile north on PA Route 641 from the intersection with PA Route 75, halfway between Port Royal and Hagerstown. It is five miles east from the Willow Hill Exit 14 of the PA Turnpike.

- www.pathvalley.com