Hanover, PA (8/15/08) – He’s been in victory lane before at Trail-Way Speedway. But not in a “358” sprint car.

Former micro-sprint racer Joe Trone, Jr. held off the challenges of two-time defending track champ Jeff Rohrbaugh to claim his first career “358” sprint car win in the 25-lap feature at Trail-Way Friday night.

“I saw the 7v come on the scoreboard and thought to myself, ‘Don’t tell me…’,” said a jubilant Trone upon exiting his Champion Chevrolet/Pancho’s Racing Products #99 in victory lane, “I thought if I hit my marks I’d be okay. But then I started getting loose and tried to stay on the bottom because I know Jeff likes to run there.”

The strategy worked. Trone stayed in front of the Roy Vincent Racing sprinter through lapped traffic over the last five laps.

Trone started sixth and was running fourth when the first caution of the race came out for another micro-sprint graduate, Kyle Moody, who spun while running third in turn four of lap four. Leader Nick Palmerino was sent to the pits to remove a flapping side panel during the caution, advancing Trone to second for the restart.

Trone then chased outside front row starter Rick Horn for the next six laps until the second caution of the race came out for a spinning Steve Owings in turns three and four. Trone drove around Horn for the race lead in turns three and four of the 10th-lap restart. Five laps later, 11th-starting Rohrbaugh took second from Dale Hammaker. Trone, Rohrbaugh, and Hammaker ran first-through-third for the final 12 laps, with Danny Dietrich getting by Davie Franek for fourth on lap 23. Franek was piloting the Roger McKeehan #4R in that car’s first-ever visit to Trail-Way Speedway.

“Mom and Dad give up a lot so I can come out and have fun,” said Trone, “I want to thank them for all their support.”

Sixth through tenth were DS Diversified Services hard charger Austin Reed (who started 22nd), Darren Schott, 24th-starting Jessie Morrison, Brad McClelland (who came from the back after a 12th-lap crash), and Colt White.

Heats for the 31 “358” sprinters were won by Horn, Dale Hammaker, McClelland, and Rohrbaugh.

The consolation event was won by White.

HOOSIER TIRES 358 SPRINTS

Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 99-Joe Trone Jr.; 2. 7V-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 3. 66-Dale Hammaker; 4. 88-Danny Dietrich; 5. 4R-Davie Franek; 6. 34-Austin Reed (DS Diversified Hard Charger-Started 22nd); 7. 55S-Darren Schott; 8. 18J-Jessie Morrison; 9. 6-Brad McClelland; 10. 45-Colt White; 11. 11D-Mike Duncan; 12. 10W-Brian Bruckner; 13. 1-Tim Wagaman; 14. 52-Amy Ott; 15. 51-Nick Palmerino; 16. 10-Zach Shive Euculano; 17. 36-Peter Bartley; 18. 99M-Kyle Moody (DNF); 19. 8D-Billy Dietrich (DNF); 20. 01-Rick Horn (DNF); 21. 66H-Doug Hammaker (DNF); 22. 35-Steve Owings (DNF); 23. 98-Randy Davis Jr. (DNF); 24. 28-Billy Heltzel Jr. (DNF). No time.

 

Lap Leaders – Nick Palmerino (1-3); Rick Horn (4-9); Joe Trone Jr. (10-25)

Heat 1 (10 Laps/5 Qualify) – 1. 01-Rick Horn; 2. 8D-Billy Dietrich; 3. 4R-Davie Franek; 4. 1-Tim Wagaman II; 5. 66H-Doug Hammaker; 6. 45-Colt White; 7. 97-Brianna Hershey; 8. U1-Billy Heltzel III (DNF). No time.

Heat 2 (10 Laps/5 Qualify) – 1. 66-Dale Hammaker; 2. 55S-Darren Schott; 3. 51-Nick Palmerino; 4. 28-Billy Heltzel Jr.; 5. 10-Zach Shive Euculano; 6. 75-Nicole Bower; 7. 64-Randy Whisler; 8. 33T-Todd Spangler. No time.

Heat 3 (10 Laps/5 Qualify) – 1. 6-Brad McClelland; 2. 99M-Kyle Moody; 3. 11D-Mike Duncan; 4. 35-Steve Owings; 5. 10W-Brian Bruckner; 6. 34-Austin Reed; 7. 59T-Tim Stallings (DNF); 8. 81-Brandon Turner (DNF). No time.

Heat 4 (10 Laps/5 Qualify) – 1. 7V-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 2. 88-Danny Dietrich; 3. 99-Joe Trone Jr.; 4. 98-Randy Davis Jr.; 5. 36-Peter Bartley; 6. 18-Jessie Morrison; 7. 52-Amy Ott. Time – 2:11.01

Consolation (10 Laps/4 Qualify) – 1. 45-Colt White; 2. 34-Austin Reed; 3. 64-Randy Whisler; 4. 18J-Jessie Morrison; 5. 52-Amy Ott; 6. 97-Brianna Hershey; 7. 33T-Todd Spangler; 8. 59T-Tim Stallings; 9. U1-Billy Heltzel III (DNF); 10. 75-Nicole Bower (DNF); 11. 81-Brandon Turner (DNS). No time