Sprints: Williams Grove Results 96-05-10
Mechanicsburg, PA

Once again I bid you greetings from Williams Grove, PA.  My son Matt and I
traveled to the Grove for the Friday night sprint action again. We were once
again joined by Dave Reininger.  I think my formatting problem has been solved,
time shall tell.         

Signed into the pits were 29 of the 410 Sprint cars and 27 of the Williams
Grove 358 sprints.  While I will not covet the 358's in depth I will provide
the heat winners and the top three finishers at the end of this report. 
Williams Grove a 1/2 mile semi banked clay oval with starts come between turn
three and four while restarts occur at the entrance to turn three.  Heats for
the 410's are ten laps with six cars to qualify.    

Remember that highlights from the open wheel ranks, including Williams Grove,
are shown on Wednesday evening on ESPN 2 on RPM 2 night.

For all the late breaking news regarding the PA Posse look for my sprint news
post.	


HEAT ONE
The line up for heat one was as follows:  
Row 1: #11a Tim Kuhn 		#49 Bob Howard  
Row 2: #25 Todd Gracey 		#77t Jess Thomas  
Row 3: #59 Bill Brian 		#99 Tom Toedter
Row 4: #92 Kevin Gobrecht 	#12 Keith Kauffman 
Row 5: #461 Lance Dewease	#81 Mark Dillman 
The 77t of Jess Thomas scratched from the event.

As the green waved the action started with the #461 of Dewease and the #12 of
Kauffman getting together in turn four with both cars getting airborne. 
Fortunately, both cars landed on all four wheels with Dewease being able to be
pushed off to rejoin the heat.  Kauffman was not so lucky and went to the pits
and missed the heat.

Since a lap under green had not been completed a complete restart occurred,
minus the #12 of Kauffman.  The restart was a clean one with the #49 of Howard
immediately starting to drift towards the back.  The #11a of Kuhn grabbed the
lead and never looked back.  The real contest in this heat was not who was
going to win but who was going to be third and fourth.  The #92 of Gobrecht
tried to pass the #59 of Brian who held third but never was able to.  Near the
end of the heat the #461 of Dewease started to close in on the #92 of Gobrecht
but he was a serious threat to pass the #92.               
HEAT ONE QUALIFIERS
#11a, #25, #59, #92, #461, #49.  
The heat timed in 3 minutes and 10.66 seconds.

HEAT TWO
The line up for heat two was as follows:  
Row 1: #39 Phil Walter		#121 Judi Bates  
Row 2: #10N Jeff Thompson	#5 Craig Eshenaur 
Row 3: #5K Mark Richard		#29 Dave Calaman  
Row 4: #69K Don Kreitz Jr.	#1 Billy Pauch 
Row 5: #16c Bill Brian 

Well it took three waves of the green flag before the race was underway.  Two
false starts made track officials to switch rows one and two after the second
yellow due to false starts.  With the new front row however the heat started
without a problem.  

The #5 of Eshenaur took the lead and on the next lap the #39 of Walter passed
the #10N of Thompson in turn two to take the second position.  On lap two the
#69K of Kreitz passed the #5K of Richard in turn four to take the fourth spot. 
On lap three the #1 of Pauch passed the #5K of Richard in turn two to take the
fifth spot.  On lap five the #69K of Kreitz passed the #10N of Thompson on the
back stretch to take third while the #1 of Pauch passed the #10N in turn three
to take fourth.    
HEAT TWO QUALIFIERS
#5, #39, #69K, #1, #10N, #29.  

HEAT THREE
The line up for heat three was as follows:  
Row 1: #117 Mike Erdley		#07 Dave Haight  
Row 2: #3 Bob Bennett		#10 Len Thompson
Row 3: #55 Mike Wagner		#17e Cris Eash 
Row 4: #77 Fred Rahmer		#88 Todd Shaffer 
Row 5: #1J Steve Siegel

The green waved but was quickly followed by a yellow for an accident in turn
four.  The #77 of Rahmer and the #17e of Eash tangled in turn four bur kept
going.  However, there was debris on the front stretch and everyone but the
starter saw it.  Everyone was jumping up and down and waving towards the bar on
the track.  Unfortunately, the yellow did not come out in time and some of the
cars hit the bar.

When the green waved again the #07 of Haight was in the lead.  The car on the
move however was the #77 of Rahmer who made a move in turn four to pass two or
three cars up to fourth.  On lap two the #10 of Thompson passed the #07 of
Haight in turn four to take the lead.  The yellow flew before lap three was
completed for the #55 of Wagner who stuffed it into the inside guard rail.

On the restart the #77 of Rahmer passed the #117 of Erdley in turn four to
take third and then passed the #07 of Haight in turn two to take second.  Lap
four saw the #17e of Eash pass the #07 of Haight in turn three to take third. 
The #88 of Shaffer got to the inside of the #07 on lap five in turn one and
finally completed the pass on the back stretch to take fourth.  On lap six the
#1J of Siegel passed the #07 of Haight in turn two to take fifth.   
HEAT THREE QUALIFIERS
#10, #77, #17e, #88, #1J, #07.     

Consi
The line up for the consi was as follows:  
Row 1: #99 Tom Toedter		#5K Mark Richard 
Row 2: #117 Mike Erdley		#81 Mike Dillman
Row 3: #121 Judi Bates		#3 Bob Bennett
Row 4: #12 Keith Kauffman	#16c Bill Brian 
Row 5: #55 Mike Wagner		#77t Jess Thomas
Row 6: #95 Mike Leeman
The #55 scratched from the event.  

The #5K of Richard took the lead from the drop of the green and never
relinquished it.  The car on the move was the #12 of Kauffman who passed the
#117 of Erdley in turn four completing lap two.  On lap three the #12 passed
the #16c on the back stretch to move Kauffman to second.  The #121 of Bates and
the #117 of Erdley fought for position all race long.   
HEAT FOUR QUALIFIERS
#5K, #12, #16c, #117, #121, #3.     

Feature 25 Laps
Row 1:  #11a Tim Kuhn		#39 Phil Walter
Row 2:  #25 Todd Gracey		#5 Craig Eshenaur
Row 3:  #10 Len Thompson	#59 Bill Brian
Row 4:  #17e Cris Eash		#92 Kevin Gobrecht
Row 5:  #69K Don Kreitz Jr.	#77 Fred Rahmer
Row 6:  #1 Billy Pauch		#88 Todd Shaffer
Row 7:  #461 Lance Dewease	#10N Jeff Thompson
Row 8:  #1J Steve Siegel	#49 Bob Howard
Row 9:  #29 Dave Calaman	#07 Dave Haight
Row 10: #5K Mark Richard	#12 Keith Kauffman
Row 11: #16c Cliff Brian	#117 Mike Erdley
Row 12: #121 Judi Bates		#3 Bob Bennett
First alternate the #77t of Jess Thomas.

The field took the green between turn three and four but the trouble began in
turn four.  The #59, #12, #117 and #88 got tangled together.  The #17e of Eash
was unable to continue and the cars realigned for a complete restart.

The green waved and the #39 of Walter took the lead while the #11a of Kuhn and
the #5 of Eshenaur where dead even at the start finish line.  On lap one the
#92 of Gobrecht was up to third by the time he hit the back stretch.  On lap
two the #77 of Rahmer passed the #25 of Gracey on the back stretch.  By lap
four the #92 of Gobrecht passed the #11a of Kuhn on the back stretch to take
second.  The #5 of Eshenaur started dropping back through the field.  On lap
eight the #92 of Gobrecht had reeled in the leader #39 of Walter's and passed
him on the back stretch.  The top four cars were the #92, #39, #11a and #10. 
On lap eleven the #11a slowed and lost spots but he was able to pick it back
up, however the #16C of Cliff Brian did come to stop on the front stretch bring
out the yellow.

Once the green flag waved again it was the #10 of Len Thompson putting on a
show.  On lap twelve the #10 passed the #39 of Walter's in turn four to take
second.  He then worked on closing in on the #92 of Gobrecht and it looked like
he might even be able to catch and pass Gobrecht.  On lap twenty-one the #92 of
Gobrecht went low to pass the #121 of Bates in turn one.  Thompson went high
and hooked the cushion and came to a stop on the back stretch with a flat rear
tire bringing out the yellow.

When the green waved again it was the 69K of Kreitz making a move on the #39
of Walter to take third in turn two.  The #77 of Rahmer was not able to catch
the #92 of Gobrecht.     	 
TOP TEN FINISHERS
#92, #77, #69K, #39, #1, #1J, #88, #29, #11a, #25

Feature Notes

Kevin Gobrecht became the first repeat winner of the 1996 racing season at the
Grove.  Once again the microphone system did not work so Kevin went to the
booth for the victory lane interview.  He thanked his crew for their hard work
and support and his family.  Especially last week when he flipped a brand new
car and the crew had it ready for the consi.  

After the problems associated with his aggressive driving style in the last
couple of weeks the win must have been a relief.  Kevin said that during the
last four laps "As long as I didn't see him or hear him things were okay." 
Bruce Ellis the announcer stopped by The G Man's trailer prior to the evenings
racing events and said "See ya latter" to Kevin.  Kevin asked him to stop by
every week.

Kevin's father also stopped by the announcing booth and chatted with Mr.
Ellis.  Said that they have been damaging equipment the last couple of weeks
but if your not damaging equipment your not aggressive.   

358's Results
Heat One:	#14 Don Wolfe
Heat Two:	#22MA Mark Plummer
Heat Three:	#66H Dale Hammaker
Feature:	1.) #22MA Mark Plummer
		2.) #a18 Becca Anderson
		3.) #8 Danny Jones

TRIVIA QUESTION
Last Weeks Trivia Answer:  The first lap ever driven on Williams Grove Speedway
was Ottis Stine.  Ottis drove his first race in 1934 and ended his 20 year
racing career in 1954.  Stine finished second in AAA points in 195- and when he
retired he held numerous track records.   

This Weeks Trivia Question:  What did the term "Outlaw" mean when it originated
in motorsports?


Next Friday night the 410 Sprints and Williams Grove 358 Sprints are on the
schedule.  I am unsure if I will make the show since we are planning on going
to Nazareth for the Featherlight Modified and Busch event next weekend.  If I
do not post next week look for my return on June 10, 1996, which will cover the
racing action of June 7, 1996.  I do not attend the WoO shows at the Grove.  If
you want to know the results from the WoO at the Grove please read the reports
posted by Mr. Richard Day who handles Public Relations for the World of
Outlaws.

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