Susquehanna Speedway Park
May 12, 2012
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Knaub Wins Steel Block Bandits Late Model Feature Event at SSP on Saturday Night

by Todd Fisher
Newberrytown, PA (May 12, 2012) – Dover’s Gene Knaub picked up the 30-lap feature win with a last lap pass in the first-ever Steel Block Bandits Late Model race at the Susquehanna Speedway Park on Saturday night.  Knaub claimed $1,500 for his effort.  Doug Bennett of Chambersburg won the 20-lap Street Stock feature, but all results are unofficial until later this week following post-race technical inspections.  Donnie Broderick of Lancaster was victorious in the Xtreme Stock Car feature event.  Ben Murphy won the Sidewinder Sprint Car 20-lapper.  York Haven’s Sherry Kitner won the 10-lap Women on Wheels Mini Van feature event.      
 
The 30-lap Steel Block Bandits Late Model Series feature began with polesitter Chase Billet taking the early lead over Andy Fries.  Fries scooted by on lap 3.  After a few cautions midway through the race, Tyler Armstrong pursued Fries as veteran driver Gene Knaub moved from an 11th place starting position into third.  Knaub moved past Armstrong and began challenging Fries.  Over the final ten laps Fries and Knaub ran side-by-side lap after lap with Fries leading each time by the flagstand.  On the final lap, Knaub finally took command of the top spot off turn four and secured the victory over Fries.  Armstrong settled for a close third.  Randy Stoudt won the JR’s Paving Hard Charger award moving up 11 spots from a 15th place starting spot to finish fourth.  Early leader Chase Billet rounded out the top five.  Glenn Elliott, Chase Billet, Bernie Beard and Andy Fries were the heat race winners.
 
Doug Bennett went from fourth to first on the first lap of the 20-lap Street Stock feature to lead every lap until the end.  However, Bennett failed the post-race technical inspection.  Bennett is currently appealing the ruling.    If this appeal is denied, it would give Randy Zechman the feature victory over polesitter Scott Thunberg.    Sam Rial finished fourth but was also disqualified for an illegal aluminum center section.  Fifth place finisher Mike Zeigler Jr. was also disqualified for an illegal exhaust system and is also currently appealing the situation.  If all post-race tech rulings stand, Jaynee Zeigler will have finished third, with Tommy Slanker and Jasen Geesaman rounding out the top five.  A final decision will be made later this week.  Thunberg and Palm were heat race victors.
 
Polesitter Donnie Broderick wired the field from the start to win the 20-lap Xtreme Stock Car feature event over Johnny Palm.  Chad Stine finished third with Patrick McClane and Adam Smith rounding out the top five.  Dave Kamp was the Madison House Hard Charger by going from an 16th place starting spot to finish in 7th.  Heat races were claimed by Smith and Broderick.
 
Ben Murphy claimed the 20-lap Sidewinder Sprint feature over Joe Robertson.  Jason Stahl claimed third, with Seth Kearchner and Alex Schanz rounding out the top five.  Reed Saloney and Brad Gleeson won the heat race.
 
Sherry Kitner took the lead on lap 4 to win the 10-lap Women on Wheels Mini Van feature over Alyssa Landis.  
 
Racing action returns to the Big Track on Saturday night, May 19 with the 58th Anniversary Night/ Oldtimer’s Reunion race featuring the Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars, Road Warriors, Mini Vans and PENNMAR Vintage Cars.  It will also be SSP’s annual York County Racing Club night.  The track will return to its 7:00 p.m. start time for the rest of the spring/summer.  The pit gates will open at 4:30 p.m.  Grandstand gates will open at 5:00 p.m.  Warm-ups begin at 6:40 p.m. with qualifying races at 7:00 p.m. followed by consolation races and feature events.    
 
General Admission Grandstand ticket prices for the special event on Saturday night are Adults (ages 18-59) $12.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $10.00; Children (10 & under) are free.  Pit pass prices are $25.00 with a reduced price of $22.00 for all pit competitor license holders.  The minimum age requirement to purchase a pit pass is 12 years of age with a copy of a birth certificate is required for all ages 12 to 14.   
 
Susquehanna Speedway Park Race Results from Saturday, May 12, 2012

Steel Block Bandits Late Models Feature (30 laps): 1. Gene Knaub; 2. Andy Fries; 3. Tyler Armstrong; 4. Randy Stoudt; 5. Chase Billet; 6. Billy Wampler; 7. Walker Arthur; 8. Denny Bonebrake; 9. Sean Merkel ; 10. Rick Hulson; 11. Roy Miller; 12. Randy Christine Jr.; 13. Kyle Lear; 14. J.R. Rodriguez; 15. John Baker; 16. John Moser Jr.; 17. Billy Beacher; 18. Glenn Elliott; 19. Chaz Walls; 20. Carl Billet; 21. Grant Adams; 22. Bernie Beard; 23. Chris Knopp; 24. Wes Bonebrake; 25. Derrick Zirkle; DNQ – D.J. Groft; Walter Crouch; Bobby Beard; Jared Miller; Bruce Kane; Jake Jones; Jamie Lloyd; Matt Adams; Dan Zechman; Denny Willey; Eddie Drury; Daniel Sneed; Justin Ehrhart; Scott Palmer.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Chase Billet (1-2); Fries (3-29); Knaub (30).
JR’S PAVING HARD CHARGER: Randy Stoudt (+11 spots).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Elliott; Chase Billet; Fries; Bernie Beard.
CONSOLATION WINNERS: Hulson and Carl Billet.
 
Street Stocks Feature (20 laps): All results unofficial pending appeals.  
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Thunberg and Palm.
 
Xtreme Stock Car Feature (20 laps):  1. Donnie Broderick; 2. Johnny Palm; 3. Chad Stine; 4. Patrick McClane; 5. Adam Smith; 6. Mike Goodwin; 7. Dave Kamp; 8. Davey Nester; 9. Tim Hahn; 10. Eric Flinchbaugh; 11. Dave Goode Sr.; 12. Dan Snyder; 13. Kyle Emig; 14. Cameron Benyou; 15. Shane Stambaugh; 16. Josh Bloom.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Broderick (1-20).
MADISON HOUSE HARD CHARGER: Dave Kamp (+9 spots).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Broderick and Smith.
 
Sidewinder Sprints Feature (20 laps):  1. Ben Murphy; 2. Jason Stahl; 3. Seth Kearchner; 4. Alex Schanz; 5. Zach Overmiller; 6. Mike Zelionis; 7. Jerry Strausbaugh; 8. Rohan Beasley; 9. Brendon Bright; 10. Chris Crull; 11. Adam Meier; 12. Brad Gleeson; 13. Reed Saloney; DQ – Joe Robertson; DNS – Brandon Yarlett; Mike Murphy; Christian Wright.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Saloney (1-4); Bright (5-17); Murphy (18-20).
HEAT RACE WINNER: Saloney and Gleeson.  
 
Women on Wheels Mini Van Feature (10 laps):  1. Sherry Kitner; Alyssa Landis.  
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Landis (1-3); Kitner (4-10).