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Rick Laubach Triumphs In Selinsgrove Icebreaker |
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03/16/08 -
SELINSGROVE, PA – Rick “The Quaker Shaker” Laubach of Quakertown, who had to restart the Icebreaker 50 modified race at the rear of the field following a lap three flat tire, made an impressive charge to the front of the pack to win Saturday’s season opening event for the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modifieds at Selinsgrove Speedway.
Laubach, who originally started the event in the eighth position, collected $6,900 in money and contingency awards for the victory in the speedway’s first modified race since 1982. Laubach bested an impressive field of 43 modified entries in the $20,000-plus event.
Fourth-place starter Billy Pauch of Frenchtown, NJ, took the lead at the start of the main event and appeared to have the dominant race car until a reported broken axle on the 35th circuit forced him to withdraw from the race. Laubach inherited the lead for the lap 36 restart and maintained the front spot for the duration of the event, stretching his lead on each subsequent restart.
Meanwhile, an intense battle unfolded for the runner up spot between 10th-place starter Steve Paine and original third-place starter Pat Ward, who also had to restart the race following a lap three altercation. With three laps remaining, however, Paine’s car broke on the frontstretch and allowed Ward to rebound for second.
Seventh-place starter Jeff Rudalavage, 20th-place starter David VanHorn, and 26th-place starter Mike Colsten completed the top five in the main event. The top ten included Billy Decker, Butch Tittle, Billy VanPelt, Michael Storms, and Paine.
Polesitter Jeff Strunk withdrew from the race on lap five with a reported blown motor while racing in the third position. The first 12 laps of the race were a battle royale between Pauch and second-place starter Duane Howard of Oley.
Howard’s car broke and spun in turns three and four on the 12th circuit, relinquishing the runner up position to Paine until the 19th lap, when Laubach powered into second and eventually inherited the lead from Pauch on lap 36.
SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY – 15 March 2008
Race of Champions Modifieds—43 Entries
50-Lap A-Main: 1) 14 Rick Laubach 2) 42P Pat Ward 3) 112 Jeff Rudalavage 4) 71 David VanHorn 5) 51 Mike Colsten 6) 91 Billy Decker 7) Z Butch Tittle 8) 2 Billy Van Pelt 9) 79 Michael Storms 10) 7X Steve Paine 11) 99 Larry Wight 12) 15 Stewart Friesen 13) 1W Billy Pauch 14) 73 Jimmy Davis 15) 5 Jimmy Hort8on 16) 3 Chad Brachmann 17) 5J Joey Grammes 18) 40M Mark Forte, Jr. 19) 4 Duane Howard 20) 97 Jerry Higby 21) 00 Doug Manmiller 22) 53 Rick Hill 23) 1X Willy Decker 24) 9R Brian Weaver 25) 37X Tommy Sheetz Jr. 26) 44E Ricky Rutt 27) 126 Jeff Strunk 28) 20 Brett Hearn 29) 59 Bruce Kline DQ) X Chad Phelps
Heat Winners: Brett Hearn, Jeff Strunk, Rick Laubach, Pat Ward, Billy Pauch
Dash Winner: Rick Laubach
B-Main Winners: Joey Grammes, Larry Wight
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