World of Outlaws - July 23, 2002

PENNZOIL WORLD OF OUTLAWS-11TH DON MARTIN MEMORIAL LERNERVILLE SPEEDWAY - SARVER, PENNSYLVANIA Date of Race: 07/23/02

Lynch Wins Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup By Richard Day SARVER, PA (July 23) – Ed Lynch, Jr., has been chasing Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series racers at Lernerville Speedway for years. Beating them for the first time Tuesday before a standing-room-only crowd in the 11th Annual Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup moved Lynch to within one victory of first place on Lernerville’s all-time sprint car victory list. Lynch exchanged the lead with defending and five-time Silver Cup winner Mark Kinser, Kings Royal winner Joey Saldana and 1993 track champion Tim Shaffer five times on his way to claiming the $35,000 first prize.

"The Lernerville fans can be proud and hold their heads up tonight," Lynch yelled to the crowd, which stood through most of the classic race. "The World of Outlaws (drivers) are the best in the world, and it was Don Martin’s dream, along with Ted Johnson, to have these guys in here and put on a great show. I just hope everyone here tonight enjoyed it. Ouch (Roenigk) did a great job with the track. Just two more wins here and we’ll get it (the record for most feature victories at Lernerville). We’re going to be gone for a couple of weeks. We’re going to Knoxville (Raceway) a couple of times, but then we’ll be back."

Lynch, who leads the Lernerville Speedway point standings, has increased his career victory total to 54 – one behind Johnny Beaber – with five victories this season. Lynch is the 13th driver to win a Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series main event in 2002. Lynch, who destroyed a car two weekends ago at Sharon Speedway, was driving a new J&J chassis equipped with a new Kistler engine. He was the seventh-fastest qualifier in the 36-car field and earned the right to start the 40-lap main event on the pole by winning the First O’Reilly Auto Parts Dash.

Lynch and Second O’Reilly Auto Parts Dash winner Mark Kinser raced wheel-to-wheel down the front straightaway as the green flag fell in the "A" Feature. Kinser surged ahead in the high groove in the second corner and led the first two laps. Lynch took the lead two laps later, however, when Kinser’s #5M Mopar Maxim slid over the edge of turn two. Joey Saldana, who also passed Kinser, was eight car-lengths behind when Lynch entered lapped traffic during the fifth lap.

Stevie Smith, who won the May 15th Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series "A" Feature at Lernerville Speedway, lost third place when the #11H Vivarin Maxim turned completely around in turn four late in lap seven. Although Smith kept the engine fired, he lost nine positions and the caution flag fell. Smith passed Craig Dollansky for seventh place deep in the fourth corner two laps after the race resumed.

Lynch was 10 car-lengths ahead of his closest pursuers when he caught the back-markers during lap 13. Saldana threatened to take the lead in the low groove between turns three and four two laps later, but was unable to surge ahead. Second Heat Race winner Donny Schatz drove his #15 Parker Stores J&J into seventh place from inside the eighth row during the first half of the race. The 1997 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award winner passed Jac Haudenschild and Randy Hannagan during laps 22 and 25. After battling Shaffer for second place for several laps, Saldana passed Lynch deep in turn one. Lynch regained the lead several seconds later, however, steering his #2L Indy Recycling/ Commercial Truck & Trailer J&J into the low groove in the third corner to pass Saldana and slid in front of him in turn four.

Saldana, Schatz and Hannagan collided in the first corner early in lap 30, causing Saldana to roll over. Shaffer kept pace with Lynch when the green flag replaced the red, racing wheel-to-wheel with him through turn one and down the back straightaway. Lynch surged ahead in the fourth corner, only to have Shaffer drive the #83 Beef Packers Eagle past him in the high groove between turns one and two early in the 32nd lap. Lynch chased Shaffer for a lap before regaining the lead deep in the second corner. Greg Hodnett stopped on the front straightaway early in lap 33, bringing out the caution flag and tightening the 24-car field.

Shaffer raced into the lead in the low groove between turns one and two early in the 35th lap, but Lynch rode the rim around him in the fourth corner several seconds later. The 1999 Rookie of the Year raced with Lynch through turns three and four with 2 1/3 laps remaining, but was unable to complete the pass. Shaffer was four car-lengths behind when Lynch took the checkered flag.

"Mark got a great start and then he slid off the edge," Lynch said. "Then Joey and Tim were really trying, but we knew the track a little better … and this was for $35,000." Kinser finished in third place, ahead of Jac Haudenschild, Steve Kinser, Smith, 17th-starting Sammy Swindell, Dollansky, Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series points leader Danny Lasoski and P.J. Chesson. Steve Kinser, who has won 12 main events at Lernerville in his career, closed to within three points of first place in the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series standings with his 31st top-five finish of the year.

WoO 2002 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series 11th Annual Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA Tuesday, July 23, Feature Program #43

TIME TRIALS 1. Stevie Smith, New Oxford PA, Helm Racing 11H , 12.786 2. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN, Saldana Racing 17 , 12.872 3. Danny Wood, Norman OK, Parsons Racing 6 , 12.940 4. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO, Stewart Mtrsprt 20 , 12.942 5. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA, Roth Mtrsprts 83 , 12.952 6. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN, THR Racing 1X , 12.972 7. Ed Lynch Jr., Apollo PA, Lynch Racing 2L , 12.981 8. Mark Kinser, Oolitic IN, Kinser 5M , 13.027 9. Greg Hodnett, Memphis TN, Apple Mtrsports 12 , 13.029 10. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN, Karavan Racing 7 , 13.104 11. P.J. Chesson, Far Hills NJ, Chesson 76 , 13.126 12. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH, Forbrook 5 , 13.136 13. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN, Kinser 11 , 13.190 14. Brad Furr, Pleasonton CA, Furr Racing 2 , 13.191 15. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND, Schatz 15 , 13.223 16. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK, Woodburn 21 , 13.260 17. Sammy Swindell, Germantown TN, Roth Mtrsports 83JR, 13.350 18. Scott Bonnell, Fairview PA, Bonnell 3B , 13.418 19. Brian Ellenberger, Butler PA, Ellenberger 20E , 13.433 20. Jamie Smith, Sewickley PA, Smith 5G , 13.465 21. Brandon Wimmer, Fairmount IN, TW Racing 7TW, 13.469 22. Gary Kriess Jr., Butler PA, Kriess 55J , 13.882 23. Bob Bennett, Lewisbury PA, ACME Trailer 3 , 13.888 24. Ricky Ferkel, Tiffin OH, Ferkel 0 , 13.955 25. Dan Shetler, Johnstown PA, Shetler 7K , 13.999 26. Brent Matus, Wampum PA, Matus 33 , 14.237 27. Charley Holben, Cabot PA, Holben 42G , 14.552 28. Bob Altmeyer, Kittanning PA, Altmeyer Vet 14 , 14.581 29. Davey Jones, Warrendale PA, Jones 2J , 14.927 30. Butch Beasley, Rootstown PA, Beasley 1 , 14.955 31. Gale Ruth Jr., Pleasantville PA, Ruth 5X , 15.272 32. Sheila Rankin, Butler PA, Rankin 6R , 15.807 33. Gary Rankin, Butler PA, Rankin 16 , 16.035 34. Paul Kish, Poland OH, Beasley 45B , 16.910 35. Chad Hill, Townsend PA.,RMS Mtrsprts 44 , NO TIME 36. Bill Kiley, Cabbott PA, Kiley 4K , NO TIME

HEAT 1 8 Laps 1. Sammy Swindell, 2. Daryn Pittman, 3. Mark Kinser, 4. Greg Hodnett, 5. Stevie Smith, 6. Ricky Ferkel, 7. Dan Shetler, 8. Davey Jones, 9. Gary Rankin,

HEAT 2 8 Laps 1. Donny Schatz, 2. Craig Dollansky, 3. Ed Lynch Jr., 4. Joey Saldana, 5. Bob Bennett, 6. Scott Bonnell, 7. Brent Matus, 8. Paul Kish, 9. Butch Beasley,

HEAT 3 8 Laps 1. Brian Ellenberger, 2. Brad Furr, 3. P.J. Chesson, 4. Danny Wood, 5. Randy Hannagan, 6. Gary Kriess Jr., 7. Charley Holben, 8. Gale Ruth Jr.,

HEAT 4 8 Laps 1. Steve Kinser, 2. Jac Haudenschild, 3. Tim Shaffer, 4. Danny Lasoski, 5. Jamie Smith, 6. Bob Altmeyer, 7. Brandon Wimmer, 8. Sheila Rankin, 9. Bill Kiley,

O'REILLY AUTO PARTS DASH 1 5 Laps 1. Ed Lynch Jr.. 2. Tim Shaffer. 3. Stevie Smith. 4. Danny Wood. 5. Greg Hodnett. 6. Steve Kinser. 7. P.J. Chesson. 8. Donny Schatz.

O'REILLY AUTO PARTS DASH 2 5 Laps 1. Mark Kinser. 2. Joey Saldana. 3. Randy Hannagan. 4. Craig Dollansky. 5. Danny Lasoski. 6. Jac Haudenschild. 7. Daryn Pittman. 8. Brad Furr.

B FEATURE 12 Laps 1. Gary Kriess Jr.. 2. Brandon Wimmer. 3. Scott Bonnell. 4. Ricky Ferkel. 5. Dan Shetler. 6. Davey Jones. 7. Charley Holben. 8. Bob Altmeyer. 9. Butch Beasley. 10. Brent Matus. 11. Gale Ruth Jr.. 12. Gary Rankin. 13. Sheila Rankin. 14. Paul Kish. 15. Bill Kiley.

A FEATURE 40 Laps 1. Ed Lynch Jr.. 2. Tim Shaffer. 3. Mark Kinser. 4. Jac Haudenschild. 5. Steve Kinser. 6. Stevie Smith. 7. Sammy Swindell. 8. Craig Dollansky. 9. Danny Lasoski. 10. P.J. Chesson. 11. Daryn Pittman. 12. Donny Schatz. 13. Joey Saldana. 14. Brad Furr. 15. Randy Hannagan. 16. Jamie Smith. 17. Brian Ellenberger. 18. Gary Kriess Jr.. 19. Danny Wood. 20. Brandon Wimmer. 21. Greg Hodnett. 22. Brent Matus. 23. Charley Holben. 24. Bob Bennett. 25. Scott Bonnell. 26. Ricky Ferkel.

LAP LEADERS: MARK KINSER 1-2; ED LYNCH JR. 3-31, 33-40; TIM SHAFFER 32

CURRENT POINTS(UNOFFICIAL): D LASOSKI 6533, S KINSER 6530, C DOLLANSKY 6318, J SALDANA 6272, M KINSER 6228, D SCHATZ 6204, T SHAFFER 6157, S SMITH 6090, B FURR 6024, R HANNAGAN 5706, D WOOD 5377, D PITTMAN 5109, J HAUDENSCHILD 4967, J HERRERA 3091, P.J. CHESSON 2572

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