Yoder Finally Wins Stroud Memorial
MILL HALL– Andrew Yoder of Middleburg has been close on several occasions but has been unable to win the annual Stroud Memorial at the Clinton County Speedway. “I’ve wanted to win this race for years, but finished second or third, tonight we finally won it,” said Yoder in victory lane on Friday night. AY Schilling won his 45th career Pro Stock feature, Ross Perchak won the 270 Micro Sprints, and Matt Weaver won the 4-Cylinders.
Jeremy Ohl and Joe Lusk led the field of Limited Late Models to the green flag for the start of the 25 lap Len Stroud Jr. Memorial. Ohl led the first three laps. Yoder, who started fourth, moved into second place by lap number three and passed Ohl for the lead on lap number four. Matt Cochran, who started seventh, raced into the top five by lap two, took over third place on lap five and moved into second by lap number 7. The caution came out on lap number 7, when Joe Lusk spun in turn two, setting up Yoder and Cochran for an exciting race.
The top two cars battled hard lap after lap, often side by side down racing down the back straight away. While the top two battle for the lead, by the completion of lap number ten, the leaders began to weave their way through lapped traffic. The caution waved on lap 21 for debris on the speedway, once again putting Cochran on Yoder’s back bumper for the restart with Jim Yoder, Dixon and Drew Weisser in the top five. Once again Yoder led Cochran into turns one and two and the two raced their cars hard, side by side for the final four laps. At the finish line, Yoder beat Cochran to the line by .580 seconds, Jim Yoder was third, Dixon was fourth and Weisser was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Johnny Bouse, Jeremy Ohl, Hunter Fulton, Trent Merkel and Nick Loffredo. Heat races were won by Cody Lear, Cochran and Jakob Piper.
AJ Hoffman took the early lead of the Pro Stock feature event. The red came out on lap number four, when Rich Fye’s car hit the wall and rolled onto its roof on the front stretch. Fye was uninjured. Two laps later, Hoffmans car coasted to stop in turn four, giving the lead to AY Schilling. Schilling restarted with Noah Kissinger and Tommy Dawson in the top three. Dawson took the runner up postion, by lap number ten. Schilling continued to lead the rest of the event to win his 45th career victory, tying Tim Krape on the all-time Pro Stock feature win list. Tommy Dawson finished second, followed by Denny Fourney, Kissinger, and Cory Long. Sixth through tenth were Larry Knight, Michael Barrett, Nathan Stroup, Jim Farley, and Ronald Ergott. Heat races were won by Long and Schilling.
In 270 Micro Sprint competition, Mac Wert took the lead at the drop of the green flag. Logan Hammaker was running in second and tenth place starter Ross Perchak raced into third postion by lap number three. The caution waved on lap number five for Tom Quiggle. Following the restart, Perchak quickly moved to the front and took the lead. Cory Stabley took the second postion on lap number eight. On lap ten, Perchak began to pull away from the field, with Stabley, Wert, Jillian Maurer and Zach Glass running in the top five. Perchak led the rest of the way to earn his first of the season over Stabley, Wert, Hammaker and Glass. Sixth through tenth were Jeffrey Weaver, Denny Rinehimer, Maurer, Bobby Sanso and Michael Petock. Heat races were won by Wert and Perchak.
Kyler Stahl started on the pole of the 4-Cylinder feature event. Stahl led the first two laps, then third place starter Matt Weaver took the lead. The caution came out on lap four for debris and Zak Kline’s car pulled into the infield. Weaver led the field back to the green but with plenty of competition as Stahl and Coty Maines made it a three car race for the lead. Lapped traffic became a factor in the closing laps, with Weaver claiming his second consecutive feature event over Kyler Stahl, Coty Maines, Terry Karichner and Summer Beachel. Heats were won by Beachel and Weaver.
The Clinton County Speedway returns this Friday with Free General Admission for Pack the Track Night. The RaceSaver Sprints, Pro Stocks 270 Micros and Four Cylinders are on the card. Plus, the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing Vintage Cars. Gates open at 5PM and hot laps begin at 7PM.
Limited Late Models 1. Andrew Yoder, 2. Matt Cochran 3. Jim Yoder, 4. George Dixon, Jr 5. Drew Weisser, 6. Johnny Bouse 7. Jeremy Ohl 8. Hunter Fulton 9. Trent Merkel 10. Nick Loffredo 11. Cody Lear 12. Daniel Condo 13. Jennifer Lesher 14. Maddox Smith 15. Kyle Bachman 16. Tim Luben 17. Joe Loffredo 18. Derek Swartz 19. Len Stroud Sr. 20. Joe Lusk 21. Tory Bennett 22. Jakob Piper DNS: JR Toner
Pro Stocks: 1. AY Schilling, 2. Tommy Dawson 3. Denny Fourney 4. Noah Kissinger 5. Cory Long 6. Larry Knight 7. Michael Barrett 8. Nathan Stroup 9. Jim Farley 10. Ronald Ergott 11. AJ Hoffman 12. Rich Fye DNS: Marc Bitler, John Fowler, Rodney Wagner
270 Micro Sprints: 1. Ross Perchak 2. Cory Stabley 3. Mac Wert 4. Logan Hammaker 5. Zachary Glass 6. Jeffrey Weaver 7. Denny Rhinehimer 8. Jillan Maurer 9. Bobby Sanso 10. Michael Petock 11. Alex Lukacs 12. Andrew Petock 13. Garrison Zook 14. Colton Eckroth 15. Blade Myers 16. Colton Guiher 17. Lester Stabley 18. Paris Hewes 19. Tom Quiggle.
Four Cylinders: 1. Matt Weaver 2. Kyler Stahl 3. Coty Maines 4. Terry Karichner 5. Summer Beachel 6. Nick Snook 7. Ian Heaps 9. Zak Kline 10. Shawn Stahl DNS: Joey Snook, Kyle Strouse DQ Larry Beachel, Jr.
