Pair of Tight Championship Battles Highlight September 15 Curtain Closer
Newmanstown, PA (Sept. 8) - Rain forced a delayed start to the proceedings at Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway on Saturday night. Warm-ups finally got underway, then it rained again. Another delay and additional work by the track prep staff, and hot laps were completed. Roughly halfway through the heat races, the skies opened up once more, forcing Lanco officials to throw in the towel and cancel the second-to-last racing program of the 2018 season at the Newmanstown, PA oval. Wristbands, both pit and spectator, from Saturday's cancellation will be honored at this week's season-ending event.
The seventh rain out of the campaign sets up a dramatic finale this Saturday, September 15, with a pair of extremely close championship battles - and Mike Rutherford is involved in both of them.
Rutherford, from Lititz, leads Heath Hehnly by one point in the Hyper Racing 600 Sprint class. The two Clyde Martin veterans have dominated the 600cc division since it became a weekly class at the Clyde in 2005. Hehnly has six point titles (including the past two years) and Rutherford has four crowns in the 600’s, so it’s only fitting that this year’s point chase will be contested by these two throttle-jockeys.
In the Viper Chassis 270 Sprints, Rutherford leads the “Hartley Hurricane”, TJ Greve, by 16 points - basically a difference of four positions in the 25-lap feature race that will decide the championship. Rutherford and his Kaylor Racing owned No. 5k have won seven titles in Lanco’s 270cc class, including the last six in a row. Greve, a one-time feature winner this season, is looking for his very first point crown at the Clyde.
Dan Lane Jr. is third in the 270 standings, just five points ahead of Mike Skias. Bradley Brown is currently fifth, only 41 points behind Lane.
Toby Blumenshine leads the Sportsman point standings, while Cliff Brian Jr. holds a pretty comfortable lead over his younger brother Marty in the 250cc Four-Stroke division. Seven-time winner Kyler Heiney sits atop the 125cc point parade and looks to lock up his first track championship at the Clyde.
Gates will open at 4:00 this Saturday with warm-ups beginning at 5:30. The first heat race goes green at 6:30.
Wristbands, both pit and spectator, from last Saturday’s rain out will be honored at this week’s season ending event.
Two terrific point tussles and the last chance this year to catch the awesome action at Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway, so you’ve just gotta come out and LIVE the excitement that is Lanco!
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