Horstman Takes Waynesfield Summer Sprint Sizzler
4 min read
WAYNESFIELD, OH (7/3/16) – The first annual Summer Sprint Sizzler presented by K&L Ready Mix welcomed some of the best sprint car drivers in the Midwest to Waynesfield Raceway Park in Waynesfield, Ohio. A new era for the Independence Day weekend show saw four divisions on nothing but sprint cars ranging from 360 winged sprints to 1000cc mini sprint cars.
The K&L Ready Mix NRA Sprint Invaders were the headline for the Sunday program with 22 cars signing to compete for a $3000 payday. Devin Dobie of Wapakoneta, Ohio and Archbold, Ohio’s Kyle Sauder led the field to the opening green flag. Sauder took the lead into turn one and led the opening laps. Randy Hannagan, who was trying to go three or three in NRA action at Waynesfield muscled his way into the second spot with Jared Horstman following. Horstman found himself with the lead at the midpoint in the A-main. Just as Horstman began to pull away, Sauder made a run riding the top side of the racetrack. All four of Sauder’s wheels went over the cushion creating his own lane as he gained on Horstman.
Sauder retook the lead with 11 laps remaining. The lead was short lived as Horstman took the lead back on a slide job out of turn four with eight laps left on the leaderboard. Horstman held off Sauder to pick up the win. Kyle Sauder finished in second with Randy Hannagan coming home third. Butch Schroder, Hud Horton, and Shawn Dancer picked up the heat race victories. JR Stewart set a new track record in 360 winged sprints with a time of 10.723.
Waynesfield’s very own Performance Powder Coating AMSA Mini Sprints also had a field of 22 cars sign in to compete. The A-main was led to the opening green flag by a pair of Piqua, Ohio drivers, Becca Stiefel and Ryan Barr. Stiefel took the lead into turn one and began to pull away slightly from the field. This transitioned the focus to a battle for third between Ryan Barr and Ty Tilton. Tilton took his 42 to the bottom side trying to put a nose under Barr. Barr managed to put a block on the move exiting turn two where his car seemed to excel. The blocks were so close that Tilton had to jam the breaks on exiting turn two to avoid making contact with Barr. Rookie driver Bradley Ashford brought out the first caution of the night. The 4X machine went around exiting turn two. On the restart, Lima, Ohio driver Kobe Allison got a great jump and found himself in the runner up spot. Patience and determination paid off as Allison moved into the top spot with just over ten laps to go. Brad Strunk made a late race charge through the field but Allison was just too smooth giving him the win. Strunk came away second with Rod Henning finishing in third. Allison, Henning and Tilton all came away with heat race victories.
The Satellite Connections Non Wing Sprint cars used Independence Day weekend as a tune-up for the Dick Spencer Memorial Race just one week away. Landon Simon and Stratton Briggs led the field of twenty to the opening green flag. Simon won the drag race into turn one and led the opening lap. Cody Gardner brought out the first caution in the feature with just 3 laps in the books. Simon took the lead on the restart and began to catch lap traffic. Luke Hall started on the outside of row four and managed to get himself inside the top five. Hoosier tire rubber began to settle on the racing surface increasing lap times. Simon saw some of his fastest laps later the A-main than he had seen all night long. Two late race cautions would restack the field and give CJ Leary the opportunity to take another position with Kody Swanson right behind him. Landon Simon was no match for Matt Westfall giving him the A-main victory. Matt Westfall came home second. Josh Hodges came home third. Luke Hall, Stuart Brubaker, and Dallas Hewitt picked up the heat race wins. Kyle Simon won the B-main and a right rear tire courtesy of Hoosier Racing Tires.
The JLH Company General Contactor F.A.S.T 305 sprints returned for their second appearance at Waynesfield for the Independence Day weekend spectacle. Luke Griffith and Kyle Capodice led the field to the opening green flag in the A-main. Griffith took the slight lead into turn one and was scored as leading the opening lap. Kyle Capodice took the lead away and led the second lap. Paul Weaver wanted to be the third driver in the opening five laps of the feature to lead a lap. Weaver held the top spot for a brief moment when racing was brought to a caution by the 1X of Austin Dinan. Another caution came with just 12 laps to go as a group of cars connected exiting turn three. The final restart was a big one for Nate Dussel. Dussel, who started on the outside of row four, found his way into the second spot as the field closed in on the five to go signal. Paul Weaver picked up the victory with Nate Dussel coming home second with Kyle Capodice coming home third. Nate Dussel, Jeremiah Dahms, Alvin Roepke, and Paul Weaver picked up the heat race victories. Last year’s winner Steve Rando won the B-main.
The BOSS Non Wing sprint cars return for the 6th Annual Dick Spencer Memorial race next Saturday night, July 9th. The Waynefield Mini Sprints will go wingless for the event as they go head-to-head with the USAC Midgets. The Modifieds, Tough Trucks, and Compacts will also be on the program. Gates open at 4PM with racing following 7PM.
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