By Paul T. Harkenrider (Dundee, NY) | Jared Zimbardi started on the pole leading all 25 laps to pick up his third straight Patriot Sprint Tour event in 2016, and his fourth overall.
Zimbardi led the 17 car field to the green where he used the middle lane of the race track to protect Dan Kuhn and Parker Evans from taking the lead. The first caution was thrown when Scott Just, who was making his return in a sprint car for the first time in a month was spun on the top of turn four on lap two.
Zimbardi would lead the field back to green where he used the middle lane of the track to protect the runner up challengers of Evans, Kuhn and eventually Dane Lorenc before the next caution flew on lap seven where Tyler Graves was parked backwards on the bottom of turn two.
Lap seven would restart again and as they worked down the back stretch, Pete Richardson would hit an implement tire that would give him severe front end damage and it would end his night early.
One lap later, Lorenc and Dan Kuhn would have contact that caused Kuhn to hit the wall and pull right in front of the cars of Steve Collins, Johnathan Preston, George Suprick and Dave Just. The only car that would be able to return was Steve Collins who suffered no damage after his car was assessed the hot pit.
Dane Lorenc had a shock issue but his crew was able to fix it in the two-minute work area and they were able to continue.
Zimbardi would start the field that was remaining again to the finish as he checked out and won by over seven seconds to pick up his fourth Patriot Sprint Tour win of the 2016 season.
In the final laps, Steve Glover, who started 14th was able to advance the entire race and by lap 20, he met second place runner, Parker Evans as the two battled for the runner up spot. Glover was able to use the bottom of three and four to get by Evans at the line to take home second, his best finish of the season. Paul Habeck would come home in fourth, followed by Dane Lorenc.
With the win once again, Zimbardi was able to take home the Shuttleworth’s ‘Seals the Deal’ racing bonus. Steve Glover had to start 14th as he took home sixth in the ESE Dash, his second place finish earned the Casey’s Truck Salvage ‘Salvage of the Night’ award. Dan Bennett was the final driver to take the checkered flag and that earned him the Stampede Steakhouse ‘Final Finisher award.’
Josh Azzi picked up the ESE Dash win where Zimbardi and Dane Lorenc were the qualifying heat winners.
The series will now head to Selinsgrove Speedway for the 13thrunning of the Joe Whitcomb Memorial. This will be the third straight year the Joe Whitcomb Memorial will be under the PST banner.
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Outlaw Speedway Results- June 17, 2016
Heat 1: Jared Zimbardi, George Suprick, Steve Collins, Jonathan Preston, Pete Richardson, Josh Azzi, Paul Habeck, Derek Juliano, Dan Bennett (DNF)
Heat 2: Dane Lorenc, Parker Evans, Dan Kuhn, Dave Just, Darryl Ruggles, Scott Just, Steve Glover, Tyler Graves
ESE Dash: Josh Azzi, Dave Just, Pete Richardson, Paul Habeck, Scott Just, Steve Glover
A Main 25 Laps: JARED ZIMBARDI (4), Steve Glover, Parker Evans, Paul Habeck, Dane Lorenc, Steve Collins, Derrick Juliano, Dan Bennett, Darryl Ruggles, Dan Kuhn, Jonathan Preston, George Suprick, Dave Just, Scott Just, Pete Richardson, Tyler Graves, Josh Azzi
Shuttleworth’s ‘Seals the Deal’ Bonus: Jared Zimbardi
Stampede Steakhouse Final Finisher: Dan Bennett
Casey Truck Salvage ‘Salvage of the Night:’ Steve Glover