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Port Royal summary 2004-04-24

Port Royal, PA. Mark Smith has established himself the early season favorite at Port Royal Speedway. The Newville, PA driver won the 25 lap Aumiller & Associate Sprint Car feature event Saturday night April 24 at the Juniata County oval. It was ...

Edited: Apr 26, 2004, 2:52 AM

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Port Royal, PA. Mark Smith has established himself the early season favorite at Port Royal Speedway. The Newville, PA driver won the 25 lap Aumiller & Associate Sprint Car feature event Saturday night April 24 at the Juniata County oval. It was Smith's second win of the year and could have been his third had bad luck not struck the Zemco team just one week earlier. "You take em any way you get em, " Smith explained in post race ceremonies. "You hate to loose em like that last week, it's racing. That's the way it goes." Smith referred to having the prior weeks race all but won before hitting a lapped car and flipping. " I want to thank the track crew", Smith continued, " The track was great here tonight. We're glad to win this. Anytime you have Todd (Shaffer) and Keith (Kauffman) behind you it makes you sweat."

The team nearly didn't compete Saturday night at Port Royal. Owner John Zematis explained. " The weather did us a favor. We were headed to Eldora Speedway (Ohio) and it called for rain. So we are here tonight and won. The guys on the crew get along really, really well and are doing a good job."

Smith started from the third starting spot and dominated most of the way. Last weeks feature winner Craig Keel of Weedsport, NY was running second when he dropped out with thirteen laps run. Keel suffered a flat left rear tire and suspension problems and was towed from the speedway. The only other caution period was with sixteen laps complete. Lucas Wolfe of Mechanicsburg, PA and Jimmy Segar of Morrisdale, PA made contact with the outside guard rail in turn 4. Both were done for the night. Smith put on a driving clinic on the restart lapping cars at will. A late move by Jeff Shepard of Upperco, MD allowed Shepard to get by Todd Shaffer, of Millerstown to finish second. Shaffer was third with Todd Hestor, Middleburg, fourth. Keith Kauffman from Mifflintown completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were Chad Layton, Mike Erdley, Rick Lafferty, Randy Baughman and Mike Wagner. Heats for the 26 car field were won by Smith, Keel and Wolfe.

Scotty Haus of Hamburg, PA won the 20 lap Ramsey's Car Wash/AB Auto Glass Late Model feature over Steve Campbell. Haus started second and dominated the event much like Smith in the sprint car feature. For Haus it was a change in luck his Robby Mapes/Salem RV Express team sorely needed. " We've not been good and our confidence has been down, " Haus explained, " Robby has been good with the crew and nothing gets your confidence back like winning. Our luck has been terrible and we haven't been able to draw well. (for starting position) I said I'd show them how to draw and pulled a 51 for the heat race. One of my sponsors drew for the feature and we started second." Behind Haus and Campbell was Nick Dickson who finished a solid third. Travis Dillman and Mike Atherton completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were Dave Kepner, Jere Wierman, Tim Gray, Scott Flickinger and Jim Yoder. Heats were won by Billy Wampler and Dillman. There were 20 cars.

Bill Powell finally broke through to win the fifteen lap Stong's Auto Parts Pro Stock feature over Harold Ranck Jr. For Powell the win was his first of the season and came after three weeks of finishing second. Todd Snook hung tough to finish third with Jim Palm fourth. Dave Bowsman was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Corey Kepner, Dick Shoop, Scott Bargo, Ken Stitt Jr., and Kevin Imes. Jason Davis and Steve Stitt won qualifiers. 24 cars were signed in for competition.

Terry Goshorn won the 12 lap Parson's Auto Salvage/Casner Service Center 4 Cyl. Stock Car feature over Leroy Long. Jerry Schott, Derrick Casner and Max Hampton were in the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Josh Detra, Barry Hawbaker, Sam Smith, Chris Casner and Vance Kennedy. Heats were won by Goshorn and Long.

Port Royal returns to action Saturday night May 1 at 7 P.M. with the years first appearance of the Pizza & Sub Shack Enduro Cars. Also on the program are the Sprint Cars, Late Models and Pro Stocks. Gates open at 5 P.M. Speedway infomation is availabe at www.portroyalspeedway.com or by calling (717)-527-2303.

-prs-

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