Hodnett leads Pennsylvania Posse sweep of the podium
ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. - May 13, 2015 - A dominant Greg Hodnett led an all Pennsylvania Posse sweep of the podium during the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway on Wednesday night, as he claimed his first World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the season.
Hodnett was the driver to beat all night. Early on he scored his first quick time of the year. After being on the fortunate end of the Dash inversion draw, Hodnett scored the Dash win and started the night on the feature pole.
Through an early rash of cautions and an open red, Hodnett held off Stevie Smith and built on his position up front. By lap 14, Hodnett began working his way through lapped traffic. As the laps wound down, Stevie Smith, in second began catching Hodnett, but ended up with the more pressing issue of Ryan Smith behind him.
Hodnett crossed the finish line in first in his Lelands.com/Eagle Steel No. 27 car.
"This feels really good," Hodnett said. "If someone had ever said we would win an Outlaw race at Lincoln, I would have told them they were a liar. I struggle here. Getting a great draw in qualifying and taking advantage of it, obviously getting a good draw in the Dash, it's huge. We were fortunate enough to take advantage of it and pull it off with a win."
Following his win Wednesday night, Hodnett now has 14 career World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series wins. He passes Jason Sides and is now tied with Ron Shuman for 24th on the all-time wins list.
Stevie Smith, who stood in victory lane during at the Gettysburg Clash last season, closed out the night in second. Stevie Smith had his hands full throughout the feature from the 'Kunkletown Kid' Ryan Smith. Ryan Smith nearly had him on the start. As the field worked its way through several restarts through the first third of the feature, Ryan Smith worked to hold off a charging Brad Sweet and get around Stevie Smith.
Stevie Smith expanded the gap between he and Ryan Smith in the middle of the feature but as the two worked their way through lapped traffic, Ryan Smith caught up to him with his No. 94 Wurko Group car. For the final two laps, Stevie Smith tried to hold off Ryan Smith.
"I was running my butt of trying to catch the guy in front of me and then the last couple of laps I had to worry about getting passed," Stevie Smith said. "I heard something, I wasn't sure if it was one of the lap cars that we had passed, I had no idea who it was. I thought, you know what, I've done this before, I'm just going to move up and take his air and take his groove. I'm glad I did because I think he would have passed us."
Stevie Smith brought his No. 51S Miller Brothers Chevrolet car home in second.
Ryan Smith, who scored his first ever World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory last October at Port Royal Speedway, had not been to Lincoln yet this season.
"It was a good night," Smith said. "I got to Stevie there at the end and I knew I had to get him when I caught him there and I showed my nose and he took my air off. Great race - awesome race track. Glad to represent the Posse."
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series returns to action on Friday and Saturday as the battle between the Outlaws and Posse continues at Williams Grove Speedway. Bragging rights and the Morgan Cup are at stake as the two sides take on the historic half-mile oval. Tickets remain for the event. Find out more information and buy tickets by visiting http://woosprint.com/morgan-cup.
Follow the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.
Lincoln Speedway Notebook
RACE NOTES: Greg Hodnett led an all Pennsylvania Posse sweep of the podium Wednesday night, joining Stevie Smith and Ryan Smith… Tonight's win was the 14th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win of Hodnett's career, tying him with Ron Shuman for 24th on the all-time wins list… Greg Hodnett scored his first quicktime of the season Wednesday night… Donny Schatz was the night's KSE Racing Hard Charger, advancing 10 positions to finish in 15th.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Craig Dollansky; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Ryan Smith; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): Ryan Smith; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): David Gravel; Mobil 1 ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; Lincoln Welders ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Danny Dietrich; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman;Super Flow ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): Ryan Smith;KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Donny Schatz; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Ryan Smith;Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): Logan Schuchart; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Logan Schuchart; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Craig Dollansky
SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 8 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Stockton Dirt Track on March 21, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 28, Placerville Speedway on April 8, Calistoga Speedway on April 12, Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 26, Eldora Speedway on May 8, Eldora Speedway on May 9); Shane Stewart - 3 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, Keller Auto Speedway on April 17, Salina Highbanks Speedway on May 1); Rico Abreu - 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14, Stockton Dirt Track on March 22); Paul McMahan - 2 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 18, Tri-State Speedway on May 3); Daryn Pittman - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Antioch Speedway on March 29); Brad Sweet - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, Calistoga Speedway on April 11); Christopher Bell - 1 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on May 2); Brian Brown - 1 (USA Raceway on March 7); Greg Hodnett - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 13); Tim Kaeding - 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 13); Terry McCarl - 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5).
- administrator on May 14, 2015
- Article Date: 5/14/2015