News from The Fairgrounds at Kutztown Speedway

News from the Fairgrounds at Kutztown Speedway



Media Contact: Brett Deyo - 845.278.2781 or Deyo99H@aol.com



For Immediate Release/May 13, 2010



Jeff Hartman, Ross Perchak, Shannon Smith & Dylan Martin Open Kutztown 2010 Season With Goldie Meitzler Memorial Victories; Opening Night Beats The Weather



KUTZTOWN, PA - Jeff Hartman struck quickly on Wednesday night at the Fairgrounds at Kutztown Speedway.



Starting third, Hartman ripped into the lead on the opening circuit of the evening's 20-lap wingless 600cc Micro-Sprint feature and drove on to victory in the annual Goldie Meitzler Memorial Season Opener at the one-fifth-mile oval.



The Goldie Meitzler Memorial is organized annually by the Meitzler family, track promoters, to honor their family matriarch. Feature winners received custom, marble-based trophies and were joined by the Meitzler family in Victory Lane.



Hartman, of Flagtown, N.J., motored past pole starter Kyle Lick to lead the opening circuit in his No. 026 and opened an early advantage on the field. Meanwhile, eighth-starter Brett Michalski was making tracks forward in his No. 73B. Michalski arrived in third place at lap six and took second three circuits later.



Michalski ran down Hartman and applied pressure within the final five circuits. Hartman ultimately withstood all challenges and a restart with two laps remaining to post the victory.



Michalski was second, followed by Shane Lewis, Arron Spahr and ninth-starter Ryan Smith.



Tyler DeVault earned the 600Scene.com Hard Charger Award for his drive from 18th to place ninth.



Ross Perchak showed championship form in his 270cc Micro-Sprint 20-lap victory. The Hazleton, Pa., driver started sixth and drove his potent Perchak Trucking No. 4 to third by the completion of the opening lap. Perchak moved into second on lap two and chased down pole starter Richie Hartman, driving the RTS Chassis No. 2, completing the lead pass on lap five.



With the race's only two cautions flying on the opening lap, the leaders sliced through heavy traffic for much of the event.



Ryan Smith, up from fifth, pressured Perchak before pulling to the infield on lap 15.



Hartman reclaimed the runner-up spot and held it to the finish, ahead of Matt McAnally, Brandon Edgar and Andrew Dietrich.



Shannon Smith of Kunkletown, Pa., wired the field in the 20-lap Slingshot headliner, leading the entire distance from her pole starting spot. Smith had to withstand some pressure. Fourth-starting Jan Acker challenged for the top spot throughout the race's second half. Acker, Simon Egan (up from seventh), Mike Glass and Brett Bieber (recovering from an early incident) completed the front five.



Dylan Martin dominated the Junior Slingshot 20-lap feature. Martin held a straightaway-plus lead at the finish. Louden Reimert bested a three-car fight for second. Joseph Infante, T.J. Lilly and A.J. Gerhart trailed.



Racing resumes at the Fairgrounds at Kutztown Speedway next Wednesday (May 19) with wingless 600cc Micro-Sprints, 270cc Micro-Sprints, Slingshots and Junior Slingshots in competition.



Gates open at 4 p.m., with practice at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission for 2010 is as follows: Adults -$8; Students (10-17)/Seniors/Kutztown Residents with ID - $5; Kids under 10 - FREE. Pit admission is $20 (no membership required) and car registration is $20.



For further information on the Fairgrounds at Kutztown Speedway, contact Kerry Meitzler by phone at 610.683.8234 or Janelle Stump via e-mail at Racektown@aol.com. On the web: http://www.kutztownfairspeedway.com/.



FAIRGROUNDS FODDER: With cold temperatures, gusty winds and a light mist in the area, Kutztown management opted to press on with the season-opening program when significant rain subsided by noon. Officials kept the four-division program moving rapidly. The final checkered flew at 9:08 p.m., sending the drivers and spectators home early....



Smooth, tacky track conditions contributed to the fast-moving program. There were no red-flag stoppages during the night....



Despite the weather, car counts remained respectable at 32 270cc Micro-Sprints, 21 wingless 600cc Micro-Sprints, 14 Slingshots and eight Junior Slingshots (a first year division)....



Heat winners were Ryan Smith, Brian Carber and Brett Michalski (600cc); Ross Perchak, Ryan Smith and Brad Tabertshofer (270cc); Pete Knappenberger and Shannon Smith (Slingshot); and Dylan Martin (Junior Slingshot). Tom Schearer annexed the 270cc consolation....



Pete Knappenberger, who last year served as the Kutztown race director, stepped down from that position, returning to the Slingshot division as a driver. A heat winner, Knappenberger's feature run was felled by a fogged helmet shield....



Recently married husband and wife Mike and Kim Glass battled tooth-and-nail during the third 270cc heat race. After slight contact, Kim got the upper hand on Slingshot graduate Mike, placing fourth to Mike's fifth....



The evening marked the debut of the new feature lineup system for 2010. Inverts drawn by a young fan in the grandstands were 10 (600cc), six (270cc) and two (Slingshot)....



GOLDIE MEITZLER MEMORIAL NIGHT RACE SUMMARY - MAY 12, 2010



Wingless 600cc Micro-Sprint Feature Finish: JEFF HARTMAN, Brett Michalski, Shane Lewis, Arron Spahr, Ryan Smith, Tim Buckwalter, Brett Arndt, Jesse Hartman, Tyler DeVault, Doug Snyder, Colin McConnell, Ryan Greth, Shelby Harper, Mike Freed, Joe Kay, Ryan Stillwaggon, Brian Carber, Kyle Lick, John Wilbert IV, Ronald Lewis, Ben Quinones.



270cc Micro-Sprint Feature Finish: ROSS PERCHAK, Richie Hartman, Matt McAnally, Brandon Edgar, Andrew Dietrich, Brad Tabertshofer, Jay Hartman, Trevor Kobylarz, Tom Kunsman Jr., Tom Schearer, J.J. Uliana, Jared Kunkle, Tom Kunsman Sr., Billy Murphy, Dan Souder, Steve Lipina, Blaine Schlosser, Austin Burke, Tim Quinter, Ryan Smith, Kim Glass, Josh Pepe, Mike Glass, Louis Horvath.



Did Not Qualify: Melissa Seip, Charlie Stone, Phil Rupert, Ronald Helmrick, Dan Cogdill, Amanda Quinones, John Pepe, Steve Walters.



Slingshot Feature Finish: SHANNON SMITH, Jan Acker, Simon Egan, Mike Glass, Brett Bieber, Jordan Henn, Matt Miller, John Strupp, Pete Knappenberger, Matthew Langbein, Ben Rabenold, Brad Arnold, Anthony Schlosser, Travis Bieber.



Junior Slingshot Feature Finish: DYLAN MARTIN, Louden Reimert, Joseph Infante, T.J. Lilly, A.J. Gerhart, Ryan Raidline, Clint Miller, Joey Sensenig.