Chris Schneider Captures His 1st Ed Laboon Memorial

June 4, 2017 (Sandy Lake, PA) With Mother Nature playing havoc on the 2018 race season, it was uncertain early in the week if the 7th Annual Ed Laboon Memorial Race would take place on Saturday, June 2nd at PPMS as scheduled. Fortunately Saturday morning showed a clear radar and although the weather wasn’t perfect race weather with hot, humid conditions, 52 drivers did have an opportunity to battle for the $2,017 prize. Three-time Penn Ohio Point Champion, Chris Schneider from Lower Burrell, PA, was able to park his #55 SS Chassis in victory lane collecting the $2,017 check and becoming a member of the prestigious list of drivers winning an Ed Laboon Memorial event.

Drivers had an opportunity to qualify for heat race starting positions. Fastest qualifier was Chris Schneider, followed by two-time Laboon winner Rusty Martz (16M) with a time of 20.917, Andrew Gordon (25A) 21.151, 2016 Laboon winner Todd Weldon (45) 21.409, Randy Wyant (11T) 21.439, and 2017 Penn Ohio Point Champion Bobby Whitling (7W) 21.549. From qualifying, drivers were divided into six heat races with the top three finishers transferring to the A Main.

Heat race winners were Schneider, Martz, Gordon, Weldon, Wyant, and Whitling. The heat winners participated in a redraw for starting position in a Dash. The dash finishing order determined the top six starting spots for the main event. Pole Sitter, Scheider, won the dash earning the pole position for the Ed Laboon Memorial, followed by Gordon, Martz, Whitling, Wyant and Weldon.

Three B-Main events gave drivers an additional opportunity to qualify for the A Main with the top three finishers transferring. Winners were Greg Beach (33x), Curtis Bish (29), and Jamie Scharba (11s). Bobby Heim (92) was the Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock series provisional completing the 28 car starting grid.

After driver introductions, Schneider and Gordon led the 28 car field to the green flag for the 25-lap 7th Annual Ed Laboon Memorial. Schneider quickly pulled out front with Martz in tow. Schneider maintained the lead despite an early caution on lap 4. The top ten on the restart included Schneider, Martz, Gordon, Wyant, Whitling, Weldon, Danny Rich (67x), Bill Robertson (1R), Rob Shook (64), and Jason Fosnaught (73).

Schneider again had a strong start and maintained a lead pulling from the pack. The battle for second place intensified with Gordon claiming the spot over Martz. Gordon then began reeling in Schneider as the leader dealt with lap traffic on lap 12. The pack would bunch back up when the second caution flag of the event flew on lap 15, giving Gordon a chance to start beside Schneider just as he did at the start of the race.

The restart found Schneider and Gordon side by side, followed by Martz and Wyant, Weldon and Whitling, Shook and Fousnaught, Rich and Chris McGuire (63). Schneider quickly pulled to the front on the start while Gordon fell back to fifth; Weldon, former Laboon event winner, found his way to the runner up spot. The third and final caution flag flew on lap 20 giving Weldon an opportunity to pressure Schneider. A determined Schneider continued his smooth and unbelievably fast run, making Weldon a non-threat to the three-time Penn Ohio Champion. Schneider crossed the finish line 6.123 seconds ahead of Weldon, securing his first Ed Laboon Memorial Race win. Gordon crossed the line in third with Shook in fourth and Martz in fifth. Fosnaught brought home a sixth place finish, Wyant in seventh, Whitling in eighth, McGuire in ninth, and twenty-third starter, Davy Lee (96L) rounded out the top 10.

Following the main event, the Dob’s Non-Qualifiers 15-lap feature had 11 drivers competing for $717. Rod Laskey (1R) and Bob Schwartzmiller (28s) led the pack of drivers to the green. Battling for the top position were Laskey, Chris Withers (21W) and Wayne Carbo (54). Carbo was able to secure the lead on lap five leaving Withers and Laskey to battle for the runner-up spot. Contact between the drivers on lap 6 resulted in a caution with Laskey getting towed to the pits and Withers restarting in the back of the pack. Carbo maintained the lead uncontested for the remaining laps and parked his #54 SS Chassis in victory lane.

Official finish results for both races will be posted once verified.

Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series contingency prizes were awarded to the following drivers:

Hoosier Tire presented by Precise Racing Products – Chris Schneider

American Racer Tire presented by Lias Tire – Chris McGuire

Big Daddy’s $25 Certificate – Brett McDonald #25M

Beadlock rim presented by SS Chassis – Bobby Whitling #7W

Close Racing $100 Certificate – AJ Poljak #36

Les Frickshun case of oil – Curt Bish #00

Genesis Shocks $75 certificate – Andy Buckley #965

ARbodies $25 certificate – Bill Hurrelbrink #c8

Big Daddy’s $25 certificate – Rusty Martz #16M

Wedge Motorsports $25 certificate – Rob Shook #64

Wedge Motorsports $25 Certificate – Chris Withers #21W

Wedge Motorsports $25 Certificate – Tyler Thompson #T2

Wedge Motorsports $25 Certificate – Danny Rich #67x

Precise Racing $25 gift card – Jason Fosnaught #73

Dirt Defender Product – Randy Wyant #11T

Precise Racing products – Chris Schneider #55

Aero Certificate – Corey McPherson #c33

Admax Certificate – Chris McGuire #63

The Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series will be back in action for the $10,000 to-win Inaugural Steel Valley Pro Stock Nationals at Sharon Speedway on Friday, June 15th and Saturday, June 16th. For more information on the Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series contact Series Director, Shaun Hooks, at 724-730-1623, visit the website at www.pennohioprostock.com, or email info@pennohioprostocks.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennohioprostocks or follow us on Twitter @Pennohiostocks.