Spence Gifts 270 Race to Rutherford After Leading 29 of 30 Laps
Newmanstown, PA - Kyle Spence had a very busy night on Saturday, July 1st, at Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway. For a time, it appeared that Spence would enjoy a very profitable evening, too, but it didn't quite work out as he'd planned or hoped it would.
The driver from Bear, Delaware, did crank out his fourth straight 600 Sprint victory at the Clyde, steering Gary Hunter's No. 7h to the Hyper Racing Wingless 600 triumph in the 30-lap Firecracker Frenzy A-Main. He quickly buckled into his family owned No. 25 for battle in the USAC/ARDC Midget's Star Spangled Havoc feature, but fell out of that one while challenging for third position. And then came the Viper Chassis Wingless 270 Clash at the Clyde, where Spence led 29 of the 30 laps before mechanical gremlins sidelined him and handed the victory to Mike Rutherford.
The 270 win was Rutherford's fourth consecutive triumph in that division at the Clyde, and it was a very emotional victory for the Lititz, Pa. wheel-twister. His dad, Rich, passed away unexpectedly just six days earlier.
With a wing or without, in Gary Hunter's car or his dad's 600 Sprint, it really doesn't matter right now because Kyle Spence is locked in and incredibly fast, and he's made the Clyde his personal playground.
Spence started on the pole of the Firecracker Frenzy Wingless 600 A-Main by virtue of winning the first heat race. He had Jason Swavely alongside him on the front row, but it was Spence who bolted to the early lead - a lead he would not relinquish during the entire 30-lap affair.
Swavely had several opportunities to challenge the leader on restarts, but Spence simply charged out, each time, to a fairly comfortable advantage. As Swavely pedaled hard to keep pace with the leader, Jim Radney and ninth-starting Mike Rutherford waged an entertaining, almost race-long battle for third. With the laps winding down, Rutherford had to suddenly back out of the throttle in traffic, allowing Heath Hehnly to sneak by him and take over fourth position.
The wildest battle was a four-car slide-fest for sixth place between Ryan Groff, Jimmy Glenn, 21st starter Bradley Brown, and 19th starting Nash Ely. That four-car positon-swapping tango lasted for much of the second half of the 30-lapper, with Groff finally holding off Brown for sixth.
At the checkered, Spence charged past the flagstand by 0.347-seconds over Swavely, with Radney earning third-place money. Hehnly held off Rutherford for fourth.
Rutherford registered the quickest lap in group time trials, followed by Billy Koch and Hehnly.
Four heats were contested by the 35 Wingless 600 Sprints, and the winners included Spence, Swavely, Ryan Groff, and Jimmy Glenn. The B-Main winner was Bradley Brown.
The Viper Chassis Wingless 270 Clash at the Clyde belonged to Spence, too, before his untimely mechanical issues. He also started on the pole of this A-Main, like he did in the 600 headliner, and Swavely joined him on the front row for this one as well.
Spence blasted away from the field as Swavely fought with Nick Skias and Mike Rutherford for the runner-up position. A few early yellows prevented Spence from opening a huge lead, and Swavely - after he secured second place - began harrassing the leader at both ends of the speedway. On a restart with seven revolutions complete, Spence bobbled a bit in turn two and Swavely pounced on his opportunity to wrestle the top spot away from Spence.
Swavely had a nose in front as lap eight was scored, but Spence rallied back on the inside to reclaim the lead on the ninth trip around the clay. Spence then accelerated away from Swavely and the rest of the pack, looking like a sure winner as the laps clicked off.
With two to go, Rutherford slipped past Swavely for second on the homestretch...and that would turn into the winning pass as, just seconds later, Spence suddenly and dramatically slowed in turns one and two. He coasted to a stop on the back chute, bringing out the yellow and forcing a one-lap shootout.
Rutherford held off Swavely to record his fourth straight 270 triumph at the Clyde, his sixth of the year overall, and his second wingless victory of the season.
Josh Stoyer wound up third, with Pete Skias and Cameron Bellinger rounding out the top five.
With 28 of the Wingless 270's entered on Saturday, three qualifying heats were run and the winners were Spence, Swavely, and Rutherford. Starting spots in the heat races were determined by Group Time Trials, and Tyler Ulrich set quick time over Swavely and Rutherford.
The Wingless 270 B-Main victory went to Dallas Schott.
The point battles resume this Saturday, July 8, as the wings go back onto the roll cages of the Hyper Racing 600's and the Viper Chassis 270 Sprints. They will be joined by the Sportsman, 125cc, and the HammerDown Engines 250cc Four-Strokes in qualifying heats, consolations, and 25-lap features.
Gates open at 4:30 with warm-ups at 6 p.m.The first heat race goes green at 7:00.
Come on out and LIVE the excitement that is Lanco!
RESULTS:
Hyper Racing Wingless 600 Sprints: Firecracker Frenzy A-Main, 30 Laps:1.Kyle Spence, 2.Jason Swavely, 3.Jim Radney, 4.Heath Hehnly, 5.Mike Rutherford, 6.Ryan Groff, 7.Bradley Brown, 8.Jimmy Glenn, 9.Nash Ely, 10.Austin Quick, 11.Danny Stratton, 12.Brandon Heist, 13.Bruce Ginther Jr., 14.Brandon Pavel, 15.Shaun Brandel, 16.Kyle Lick, 17.Hunter James, 18.Billy Koch, 19.Jarid Kunkle, 20.Greg Stevens, 21.James Morris, 22.Mark Landwher, 23.Will Urkuski, 24.Will Butler.
DNQ:Mike Meyers, Nick Sweigart, Jeff Stelter, Hunter Metzger, Kassidy Michael, Logan Spahr, Don Hess, Nathan Smith, Holden Eckman, Mike Linderman, Steve Whary.
Viper Chassis Wingless 270 Sprints: Clash at the Clyde A-Main, 30 Laps:1.Mike Rutherford, 2.Jason Swavely, 3.Josh Stoyer, 4.Pete Skias, 5.Cameron Bellinger, 6.Tajae Adams, 7.Brent Shearer, 8.Dallas Schott, 9.Tyler Ulrich, 10.Adam Harnish, 11.Kyle Spence, 12.AJ Gerhart, 13.Corey Schmuck Jr., 14.Ricky Sechrist, 15.Kenny Miller III, 16.Jarrett Imler, 17.Brian Sholley, 18.Austin Graby, 19.Devin Adams, 20.Adam Minzer, 21.Zack Hollinger, 22.Nick Skias, 23.Toby Blumenshine, 24.Dan Lane Jr.
DNQ:Brian Boyer, Anthony Yerger, Alex Funari, Mike Skias.
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