On September 29th 43 Xcel Chassis 600 modifieds signed in for the Annual Bill Hess Memorial 50 along with a 1,000 paycheck. Lindas Speedway delivered a racy track giving the modifieds plenty of racing grooves so the question would be "Who would make the right choice?"
Rodney Adams, piloting the family owned #6 sponsored Glens Towing, timed trial at a 13.95 but was not enough to beat out the #24 of Sean Weiss with a 13.87 earning Weiss a new right rear tire, donated by Doug Borger, for setting fast time on the 1/4 mile oval. First time invader Kailee Dimorier placed the #14 in 10th position with her time of 14.05 settling her nerves and looking forward to the heats.
Go fast or go home was on the minds of every driver before the first of 4 heats lined up with Nick Mady, Kasey Ernst, Butch Getz and Adams rounding out the heats. B Main winners Aaron Bowes and Jon Pepe closed qualifying and set the field.
Lester Dise returned to the track after a devastating fire derailed his racing for two years. Lester returned in grand fashion being the first 600 modified pace car in series history and earning the Best Appearing car award donated by Ashley Scott setting the pace for front row starters Nick Mady and Kasey Ernst. Mady wasted no time taking the top spot but would see his night end after only 3 laps due to a right rear flat. Ernst had garnered the top spot and quickly put almost half a straightaway lead over Adams only to pull pit side after 10 laps with mechanical problems under the caution flag.
Rodney knew heavy competition was coming with Richie Hitzler's Myerstown Beverage #9 and newly crowned 2012 Tour Champion Ryan Higgs right on his bumper. Adams would need to run the perfect lap each circuit to hold off Hitzler and Higgs. With 20 laps left in the books it was make or break time for Hitzler putting the nose just past Rodney's door but Adams had the momentum coming off the turns. Meanwhile Higgs had caught both front runners giving Hitzler a run for his money until the last caution set up a classis 5 lap battle to the big payday. Higgs had his hands full using everything the car had left chasing the leaders and focused on keeping his spot. Hitzler knew he had something left for leader Adams and showed some muscle on the next circuit only to have Adams close the door choosing the winning line for the next 5 laps to the checkered flag.
Coming from the back can always test the patience of any driver but for two guys it looked easy. Aaron Bowes and Jon Pepe started in 17th and 18th place qualifying thru the B Mains. Both drivers would break the top ten with Pepe taking 6th and Bowes with an 8th place finish. Abbey "The Abbinator" Price clinched Rookie of the Year for 2012 with the popular #9 Owl's Nest Gun & Bow Shop bringing home a respectable 18th place finish. Abbey accomplished two goals by night's end. The first was to finish all 50 laps in her first visit to Lindas Speedway and the second was to be the first female Rookie of the Year in series history.
After victory lane pictures and interviews were done, Rodney Adams stepped back and just let everything sink in. As the car was being teched he reflected on the night events " Man that was so much fun, the track was the best it's been all year and held up the entire night. I can't thank Xcel Chassis, Hoosier Tire, Lindas and my family enough for the support tonight and every time we hit the track. This is a group effort and without my family and friends I wouldn't be here." commented Adams, " I knew I would have to be spot on to hold Hitzler and Higgs off. I'm not gonna lie but when we hit lap traffic, it definitely amped it up a notch but everything fell in to place. I already heard it's my treat at the diner so now we go celebrate."
The next appearance for the Xcel Chassis tour will be October 13th at Penn Can Speedway, located in Susquehanna, Pa. for the King of the Can weekend. Will newly crowned tour Champion Ryan Higgs bring home another or will Butch Getz keep his perfect Penn Can streak alive.
FEATURE FINISH
RODNEY ADAMS, Richie Hitzler, Ryan Higgs, Sean Weiss, Eric Whitby, Jon Pepe, Butch Getz, Aaron Bowes, Ryan Suchon, Michael Burrows, Scott Washburn, Jeromy Guistwite, Jon Horn, Alec Bartholomew, Justin Schraden, Tim Bauer, Joe Fanelli, Abbey Price, Corry Roth, Chad Zornek, Ray Horning, Kasey Ernst, Will Eastman, Nick Mady, RJ Smith, Kory Inglin, John Lakatos, Jessica Weiss, Jordan Dreher, Shaun Horning, Chris Eckert, Eric Kaufman, Gary Suchy, Kailee Dimorier, Dave Ogin, Bruce Ginthler, Madison Brensinger, Jason Dunkleberger, Barry Breidegan, Ken Riland, Jordan Mohr, Ronnie Molnar, Lester Dise
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