Susquehanna Speedway Park
July 21, 2012
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Gene Knaub Wins Second of the Season at SSP on Saturday Night; Barr Wins Super Sportsman Main Event 

Newberrytown, PA (July 21, 2012) – On a night honoring the champions of the former Silver Spring Speedway, Dover's Gene Knaub won the 25-lap Late Model feature event as part of the Silver Spring Speedway Racer’s Reunion on Saturday Night at the Susquehanna Speedway Park.  Mike Zeigler Jr. of Spring Grove won the 25-lap Super Sportsman Tour feature.  Rick Barr won the 25-lap Super Sportsman Tour feature.  The EMMR Vintage Cars also participated in an on and off track exhibition on Saturday night.
 
Both the Susquehanna Speedway Park and Silver Spring Speedway began racing back in 1954.  Both tracks have a long history of great racing and could be considered “sister tracks” as they ran many of the same divisions throughout the years.  They were even both owned and operated by members of the Kreitzer family at one time or another.   Silver Spring Speedway owner’s Will Kreitzer owned and operated Susquehanna for two years (1969 & 1970) and his son Alan did the same from 1990 to 1992.  Today, Silver Spring Speedway no longer exists however many of its drivers now call Susquehanna Speedway Park home.

Ground was broken for Silver Spring Speedway, a 3/8 mile clay oval in the fall of 1953, when the PENNMAR Racing Club approached Cumberland County businessman Ray Garver Sr. about building a racetrack for the club. By the following summer in 1954, the new speedway was ready for racing action and an era of great weekly side-by-side racing action was born.
The 25-lap Late Model feature began with J.R. Rodriguez taking the lead from the pole position on the start.  Chase Billet challenged Rodriguez for the top spot until sixth place starter Gene Knaub took over the runner-up spot.  Knaub continued to stalk Rodriguez lap after lap until lap 16 when Rodriguez slid high coming out of four, giving the lead to Knaub.  After that, Knaub never looked back and went on to record his second win of the season in as many starts.   Chase Billet settled in the runner-up spot at the end with Justin Ehrhart making a late race charge to finish in third.  Carl Billet finished fourth followed by Rodriguez in fifth.  John Moser Jr. finished eleventh and claimed $50.00 as the JR's Paving Hard Charger award after starting the race in twenty-first.  Billy Wampler, Chase Billet, Knaub and Ehrhart were the heat race victors.  John Moser Jr. was the consolation race winner.
 
From the second row, Mike Zeigler Jr. took the early lead of the Street Stock 20-lapper.  In what many have termed as one of the best Street Stock races of the year, the top five raced “under a blanket” for the majority of the race.  In a wild scramble for the checkered flag at the finish, Mike Zeigler Jr. held on for the win.  Scott Thunberg finished close behind Zeigler in the runner-up spot.  Jasen Geesaman finished in the third position followed by Jim Palm Jr. and Randy Zechman in fourth and fifth places respectively.  Doug Bennett, Palm and Geesaman were heat race winners.
 
The 25-lap Super Sportsman Tour feature event took four tries to complete the initial start, but once things got underway, Dave Berkheimer took command of the lead.  With three and four wide racing behind the leader, Frankie Herr made his from a fifth place starting spot and into the lead on lap ten.  With another victory well with in sights, the caution flag flew on lap 24 to come down to a one lap shoot-out for the victory.  During the caution flag laps, Herr slowed on the backstretch, relinquishing the lead to Rick Barr under the yellow.  On the restart, Barr went on to win his first of the season over Russ Mitten who charged from a ninth place starting spot.  Scott Dellinger finished third, followed by Steve Fannasy and Carmen Perigo Jr. in fourth and fifth.  Heat race winners were won by Scott Geesey, Frankie Herr, Dave Berkheimer and and Barr.  The consolation was won by Duane Smith.
 
Susquehanna Speedway Park “Big Track”
Race Results from Saturday, July 21, 2012

Late Models Feature (25 laps): 1. Gene Knaub; 2. Chase Billet; 3. Justin Ehrhart; 4. Carl Billet; 5. J.R. Rodriguez; 6. Billy Wampler; 7. Bob Minnich; 8. Scott Richwine; 9. Randy Stoudt; 10. Steve Billet; 11. John Moser Jr.; 12. Eric Irvin; 13. Randy Christine Jr.; 14. Paul Cursey; 15. Rance Garlock; 16. Rick Wilson; 17. Ben Whitaker; 18. Matt Adams; 19. Denny Willey; 20. Steve Stitt; 21. Jeff King; 22. Grant Adams; 23. Travis Mease; 24. Bobby Weaver; DNQ – Devin Frey; Doug Wetler; D.J. Groft; Eric Markle; Dan Zechman; Matt Murphy; Larry Neiderer; Eddie Drury; Roger Myers; Ron Coleman.  
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Rodriguez (1-14); Knaub (15-25).
JR'S PAVING HARD CHARGER: John Moser Jr. (+10 positions: 21st start / 11th finish).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Wampler; Ehrhart; Knaub and Chase Billet.
CONSOLATION RACE: Moser.
 
Street Stocks Feature (20 laps): 1. Mike Zeigler Jr.; 2. Scott Thunberg; 3. Jasen Geesaman; 4. Jim Palm Jr.; 5. Randy Zechman; 6. Matt Wampler; 7. Brandin Ort; 8. Brian Rehbein; 9. Steve Lowery; 10. Chris Derr; 11. David Latsha; 12. Jaynee Zeigler; 13. Kevin Heckman; 14. Jeff Haag; 15. Doug Bennett; 16. Jake Moser; 17. Michelle Walls; 18. Tim Drawbaugh; 19. Greg Emlet Sr.; 20. Bob Scott; DNS – George Eash; Scott Sipe.  
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Zeigler Jr. (1-20).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Bennett; Palm Jr. and Geesaman.
 
Super Sportsman Feature (25 laps): 1. Rick Barr; 2. Russ Mitten; 3. Scott Dellinger; 4. Steve Fannasy; 5. Carmen Perigo Jr.; 6. Dave Berkheimer; 7. Bobby Hockenberry; 8. Eric Walker; 9. Jim Shuster; 10. Paul Miller; 11. Scott Geesey; 12. John Wolfe; 13. Jaremi Harrison; 14. Frankie Herr; 15. Gary Johnston; 16. Greg Foster; 17. Ryan Slothauer; 18. Dave Socks; 19. Duane Smith; 20. Ken Keyton; 21. Stan Wanner; 22. Steve Wilbur; 23. Mike Enders; 24. Jay Fannasy; DNQ – Lanny Hake; Jeff Leisey; Eric Eckert; Leroy Martin; Cory Shifflett; Tom Wycliff; David Conrad; Brian Gontz; Jim Hulse; Cody Fairchok; Doug Dotson.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Berkheimer (1-8); Herr (9-24); Barr (25).
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Geesey; Herr; Berkheimer and Barr.
CONSOLATION WINNER: Smith.