McCLELLAND CLAIMS SECOND STRAIGHT IN TRAIL-WAY “358” SPRINTS;

Hanover, PA (5/2/08) – Make it two in-a-row for Brad McClelland at Trail-Way Speedway.

The Westminster, MD open wheel star scored his 12th career win in the “358” sprint car feature at the McSherrystown oval Friday night, moving him into a tie with Billy Dietrich at the top of the all-time Trail-Way win chart.

McClelland started eighth and advanced to the runner-up spot by lap 13. In the meantime, two-time defending track champ Jeff Rohrbaugh started sixth and moved through the field to grab the lead from race-long leader Randy Davis, Jr. with a slider exiting turn four of lap 11.

After disposing of Davis on the 13th-lap restart, McClelland closed quickly on Rohrbaugh and raced wheel-to-wheel with the Roy Vincent Racing #7V from laps 16 through 19. McClelland nosed in front as the two crossed under the flagstand to complete lap 19, and a caution for Billy Heltzel, Jr. (who stopped on turn four) put McClelland at the point for the restart.

The B&D Truck Hoist/J&K Salvage/VMAC Racing #6 held off Rohrbaugh over the remaining laps to cross two carlengths ahead.

“I’m tired!” exclaimed McClelland in victory lane, “I asked for a track like this and I got it. This is a very racey track. I was getting loose on the top and moved down…I probably should have stayed up there.”

“This is great racing,” added McClelland, “I come here to race because it’s not ‘follow the leader’ here.”

Rohrbaugh settled for second, with 10th-starting Dale Hammaker third, 13th-starting Danny Dietrich fourth, and Joe Trone, Jr. fifth. Completing the top ten were Steve Owings (who came from the back after bringing out the caution on lap 12), DS Diversified Services hard charger Nathan Berwager (who started 18th), Mike Duncan, Darren Schott, and Heltzel.

Friday night’s show was the first in which the required Raceiver one-way radios were used, and the radios got passing marks from hard charger Berwager, who praised them upon receiving his award.

Heats for the 21 “358” sprinters were won by Tim Wagaman and Rohrbaugh.

358 SPRINTS

Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 6-Brad McClelland; 2. 7-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 3. 66-Dale Hammaker; 4. 88-Danny Dietrich III; 5. 99-Joe Trone Jr.; 6. 35-Steve Owing; 7. 4U-Nathan Berwager; 8. 11D-Mike Duncan; 9. 55S-Darren Schott; 10. 28-Billy Heltzel Jr.; 11. 9-Ryan Hansen; 12. 36-Peter Bartley; 13. 45-Colt White; 14. 81T-Brandon Turner; 15. 11-Ron Kramer (DNF); 16. 98-Randy Davis Jr. (DNF); 17. 10-Zach Shive Euculano (DNF); 18. 64-Randy Whisler (DNF); 19. 1-Tim Wagaman (DNF); 20. 8D-Billy Dietrich (DNF); 21. 29T-Neal Amspacher (DNS).

Lap Leaders – Randy Davis Jr. (1-10); Jeff Rohrbaugh (11-18); Brad McClelland (19-25)

Heat 1 (10 Laps/All Qualify) – 1.1-Tim Wagaman; 2. 45-Colt White; 3. 6-Brad McClelland; 4. 99-Joe Trone Jr.; 5. 11-Ron Kramer; 6. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 7. 88-Danny Dietrich; 8. 11D-Mike Duncan; 9. 9-Ryan Hansen; 10. 36T-Peter Bartley; 11. 81-Brandon Turner. Time – 2:22.06

Heat 2 (10 Laps/All Qualify) – 1. 7V-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 2. 66-Dale Hammaker; 3. 98-Randy Davis Jr.; 4. 35-Steve Owings; 5. 64-Randy Whisler; 6. 55S-Darren Schott; 7. 28-Billy Heltzel Jr.; 8. 10-Zach Shive Euculano; 9. 4U-Nathan Berwager (DNF); 10. 29T-Neal Amspacher (DNF). Time – 2:22.06