Hamlin, PA - "The Gingerbread Man" Damon Paul Runs Away In 600 Sprints; Joel Smith Bags A Double In Hamlin Speedway's Exciting Nine Feature Race Card
By: Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

While great weather has been at a premium for the 2017 racing season, the Hamlin Speedway has soldiered on and has produced great racing shows for their loyal fan base. Saturday night was no exception as cars and stars by the numbers brought a standing room only crowd to the Hamlin Speedway as the Smith Family and Staff presented a superb nine feature race card on Saturday evening. Hamlin Speedway Promoter Randy Smith had the 1/5th mile oval as "fit as a fiddle" and the 110 entries who signed in for battle used every inch of the raceway to carve out a wonderful night of entertainment for the appreciative crowd. The Smith Family orchestrated the nine feature event program by 10:55 PM in the evening that found some of the top stars at the speedway strutting their stuff while some new faces also found out it feels very good to be sitting at the top of the racing podium. JPA Masonry located in Mount Pocono and S&S Speedways Indoor Go Karts located in Stroudsburg co-sponsored the evening of speed.

With two feature events being curtailed last week due to a quick hitting storm, one holdover event was added to the Saturday show and it would be "The Nickel Man" Joel Smith capturing the held over event and later coming back to win the nightcap to bag a double in the Hampton RV & Trailer Sales Stage One Modifieds. The All Star Slingshot feature headliner was captured by "The Bloomingburg Bullet" Taylor Mills as he added his third win of the season. "The Gingerbread Man" Damon Paul had the hot ticket as ran away from the field to score his second win of the season in the JPA Masonry Wingless 600 Sprint headliner. Tyler Ulrich returned to Hamlin and scored his first win of the season in the Wingless 270 Sprint feature. Mike Taylor had the hot ticket in Super Slinger action as he wired the field for his fifth win of the season. "The Cold Spring Kid" Jake Mason claimed his second win of the season in the rough and tumble Junior Slingshot finale. The JPA Masonry Rookie 600 Sprints offered two feature events with a strong field of cars and "The Big Show" Joey Amantea drove to his fifth win of the season in the first one and Paul Richards Jr was spot on as he scored his fourth win of the season in the second feature.

Taylor Mills grabbed the lead at the start of the 23-car field All Star Slingshot feature event as he took advantage of his pole start to blast out front. Troy Langendoerfer and Josh Marcus kept pace early on with Austin Silfee hustling in to make his bid for the lead. Mills was able to step away from the field at times with lots of battles for position happening behind him. The two and three wide racing action at mid-pack was spectacular with driver after driver making his bid for the next position ahead of him. This was a night for Taylor Mills as he was in the zone and drove away to a safe margin over the Silfee Boys, Jared who was second and Austin who finished third. Cody Kline kept his eye on the prize as he drove from 14th place to finish fourth. Tyler Peet completed the top five. Early contender Josh Marcus was sixth with Samantha Muller, Ashley Kober, Tanner VanDoren and Greg Zellman rounding out the top ten.

The Super Slingers main event found the red hot Mike Taylor blasting out of the starting gate at the drop of the green flag battling with Jim Conroy for the top spot. Taylor secured the lead down the backstretch and was able to open up some distance with some very quick 13.850 second laps to drive away and capture his fifth win of the season. Conroy was second with a great finish while John Gilroy was third, Dale Kober fourth and Greg Zellman completing the finishing order.

Glenn Macomber led in the first twelve laps of the 270 Sprint main. Coming out of turn four Kyle Ferrucci tried to make the move for the lead but tangled with Macomber and got upside down in front of the flag stand. Ferrucci was not hurt in the incident. Tyler Ulrich inherited the lead and led all of the remaining laps to secure his first Hamlin Speedway win. Alex Reinsmith put on a whale of a show as he ran hard for runner-up honors. just nipping Macomber at the line.

The Junior Slingshot feature found James Benz on the pole for the start and Benz would lead through the first half of the event until Jake Mason found the spot he was seeking on the raceway and drove by Benz to control the point. After that, Mason found that was he needed as he drove away from the field to go on to record his second win of the season at Hamlin. Adam Buchel continued his solid efforts by finishing second while newcomer Ryan Conrad, Shelby McLaughlin and the much improved James Costlow completing the top five. The remainder of the field were Tyler Banks, Joey Kalafut and James Hendricks

The start of the first JPA Masonry Rookie 600 Wingless Sprint event found Joey Amantea putting it all together to lead all laps as he could place his race car from the baseline to the speedway's outer reaches enroot to his fifth win at the speedway. Tony Parlanti challenged throughout but would settle for runner-up honors in a great drive. Joe Nemeth was third in his return to the speedway while Ryan Lacoe and Jason Muldowney completed the top five. Cody Powell, Chloe Andreas, Aidan Borden, Ryan Stangle and newcomer Mike Traver completed the field.

On the second Rookie 600 encounter, Carmen Leggio Sr led for the first lap but a burst of power and an open inside line allowed Paul Richards Jr to drive by everyone in his wake to take the lead. While a few skirmishes slowed down the action, Richards was in command. A two lap to go restart allowed Noah Zielinski and opportunity to seize the moment as he closed quickly on Richards but Richards held on for his fourth win of the season with Zielinski in for runner-up honors. Zack Weisenfluh was third with Macy Litchauer, Carmen Leggio Sr, Savannah Leggio, Jack Hanna, Dennis Stawinski and Ron Bosga completing the field.

The held over Hampton RV and Trailer Sales Stage One Modified event found Anthony Recchio hustling out front at the drop of the green flag and leading through the first half of the event until being sidelined with mechanical woes. Joel Smith inherited the lead and led the remaining laps to capture the win with Cole Stangle a close second. Cody Motto was third while newcomer Andrew Vreeland was fourth and Joel Price nailing down fifth. John Mirabelli, Amanda Buchel, Mike Jablonka, Evan Civick and Mark Corna completed the top ten.

In the second feature, Mark Corna led the first lap before yielding to the high flying Cole Stangle. Stangle would set the pace while working hard to keep the hard charging Joel Smith behind him. As Smith drove up alongside him, Stangle encountered a slower car and allowed for Smith to slip past and take the lead. Smith would lead the final laps to garner in his eighth win of the season while Cody Motto hustled until the end to get by Stangle and finish second with Stangle third, Anthony Recchio fourth after starting 17th and Joel Price fifth. Amanda Buchel, in her first attempts at the Stage One Modifieds, was impressive as she headed up the second five with Mark Corna, Michael Samony, newcomer Mark Evans and John Mirabelli following.

Damon Paul took the lead at the start of the headline 600 Sprint event. His racer and he were working the racing channels to perfection with Mick D'Agostino, Danny Buccafusca and the returning Doug Snyder challenging. Paul was on rails and he stretched the lead at will turning laps under the twelve second mark. Buccafusca was able to slip under D'Agostino for the runner-up spot by the midway point of the race. Former two-time track champion Eddie Strada started tenth and with real estate at a premium, methodically worked his way forward. Strada was able to slip underneath current track champion Chad Sandt for fifth at the twenty lap mark but couldn't move up after that. Paul was the man of the moment of as he went on to score his second win of the season and perhaps the biggest win of his young racing career thus far.

Buccafusca did an excellent job for runner-up honors with Mick D'Agostino a very close third. Doug Snyder was fourth in his return to the speedway and Strada would complete the top five. The second five was headed up by Chad Sandt with Tyler Ulrich, Jacob Balliet, Joel Smith and Ryan Neil following. The fast paced event had 16 of the 21 starters completing the event a strong tribute to the drivers and to the crews who maintain the race cars.

PEARL JAMS:

The hotly contested evening of racing entertainment began on time and the staff kept moving the program along swiftly with a couple of breaks taken for track maintenance on the track surface to keep the track racy throughout the evening. Once again Smith and Company got the job done without reservation. The large standing room only crowd on hand for the event witnessed a great evening of racing entertainment.

Time trials found the Wingless 270 Sprints taking time with Tyler Ulrich just nipping Glenn Macomber for top honors with a fast time of 12.819 for Ulrich and Macomber posting a 12.953 time. Mike Taylor was the top timer for the Super Slingers with a 14.274 second time and nipping John Gilroy who timed at 14,395 seconds.

Jake Mason and John Kendall were victorious in the Junior Slingshot heats. Ashley Kober, Taylor Mills and Austin Silfee captured the Slingshot heat wins. Two rounds of heat action was needed to set the 600 Sprint field and winners included Danny Buccafusca, Damon Paul and Mick D'Agostino in round one while newcomer Kenny Miller, Chad Sandt and Duane White recorded wins in round two. Rookie 600 Sprint heats went to Tony Parlanti, Paul Richards Jr and Ryan Stangle. Stage One Modified heats were claimed by Cole Stangle and Joel Smith.

Newcomers made their way to the speedway last night in droves. John Gilroy Jr and Rachel Dickinson made their first starts in the Slingshots. Tyler Ulrich made his first 270 start at Hamlin since early in the season. Jason Muldowney and Mike Traver were new faces for the Rookie 600 Sprints while the returning for his second week was Rich Maguire, who was sporting new colors and numbers. Amanda Buchel looked right at home in the Stage One Modifieds as she was aboard the Smith Fabrications Rental car and earned a sixth and a seventh place finishes in her debut. Mark Evans was aboard the Motto family Stage One car. Eddie Strada, Doug Snyder, Jason Muldowney, Tyler Ulrich and Kenny Miller were among the outsiders list for the 600 Sprint entries.

Kyle Ferrucci in the 270 Sprints and John Bachetti Sr in the Stage One Modifieds were roll over victims during the evening but both drivers were ok from the incidents.

Ryan Stangle turned twelve years old so birthday greetings are in order.

The speedway is gearing up for some big events on the horizon with the 2017 racing season hitting the final stages. The annual Roy Smith Memorial for the Stage One Modifieds takes place on September 2nd as the speedway ushers in Labor day. Lap sponsorship for the thirty lap event will be at $10.00 per lap and Richie Smith at: 610-462-4302 or Steve Pados at: 484-784-7756 can be contacted if any fans or businesses would like to get involved with this premier event for the Stage One Modifieds.

RESULTS:

All Star Slingshots: Taylor Mills, Jared Silfee, Austin Silfee, Cody Kline, Tyler Peet, Josh Marcus, Samantha Muller, Ashley Kober, Tanner VanDoren, Greg Zellman, Mike Taylor, Dale Kober, Alan Kober, John Gilroy Jr, Tanner Jones, Amanda Buchel, CJ Fritz, Troy Langendoerfer, Rachel Dickinson, Emily Fleming, Cole Stangle, Tess Horvath, Corey Zielinski (DNS)

Hampton RV And Trailer Stage One Modifieds: Joel Smith, Cody Motto, Cole Stangle, Anthony Recchio, Joel Price, Amanda Buchel, Mark Corna, Michael Samony, Mark Evans, John Mirabelli, Mike Jablonka, Evan Civick, Mark Connelly, Andrew Vreeland, John Bachetti Sr, John Bachetti Jr, Jasper Ziegafuse

Wingless 270cc Sprints: Tyler Ulrich, Alex Reinsmith, Glenn Macomber, Kyle Ferrucci, Don Schmidt

JPA Masonry Wingless 600cc Sprints: Damon Paul, Danny Buccafusca, Mick D'Agostino, Doug Snyder, Eddie Strada, Chad Sandt, Tyler Ulrich, Jacob Balliet, Joel Smith, Ryan Neil, Joseph Smith, Colin White, Adam Huff, Mack Brink, Duane White, JD Casazza, Jake Roberts, Jason Muldowney, Jared Lilly, Cody Smith, Kenny Miller

Junior Slingshots: Jake Mason, Adam Buchel, Ryan Conrad, Shelby McLaughlin, James Costlow, Tyler Banks, Joey Kalafut, James Hendricks, John Kendall, Tanner VanDoren, James Benz, Austin Homan, JJ Rice, Mikey Johannes, Abby Yates

Super Slingshots: Mike Taylor, Jim Conroy, John Gilroy, Dale Kober, Greg Zellman

JPA Masonry Rookie 600cc Wingless Sprints #1: Joey Amantea, Tony Parlanti, Joe Nemeth, Ryan Lacoe, Jason Muldowney, Cody Powell, Chloe Andreas, Aidan Borden, Ryan Stangle, Mike Traver, Dennis Chamberlain

JPA Masonry Rookie 600cc Wingless Sprints #2: Paul Richards Jr, Noah Zielinski, Zack Weisenfluh, Macy Litchauer, Carmen Leggio Sr, Savannah Leggio, Jack Hanna, Dennis Stawinski Jr, Ron Bosga, Rich Maguire, Tyler Lindsey

Hampton RV & Trailers Sales Stage One Modifieds: (Heldover Event): Joel Smith, Cole Stangle, Cody Motto, Andrew Vreeland, Joel Price, John Mirabelli, Amanda Buchel, Mike Jablonka, Evan Civick, Mark Corna, John Bachetti Jr, Jasper Ziegafuse, Anthony Recchio

Racing every Saturday evening from April through September. The next event on the Hamlin Speedway schedule is set for September 2nd when all regular divisions will be in action and highlighted by the Hampton RV & Trailer Sales Stage One Modifieds competing in the Roy Smith Memorial as the speedway pays tribute to one of the great pioneers of Modified racing. The event will follow a dual heat format. An All Star Slingshot event from August 19th will be made up as well.

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