By Shawn Brouse
For The Daily Item
July 07, 2008 06:35 am
—
SELINSGROVE -- Fred Rahmer, of Salfordville, capped off the 18th annual Pennsylvania Speedweek and his 11th series title with a win in the 2008 Jan Opperman Memorial Sunday night at Selinsgrove Speedway in the series finale.
Rahmer entered the night with a 38-point lead over teenager Cody Darrah for the series crown, after Darrah picked up the win Saturday night at Port Royal.
On this night, Rahmer left little doubt that he would be up to the challenge straight out of the gate, when he set his fourth quick time of the 2008 series over the 28-car field.
From there, Rahmer went to work from the sixth position in the 30-lap main and followed leaders Sean Michael and Greg Hodnett for the first 17 laps before making his moves in lapped traffic.
Hodnett drifted high in the first corner, allowing Rahmer to snare second with 12 to go. With 11 laps left he was scored the leader over Michael, who walked off with the race a year ago.
It was the second $5,000 win of this year's series for Rahmer, after claiming the action Tuesday night at Grandview Speedway.
"It was tough. I thought those guys were slipping up off the bottom and I thought when we got to traffic that was when we could get them, so I just held back for that," Rahmer said of his winning strategy.
It was Rahmer's 54th career win at Selinsgrove, and his third in the Opperman Memorial.
"I'm proud of every win I have here," said Rahmer. "I'm glad to win the speedweek title this way rather than just riding around out there. I told my guys last year that what's wrong with our team is we've got a bad attitude, and anyone who didn't want to be involved, hit the bricks, and I truly believe that positive attitude is the whole key to this thing."
Sean Michael of Coplay held on for second, followed by Keith Kauffman, Mifflintown; Hodnett, Thomasville; and Jeff Shepard, Upperco, Md.
Shepard was the winner Wednesday night at Hagerstown, Md.
Sixth through 10th went to Todd Shaffer, Millerstown; Darrah, Red Lion; Mike Erdley, Elizabethville; Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Okla.; and Brian Leppo, New Oxford.
Heat races for the 28-car field went to Steve Buckwalter, Alan Cole and Leppo. Blane Heimbach won the consolation. Rahmer set the quick time with a fast lap of 17.966 seconds.
Rahmer ended the night up by 109 points over Darrah for the speedweek title, 749-640. Hodnett, Shepard and Leppo rounded out the top five in the final standings.
A.J. Hoffman of Evendale won his second pro stock feature of the season over Jason Smith to round out the night.
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Photos
FredRahmer