ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. — After being shut out of victory lane for more than two years Alan Krimes said it felt like forever since he’d been there. Krimes found himself in victory lane for the first time since Sept. 3, 2016 on Saturday night.
Krimes shared the front row with polesitter Cole Young. Krimes got out in front of Young when the green flag dropped with Tim Glatfelter right behind him taking over the second position.
Brian Montieth was up to fourth from his sixth-starting spot and started to work on Young for third.
Krimes started to pull away from the field and when the caution flag came out on lap seven for Trey Hivner in turns three and four, it erased Krimes’ 2.6-second lead.
Brandon Rahmer flipped on the back stretch on the restart bringing out the red flag.
Glatfelter tried the bottom in turns one and two2, but Krimes held onto the lead on the restart. Krimes had amassed a 1.4 second in only two laps.
Montieth moved into third after Young pulled into the infield on lap nine.
Krimes had a 2 second lead as he caught the tail-end of the field on lap 15. The caution came out on lap 19 for Danny Dietrich and Chase Dietz in turn four. Dietz was able to rejoin the field, but last week’s winner, Dietrich, headed back to the pits, ending his night.
The late caution played to Krimes’ advantage as he was approaching a lapped car that was running his line around the track when the caution came out. If Krimes struggled to get around the lapped car it would have given Glatfelter the opportunity to reel him.
Glatfelter once again tried the bottom of turns one and two on the restart and once again Krimes held onto the lead by running the top of the track.
The caution came out one last time on lap 23 for Freddie Rahmer as he stopped in turn two with a flat tire. Rahmer had been running sixth.
Krimes held off Glatfelter one last time on the final restart to earn his 19th win at Lincoln. Glatfelter was second with Montieth holding onto third. Adam Wilt finished fourth and Chad Trout completed the top five.
Fresh off his 2018 track championship, Troy Wagaman found himself in victory lane for the 358 season opener.