McCLELLAND CLAIMS INSINGER PERFORMANCE “358” SPRINT CAR SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP;

RAIN FORCES POSTPONEMENT OF RMP THUNDERCAR, LIMITED STOCK FEATURES

Hanover, PA (4/25/08) –What a difference a week makes.

Brad McClelland, who sat in the stands to watch last week’s feature after suffering mechanical problems while leading his qualifier, motored to his first win of the year in the 30-lap Insinger Performance “358” Sprint Car Spring Championship at Trail-Way Speedway Friday night.

“It’s easy to win from the front,” said McClelland upon exiting the B&D Truck Hoist/J&K Salvage/Hoosier Tire/VMAC Racing #6 following his 11th career win at the McSherrystown oval, “What was tough was watching last week wishing I was out there.”

McClelland, who started on the outside of row one, followed polesitter Dale Hammaker into the first turn at the start, then chased the Hammaker’s Machine Shop #66 for the first seven laps until Hammaker’s steering wheel fell off and he spun into the infield to complete the seventh lap.

Hammaker reattached his steering wheel and tagged the rear, coming back through the field to finish eighth at the finish.

McClelland was unchallenged the rest of the way, despite a 28th-lap caution for Darren Schott, who spun in turn two. One lap earlier, eighth-starting Billy Dietrich passed Steve Owings for second.

“I saw the 8D on the scoreboard,” said McClelland, “Then he gave me a nudge on the backstretch and I knew it was time to sit up in the seat.”

A textbook restart gave McClelland all the room he needed to take the $1,200 top prize.

Dietrich, last week’s winner, settled for second with Owings third. Tim Wagaman III and 12th-starting Danny Dietrich completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were Mike Duncan, Brian Eichelberger, Dale Hammaker, DS Diversified Services hard charger Nathan Berwager (who started 17th), and and 13th-starting Nicole Bower.

McClelland’s win came six days after son Tim won his first career 270-cc micro-sprint feature.

“It was exciting,” said McClelland of Tim’s win, “But he’s got a long way to go yet.”

Heats for the 24 “358” sprinters were won by Owings, Dale Hammaker, and Joe Trone, Jr.

 

Rain forced postponement of the remainder of the show with two laps complete in the 20-lap RMP Thundercar feature. The event will be made up on Friday, May 9th.

Heats for the 14 thundercars were won by Sam Gallagher and Brian Walls.

 

Limited stocks were only able to complete hot laps at intermission, and will make up their feature as part of next Friday’s show (5/2).

 

INSINGER PERFORMANCE 358 SPRINT CAR SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP

 

 

Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 6-Brad McClelland ($1,200); 2. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 3. 35-Steve Owings; 4. 1-Tim Wagaman II; 5. 88-Danny Dietrich; 6. 11D-Mike Duncan; 7. 55-Brian Eichelberger; 8. 66-Dale Hammaker; 9. 4U-Nathan Berwager; 10. 75-Nicole Bower; 11. 98-Randy Davis Jr.; 12. 99-Joe Trone Jr.; 13. 64-Randy Whisler; 14. 66H-Doug Hammaker; 15. 18-Scott Lehman; 16. 10-Zach Shive Euculano; 17. 55S-Darren Schott (DNF); 18. 38-Mike Ressler (DNF); 19. 11-Ron Kramer (DNF); 20. 81-Brandon Turner (DNF); 21. 45-Colt White (DNF); 22. 7V-Jeff Rohrbaugh (DNF); 23. 25-Aaron Ott (DNS); 24. 34-Austin Reed (DNS). No time.

 

Lap Leaders – Dale Hammaker (1-7); Brad McClelland (8-30)

 

 

Heat 1 (10 Laps/All Qualify) – 1. 35-Steve Owings; 2. 11-Ron Kramer; 3. 88-Danny Dietrich; 4. 45-Colt White; 5. 75-Nicole Boyer; 6. 10-Zach Shive Euculano (DNF); 7. 98-Randy Davis Jr. (DNF); 8. 25-Aaron Ott (DNF). Time – 2:24.32

 

Heat 2 (10 Laps/All Qualify) – 1. 66-Dale Hammaker; 2. 6-Brad McClelland; 3. 11D-Mike Duncan; 4. 38-Mike Ressler; 5. 66H-Doug Hammaker; 6. 81-Brandon Turner; 7. 4U-Nathan Berwager (DNF); 8. 7V-Jeff Rohrbaugh (DNS). Time – 2:23.13

 

Heat 3 (10 Laps/All Qualify) – 1. 99-Joe Trone Jr.; 2. 55S-Darren Schott; 3. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 4. 1-Tim Wagaman II; 5. 55-Brian Eichelberger; 6. 64-Randy Whisler; 7. 18-Scott Lehman; 8. 34-Austin reed (DNS). Time – 2:24.78