Even though r4 was at a conference in Baltimore, I decided to skip the
after hours social events and head to the Grove.  I am going to try a new
format due to the problems encountered last week with my posting.  Let me know
what you think.  

As I arrived in Dillsburg a lightning storm could be seen bouncing around
the mountains and rain could be seen off in the distance.  As I arrived at the
track a heavy down pour occured with lightning and I think I even saw hail
bouncing off my windshield.  After the storm passed I went in and things did
not look good.  However, the crew worked on the track surface and the first
heat finally was called out at 10:10 PM.       

On the racing card Friday night were the 410 Super Sprints and the ARDC
Midgets.  Signed into the pits were twenty five 410 sprints, which I believe
was down partially to the weather forcast.  I will only cover the 410 sprints. 



For the sprint cars the heat races were ten laps with six cars qualifying,
the first four being handicapped into the top twelve starting spots by their
drivers earning average.  Remember that highlights from the open wheel ranks,
including Williams Grove, are shown on Wednesday evening on ESPN 2 on the
nightly show RPM 2 night. 

HEAT ONE

The line up for heat one was as follows:  Row 1: #13 Scott Jones, #49 Bob
Howard;  Row 2: #10N Jeff Thompson, #45 Jeff Rohrbaugh;  Row 3: #10 Len
Thompson, #1 Billy Pauch;  Row 4: #92 Kevin Gobrecht, #88 Todd Shaffer,  Row 5:
#08 Jason Clauss   

The #49 of Howard was not out on the speedway in time and was forced to
start from the rear of the field.  This slid the #1 of Pauch and the # 88 of
Shaffer up one spot on the outside row.  From the drop of the green the #1 of
Pauch was on the move, picking up right where he left off from last week.  By
the completion of lap one Pauch was up to second and was pressuring the #13 of
Jones.  By lap two the #1 of Pauch passed the #13 of Jones on the front stretch
and pulled away.  On lap six the #49 of Howard went into the pits.        
HEAT ONE QUALIFIERS
#1, #13, #45, #88, #10N, and #10.  The heat timed in 3 minutes and 10.107
seconds.

HEAT TWO

The line up for heat two was as follows:  Row 1: #07 Dave Haight, #121
Judi Bates;  Row 2: #29 Tim Dietz, #5 Craig Eshenaur;  Row 3: #16 Bill Brian
Jr., #55 Mike Wagner;  Row 4: #69K Don Kreitz Jr., #59 Kieth Kauffman;  Row 5:
#99 Phil Walter 

The green flag waved over the field and the #121 of Judi Bates took off
and was in the lead.  On lap two the #29 of Dietz passed the #5 of Eshenauer on
the back stretch to take the fourth qualifying spot.  The #29 of Dietz then put
pressure on the #16 of Brian but was never able to get past him.	
HEAT TWO QUALIFIERS
#121, #07, #16, #29, #5, and 69K.  The heat timed in 3 minutes and 10.52
seconds.

HEAT THREE

The line up for heat three was as follows:  Row 1: #117 Mike Erdley, #77t
Jess Thomas;  Row 2: #25 Todd Gracey, #3 Bob Bennett;  Row 3: #5K Mark Richard,
#17e Chris Eash;  Row 4: #77 Fred Rahmer, #461 Lance Dewease.

The green waved and the field was off but it was not a clean start.  The
#117 of Erdley dropped back and the field managed to get by without an
incident.  The #77 of Rahmer was on the move.  Yes, Fast Freddie Rahmer was in
the #77 which last week was driven by Dave Calaman.  By the completion of lap
two the #77 of Rahmer was to second behind the #17e of Eash.  The #77t of
Thomas was in third but being pressured by the fourth place car #461 of
Dewease.

On lap nine the caution waved for the #117 of Erdley who had come to a
stop in turn four with his rear into the gaurd rail.  The #461 of Dewease who
had been running fourth was set back two spots for jumping the green.  The
field took the green cleanly and then the checkered flag on the next lap.  
HEAT THREE QUALIFIERS
#17e, #77, #77t, #5K, #25 and the #461

CONSOLATION RACE
This week there was no consi.

25 LAP FEATURE

The feature lined up:  Row 1:  #13 Scott Jones, #07 Dave Haight;  Row 2:
#121 Judi Bates, #77t Jess Thomas;  Row 3: #29 Tim Dietz, #45 Jeff Rohrbaugh; 
Row 4:  #16 Bill Brian Jr., 5K Mark Richard;  Row 5: #1 Billy Pauch, #17e Chris
Eash;  Row 6: #77 Fred Rahmer, #88 Todd Shaffer;  Row 7: #10N Jeff Thompson, #5
Craig Eshenauer;  Row 8: #25 Todd Shaffer, #10 Len Thompson;  Row 9: #69K Don
Kreitz Jr., #461 Lance Dewease;  Row 10: #92 Kevin Gobrecht, #59 Keith
Kauffman;  Row 11: #08 Jason Clauss, #55 Mike Wagner;  Row 12: #3 Bob Bennett,
#49 Bob Howard;  Row 13: #99 Tom Totter.

For the feature the pace car makes five laps allowing the cars to make it
to the racing surface before they are penalized.  The #461 of Dewease was at
the rear of the field and his his car sounded sick.  The field took the green
and the #55 of Wagner experienced a problem in turn two bringing out the
yellow.  Since a lap had not been completed under green the field was realigned
for a complete restart.  This did allow the #461 of Dewease into the pits who
returned with a much better sounding car.

On the restart the #88 of Shaffer got above the cushion in turn four and
came clase to hitting the wall.  The #1`3 of Jones was in the lead followed
closely by the #121 of Bates.  The two cars that were marching towards the
front were the #1 of Pauch and the #77 of Rahmer.  On lap five the leader #13
of Jones and the #121 of Bates tangled in turn three with the #13 of Jones
going over the outside gaurd rail, the #121 of Bates managed to keep rollling. 
this brought out the red flag and the #1 of Pauch came to a stop and he jumped
out of the car and was fusing around the left rear wheel.  Scott Jones was
reported out of his car and okay.

The field assembled for a restart with the #121 of Judi Bates leading the
way.  The order was:  #121, #07, #1, #77t, #29, #5K, #17e, #45, #16, #77, #10N,
#25, #10, #59, #92, #88, #69K, #461, #5, #08, #3, #99, #49.  On the restart
there was an accident in turn four involving the #92 of Gobrecht who was on his
side, the #59 of Kauffman, and the #69K of Kreitz.  #002#The #29 of Dietz was set
back two spots for hitting the cone on the restart.

On the restart the #1 of Pauch got by the #07 of Haight and by lap five
the #1 got by a now smoking #121.  The #121 went into the pits and was done for
the evening as caution flew for the #10 of Thompson who was facing traffic in
turn two.  The running order for the top ten was: #1, #5K, #07, #17e, #29,
#77t, #77, #45, #16, #10N.

On the restart the #1 of Pauch was off and away making up for his
mechanical problems during last weeks feature.  On lap six the #17e of eash got
by the #07 of Haight on the back stretch for third while pulling the #77 of
Rahmer along with him up to fourth.  On lap nine the #3 of Bennett went into
the pits.  On lap eleven the yellow waved for debris on the track in turn
three.  The top five were: #1, #5K, #17e, #77, #29.

The field restarted cleanly and ran until lap thirteen when the #77t of
Thomas hit the inside gaurd rail in turn four bringing out the caution.On the
restart the #77 got by the #17e of Eash in turn two for third.  Meanwhile the
#1 of Pauch is motoring away from the rest of the field.  On lap twently the
yellow waved again for the #16 of Brian who came to a stop in turn four.  On
the restart the #77 of Rahmer, who was running third, jumped the cushion and
got up on two wheels before losing it and hitting the outside gaurd rail
bringing out yet another caution.  Unfortunately, the #5 of Eshenauer slid into
the #77.

On the restart the #1 of Pauch again pulled away from the field.  The #29
of Dietz in fifth was pressuring the #17e of Eash and finally got by him and
stayed ahead of him on the back stretch.  On lap twenty three the yellow again
waves for the #17e of Eash who had a flat right rear and came to a stop after
the start/finish line.  The running order was: #1, #5K, #29, #88, #461.

The field restarted and on lap twenty three the #5K of Richards, who was
running second at the time, slowed on the backstretch and then on lap twenty
four the #5K stopped on the front stretch bringing out yet another caution.  On
the restart the #461 of Dewease got past the #29 of Dietz for third  The
feature finished at 12:15 and the victory lane interview was put off to after
the ARDC Midget feature which I did not stay for.  



THE TOP FIVE
#1, #88, #461, #29, #10


TRIVIA QUESTION
Last week my question was "In what year did the sprint cars become a regular
weekly attraction at Williams Grove?"  The correct answer was 1976.

This weeks trivia question: Prior to his most recent win at the Grove when did
Kieth Kauffman last visit victory lane at the Grove?

As always I welcome any news, comments, suggestions or questions.  You can
reach me at:  rgould@oehs.upenn.edu  

If you drop me a line let me know where you read my report since it does seem
to get around.  Also please let me know what state you are in since my son is
going to keep track of the information and use it in his computer class, my how
times have changed.  Until next time this is r4 wishing you a clear track.