MONTIETH ADDS FIRST CAREER WELD/RIFE MEMORIAL WIN TO CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON AT LINCOLN

video by PAPosseracing.com
Abbottstown, PA | Sept. 24, 2011 - Four-time track champ Brian Montieth used a page out of the Fred Rahmer playbook to score his fifth Lincoln win of the year in the 40-lap Kenny Weld/Hilly Rife Memorial at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night. The driver known as “the Edge” started third, slid under new one-lap track record holder Rahmer for second on a seventh-lap restart, and then slid under polesitter and race-long leader Stevie Smith in turns three and four following an 11th-lap restart.

“I guess I learned my lesson from Fred (Rahmer) being used up all those years,” said Montieth of the restart passes to move into second and then first, “You’ve gotta grab cars on the initial starts, and luckily this thing was good enough to accelerate off the corners.”

After that, only late-race lapped traffic kept the win from being in doubt. Fourth-starting Greg Hodnett, who caught Smith for second on lap 18, and third-place Smith closed on Montieth as the three raced through heavy lapped traffic over the final five laps.

Montieth, who enjoyed a two-second lead with 10 to go, saw his lead cut in half over the next five laps. The lead dwindled to .56-seconds at the end, with Hodnett (who was racing without brakes at the end) and Smith crossing second and third.

“My hat’s off to Scott (Zellers) and the boys,,” continued Montieth, “They gave me a car that I could pretty much drive anywhere. It sorta’ sucks running up front, because I knew Greg was back there, and…running in traffic here…it’s better to be second than first. Greg took his shot and I knew he was there, so it was just block for the win.”

Counting bonus money from the Larry Rife, Jr. family (grandson of Hilly Rife) and Pat Sterner from Sterner Rental Properties, lap money, and his heat race finish, Montieth’s 25th career Lincoln win was worth $6,850.

Danny Dietrich received a $500 bonus for being the top-finishing car with Weld Tech heads in fourth, with Rahmer crossing fifth. Completing the top ten were 15th-starting Gerard McIntyre, Jr., Lance Dewease, Jim Siegel, 24th-starting and hard charger Chad Layton, and Cory Haas.

410 Sprint heats were won by Brent Marks, JJ Grasso, Brad McClelland, and Kyle Pruitt, with Justin Henderson winning the B-Main.

Fast time in time trials over the 35-car field was set by Fred Rahmer with a new one-lap track record time of 13.241 seconds (100.597 MPH).

Lincoln Speedway will be dark next Saturday night, Oct. 1st. The Pigeon Hills oval will swing back into action the following Saturday, Oct. 8th, with the ANNUAL HANK GENTZLER MEMORIAL MANUFACTURERS APPRECIATION RACE for 410 Sprints, plus 358 Sprints. Time Trials will get underway at 6 PM, with gates opening at 4 PM.

To get all the latest news, results, schedule changes and rule changes, visit Lincoln Speedway's website at http://www.lincolnspeedway.com to stay up-to-date on all the action or pending weather conditions at Central Pennsylvania's "Premier" Saturday night race track ‑ The Fabulous Lincoln Speedway.

15th ANNUAL KENNY WELD/HILLY RIFE MEMORIAL

Feature RESULTS (40 Laps):
1. 21-Brian Montieth ($6,750); 2. 39-Greg Hodnett; 3. 1-Stevie Smith; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich; 5. 51-Fred Rahmer; 6. 85-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 7. 30C-Lance Dewease; 8. 59-Jim Siegel; 9. 7-Chad Layton; 10. 11c-Cory Haas; 11. 30-Doug Esh; 12. 87-Alan Krimes; 13. 38N-Nick Schlauch, Jr.; 14. 14-Brent Marks; 15. 6-Brad McClelland; 16. 71X-Bill Stine; 17. 69-Tim Glatfelter (DNF); 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart (DNF);19. 35-Justin Henderson (DNF);20. 92-JJ Grasso (DNF); 21. 27-Daryn Pittman (DNF); 22. 15-Adam Wilt (DNF); 23. 21K-Kyle Pruitt (DNF); 24. 30L-Brian Leppo (DNF). No Time

Lap Leaders – Stevie Smith (1-10), Brian Montieth (11-40)
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