Dog Hollow Specials Go To Hersh, Benton & Martin
4 min read
STRONGSTOWN, PA (August 20, 2021) – Clinton Hersh and Joe Martin claimed the $1000 checkers in the 358 Limited Lates and RUSH Late Models while Brad Benton claimed the $500 prize in the Pure Stocks. Gale Ruth Jr. won for the second time this season at the Dog Pound in the RUSH Wingless Sprints. Somerset ’s Noah Swank picked up his first of the season in the Texas Auto Ranch 4 Cylinders.
The 358 Limited Late Special hit the track first for their 20-lap, $1000 to win feature. The drop of the green saw Somerset ’s Clinton Hersh shoot out in the lead. Sixth starting Greg Moore drove into second and started to chase Hersh. Hersh was flying on the high side and kept fending off Moore ’s advances. Moore, who won the last Limited show, tried everything he could but came up a little short. Hersh led every lap to take the win over Moore, Devin Weyandt (from 10th), Jake Piper, Eddie Cornett, Bernie Whiteford (from 12th), Nick Fulmer, Mike Blazer, Mike Horne and Rick Strong. Taking heat race wins were Cornett and Ryan Jacoby.
The 20 lap RUSH Wingless Sprints put on a battle royal in their feature event. Ryan Fraley was looking for his career first win and took off at the start. Fraley led the first thirteen laps. Gale Ruth Jr. came from his sixth starting spot to take the lead away from Fraley on lap fourteen. Chad Ruhlman slowly worked his way to second on lap 18 and but did not have enough time to reel in the flying Pleasantville driver. With the checker Ruth won both RUSH Wingless features this season at Dog Hollow. Ruhlman settled for second over Ryan Fraley, Rod George, Tyler Newhart, Zach Morrow, Nolan Groves, Blaze Myers, Arnie Kent and Brian Hartzell. Rod George and Tyler Newhart were the heat winners.
A three car show between Joe Martin, Michael Duritsky and Mike Laughard had the fans cheering. Joe Martin took the lead at the start and appeared to be on his way to an easy win. Duritsky had other ideas and began to close the gap. Durtisky and Martin went at it lap after lap. Durtisky kept trying to get under Martin and finally did when a caution appeared on lap ten. Martin took off again on the restart with Duritsky in tow. Meanwhile Mike Laughard began to come on and kept them in his sight. Laughard was making a pass for second when he got a little side ways in four and Duritsky had nowhere to go and got into him. This put Laughard to the back on the restart. Duritsky finally got by Martin on lap 16 but a flat tire did him in two laps later. Martin led the final laps to beat Laughard, who made his return to Crate racing. Duritsky came back to finish third over Justin Kann, Doug Glessner, Ray Dallape, Jamie Swank, Rob Coffaro, Tim Snare and Kyle Smith Jr. It was Martin’s fifth win of the year. Heat winners were Duritsky and Martin.
In the 20-lap, $500 to win, Pure Stock Special it was Brad Benton taking the win. Andrew Wallace, subbing for Rich Anderson, led the first four laps. Benton powered by and lap five. Wallace chased the Duncansville driver through a couple cautions but could not get the lead back. Benton won over Wallace, Brandon Doland, Stephen Hazlett, Gary Stitt, Jermey Zufal;, Tim Laughard, Dennis Collins, Bob Torquato and Mike Ball. The win was his 16th career win at DHS. This moved him to a tie as the fourth winningest driver in the Pure Stocks. Doland and Wallace were the heat winners.
Jeremy Zufall finished sixth in the Pure Stock race and was the highest finishing Crate car giving him the win for the RUSH Stock Cars over Tim Laughard and Bob Torquato.
One of the best features of the night was the Texas Auto Ranch 4 Cylinders. Noah Swank led the first lap before Cody Young passed him looking for his fourth straight. Young went pit side with a flat the following lap. He made it out in time to start on the tail. Meanwhile out front it was the high flying Swank looking for his first of the season. Swank was driving the Ray Dallape #95. Cody Young came charging back through the field and was second by lap six. The first half of the race was caution plagued. However, the last six were a show as the two young driver looked like veterans running side by side in the turns and never touching. Swank held off Young to earn his first win of the 2021 season. Young was second over Chuck Dizzle, Jesse Laughard (from 14th), Jamie Noel, Todd Davis, Bill Eckenrode, Matt Gornick, Timothy Baker and Jordan McEvoy. Swank and Cody Young were the heat winners also.
358 Limited Late Steel Block Special (16) – Clinton Hersh, Greg Moore, Devin Weyandt, Jake Piper, Eddie Cornett, Bernie Whiteford, Nick Fulmer, Mike Blazer, Mike Horne, Rick Strong, Caleb Whiteford, DNS – Ryan Jacoby, Paul Ivory, Rob Marhefka, Bryan Benton, Mervin Killion.
RUSH Late Models (10) – Joe Martin, Mike Laughard, Michael Duritsky, Justin Kann, Doug Glessner, Ray Dallape, Jamie Swank, Rob Coffaro, Tim Snare, Kyle Smith Jr.
RUSH Wingless Sprints (13) – Gale Ruth, Jr., Chad Ruhlman, Ryan Fraley, Rod George, Tyler Newhart, Zach Morrow, Nolan Groves, Blaze Myers, Arnie Kent, Brian Hartzell, Jeff Metzger, Ricky Tucker, Jr. DNS – Brad Blackshear.
AMSOIL/Ron’s Collision Center Stock Cars / Pure Stocks (11) – Brad Benton, Andrew Wallace, Brandon Doland, Stephen Hazlett, Gary Stitt, Jermey Zufal;, Tim Laughard, Dennis Collins, Bob Torquato, Mike Ball. DNS – Ron Benton.
Texas Auto Ranch 4 Cylinders (18) – Noah Swank, Cody Young, Chuck Dizzle, Jesse Laughard (from 14th), Jamie Noel, Todd Davis, Bill Eckenrode, Matt Gornick, Timothy Baker, Jordan McEvoy, Adam Ellis, Cruz Daughenbaugh, Dylan Young, Dustin Gibbons, John Diehl, Ashton Daughenbaugh, DNS – Michael Sinclair, Caden Kennedy.
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