HAMLIN SPEEDWAY NEWS
ByHamlin, PA - Hamlin Speedway Sizzles With Action In Exciting Seven Feature Race Card
By: Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media
The Northeastern area of Pennsylvania has run the gamut for some very unpredictable weather in 2017 and this past week was no exception to the rule. Hot muggy weather that reached into the nineties truly tested the hearts and souls of the racers and the loyal fan bases who live for the spectacle of speed and support the speedway. Promoter Randy Smith and crew had the Hamlin Speedway racing surface whipped into impeccable condition and another spectacular racing program was presented to a good sized crowd who braved the heat to witness the best of the best in small car division racing perform at the top level of competition. The stars and cars of the speedway produced their own kind of heat through close side by side racing, slide-jobs and dicing through the pack to provide for a great evening of racing excitement. The final checkered flag waved at PM. The evening of speed was presented by S&S Speedways Indoor Go Karts located in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Some familiar faces were all smiles back in the Hamlin Victory Circle. "The Nickel Man" Joel Smith found his way back into victory lane with a wire to wire rim-riding triumph that saw him earn his second win of the season in the 600 Sprint finale. "The Bloomingburg Bullet" Taylor Mills was a bullet from the word go as he raced to his second win of the season in the All Star Slingshot finale. Ryan Lacoe was second one week ago and decided Saturday was the night to put it all together and he hustled to his first ever win in the JPA Masonry Rookie 600 Sprint headliner. "Deuce" Glenn Macomber was spot on as he claimed his fifth win of the season in the Wingless 270 Sprint feature attraction. "TVD" Tanner VanDoren captured his third win of the season in the Junior Slingshot feature attraction. Pat Collins misfortune became an opportunistic moment for Dale Kober as Collins led 19 and 1/2 laps before conking out and handing the win over to Kober in the Super Slingers. Pat VanVarick utilized a super fast hot rod to race his second consecutive feature event win of the season in the Hampton RV And Trailers Sales Stage One Modified main.
The evening of feature events found the fans enjoying an exciting Junior Slingshot twenty lap headliner that saw Tanner VanDoren take off from his outside pole start and quickly found Abby Yates breathing down his tailpipe. John Kendall joined the battle as did Shelby McLaughlin and Adam Buchel. VanDoren was able to dial in some fast laps to move out to a two car length lead with second place now becoming the hot spot as Kendall gave it his all to try to slip past Yates. Even with a few restarts VanDoren was up to the task and he opened up some distance in the last five laps to seal the victory, his third of the season. Abby Yates ran a superb race to finish second with Kendall racing hard to the end to finish third. McLaughlin kept pace with a fourth place performance and Adam Buchel was fifth. Mikey Johannes recovered nicely from an early spin to race his way back to finish sixth while the remainder of the top ten were Austin Homan, Tyler Banks, Kyle swart and Tommy Stillo.
The 20-lap feature headliner for the All Star Slingshot racers found intense racing throughout the field and as always the event proved to be another classic run in the pages of the Hamlin Speedway history book. Taylor Mills utilized his pole start to his advantage for at the drop of the green flag he blasted into the lead and was banging out consistent 14.5 second laps to open up a small advantage over the field. Mike Taylor applied some pressure early on but he would become embroiled in a tight battle with Jared Silfee for second place. The entire field was running so tight a good sized runway rug would have covered them all. Silfee slipped past Taylor and Dale Kober came calling as he duked it out with Ashley Kober for fourth for many laps until he drove past her. At the same time Samantha Muller began attacking the flanks and moved into contention. There would be no denying Mills on this evening as he drove to his second win of the season. Jared Silfee, Mike Taylor, Dale Kober and Samantha Muller completed the top five. Cody Kline from 15th position headed up the second five with Mike McLaughlin, Cole Stangle, Dillon Emmons from 18th and Amanda Buchel from 20th completing the top ten. 16 of the 22 starters completed all twenty laps in the fast paced event.
Joel Smith grabbed the lead at the start of the Wingless 600 Sprint main with Chad Sandt and Zac Azzalina applying the pressure. Just as quickly Damon Paul joined the group and the four drivers matched wits from all corners of the raceway as they kept banging the cushion of the raceway. Smith was in top form as his 12.261 second laps were the fastest all night. Smith captured his second win of the season with the defending track champion Sandt in for runner-up honors. Zac Azzalina was third with Damon Paul fourth and Mick D'Agostino rounding out the top five. Colin White headed up the second five with Brandon Azzalina seventh in a borrowed car, Danny Buccafusca, JD Casazza and Duane White completing the top ten.
Glenn Macomber was quick to establish command of the point in the early going of the Wingless 270 Sprint encounter. Alex Reinsmith dogged him early and remained close until the halfway point when Macomber turned some of the fastest laps of the night in the 12.8 second range. Macomber drove away to his fifth win of the 2017 racing season with Reinsmith second, Paul Richards Jr third, Jason Muldowny fourth and Kyle Ferrucci fifth.
The Super Slinger feature belonged to Pat Collins. In his first appearance of the season, Collins was in command from the drop of the green flag. While Collins led the way, Dale Kober and Chad Sandt were locked up in a battle for second. Collins received the white flag and as he entered turn one the machine let him down and he coasted into the infield handing the race and the win over to Dale Kober, his sixth of the season. Chad Sandt and Mike Taylor followed.
Pat VanVarick controlled the Hampton RV & Trailer Sales Stage One Modified encounter at the start of the event and he enjoyed a non-contested run to the checkered flag to claim his second consecutive win of the season. Cole Stangle gave it all he to race to a fine second place finish with Anthony Recchio third, Jasper Ziegafuse fourth and Michael Samony rounding out the top five. The second five found Cody Motto, Evan Civick, newcomer Mike Jablonka, newcomer Mark Connelly ninth, John Bachetti tenth and Mark Corna eleventh.
Ryan Lacoe grabbed the lead in the JPA Masonry Rookie 600 Sprint main and would receive a mighty challenge Tony Parlanti as Lacoe maintained his race line making Parlanti go searching all of the channels to find a way around Lacoe. The battle lasted all twenty laps as Lacoe scored his first ever win at the speedway. Parlanti was second in an excellent run with Macy Litchauer holding steady in a fine run for third, marking her best run of the season. Tyler Lindsey was fourth and Noah Zielinski rounded out the top five. Dakota Bartlet recovered from a trip to the rear to come back and finish sixth with Joe Nemeth, Carmen Leggio Sr, newcomer Ryan Stangle, and Jr Williams completing the top ten.
PEARL JAMS:
Randy Smith kept pace with the speedway all night long as intermittent showers would play havoc all evening with the speedway surface. Some short intermission sessions were needed to do track maintenance and some added assistance from the drivers allowed for great racing action in all divisions.
The rain showers had the track go to a plan B format for the evening with a series of time trials held for all divisions. The Wingless 600 Sprints found Joel Smith with the hot hand as he posted the top time with a 12.319 second lap nipping Chad Sandt who timed at 12.416. The Junior Slingshots had Jake Mason posting the top time with a 15.114 clocking just ahead of the 14.283 second lap of Tanner VanDoren. Samantha Muller stopped the clocks at 14.541 seconds to lead the All Star Slingshots. The 270 Sprint times found Alex Reinsmith on top with a 12.889 second lap. The top Rookie Wingless 600 Sprint time was captured by Dakota Bartlet at 12.800 Seconds. Mike Taylor had the top time for the Super Slingers at 14.704 seconds. Top time for the Stage One Modifieds found Pat VanVarick stopping the clocks at 13.099 seconds.
Some newcomers tested the Hamlin facility for the first time with Sheldon Swart in the All Star Slingshots but unfortunately he did not take a green flag during the events. Pat Collins made his first appearance of the season and it turned out to be a heartbreaker for the veteran Super Slingshot driver. Mike Jablonka and Mark Connelly made their first starts in the Stage One Modifieds. Dennis Stawinski and JP Curry made their first starts in the Stage One Modifieds.
Soon to be wed Shannon Smith and Simon Egan were up from their Georgia residence as a bridal shower for Shannon will take place on Sunday. Both miss their racing days at Hamlin but have a bright future ahead with their upcoming marriage in September. The speedway staff wishes the happy couple much success in the future.
Announcer Steve Pados gave a heartfelt tribute to Carl "Fuzzy" Van Horn who passed away last Sunday. Van Horn was a Hall of Fame legend in dirt track racing and when his racing days were over, he promoted the now defunct Lake Mocatek Speedway, located six miles to the East of Hamlin and where he gave Pados his first opportunity to announce races.
Upcoming events on the Hamlin racing calendar include a regular show on July 29th which will include the NASCAR Crew Challenge. The first event was rained out so the Crew Guys will be looking to put on a good show as the winner will be seeking bragging rights in the NASCAR Garage area. We never know who just might show up so for the fans, make plans to be there.
RESULTS:
All Star Slingshots: Taylor Mills, Jared Silfee, Mike Taylor, Dale Kober, Samantha Muller, Cody Kline, Mike McLaughlin, Cole Stangle, Dillon Emmons, Amanda Buchel, Tanner VanDoren, Austin Silfee, Nick Vinciguerra, Alan Kober, CJ Fritz, Troy Langendoerfer, Ashley Kober, Clayton Davey, Emily Fleming, Tyler Peet, Josh Marcus, Tess Horvath, Sheldon Swart (DNS)
Wingless 270cc Sprints: Glenn Macomber, Alex Reinsmith, Paul Richards Jr, Jason Muldowny, Kyle Ferrucci
Wingless 600cc Sprints: Joel Smith, Chad Sandt, Zac Azzalina, Damon Paul, Mick D'Agostino, Colin White, Brandon Azzalina, Danny Buccafusca, JD Casazza, Duane White, Mack Brink, Joseph Smith, Jacob Balliet, Cody Smith
Hampton RV And Trailer Stage One Modifieds: Pat VanVarick, Cole Stangle, Anthony Recchio, Jasper Ziegafuse, Michael Samony, Cody Motto, Evan Civick, Mike Jablonka, Mark Connelly, John Bachetti, Mark Corna, Joel Smith
Junior Slingshots: Tanner VanDoren, Abby Yates, John Kendall, Shelby McLaughlin, Adam Buchel, Mikey Johannes, Austin Homan, Tyler Banks, Kyle Swart, Tommy Stillo, James Costlow, Jake Mason, JJ Rice, Makayla Kohler, Joey Kalafut, James Benz, James Hendricks
Super Slingshots: Dale Kober, Chad Sandt, Mike Taylor, Pat Collins
JPA Masonry Rookie 600cc Wingless Sprints: Ryan Lacoe, Tony Parlanti, Macy Litchauer, Tyler Lindsey, Noah Zielinski, Dakota Bartlet, Joe Nemeth, Carmen Leggio Sr, Ryan Stangle, JR Williams, Dennis Stawinski, Joey Amantea, JP Curry, Zack Weisenfluh, Hunter Metzger
Racing every Saturday evening from April through September. The next event on the Hamlin Speedway schedule is set for July 29th when the second edition of the NASCAR Crew Challenge comes to town. All regular divisions will be in action.
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
For photos of the great racing action at Hamlin, please contact Tim Krysiuk at: https://strictlydirtphotography.smugmug.com/
Visit us often for a great night of racing action as.........................
The Hamlin Speedway Is The "Pearl" Of The Poconos
