David Gravel Wins Opening Night of Champion Racing Oil National Open
Mechanicsburg, PA – September 29, 2017 – David Gravel assumed the lead after race leaders Greg Hodnett and Shane Stewart got together on lap nine. Gravel led the rest of the way, but not without a fight from Daryn Pittman and Lance Dewease, who finished second and third. Pittman and Dewease finished within a second of Gravel at the finish.
Greg Hodnett set fast time overall, won his heat and the Craftsman Club Dash and led the opening nine laps of the Feature. Hodnett’s lead dwindled as Shane Stewart closed in on the bottom of the half-mile. Stewart made his move for the lead off of turn four coming to the line on lap ten but made contact with Hodnett sending the Heffner Racing No.27 into the front stretch guardrail spinning. Hodnett miraculously kept the car going and was able to restart in second after the caution was thrown.
On the ensuing restart, Hodnett tried to slide Stewart for the lead in turns one and two pushing the Larson/Marks No.2 up the track. Stewart maintained the lead underneath the famous backstretch Williams Grove bridge. Hodnett drove into turn three hard making heavy contact with Stewart sending both cars into the fence hard. A costly move for both drivers in the National Open weekend point standings. Stewart was able to restart, but Hodnett was not.
Gravel, who narrowly missed being collected in the aforementioned accident, assumed the lead as Pittman and Dewease waged war behind him for the runner-up spot. As Gravel closed in on traffic, Pittman and Dewease closed in, to no avail as the CJB Motorsports No.5 collected their 15th win of the season. Donny Schatz and local Cory Haas completed the top five. Williams Grove point leader Freddie Rahmer picked up KSE Hard Charger Award coming from 21st to eighth.
“I don’t know how I didn’t crash,” Gravel said in Victory Lane referencing the Stewart/Hodnett accident. “I can’t thank all guys, sponsors and everyone that makes this CJB team so strong enough.”
Pittman, who came close to Gravel in the closing laps, was pleased with his night, “We had a really solid night. Hopefully we can qualify well tomorrow again and be up front. Saturday is where our focus is at.”
Abbreviated Results from Williams Grove September 28, 2017
Feature: 1. 5-David Gravel [4][$10,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [3][$5,000]; 3. 69K-Lance Dewease [5][$3,000]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$2,700]; 5. 39-Cory Haas [7][$2,500]; 6. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [8][$2,200]; 7. 2M-Kerry Madsen [12][$2,000]; 8. 51-Freddie Rahmer [21][$1,800]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [11][$1,600]; 10. 49-Brad Sweet [19][$1,450]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [18][$1,300]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$1,200]; 13. 48-Danny Dietrich [26][$400]; 14. 21P-Brian Montieth [13][$1,000]; 15. 3-James McFadden [14][$950]; 16. 4-Parker Price-Miller [10][$900]; 17. 1-Dale Blaney [23][$850]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [20][$750]; 19. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$725]; 20. 24-Lucas Wolfe [22][$700]; 21. 41-Jason Johnson [25][$]; 22. 2-Shane Stewart [2][$700]; 23. 39M-Anthony Macri [27][$]; 24. 16-Matt Campbell [17][$700]; 25. 58-Brock Zearfoss [24][$700]; 26. 17-Jac Haudenschild [15][$700]; 27. 27-Greg Hodnett [1][$700] Lap Leaders: Greg Hodnett 1-9, Shane Stewart 10, David Gravel 11-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 51-Freddie Rahmer[+13]
Qualifying Flight-A: 1. 27-Greg Hodnett, 16.702; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman, 16.754; 3. 7S-Jason Sides, 16.765; 4. 21-Brian Brown, 16.845; 5. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 16.898; 6. 17-Jac Haudenschild, 16.903; 7. 5-David Gravel, 16.93; 8. 44-Trey Starks, 16.971; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen, 17.029; 10. 15-Donny Schatz, 17.038; 11. 1-Dale Blaney, 17.04; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 17.056; 13. 21P-Brian Montieth, 17.062; 14. 94-Ryan Smith, 17.155; 15. 16-Matt Campbell, 17.156; 16. 48-Danny Dietrich, 17.243; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 17.462; 18. 14-Tony Stewart, 17.53; 19. 13K-Jordan Givler, 17.649; 20. 13-Clyde Knipp, 17.673; 21. W20-Greg Wilson, 17.715; 22. 45-Kyle Pruitt, 17.788; 23. 5B-Justin Barger, 17.836; 24. 12W-Troy Fraker, 18.378
Qualifying Flight-B: 1. 2-Shane Stewart, 17.055; 2. 69K-Lance Dewease, 17.162; 3. 4-Parker Price-Miller, 17.274; 4. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 17.277; 5. 3-James McFadden, 17.302; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 17.316; 7. 39-Cory Haas, 17.32; 8. 58-Brock Zearfoss, 17.354; 9. 87-Alan Krimes, 17.369; 10. 18-Ian Madsen, 17.377; 11. 19-Brent Marks, 17.414; 12. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 17.417; 13. 11-T.J. Stutts, 17.43; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 17.431; 15. 1W-Eric Tomecek, 17.47; 16. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 17.509; 17. 39M-Anthony Macri, 17.528; 18. 41-Jason Johnson, 17.564; 19. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 17.702; 20. 44W-Rodney Westhafer, 17.741; 21. 75-Nicole Bower, 17.81; 22. 1X-Chad Trout, 17.82; 23. 17M-Max McGhee, 18.015; 24. 17G-George Streaker, 19.426
