Holtgraver Sprints To Homecoming, Ed Feree Tops Late Models at PPMS

Imperial, PA: The Pittsburgh Kid, Danny Holtgraver, concluded a busy week of Sprint Car racing by coming home for a non-sanctioned Sprint Car special at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. He started the week by earning his first career win at the fabled Eldora Speedway, a track that many say rival Dirt’s Monster Half Mile for the sheer speed attained in the winged warriors. It was Holtgraver’s fifth career triumph at the track.

Ed Ferree earned his 33rd career Super Late Model victory at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Andrew Wylie led wire to wire in the RUSH Crate Late Models, getting his first at the track in roughly a year. Jeff Broniszewski copped the DIRTcar Sportsman feature. Steve Pyeritz and Michael Jackson prevailed in the Hobby Stocks and Young Guns, respectively.

Holtgraver jumped out to the early lead, and he rapidly pulled away from Brandon Spithaler, his partner on the front row. Holtgraver’s run to the checkers was only interrupted on one occasion, though, by a crash in turn two on the third lap.

Francis Sesco flipped his car, but he climbed from it on his own power. Also involved in the wreck were Sheila Rankin and Bob McMillin. Neither of them were injured. The accident happened in front of the leader, but Holtgraver was able to thread his way through the accident scene, and the rest of the field followed his path.

Holtgraver led Carl Bowser and Spithaher to the green flag again. He completed the remaining 17 laps without incident, building up a substantial lead in the process. Bowser was a distant second. Placing third was veteran Danny Smith, one of the few invaders on hand. A.J. Flick scored a career best fourth place finish in this, his rookie season in a Sprint Car. Brandon Spithaler held on for fifth.

Jack Sodeman, Jr. was sixth, after running as high as fourth in the event. Brandon Matus motored home in seventh. Ralph Spithaler turned in a creditable eighth place run. Adam Kekich and North Carolina’s Lance Moss were the ninth and tenth place finishers.

Sodeman, Bowser, and Danny Smith paced the heat races. There was no B Main.

In the Super Late Models, Davey Murdick bolted out front, with Jim Stephans and Ed Feree trailing him. Murdick’s rapid pace took its toll on his tires, and Stephans began to close in around the halfway mark.
With ten to go, Murdick was getting a challenge from Stephans on the low side. Ferree was stalking the lead duo and he snuck past Stephans entering the first turn on lap 16. In just one more round, Ferree passed Murdick in the same area of the track. Ferree sped away to his first win at the track since 2002.
His son, Alex, made strong moves in the final laps to take second. Murdick held on for third, with Stephans fourth and Ben Miley a close fifth. John Mollick and Derek Stefanick completed the field. Tom Bateman was an early returee.

The pair of heat wins went to Alex Ferree and Mollick. There was no B Main.

The opening lap of the RUSH Late Model feature was marred by a three-car tangle entering the third turn. In the melee, track favorite Daryl Charlier clobbered the tire barrier and guardrail at the entry to the pits. He climbed from the car unscathed. However, a spectator required medical attention and was transported to a local hospital.

When racing resumed, Andrew Wylie jumped out to the lead, with Sprint Car ace Tim Shaffer running in second. Tommy Schirnhofer, Nico Dabecco, Mark Moats, and Jason Rider were close behind. As Wylie opened up the lead, Dabecco worked his way into second, and the chase was on.

The duo pulled away from the rest of the field with ease. Shaffer continued in third, ahead of Moats, Schirnhofer, and Rider.

The race came down to a two-car affair, with Dabecco closing in as the laps counted down. Dabecco saved his best for last, and he charged into the third corner for the final time with plenty of speed. However, Wylie had momentum on his side, and he came off the highbanks of turn four with a slight margin. He barely edged out the youthful pilot by a scant .045 seconds.

Shaffer took third, with Schirnhofer and Moats completing the top five. Rider led Josh Holtgraver to the line for sixth. Russ Kolesar came from the back of the grid to get eighth. Michael Reft and Ben Policz completed the top ten.

Corey McPherson put on an impressive charge, coming from the final row to fourth before a mechanical problem sent him to the pits with just a pair of laps left in the contest.

Heat winners were Moats and Holtgraver. There was no B Main.

Jeff Broniszewski passed early leader Pat Weldon and held off a fast closing Jake Simmons to take the DIRTcar Sportsman feature. Nick Kocuba made a strong inside move to take third away from Christian Schneider on the final lap around the big track. Todd Weldon was fifth. Pat Weldon, Ricky Steigerwald, Brian Huchko, Jim Ball, and Mark Lee completed the top ten.

Simmons and Broniszewski scored the preliminary wins.

Steve Pyeritz doubled his fun, taking the top honors in the heat and feature for the Hobby Stocks. Dave Sheriff and Hannah Ramsey trailed him.

Michael Jackson won the two lap dash to the finish of the Young Guns race. O.B. Huff and Devin Black challenged hom for the win. Karlee Kovacs, Jarrett Sugar, David Ostrander, Mark Simmons, and Dale Tuche completed the field.

Sprint Cars: Danny Holtgrave, Carl Bowser, Danny Smith, A.J. Flick, Brandon Spithaler, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Brandon Matus, Ralph Spithaler, Adam Kekich, Lance Moss, Brad Howard, Brent Matus, Charlie Cornelius, Mike Lutz, David Smith, Bob McMillin, Francis Sesco, Sheila Rankin, Dan Kuriger (DNS), Gary Rankin (DNS), Bobbi Rankin (DNS).

Super Late Models: Ed Ferree, Alex Ferree, Dave Murdick, Jim Stephans, Ben Miley, John Mollick, Derek Stefanick, Tom Bateman, Colton Flinner (DNS), Bill Yohe (DNS).

RUSH Late Models: Andrew Wylie, Nico Dabecco, Tim Shaffer, Tommy Schirnhofer, Mark Moats, Jason Rider, Josh Hotgraver, Russ Kolesar, Michael Reft, Ben Policz, William Stile, Justin Lamb, Cory McPherson, Jeff Haynes, Tony White, Paul Jablonski, Daryl Cahrlier, Chad Ruhlman (DNS).

DIRTcar Sportsman: Jeff Broniszewski, Jake Simmons, Nick Kocuba, Christian Schneider, Todd Weldon, Pat Weldon, Ricky Steigerwald, Brian Huchko, Jim Ball, Mark Lee, Vince Laboon (DNS).
Hobby Stock: Steve Pyeritz, Dave Sheriff, Hannah Ramsey.

Young Guns: Michael Jackson, O.B. Huff, Devin Black, Karlee Kovacs, Jarrett Sugar, David Ostrander, Mark Simmons, Dale Tuche.