WEEDSPORT, N.Y. — Danny Dietrich has certainly been on a roll this year, and now he can add an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory at Weedsport Speedway to his list of accomplishments.
Dietrich, driver of the Gary Kauffman Racing/Weikert’s Livestock/Sandoe’s Fruit Market/Pace Performance/Big Cove Whitetail Trophy Hunts/Drop Of Ink Tattoo/Sweeney Cars/Self Made/No. 48 sprint car, put fans on their feet Sunday night in central New York, utilizing a late-race restart to power around Danny Varin with just five circuits remaining.
Impressive enough, Dietrich accomplished his feat with a severed component in the rear suspension; a bent w-link.
“We are really starting to like this place,” Dietrich said of Weedsport Speedway, who now owns eight victories this year including his $5,000 All Star Circuit of Champions triumph. “Hats off to this entire team. We are clicking really well right now and the results show. There are so many people that help make all of this possible. Just a surreal feeling right now. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going into next weekend.”
Starting from the outside of row four, Dietrich was not speedy in his pursuit of the top spot, ultimately fading to a position just outside of the top-five during the first few circuits. In fact, Dietrich did not crack into the top three until lap 26 of 35.
During his late-race surge to the top, Dietrich was given some help, as Larry Wright, who was racing just ahead of Dietrich in the runner-up spot, made contact with the outside retaining wall on the 27th circuit, ultimately ending his night. The ensuing caution, which allowed Dietrich to restart on the tailtank of race leader Danny Varin, created the recipe for Dietrich’s eventual takeover.
Although Dietrich relied on the bottom of the speedway to get to himself that far forward, it was the top that proved to be the winning route. Utilizing momentum, Dietrich used a slingshot move around Weedsport’s cushion to gain command for the first time on lap 30, navigating the narrow edge in turns three and four to eventually work around Varin.
“I knew that is where I needed to be,” Dietrich continued. “[Danny Varin] was pretty good on the bottom, so I knew if I kept my pace up and built some momentum, I’d have a shot at him around the top. That late caution really helped us out. It gave me a chance to move up a lane and use clean air to get around him.”
Varin chased Dietrich to the final checkers, followed by Spencer Bayston, Cory Eliason and Greg Wilson.
Matt Sheppard topped the 35-lap modified feature.
The finish:
Feature (35-laps): 1. 48 – Danny Dietrich, 2. 00 – Danny Varin, 3. 70X – Spencer Bayston, 4. 26 – Corey Eliason, 5. 20W – Greg Wilson, 6. 13 – Paul McMahan, 7. 98H – Dave Blaney, 8. 14 – Tony Stewart, 9. 5W – Lucas Wolfe, 10. 87 – Aaron Reutzel, 11. 11 – Dale Blaney, 12. K4 – Chad Kemenah, 13. 70 – Brock Zearfoss, 14. 10 – Paulie Colagiovanni, 15. 07 – Gerard McIntyre, 16. 98 – Joe Trenca, 17. 47X – Dylan Westbrook, 18. 5 – Justin Barger, 19. 45 – Chuck Hebing, 20. 99 – Skylar Gee, 21. 35 – Tyler Esh, 22. 99L – Larry Wight, 23. 88C – Chad Miller, 24. X – Dan Bennett