Abbottstown, PA (February 25, 2024) – After teaming up with car owner Mike Heffner mid-season in 2023, Troy Wagaman saw success and the team continued to shine with an Ice Breaker win on Sunday afternoon. Wagaman led from the drop of the green to the checkered flag, but there was plenty of action throughout the field during the 30-lap feature.
The start of the 2024 season was delayed a day due to low temperatures, wind and muddy grounds but the wait made it that much sweeter. A strong field of 25 cars filled the pits on Sunday afternoon and the stands were filled with fans anxious to hear the roar of the engines and smell the methanol in the air.
Before the field took the first green flag of the season, Jordan Givler, who was scheduled to start eighth, went back to the pits for an issue. Givler rejoined the field for the start. Domenic Melair and Troy Wagaman led the field to the line for the start of the $6,000 to win feature. Wagaman took the lead with Danny Dietrich moving up to second. Dietrich, Melair and Cameron Smith were racing three-wide behind Wagaman on the first lap when the red flag came out. Aaron Bollinger got a bit sideways exiting turn 4 and Emerson Axsom got sandwiched between Bollinger and Steve Owings.
The field lined up for a complete restart and Wagaman took the lead again. This time Smith challenged Melair for second. Chase Dietz was battling Danny for fourth and got under him coming out of turn 2 to take the spot on lap 3. Melair slowed on the back stretch right in front of Dietrich and the two made contact. Melair came to a stop bringing out the caution on lap 4. Dietz was slated to restart third, but headed pitside with a flat tire under caution. Dietz was able to rejoin the field in time for the restart.
Wagaman led Smith, Dietrich, Rick Lafferty and Lucas Wolfe on the restart. Lafferty looked under Danny for third and had the position coming out of turn 2. Freddie Rahmer, who started 14th had made his through the field to challenge Wolfe for fifth. Rahmer took the spot and entered a three-car battle for third with Danny and Lafferty.
Tyler Ross, Brandon Rahmer and Devon Borden all sat on the track at the exit of turn 2, bringing out the caution on lap 6. Matt Campell, who had charged from 18th to eighth stopped in the pits under caution to check an issue with his rear suspension before rejoining the field.
The top five for the restart were Wagaman, Smith, Lafferty, Danny and Freddie. Rahmer looked under Danny for fourth on the restart while Lafferty worked on Smith for second. Both Dietrich and Rahmer got by Lafferty before the caution came out yet again on lap 8 for oil on the track.
Wagaman, Smith, Danny, Freddie and Lafferty were the top five for the restart. Wagaman got a good jump on the restart and Freddie got under Danny again and this time made the pass for third and quickly started closing in on Smith. Rahmer passed Smith for second coming out of turn 2 on lap 9. Despite having a damaged wing, Dylan Norris had driven his way up through the field to challenge Lafferty for fifth. Norris had the spot for a moment, before Lafferty reclaimed it.
The caution came out again on lap 13 when Justin Whittall sat spun around at the top of the track in turns 3 and 4. The yellow turned into an open red for teams to have an opportunity to refuel for the remainder of the race.
Wagaman had another good restart. Danny drove under Smith for third and went to work on the bottom to close in on Rahmer. Dietrich reeled Rahmer in and pulled a slider to take second on lap 15. Rahmer looked to reclaim the spot but could not complete the pass. Rahmer stuck around and the two continued to battle for second.
After getting caught up in the first incident of the race and restarting at the rear of the field, Bollinger had driven his way back up to sixth. Dietrich started to pull away from Rahmer. Bollinger was in the top five on lap 21.
Wagaman was closing in on lapped traffic with 10 laps to go and Dietrich was closing in on Wagaman. Danny got within a car length of Wagaman but could not find a way around him for the lead.
Bollinger was up to fourth with five laps to go and started to reel in Rahmer. Danny went to the top in turns 1 and 2 but could not close the gap on Wagaman.
Wagaman scored his first Ice Breaker win with Dietrich in second and Rahmer crossing the line third. Bollinger was fourth and Dietz finished fifth, both drivers having made their way back up through the field after early race incidents sent them to the pits.
Next Saturday, March 2, Lincoln Speedway is back in action with the 410 Sprints and PA Micro Midgets. Racing is scheduled for 3PM with pit gates opening at 12:30PM and grandstand gates opening at 1PM.
To get all the latest news, results, schedule changes and rule changes, visit Lincoln Speedway’s website at http://www.lincolnspeedway.com. Visit the website to stay up-to-date on all the action at Central Pennsylvania’s “Premier” Saturday night racetrack – The Fabulous Lincoln Speedway.
RACE RESULTS
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Gene Latta Ford 410 Sprints:
410 Sprint Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 27-Troy Wagaman ($6,000); 2. 48-Danny Dietrich; 3. 8R-Freddie Rahmer; 4. 5E-Aaron Bollinger; 5. 2D-Chase Dietz; 6. 75-Cameron Smith; 7. 1X-Chad Trout; 8. 0-Rick Lafferty; 9. 99M-Kyle Moody; 10. 5W-Lucas Wolfe; 11. 11P-TJ Stutts; 12. 27S-Dylan Norris; 13. 95-Kody Hartlaub; 14. 8-Billy Dietrich; 15. X-Matt Campbell; 16. 7H-Trey Hivner; 17. 35O-Steve Owings; 18. 90-Jordan Givler; 19. 5R-Tyler Ross; 20. 67-Justin Whittall; 21. 5M-Jeremy Weaver; 22. 23B-Devon Borden (DNF); 23. 88-Brandon Rahmer (DNF); 24. 55M-Domenic Melair (DNF); 25. 27W-Emerson Axsom (DNF)
Lap Leaders – Troy Wagaman (1-30)
410 Sprint Heat One Finish (10 laps) – 1. 0-Rick Lafferty; 2. 55M-Domenic Melair; 3. 75-Cameron Smith; 4. 11P-TJ Stutts; 5. 27S-Dylan Norris; 6. 99M-Kyle Moody; 7. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 8. 23B-Devon Borden; 9. 95-Kody Hartlaub
410 Sprint Heat Two Finish (10 laps) – 1. 90-Jordan Givler; 2. 2D-Chase Dietz; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich; 4. 5E-Aaron Bollinger; 5. 8R-Freddie Rahmer; 6. 8-Billy Dietrich; 7. 5M-Jeremy Weaver; 8. 5R-Tyler Ross (DNF)
410 Sprint Heat Three Finish (10 laps) – 1. 27-Troy Wagaman; 2. 5W-Lucas Wolfe; 3. 27W-Emerson Axsom; 4. 1X-Chad Trout; 5. 35O-Steve Owings; 6. X-Matt Campbell; 7. 67-Justin Whittall; 8. 7H-Trey Hivner
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