Dirt track racing — and sports in general, for that matter — is all about creating opportunities and then capitalizing on them.
Gunnar Walls did both of these things at Path Valley Speedway on Saturday night for the Jack Flowers Memorial.
Competing in the Limited Late Models, Chambersburg’s Walls first set himself up for success by zipping from fourth to second in his heat race. Then, after drawing the pole for the feature, Walls blasted off for victory over a field of drivers that included Greencastle’s DJ Myers (5th) and Mercersburg’s Treyton Lee (8th).
“I can’t thank all my family, friends, and sponsors enough for making all this happen,” Walls said on his racing Facebook page.
Logan Jones, of Greencastle, was just two laps away from Victory Lane in the East Coast Legends feature at Path Valley. Jones was running second and inherited the top spot when race leader Tyler Rampmeyer came to a stop on the front stretch. He held the lead until Jeremy Ott came in hot over the closing laps to swipe the win. For Ott, it was a triumph that sealed up his track championship with 286 points over Jones, who finishes with 270 points. Jones was followed to the finish line by Chambersburg’s Kelby Friese (5th) and St. Thomas’ Moses Goetz (10th).
Greencastle’s Bradyn Kuhn has had his share of rough patches at Path Valley this season, but on Saturday he had one of his better nights on the track. Kuhn won his heat race, and although he got unlucky by drawing the 10th-starting spot for the feature, he jumped seven spots in the main event to seize a spot on the podium. Zach Glass, of Fort Loudon, took fourth.
“We decided to continue experimenting with an engine platform that we had to abandon after the first race of the season due to unrelated issues,” Kuhn’s MBK Motorsports team posted on social media. “We have a lot more to fine tune and there’s a lot more power to be had, but we were very happy with the potential we saw.”
Also at Path Valley, Waynesboro’s Darren Kauffman (600 Sprints) and Eric Moats (Strictly Stocks) each landed 10th-place finishes in their respective races.
Fayetteville’s Roger Traxler and Waynesboro’s Bo Gordon Jr. both posted top-five finishes on the track last week. Traxler finished third in the Open 4 Cylinders at Linda’s Speedway, while Gordon claimed fifth in the 358 Sprints at Lincoln Speedway.
Hagerstown, Selinsgrove, and BAPS Motor Speedways all enjoyed a scheduled weekend off from racing.
Below is a track-by-track, feature-by-feature look at races from last weekend that included drivers from the LocalNews1.org coverage area:
Feature results
Lincoln Speedway
Wednesday, Sept. 30
410 Sprints (35 laps): 1. Chase Dietz (York), 2. Anthony Macri (Dillsburg), 3. Troy Wagaman Jr. (Hanover), 4. Matt Campbell (Fawn Grove), 5. Dallas Schott (York), 6. Brent Shearer (Manheim), 7. Ryan Smith (Fleetwood), 8. TJ Stutts (Liverpool), 9. Kyle Moody (Wellsville), 10. Danny Dietrich (Gettysburg), 11. Ryan Newton (Sunshine Coast, QLD), 12. Dylan Norris (Hanover), 13. Chad Trout (Dover), 14. Billy Dietrich (Aspers), 15. Ayden Hare (Hanover), 16. Lance Dewease (Fayetteville), 17. Preston Lattomus (Lewes, Del.), 18. Freddie Rahmer (Salfordville) DNF, 19. Tyler Ross (Lincoln University) DNF, 20. Brandon Rahmer (Salfordville) DNF, 21. Lucas Wolfe (Mechanicsburg) DNF, 22. Mike Thompson (Newtown) DNF, 23. Glenndon Forsythe (York) DNF, 24. Talan Haas (York) DNF.
358 Sprints (20 laps): 1. Jayden Wolf (Abbottstown), 2. Steve Owings (Westminster, Md.), 3. Logan Spahr (Lewisberry), 4. Bryn Gohn (York), 5. Bo Gordon Jr. (Waynesboro), 6. Ashley Cappetta (East Berlin), 7. Cody Fletcher (East Berlin), 8. Chase Robinson (Dover), 9. Brock Hammaker (Grantville), 10. Blake Ludwig (McSherrystown), 11. Cole Small (Quarryville), 12. Seth Schnoke (Pine Grove), 13. Wyatt Hinkle (East Berlin), 14. Shannon Slaughter (Lititz), 15. Dylan Orwig (York), 16. Tylar Rutherford (Wellsville) DNF, 17. Eli Tuckey (Biglerville) DNF, 18. Jacob Galloway (Gardners) DNF.
Linda’s Speedway
Friday, Oct. 2
Open 4 Cylinders (29 laps): 1. Chris Anderson (Rockhill), 2. Michael Wambold (Brodheadsville), 3. Roger Traxler (Fayetteville), 4. Chris Warren (Jonestown), 5. Shjon Dove (Annville), 6. Eric Hollenbach (Fredericksburg), 7. Shawn Kistler (New Ringgold), 8. Chucky Kimmel (Schuylkill Haven), 9. Ed Hollenbach (Fredericksburg), 10. Richard Sonnon (Lebanon), 11. Tyler Denike (New Oxford), 12. Wyatt Bates (Jonestown), 13. Andrew Davis (Jonestown), 14. Bubba Sonnon (Lebanon), 15. Michael Zombro (Lebanon), 16. Don Betres (Lebanon), 17. Jason Trumbo (Landingville), 18. Travis Semple (Mount Union).
Williams Grove Speedway
Friday, Oct. 2
410 Sprints (25 laps): 1. David Gravel (Watertown, Conn.), 2. Anthony Macri (Dillsburg), 3. Justin Peck (Monrovia, Ind.), 4. Michael Kofoid (Penngrove, Calif.), 5. Chase Dietz (York), 6. Tanner Holmes (Jacksonville, Ore.), 7. Cameron Smith (Spring Grove), 8. Justin Whittall (Vincentown, N.J.), 9. Bill Balog (North Pole, Alaska), 10. Daryn Pittman (Owasso, Okla.), 11. Freddie Rahmer (Salfordville), 12. Logan Rumsey (Manchester), 13. Donny Schatz (Fargo, N.D.), 14. Carson Macedo (Lemoore, Calif.), 15. Sheldon Haudenschild (Wooster, Ohio), 16. Garet Williamson (Columbia, Mo.), 17. Lance Dewease (Fayetteville), 18. Danny Dietrich (Gettysburg), 19. Spencer Bayston (Lebanon, Ind.), 20. Dylan Norris (Hanover), 21. Logan Schuchart (Hanover), 22. Kasey Jedrzejek (Lagrange, Ohio), 23. Cole Macedo (Lemoore, Calif.), 24. Brock Zearfoss (Jonestown), 25. Emerson Axsom (Franklin, Ind.), 26. Brent Shearer (Manheim) DNF.
Saturday, Oct. 3
410 Sprints (40 laps): 1. Chase Dietz (York), 2. Donny Schatz (Fargo, N.D.), 3. Justin Peck (Monrovia, Ind.), 4. David Gravel (Watertown, Conn.), 5. Dayrn Pittman (Owasso, Okla.), 6. Sheldon Haudenschild (Wooster, Ohio), 7. Carson Macedo (Lemoore, Calif.), 8. Anthony Macri (Dillsburg), 9. Tanner Holmes (Jacksonville, Ore.), 10. Logan Schuchart (Hanover), 11. Michael Kofoid (Penngrove, Calif.), 12. Ryan Timms (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 13. Cole Macedo (Lemoore, Calif.), 14. Justin Whittall (Vincentown, N.J.), 15. Danny Dietrich (Gettysburg), 16. Garet Williamson (Columbia, Mo.), 17. Lance Dewease (Fayetteville), 18. Steven Snyder Jr. (Rising Sun, Md.), 19. Austin Bishop (Morgantwon), 20. Spencer Bayston (Lebanon, Ind.), 21. Skyla Gee (Leduc, AB), 22. Brent Shearer (Manheim), 23. Bill Balog (North Pole, Alaska), 24. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, Okla.), 25. Logan Rumsey (Manchester) DNF, 26. Brent Marks (Myerstown) DNF, 27. Doug Hammaker (Grantville) DNF, 28. Ryan Newton (Sunshine Coast, QLD).
Path Valley Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 3
Thunder Cars: 1. Jeremy Ott (Carlisle), 2. Aaron Updegraff (Elizabethtown), 3. Ronnie Buck Jr. (Annville), 4. Kenny Yoder (Allensville), 5. Eric Seibert (Orbisonia), 6. David Yoder (Kenton, Ohio), 7. Nicholas Barthalow (Shippensburg), 8. Ronnie Garlock (Mapleton Depot), 9. Travis Burkholder, 10. Dustin Moore, 11. Bill Sterner (Elliottsburg), 12. Wesley Young (Shippensburg), 13. Chase Beidel (Fayetteville), 14. Jeremy Shoup, 15. Dalton McQuade, 16. Shaun Linn (Shippensburg), 17. Robert McQuade DNF, 18. Jeremy Eutzy (Shippensburg) DNF, 19. Kenny Hill DNF, 20. Brock Foster (McVeytown) DNF, 21. Terry Perry DNF, 22. Justin Bucher, 23. Jake Shoup (Mapleton Depot).
Limited Late Models: 1. Gunnar Walls (Chambersburg), 2. Taylor Farlling (Newville), 3. JR Toner (State College), 4. Tommy Slanker (York), 5. DJ Myers (Greencastle), 6. Sammy Rial (Etters), 7. Jeff King (Pasadena, Md.), 8. Treyton Lee (Mercersburg), 9. Trent Merkel (Boyertown), 10. Cayden Ranck (Thompsontown), 11. Brad Kling (Mt. Union), 12. Shyann Smith (Three Springs), 13. Arden Fedder (Elliottsburg), 14. Joe Petyak (Gallitzin) DNF, 15. Harold Ranck (Thompsontown) DNF, 16. Jaxton Garman (Elliottsburg) DNF, 17. Brandon Bard (Greencastle) DNF, 18. Brandon Shatzer DNF, 19. Colton Friese (Spring Run) DNF, 20. Gerald Davis (Augusta, W.Va.) DNF, 21. Randy Burkholder (Dover) DNF.
270 Sprints: 1. Dakota Yeingst (Shippensburg), 2. Mac Wert (Milroy), 3. Bradyn Kuhn (Greencastle), 4. Zach Glass (Fort Loudon), 5. Sean McAndrew (Apollo), 6. Bill Laughman (New Oxford), 7. Brad Cowan (Neelyton), 8. Cameron McClure (Huntingdon), 9. Gatlin Kauffman (McVeytown), 10. Brett Kauffman, 11. Jordan Knable, 12. John Williams Jr., 13. Dylan Mickey (Chambersburg), 14. Colton Guiher (Bellefonte), 15. Stephanie Welk (Blairs Mills) DNF, 16. Eric Christman (Lehighton) DNF, 17. Ayden Sword DNF, 18. Tim McClelland (Westminster, Md.) DNF, 19. Mason McAndrew (Apollo) DNF, 20. Jason Houtz (Mifflintown) DNF, 21. Robert Bush (Three Springs) DNF, 22. Chanler Heasley (New Oxford) DNF, 23. Chris Diehl DNF, 24. Mark Knable DNF, 25. Eric Forsythe Sr. (McClure) DNF, 26. Tyler Brown (Carlisle) DNF.
East Coast Legends: 1. Jeremy Ott (Carlisle), 2. Logan Jones (Greencastle), 3. Bill Diehl (Wrightsville), 4. Scott Houdeshell (Enola), 5. Kelby Friese (Chambersburg), 6. Hunter McElroy (Spring Grove), 7. Blake Nalley (Knoxville, Md.), 8. Brock Doyle (Three Springs), 9. Matt Parks (Three Springs), 10. Moses Goetz (Saint Thomas), 11. Ryan Walls Jr. (St. Thomas), 12. Donald Stoudt (Lebanon), 13. Owen Wagaman (Hanover), 14. Jayden Powell (Chambersburg), 15. Scott Montgomery (Radnor), 16. Brad Kelley (Frederick, Md.), 17. Shjon Dove (Annville), 18. Matthew Parks Jr., 19. KJ Massey (Hagerstown, Md.), 20. Colton Friese (Spring Run), 21. Dennis Coons, 22. Justin Wagaman (Hanover) DNF, 23. Ryan Walls Sr (St. Thomas) DNF, 24. Tyler Rampmeyer (Frederick, Md.) DNF, 25. Eric Moats (Waynesboro) DNF, 26. William Crook (Myersville, Md.) DNF.
600 Sprints: 1. Jim Young (Johnstown), 2. Brian Kramer (Lititz), 3. Randy Kunkle Jr. (Dover), 4. Tanner Pressley (Lewisberry), 5. Rick Kerstetter, 6. Vincent Gaudiosi (Gettysburg), 7. Dominic Ciucci (Hanover), 8. Dylan Anderson (Three Springs), 9. Cayden Forsythe (York), 10. Darren Kauffman (Waynesboro), 11. Shawn Rumbaugh (Kittanning), 12. Cole Armstrong (Duncannon), 13. Kevin Conner, 14. Caden Gobrecht (Hanover) DNF, 15. Camden Cooper (Fayetteville) DNF, 16. Ethan McNew (Adamstown) DNF, 17. Travis Keiser (Thomasville) DNF.
Strictly Stocks: 1. Garrett Watkins (Huntingdon), 2. Justin Williamson (Huntingdon), 3. Matt Duvall (Robertsdale), 4. Hunter Flook (Avis), 5. Tanner Guyer (Three Springs), 6. Travis Semple (Mt. Union), 7. Bruce Betres (Mapleton Depot), 8. Robert Cutshall (Three Springs), 9. Roy Denike (New Oxford), 10. Eric Moats (Waynesboro), 11. Jason Goss Sr. (Mifflintown), 12. Richard Sonnon (Lebanon), 13. Nevin Rosenberry (Port Royal), 14. Tyler Lockhart (Yellow Spring, W.Va.) DNF, 15. Corbin Rosenberry (Port Royal) DNF, 16. Tim Bumbaugh DNF, 17. Anthony Varner (Three Springs) DNF, 18. Keagan Henne DNF, 19. Cordell Waulk (Chambersburg) DNF, 20. David Moore (Mt. Union) DNF, 21. Anthony Varner Jr. (Three Springs) DNF, 22. Anthony Thurber DNF, 23. Caleb Hill (St. Thomas) DNF, 24. Nathan Wooley DNF.
