TodayKauffman notches 50th career win at the Grove
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Keith Kauffman poses in victory lane at Williams Grove Sunday. (Mike Zortman/Special to The Sentinel)
Keith Kauffman shows no signs of slowing down.
Kauffman, who will turn 56 years old in June, tracked down daytime specialist Lance Dewease with two laps remaining and drove to his 50th career win Sunday at Williams Grove Speedway.
For Kauffman, the win moved him into a tie for third place on the all-time win list at the Grove and was his 296th career feature win.
Cory Haas raced home the winner of the 20-lap 358 Sprint car feature.
"Pretty good for an old guy," said Kauffman, who drives for Middleburg car owner Dave Middleswarth. "It was a great race and it makes me feel real good to come home with a win here. There are a lot of good cars and drivers here."
It appeared Dewease might run away with his second straight victory at the track and second this weekend. He drew the pole position for the 25-lap feature and quickly jumped out to the lead over fellow front-row starter T.J. Stutts.
Kauffman started fourth and drove by Stutts for second place on lap two but Stutts made it exciting for Kauffman, applying heavy pressure over the next seven laps when the lapped car of Judi Bates nearly caused Kauffman to spin. Stutts motored back into the runner-up spot as Dewease opened up a near straightaway advantage.
Dewease caught a break from heavy lapped traffic on lap 12 when Don Kreitz Jr.’s sprinter went up in smoke while running inside the top five.
Two laps later, Becca Anderson spun in turn four to slow the pace again, and Niki Young spun on lap 15 for the event’s final caution flag.
Kauffman went back by Stutts for the runner-up spot just prior to Young’s spin.
While Dewease stayed up top, Kauffman searched the track looking for an advantage to close in on the Saturday afternoon Lincoln Speedway feature winner.
"I knew the rubber was coming on the bottom and I started to get down there and root around looking for it," said the Man from Mifflintown. "I could see the track changing colors so I knew I had something. I knew I had a shot because I found something earlier and I just had to wait until the right time. Evidently I found the right time."
Over the final laps, Kauffman’s Middleswarth Potato Chips, No. 7 J & J Chassis edged closer and closer to Dewease and closed to within one car length on lap 23.
Kauffman then nosed ahead of Dewease to lead lap 24 and raced away from the Fayetteville driver on the final lap for the popular win in front a chilled Grove crowd.
Lancaster’s Doug Esh raced home third with Liverpool’s Stutts fourth ahead of defending track point champ Fred Rahmer of Salfordvillle.
Greg Hodnett, Chad Layton, Todd Shaffer, Alan Krimes and Rick Lafferty completed the top 10 finishers.
Haas started off his 2005 championship defense in a good way by leading all 20 laps of the 358 Sprint car feature.
Haas had Pat Cannon behind him during the early laps before Cannon’s motor went sour in the Zane Highlands-owned car.
Haas’ Michael Barshinger-owned No. 39 sprinter then held off Jimmy Layton for the win, trailed by Kevin Nagy, Carlisle’s Frankie Herr and Steve Buckwalter.
Shaffer, Hodnett and Rahmer won heats for the 33 sprint cars. Michael Carber won the consolation.
Nate Snyder, Haas, Kyle Purks and Frankie Herr were the heat winners for the 36 358 Sprints on hand, while the double consolations went to Kevin Nouse and Billy Dietrich.
Williams Grove returns to action next Sunday for the final Sunday afternoon show of the year with the 410 Sprints joined by the Super Sportsman.
PIT STOPS: World of Outlaws regulars Joey Saldana and Becca Anderson were on hand because of an off week on the WoO tour. ... Western Pennsylvania was well represented with Ed Lynch Jr. and Bob Felmlee back on hand. ... Ken Carberry made his first 410 Sprint start for car owner Dan Mansberger while Von McGee made his first start for car owner Daryl Kroh. Bob Beidleman was in the Dave Cook-owned machine.
Race results
Williams Grove Speedway
25-lap sprint car feature
1. Keith Kauffman, 2. Lance Dewease, 3. Doug Esh, 4. T.J. Stutts, 5. Fred Rahmer, 6. Greg Hodnett, 7. Chad Layton, 8. Todd Shaffer, 9. Alan Krimes, 10. Rick Lafferty, 11. Eric Stambaugh, 12. Chris Knopp, 13. Michael Carber, 14. Bob Felmlee, 15. Chris Meleason, 16. Becca Anderson, 17. Mark Freeland, 18. Mark Coldren, 19. Niki Young, 20. Joey Saldana, 21. Don Kreitz, 22. Rich Eichelberger, 23. Judi Bates, 24. Von McGee.
Did not qualify: Ken Carberry, Ed Lynch Jr., Bob Beidleman, Pat Cooper, Dan Shetler, Riki Lokowski, Brian Leppo, Mike Erdley, Mark Bitner.
