Walp Wins at Trail-Way Speedway
Walp scores at Trail-Way
2019-07-14 15:38:17
John Walp became the PA Sprint Series’ third multiple feature winner of 2019 Friday night with a wire-to-wire victory in the 25-lap feature at Trail-Way Speedway.
The PASS/IMCA sprint tour continues the weekend’s action with racing Saturday night at Path Valley Speedway, where the Wingless Super Sportsman cars, 270 and 600cc micro sprints, 4-cylinder thunder cars and 4-cylinder strictly stocks also are on the schedule.
The 20-year-old Wapwallopen racer, PASS/IMCA’s 2017 rookie-of-the-year, took full advantage of a single-file start – following three unsuccessful start attempts the traditional, double-file way – held off a determined charge by Tom Carberry and put his GMS Piling Products/La Napoli II Pizza/Dotzel Trucking #5 in victory lane for the second time this year.
Jake Frye (Shope’s Landscape Maintenance/McCarthy Tire & Auto/RS Mechanical Services #56) closed the gap on Walp over the last five laps of the race but settled for second, the second runner-up finish in the last three races for the Lewisberry high school student.
Dylan Shatzer (Hagerstown, Md.; Harshman Racing Engines/Kline’s Auto Body/D&D Auto Recycling #75) finished third, making a successful return to competition following a highway accident earlier this year – and giving the top three positions to drivers under age 21.
Jaremi Hanson (Dillsburg; Harrisburg Heat/Blazer’s Body Shop #36) finished fourth, and Tom Carberry (Hopewell, N.J.; RAS Processing Equipment #1) was fifth.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Larry McVey (Bordentown, N.J. #83), Zach Newlin (Millerstown; Smith Concrete & Construction/Heather Sims Realtor/Newport VFW #11Z), Tyler Reinhardt (Elmer, N.J.; Absolute Air Heating & Cooling/Safeguard Property Solutions/Hurst Motorsports #4), Dave Grube II (York Haven; Spearhead Rentals/MAN Contracting/Chiropractic Athletic #3D) and Doug Dodson (Middletown; PowerMist Racing Fuels/Crockett Log Homes/Fastener Specialties #20).
Starting the race proved difficult, with three efforts ending in caution before half a lap had been completed. On the second attempt, five cars piled up in the first turn, with Keith Prutzman (Hamburg; Buck Rubs Gentlemen’s Club/McKeansburg Bar & Restaurant #28) tipping over. No drivers were injured, but Prutzman and Devin Adams (Lebanon; Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel/Adams Auto Sales/Garden Spot Auto Auction #99A) were done for the night.
Walp and Carberry had started ferocious battles for the lead on each start attempt, but when the fourth try went single-file, Walp was able to grab the top spot. Carberry battled and battled on the outside, pulling alongside Walp several times but unable to make the pass. On lap 20, the New Jersey driver’s extra effort put his car sideways and almost stopped in the second turn, and while he miraculously recovered and only lost three positions, his challenge for the win was over.
Walp and Reinhardt (making his first start of the year after an engine rebuild) claimed heat race wins for the 16-car field. Newlin moved from 14th starting spot to finish seventh, tops among the night’s hard chargers in a race that, after its difficulties starting, went non-stop to the finish.