Lucas Wolfe claims second straight Bob Weikert Memorial

PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Lucas Wolfe led the final nine laps to claim his second straight 30-lap Bob Weikert Memorial on Sunday night at Port Royal Speedway, pocketing $10,000 in the process.

The 31-year-old started fourth and inherited the lead on Lap 22 after Logan Wagner cut down a left-rear tire coming off Turn 2. Wagner, who led at the time, passed pole-sitter Dylan Cisney in lapped traffic on Lap 14 and paced the field for the next eight circuits before a blown tire ruined his night.

The Memorial Day weekend event honoring Bob Weikert is a staple in the Pennsylvania sprint car community. Weikert was one of the most decorated and charismatic team owners in the sport’s history, developing some of the most well-known racers in the country. And since the World of Outlaws is off on Memorial Day weekend, many touring regulars take part in the festivities.

“It’s a tremendous event. Glad I can be apart of it. It’s one you look forward to every year. We just managed to make it through the front,” Wolfe said. “Fortunately had some misfortune in front of me and I was able to take advantage of it.”

Wolfe had to stave off two restarts — for when he took the lead after Wagner’s blown tire and then with four laps to go when Cisney fell victim to a cut tire as well. The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native led by 1.9 seconds before the final caution and eventually drove off from Lance Dewease in the final four laps to win by 1.264 seconds.

Dewease, David Gravel, Brock Zearfoss and Ryan Smith rounded out the top five. Pennsylvania fan-favorite Danny Dietrich finished sixth. Cisney (13 laps led) managed 17th and Wagner placed 18th of the 24 A-main drivers.

Wagner, Cisney and Steve Buckwalter won their respective heat races. Greg Hodnett set the fast-time in qualifying with a 15.234.

The Weikert Memorial was delayed a good hour when a brief shower passed over the track, spurring doubt the event will be completed. But once the rain halted, officials worked relentlessly, grading the top layer of clay and then packing it in with an array of push trucks. Many drivers feared the track would be sloppy and heavy, but the result turned out to be a clean, blazing fast surface.

“It’s just one of those things. We have a good baseline of what we think [the track will be like]. To be honest with you, the track didn’t change much all night because the track stayed almost the same,” Wolfe said. “As anywhere, a clean track is the best you can do.”

RESULTS

1) 24 Lucas Wolfe [4]

2) 461 Lance Dewease [3]

3) 5G David Gravel [6]

4) 3Z Brock Zearfoss [9]

5) 94 Ryan Smith [8]

6) 48 Danny Dietrich [5]

7) 27 Greg Hodnett [7]

8) 44S Trey Starks [16]

9) 19M Brent Marks [19]

10) 51 Freddie Rahmer [10]

11) 2 AJ Flick [23]

12) 07 Gerard McIntyre [14]

13) 17B Steve Buckwalter [11]

14) 33 Jared Esh [21]

15) 11 TJ Stutts [13]

16) 67 Justin Whittal [22]

17) 5 Dylan Cisney [1]

18) 1 Logan Wagner [2]

19) 39H Cory Haas [24]

20) 55 Mike Wagner [17]

21) 12 Blane Heimbach [20]

22) 44 Joey Hershey [15]

23) 39 Anthony Macri [12]

24) 55K Robbie Kendall [18]

DNQ: 47K Kody Lehman, 24B Dustin Baney, 73B Brett Michalski, 75 Nicole Bower, 5T Tyler Reeser, 87 Alan Krimes