HAMLIN SPEEDWAY NEWS
ByHamlin, PA - McLaughlin Family Sweep; Joel Smith Dazzling In 600 Sprints Highlights Action At Hamlin Speedway
By: Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media
The successful Hamlin Speedway promotional team of Randy and Denise Smith presented another spectacular and entertaining racing card for their great fans with seven divisions of racing talent that filled the Hamlin Speedway speed arena last evening. The second week of exciting racing action produced another great crowd for the new season and 116 entries came out to do battle in the Pocono Mountains and the racers gave it everything they had as they maneuvered their hot rods around the tricky-quick and perfectly manicured 1/5 mile clay cushioned arena. When all was said and done, the S&S Speedways sponsored event saw many familiar faces smiling in the winners circle and their pockets full of jingle from their solid racing experiences. The sizzling on track action was completed at 10:22 PM.
The eight features evening of speed produced many great battles and the Wingless 600 Sprint division feature found "The Nickel Man" Joel Smith edging "The Traveling Man" Mick D'Agostino in a wing ding battle with the fireworks coming in the closing laps. The All Star Slingshot feature found "Magic Shoes" Mike McLaughlin wiring the field as he had the hot ticket to victory. Not to be outdone, Mike's daughter "Lil Miss" Shelby McLaughlin earned her second consecutive win in the Junior Slingshot finale in a great night for the McLaughlin Family. "The Ambassador" Wes Hearn captured the win in the Super Slingers feature event. "Deuce" Glenn Macomber won his first Wingless 270 Sprint feature at Hamlin in a great run for him. Bill Dianella shook off his misfortune from a week ago to win the feature in the Hampton RV and Trailer Stage One Modified run in a close battle with Cole Stangle. Tyler Ulrich hustled his way around the Hamlin Speedway to capture the first of two JPA Masonry sponsored Rookie 600 Sprint features and Damon Paul was all business as he captured the nightcap for the rookie stars.
The Junior Slingshots toured the Hamlin oval quickly in their 20-lap feature excursion. The "Stars of Tomorrow" rarely disappoint and Shelby McLaughlin grabbed the lead at the start and held off attacks from JJ Rice and Tanner Van Doren as the race wore on. Rice and VanDoren got together towards the end of the feature and both went to the rear of the field. McLaughlin drove away to the win, her second in a row, with John Kendall grabbing runner-up honors and Jake Mason third, Tyler Banks fourth and James Benz completing the top five. JJ Rice raced back to sixth place with Tommy Stillo, Adam Buchel, Tanner VanDoren and Austin Homan completing the top ten.
Dale Kober took command of the Super Slinger feature through the first six laps. After spinning out on the initial lap, Wes Hearn came hustling back and slipped past Kober for the lead just after the midway point, only to see Kober regain the lead on the next corner. This back and forth action remained throughout the duration of the event with Hearn snaring his first win of the season. Kober was second with Jimmy Conroy third in a stout run. Greg Zellman and Jeff Haduck rounded out the field.
The Wingless 600 Sprint feature was hell's bells from the start of the event. Mick D'Agostino out-hustled Pat Bealer into turn one and began it started a catch me if you can run around the Hamlin Speedway. Joel Smith quickly moved into the runner-up slot by lap five and little by little closed the gap between he and D'Agostino. By the midway point the front six were running under a blanket as now rookie sensation Damon Paul became a player. With the laps clicking down and slower traffic in front of the leaders, D'Agostino went to the top while Smith darted to the bottom. Smith had more momentum and captured a narrow win over D'Agostino with Damon Paul third. Pat Bealer was fourth while Colin White raced hard to nail down fifth place. Zac Azzalina headed up the second five with Justin Mill, Mark Manieri, Sam Kravitsky and Brandon Azzalina.
Tyler Ulrich had the hot hand and a very fast racer as he grabbed the lead at the start of the first JPA Masonry sponsored Rookie 600 Sprint main and though he withstood a few restarts he dominated the event to capture his first win Hamlin. Chloe Andreas raced hard to finish in second with Mikey Smith, Kyle Exley and Joey Amantea completing the top five. Jr Williams, Tyler Lindsey and Carmen Leggio Sr were next in line.
The second JPA Masonry Rookie 600 Sprint main found Damon Paul at the head of the class as he led all of the way with Justin Mills glued to his rear bumper through the twenty laps. Both racers were basically turning equal times and Paul won with Mills in second. Jacob Balliet was third with Noah Zielinski fourth and Geordan Marrero settling for fifth. Joe Nemeth and Jake Roberts followed in sixth and seventh.
Bill Dianella was a firecracker at the start of the Hampton RV and Trailer sponsored Stage One Modified finale as he took control of the lead from his outside pole start and quickly ran to daylight. By the midway point, all eyes were on Cole Stangle as he began to get faster with each passing lap. Stangle tried but couldn't muster the needed run to slip past Dianella although he was turning faster times. Dianella won the feature with Stangle in second. AJ Hobbs was third with Jasper Ziegafuse fourth and early contender John Mirabelli fifth. Michael Samony, Cody Motto and Janell Geary completed the field.
Mike McLaughlin took the lead at the start of the headliner for the All Star Slingshot race cars and maintained a small advantage early on despite constant pressure from Taylor Mills and Josh Marcus. Mills and Marcus fought it out for a few laps allowing McLaughlin to build up a lead. Opening night winner Russ Benke was making headway and would get to fourth place. With few cautions and McLaughlin clicking off steady 13.6 second lap times, he would drive into victory circle on this night. Mills was second with Marcus third in what may be his best finish to date at Hamlin. Benke was fourth and Dale Kober rounded out the top five. Heading up the second five were Nick Vinciguerra, Jared Silfee, Austin Silfee, Mike Fogler and Cole Stangle.
Jenna Schostkewitz jumped into the lead at the start of the headliner for the Wingless 270 Sprints and led the first two laps before encountering difficulties that would take her out of the event. Glenn Macomber inherited the lead and although Mike Kalman would pressure him throughout the entire distance it would be Macomber scoring his first win in Wingless competition. Kalman would be second with Alex Reinsmith third, Don Schmidt fourth and Kyle Ferrucci completing the top five.
Pearl Jams:
Promoter Randy Smith dodged a bullet through hard work and determination as he put fresh clay down at the facility on Friday only to have a massive thunderstorm come through the area in the AM hours of Saturday morning. Smith worked up to race time to prepare the track and the strong effort paid off as the speedway was in excellent condition and the lap times were fast throughout the evening as Smith worked his magic to have the track racy from the very outer reaches to the basement of the facility. The effort produced some excellent side by side and more wide racing action and the great field of race cars that converge in the Poconos has spelled a great formula for success. Smith kept the race-ready track groomed to perfection and constantly manicured throughout an evening of racing to insure all competitors of a fast, smooth surface that is seemingly faster with each week of racing action. The hot lap sessions and heat races alone were without a doubt worth the price of an admission ticket
Time trials and heat races were the preliminary attractions and the Wingless 600 Sprints really dug their right rear tires into the new clay. Brandon Azzalina was top timer with a 12.077 second lap followed closely by Joel Smith at 12.123. The Stage One Modifieds found Joel Smith with a fast hot rod as he clocked in at 13.210 second to claim the top time over Cole Stangle.
Heats races were claimed by Jeff Haduck in the Super Slingshots and Mike Kalman in the Wingless 270 Sprints. Slingshot heats went to Nick Vinciguerra, Tanner VanDoren and Russ Benke. A B-Main was need to establish the starting field with the win going to Samantha Muller. Rookie 600 Sprint heats were claimed by Geordan Marrero, Tyler Ulrich and Justin Mills. Junior Slingshot heats were won by John Kendall and Tanner VanDoren.
New faces at the speedway for the event included Tommy Stillo, Brian Smith and Gavin McClure in the Junior Slingshots. Randy Lawrence was a first timer for the Super Slingers. Chris Kurtz, Sam Kravitsky, Adam Huff, Tyler Galatro Kyle Exley and Jared Lilly were newcomers to the 600 Sprint ranks. Brett Altemose made his first appearance of the season in the Rookie 600 Sprint ranks. Austin Silfee, Nick Delcampo, Tanner Jones and Clayton Davey were new racers for the All Star Slingshot division.
Racer Kyle Exley made his final appearance at the speedway as the young man is headed off to San Antonio, Texas for basic training in the US Air Force. We thank Kyle for his work at the speedway and wish him well in his new endeavor.
Spotted at the speedway were former racers at Hamlin, Larry Hoagland and Tex Snyder. Bridgeport Speedway director Danny Serrano was on hand for the evening and very complimentary on the well organized format at the speedway.
Results:
All Star Slingshots: Mike McLaughlin, Taylor Mills, Josh Marcus, Russell Benke, Dale Kober, Nick Vinciguerra, Jared Silfee, Austin Silfee, Mike Fogler, Cole Stangle, Wes Hearn, Tanner VanDoren, Troy Langendoerfer, Mick Delcampo, Ashely Kober, Samantha Muller, Amanda Buchel, Greg Zellman, Alan Selemba, Tanner Jones, Tess Horvath, Emily Fleming, Cody Kline, Tyler Peet
Wingless 270cc Sprints: Glenn Macomber, Mike Kalman, Alex Reinsmith, Don Schmidt, Kyle Ferrucci, Jenna Schostkewitz
Wingless 600cc Sprints: Joel Smith, Mick D'Agostino, Damon Paul, Pat Bealer, Colin White, Zac Azzalina, Justin Mills, Mark Manieri, Sam Kravitsky, Brandon Azzalina, Joseph Smith, Mack Brink, JD Casazza, Geordan Marrero, Cody Smith, Chris Kurtz, Ryan Neil, Jacob Balliet, Adam Huff, Danny Buccafusca, Tyler Galatro, Jared Lilly, Nick Corazzi, Chad Sandt, Duane White, Kyle Exley
Hampton RV And Trailer Stage One Modifieds: Bill Dianella, Cole Stangle, AJ Hobbs, Jasper Zeigafuse, John Mirabelli, Michael Samony, Cody Motto, Janelle Geary, Anthony Recchio, Joel Smith
Junior Slingshots: Shelby McLaughlin, John Kendall, Jake Mason, Tyler Banks, James Benz, JJ Rice, Tommy Stillo, Adam Buchel, Tanner VanDoren, Austin Homan, Abby Yates, James Costlow, James Hendricks, Matthew Backus, Joey Kalafut, Brian Smith, Colton Geary, Gavin McClure
Super Slingshots: Wes Hearn, Dale Kober, Jim Conroy, Greg Zellman, Jeff Haduck, Randy Lawrence
JPA Masonry Rookie 600cc Wingless Sprints:(1) Tyler Ulrich, Chloe Andreas, Mikey Smith, Kyle Exley, Joey Amantea, JR Williams, Tyler Lindsey, Carmen Leggio Sr, Tony Parlanti, Zack Weisenfluh, Brett Altemose
JPA Masonry Rookie 600cc Wingless Sprints: (2) Damon Paul, Justin Mills, Jacob Balliet, Noah Zielinski, Geordan Marrero, Joe Nemeth, Jake Roberts, Ryan Lacoe, Jakson Ring, Paul Richards Jr
Racing every Saturday evening from April through September. The next event on the Hamlin Speedway schedule is set for May 6th when all Divisions will be in action on the 1/5th mile clay cushioned oval as well as the MA Gold Tour for the All Star Slingshots. Make sure to check the Hamlin Speedway website or Facebook page for any additional information. Pit Gates open at the speedway at 3 PM; Drivers Meeting at 5:45; Hot Laps are at 6:00 and the racing begins at 7 PM sharp. Admission Prices for regular shows are: Adults $10.00; Senior Citizens $5.00 Children under 6 are Free
Please support the many great sponsors who assist in working and sponsoring the season long events at the speedway. Tilcon, Ron Brown Hauling, JPA Masonry, RockAuto.com, S&S Speedways and Yankowski Enterprises are all part of the advertising family at the speedway and we graciously thank them for their support.
Hamlin Speedway is seeking additional marketing sponsors to join the speedway team for the 2017 racing season. For more information, contact Steve Pados at: 484-784-7756 or through email at: steveswp@ptd.net or Denise Smith at S&S Speedways at: 570-420-5500 or at: www.SSSpeedways.com or on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SSSpeedways/ or www.HamlinSpeed.com or facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/HamlinSpeed
Visit us often for a great night of racing action as.........................
The Hamlin Speedway Is The "Pearl" Of The Poconos
