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ABBOTTSTOWN – Cory Haas went from third to first in one corner and then held on to win a crash-filled Kevin Gobrecht Memorial at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night.
Haas, of Dallastown, earned $7,000 in a sprint-car owned by Mike Barshinger. It was the opening night of the 21st Annual Pennsylvania Sprint-Car Speedweek.
“It’s an honor to win this race,” Haas said. “Kevin was one hell of a racer.”
Fred Rahmer led the field down for the start of the 30-lap main event in front of a huge crowd.
Brian Leppo and Lance Dewease would trade second back and forth before the red flag flew on lap two for Adam Wilt’s third turn flip. He walked away.
Leppo and Dewease traded second again as ninth place starter Haas moved to fifth. Doug Dodson spun in turn two on lap five.
Leppo stayed right with Rahmer for the next four laps before the caution flag flew for Greg Hodnett’s slowing sprinter.
Leppo got a great run off turn four and dove under Rahmer entering turn one and momentarily took the lead. Rahmer got back by Leppo as they raced down the backstretch.
A four-car crash in turn four on lap 10 interrupted the battle for the lead. Dewease, who was running third, along with fifth place Alan Krimes and sixth place Aaron Ott were involved in the crash, along with Sam Hafertepe Jr.
Haas was in third for the restart as Rahmer and Leppo continued their battle. Haas went low in turn four and drove by Leppo and Rahmer coming off the corner to take the lead on lap 11.
“I was running up top and I wasn’t real comfortable up there,” Haas said. “When Alan and them got together, I got into the wall pretty good and I thought it might have bent something and I didn’t want to run the top up there anymore.”
So Haas made a decision under that lap 10 caution that ultimately won him the race.
“I moved down and the car stuck good,” Haas said. “There was a one-foot strip down there and Mike had the car so good I could run right on that. I didn’t think anybody could get us once we got out front.”
Haas continued to lead as Rahmer tried the middle groove to stay close to the leader. Another caution flag slowed the pace with 12 laps to go. The red flag was displayed for a fuel stop.
Haas pulled away on the restart and Daryn Pittman drove by Leppo for third and Brian Montieth, who started 14th, took fifth.
Leppo was fast again on the outside and got back by Pittman. Leppo was passing Rahmer for second on the frontstretch when the cars made contact. Both cars spun and Rahmer’s car tipped over bringing out another red flag.
Haas would lead the final seven laps to score the win over Pittman ($3,500), Montieth ($2,000), Tyler Walker and Steve Buckwalter. Doug Esh, Justin Henderson, Jim Siegel, Mark Smith and Sam Hafertepe Jr. completed the top 10.
“We’ve been good here before, but not like tonight,” Haas said. “I ran in there as hard as I could and drove by both of them. I kind of surprised myself.”
Rahmer set fast time over the 32-car field with a lap of 13.616. Sam Schlosberg, Chad Layton, Esh and Brent Marks won the 10-lap heat races.
The speedweek series continues tonight at Bedford Speedway. Haas leads the points with 161 over Pittman (138), Walker (130), Montieth (129) and Buckwalter (122).
Esh, 118, Rahmer, 109, Siegel, 99, Smith, 98, and Krimes, 97 complete the top 10 in points.
Congrats to Cory & the team on their win! It's great to have him join the 410 ranks full-time in 2011!
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