Post by Kirsten Snyder on Sept 24, 2023 13:53:22 GMT
Chris Dolan Wins Kevin Gobrecht Memorial for the 270s; Cole Dewease Goes to Victory Lane
on Same Night as Dad
By Kasey Kreider
As a standout in 125 micro sprint competition over the past couple of years, York’s Chris Dolan
has garnered a reputation for showing up and showing out in the division’s biggest races.
But competing against a legendary field of 270 micro sprint competitors on Friday night, Dolan
showed why it’s time to – in the words of Fort Minor – “remember the name,” as the teenager
scored the victory of the prestigious Kevin Gobrecht Memorial.
Dolan’s head-turning evening began with a second-place effort in time trials. Piloting Noah
Martin’s No. 9M, Dolan parlayed that qualifying effort into a win of the second heat race, which
put him on the outside pole for the feature.
But Dolan was second-in-class most of the night to defending race winner and six-time National
Open champion Ross Perchak, who seemed to have the field covered throughout the night’s
preliminary action.
But the 25-lap main event painted a different picture, as despite Perchak’s lead off the jump,
Dolan kept the iconic No. 4 well within his sights and began to close in as the race approached
halfway. After taking a peek or two at the lead, Dolan finally committed to making the pass with
a bold dive into turn 3. The move stuck, and Dolan snatched away a lead that he would not
relinquish for the remainder of the event.
Not only was the win Dolan’s first at Linda’s, but it was his first ever in a 270, coming on one of
the biggest stages. It may have also been fitting that the win came on the night honoring “The
G-Man.” Among all his racing accolades, Kevin Gobrecht was also a Millersville University
alum. Dolan just began his freshman year at Millersville.
But Chris Dolan wasn’t the only first-time Linda’s Speedway winner on the night. After picking
up a win at Williams Grove, Lance Dewease rushed to the Jonestown quarter-mile just in time to
see son Cole pick up his long-awaited first win at the track.
The pilot of the No. 2D lost the lead to Dakota Barlet on the start. But Cole Dewease would not
be denied, as he made a daring outside pass into turn 1 to rip back the top spot that he wouldn’t
let go of for the remainder of the event.
Despite Dewease’s best efforts, it wasn’t enough to claim the track championship for 2023.
Those honors instead went to Richie Hartman, who after so many years of coming close to a title
at Linda’s in 270 or 600 competition, finally had the pieces fall his way. A third-place finish in
the feature event ensured a title for the driver of Mark Gray’s No. 39.
The other championship to be decided belonged to the Mike’s Towing & Recovery 600
Modifieds. With a third-place finish of his own, Richie Hitzler was able to clinch his sixth track
championship at Linda’s in the division, with this one coming behind the wheel of Ray
Gradwell’s No. 9.
But it was celebration all around for the Hitzler family, as Richie’s sister Tiffany Hitzler-Mays
turned in a dominant performance to cap off a breakout season with her second win of the year.
The Gene Latta Ford Central PA Legends returned for their third and final race of the season at
Linda’s. Devin Friese left no doubt about it in the 20-lapper, as he claimed the victory to pair
with his Earman Fulk Memorial triumph in May.
Linda’s Speedway returns to action Friday, September 29th with a jam-packed card of racing.
The Bernheisel Race Components Chargers will close out their season with the annual Charger
Championship Race, while the Hoffer Paving All Star Slingshots and J&J Auto Body Junior
Slingshots will compete in their annual 50-lap and 20-lap events, respectively. The Stolz Stove
Sales Winged 600 Micro Sprints will contest their final points race of the year. And the 125
Micro Sprints will also make their last appearance of the season at the Jonestown quarter-mile.
Results:
Mt. Gretna Roller Rink 270 Micro Sprints A-Main (25 Laps):
1. 9M-Chris Dolan[2]; 2. 4-Ross Perchak[1]; 3. 16C-Pat Bealer[3]; 4. 19X-Stevie Daron Jr[4]; 5.
20S-Sean Stolz[5]; 6. 99-Brandon Heist Sr[9]; 7. 92-Jason Swavely[6]; 8. 747-Richie
Hartman[10]; 9. 71-Scott Zimmerman[12]; 10. 27O-Billy Logeman[15]; 11. 20-Cory Myers[11];
12. 6-Danial Boyer[21]; 13. 41-Mike Boyer[22]; 14. 94-Dallas Sanders[8]; 15. 25D-CJ
Davis[23]; 16. 19-Matt Fernsler[19]; 17. 23K-Courtney Kupp[7]; 18. 21J-Josh Weiant[24]; 19.
02-Alex Swift[18]; 20. 20M-Craig Myers[16]; 21. 3-Pete Skias[13]; 22. 47-Ernie Newmaster
III[20]; 23. 16P-Nick Skias[14]; 24. 74-John Roberts[17]
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Wingless 600 Micro Sprints A-Main (25 Laps):
1. 2D-Cole Dewease[1]; 2. 54-Dakota Bartlet[2]; 3. 39-Richie Hartman[6]; 4. 22H-Fred
Heinly[8]; 5. 32S-Garyt Smith[10]; 6. 44S-Steve Whary[14]; 7. 56-Tyler Henry[16]; 8. 27-Brad
Arnold[15]; 9. 29-Rodney Westhafer[5]; 10. 24-Logan Rhoad[23]; 11. 14H-Luke Harding[19];
12. 61-Ryan Kunkle[7]; 13. 71-Brian Kramer[4]; 14. 55-Sam LaMothe[20]; 15. 11-Connor
Fetrow[3]; 16. 5A-Anthony Yerger[9]; 17. 34-Abel Engler[13]; 18. 28-Dustin Degler[11]; 19.
11H-Holden Eckman[17]; 20. 66-JT Ferry[12]; 21. 7L-Chase Layser[22]; 22. 24S-Frank
Stoner[21]; 23. 46H-Kyle Hill[18]; 24. 69H-Haydin Ort[24]
Mike’s Towing & Recovery 600 Modifieds A-Main (20 Laps):
1. 8-Tiffany Hitzler[2]; 2. 78-Josh Bewley[12]; 3. 9RGR-Richie Hitzler[5]; 4. 88-Justin
Schraden[3]; 5. 21-Mark Bressler[1]; 6. X-Tyler Bartik[6]; 7. 61S-Kyle Donati[4]; 8. 13-Ed
Hollenbach[8]; 9. 28-Raymond Gradwell[7]; 10. 69-Christian Smith[9]; 11. 29-Douglas
Newbigging[11]; 12. 22-Lance Garrison[10]; 13. 5-Brandon Kulp[13]; 14. 27-Jack Wilver[16];
15. 10T-Tyler Fronina[15]; 16. (DNS) 23-Jason Mills
Gene Latta Ford Central PA Legends A-Main (20 Laps):
1. 21-Devin Friese[1]; 2. 77A-Aaron Updegraff[8]; 3. 11R-Scott Musselman[2]; 4. 17-Cory
Phillips[3]; 5. 32-Kevin Boylan[11]; 6. 66-Donald Stoudt[7]; 7. 12-Kelby Friese[13]; 8. 9-Rick
Hartwig[9]; 9. 9G-Grady McGrew[5]; 10. 30-Justin Wagaman[4]; 11. 63-Dave Benner[12]; 12.
13W-Vincent Wenrich[10]; 13. 58-Tanner Jones[6]; 14. 0-Cody Altland[14]
on Same Night as Dad
By Kasey Kreider
As a standout in 125 micro sprint competition over the past couple of years, York’s Chris Dolan
has garnered a reputation for showing up and showing out in the division’s biggest races.
But competing against a legendary field of 270 micro sprint competitors on Friday night, Dolan
showed why it’s time to – in the words of Fort Minor – “remember the name,” as the teenager
scored the victory of the prestigious Kevin Gobrecht Memorial.
Dolan’s head-turning evening began with a second-place effort in time trials. Piloting Noah
Martin’s No. 9M, Dolan parlayed that qualifying effort into a win of the second heat race, which
put him on the outside pole for the feature.
But Dolan was second-in-class most of the night to defending race winner and six-time National
Open champion Ross Perchak, who seemed to have the field covered throughout the night’s
preliminary action.
But the 25-lap main event painted a different picture, as despite Perchak’s lead off the jump,
Dolan kept the iconic No. 4 well within his sights and began to close in as the race approached
halfway. After taking a peek or two at the lead, Dolan finally committed to making the pass with
a bold dive into turn 3. The move stuck, and Dolan snatched away a lead that he would not
relinquish for the remainder of the event.
Not only was the win Dolan’s first at Linda’s, but it was his first ever in a 270, coming on one of
the biggest stages. It may have also been fitting that the win came on the night honoring “The
G-Man.” Among all his racing accolades, Kevin Gobrecht was also a Millersville University
alum. Dolan just began his freshman year at Millersville.
But Chris Dolan wasn’t the only first-time Linda’s Speedway winner on the night. After picking
up a win at Williams Grove, Lance Dewease rushed to the Jonestown quarter-mile just in time to
see son Cole pick up his long-awaited first win at the track.
The pilot of the No. 2D lost the lead to Dakota Barlet on the start. But Cole Dewease would not
be denied, as he made a daring outside pass into turn 1 to rip back the top spot that he wouldn’t
let go of for the remainder of the event.
Despite Dewease’s best efforts, it wasn’t enough to claim the track championship for 2023.
Those honors instead went to Richie Hartman, who after so many years of coming close to a title
at Linda’s in 270 or 600 competition, finally had the pieces fall his way. A third-place finish in
the feature event ensured a title for the driver of Mark Gray’s No. 39.
The other championship to be decided belonged to the Mike’s Towing & Recovery 600
Modifieds. With a third-place finish of his own, Richie Hitzler was able to clinch his sixth track
championship at Linda’s in the division, with this one coming behind the wheel of Ray
Gradwell’s No. 9.
But it was celebration all around for the Hitzler family, as Richie’s sister Tiffany Hitzler-Mays
turned in a dominant performance to cap off a breakout season with her second win of the year.
The Gene Latta Ford Central PA Legends returned for their third and final race of the season at
Linda’s. Devin Friese left no doubt about it in the 20-lapper, as he claimed the victory to pair
with his Earman Fulk Memorial triumph in May.
Linda’s Speedway returns to action Friday, September 29th with a jam-packed card of racing.
The Bernheisel Race Components Chargers will close out their season with the annual Charger
Championship Race, while the Hoffer Paving All Star Slingshots and J&J Auto Body Junior
Slingshots will compete in their annual 50-lap and 20-lap events, respectively. The Stolz Stove
Sales Winged 600 Micro Sprints will contest their final points race of the year. And the 125
Micro Sprints will also make their last appearance of the season at the Jonestown quarter-mile.
Results:
Mt. Gretna Roller Rink 270 Micro Sprints A-Main (25 Laps):
1. 9M-Chris Dolan[2]; 2. 4-Ross Perchak[1]; 3. 16C-Pat Bealer[3]; 4. 19X-Stevie Daron Jr[4]; 5.
20S-Sean Stolz[5]; 6. 99-Brandon Heist Sr[9]; 7. 92-Jason Swavely[6]; 8. 747-Richie
Hartman[10]; 9. 71-Scott Zimmerman[12]; 10. 27O-Billy Logeman[15]; 11. 20-Cory Myers[11];
12. 6-Danial Boyer[21]; 13. 41-Mike Boyer[22]; 14. 94-Dallas Sanders[8]; 15. 25D-CJ
Davis[23]; 16. 19-Matt Fernsler[19]; 17. 23K-Courtney Kupp[7]; 18. 21J-Josh Weiant[24]; 19.
02-Alex Swift[18]; 20. 20M-Craig Myers[16]; 21. 3-Pete Skias[13]; 22. 47-Ernie Newmaster
III[20]; 23. 16P-Nick Skias[14]; 24. 74-John Roberts[17]
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Wingless 600 Micro Sprints A-Main (25 Laps):
1. 2D-Cole Dewease[1]; 2. 54-Dakota Bartlet[2]; 3. 39-Richie Hartman[6]; 4. 22H-Fred
Heinly[8]; 5. 32S-Garyt Smith[10]; 6. 44S-Steve Whary[14]; 7. 56-Tyler Henry[16]; 8. 27-Brad
Arnold[15]; 9. 29-Rodney Westhafer[5]; 10. 24-Logan Rhoad[23]; 11. 14H-Luke Harding[19];
12. 61-Ryan Kunkle[7]; 13. 71-Brian Kramer[4]; 14. 55-Sam LaMothe[20]; 15. 11-Connor
Fetrow[3]; 16. 5A-Anthony Yerger[9]; 17. 34-Abel Engler[13]; 18. 28-Dustin Degler[11]; 19.
11H-Holden Eckman[17]; 20. 66-JT Ferry[12]; 21. 7L-Chase Layser[22]; 22. 24S-Frank
Stoner[21]; 23. 46H-Kyle Hill[18]; 24. 69H-Haydin Ort[24]
Mike’s Towing & Recovery 600 Modifieds A-Main (20 Laps):
1. 8-Tiffany Hitzler[2]; 2. 78-Josh Bewley[12]; 3. 9RGR-Richie Hitzler[5]; 4. 88-Justin
Schraden[3]; 5. 21-Mark Bressler[1]; 6. X-Tyler Bartik[6]; 7. 61S-Kyle Donati[4]; 8. 13-Ed
Hollenbach[8]; 9. 28-Raymond Gradwell[7]; 10. 69-Christian Smith[9]; 11. 29-Douglas
Newbigging[11]; 12. 22-Lance Garrison[10]; 13. 5-Brandon Kulp[13]; 14. 27-Jack Wilver[16];
15. 10T-Tyler Fronina[15]; 16. (DNS) 23-Jason Mills
Gene Latta Ford Central PA Legends A-Main (20 Laps):
1. 21-Devin Friese[1]; 2. 77A-Aaron Updegraff[8]; 3. 11R-Scott Musselman[2]; 4. 17-Cory
Phillips[3]; 5. 32-Kevin Boylan[11]; 6. 66-Donald Stoudt[7]; 7. 12-Kelby Friese[13]; 8. 9-Rick
Hartwig[9]; 9. 9G-Grady McGrew[5]; 10. 30-Justin Wagaman[4]; 11. 63-Dave Benner[12]; 12.
13W-Vincent Wenrich[10]; 13. 58-Tanner Jones[6]; 14. 0-Cody Altland[14]