ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. — Danny Dietrich held on to the lead for a one-lap shootout and held on to win Saturday night’s $7,000-to-win Elijah Hawkins Memorial at Lincoln Speedway, opening the two-night Labor Day Duels with a thrilling finish.
T.J. Stutts started from the pole after setting quick time in time trials, but it was Logan Rumsey who powered around Stutts in turn 4 to take the lead on the opening lap.
Freddie Rahmer quickly moved into contention, sliding Stutts in Turn 3 to take second. Dietrich and Chase Dietz soon worked their way past Stutts as the battle at the front began to take shape with Rumsey leading Rahmer, Dietrich, Dietz and Stutts.
As Rumsey entered lapped traffic, Rahmer began closing the gap. By Lap 10, Rahmer was within striking distance of the leader. Rahmer made a move for the lead in turns 1 and 2, but Rumsey fought back to reclaim the position. Rahmer stayed with him, however, and completed the pass for the lead coming off turn 4 on lap 12.
Dietrich closed in on Rumsey for second while Dietz challenged Dietrich for third. At the halfway point, Rahmer, Rumsey, Dietrich and Dietz had separated themselves from the field.
The battle for the lead continued to intensify as Rumsey caught Rahmer again in traffic. Dietrich eventually moved into second, while Dietz continued to pressure Rumsey for third. Troy Wagaman Jr. moved into the top five by passing Stutts.
With eight laps remaining, Dietrich was closing rapidly on Rahmer for the lead. Rumsey remained in the hunt for second, setting up a three-car battle at the front of the field.
Rahmer was holding onto the lead with five laps remaining by 0.396-seconds over Dietrich. That advantage disappeared, however, when Rahmer tagged the wall coming off turn 4, allowing Dietrich to race past and take the lead.
The drama continued all the way to the finish.
With just one lap remaining, contact on the front stretch between Rahmer and Dietrich brought out the caution. Rahmer’s car sustained damage, while Justin Whittall was also involved in the incident.
The field lined up for a one-lap shootout to the checkered flag, with Dietrich at the point.
Dietrich got the jump on the restart with Rumsey running the bottom. Danny held on through the final lap to score the Elijah Hawkins Memorial victory and kick off the Labor Day Duels with a dramatic win.
Rumsey crossed the line second and Dietz was third. Wagaman finished fourth and Stutts completed the top five.
Tim Wagaman held off the field on a late-race restart to score the 358 Sprint Car feature victory Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway, capturing the 20-lap feature on Night One of the Labor Day Duels.
The finish:
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 48-Danny Dietrich[6]; 2. 71-Logan Rumsey[2]; 3. 23-Chase Dietz[4]; 4. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[9]; 5. 11-TJ Stutts[1]; 6. 1A-Cameron Smith[10]; 7. 99M-Kyle Moody[11]; 8. 17-Dylan Norris[13]; 9. 1X-Chad Trout[7]; 10. 5-Tyler Ross[14]; 11. 1W-Buddy Schweibinz[15]; 12. 39-Lucas Wolfe[12]; 13. 8E-Lance Dewease[22]; 14. 8-Billy Dietrich[16]; 15. 55-Domenic Melair[23]; 16. 91-Preston Lattomus[18]; 17. 4W-Kasey Weaver[21]; 18. (DNF) 51-Freddie Rahmer[3]; 19. (DNF) 67G-Justin Whittall[5]; 20. (DNF) 23A-Chris Arnold[19]; 21. (DNF) 88-Brandon Rahmer[17]; 22. (DNF) 2-Jude Siegel[20]; 23. (DNF) 11A-Austin Bishop[8]; 24. (DNF) 11T-Talan Haas[24]
