ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. – Ryan Smith had yet to find victory lane this year, but that changed when the Kunkletown driver earned his first career win at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night.
Smith held off a charging Danny Dietrich to win the 25-lap main event.
Smith drew the pole position in the redraw and shared the front row with Dietrich. Reigning track champion Brian Montieth lined up third and 410 sprint car rookie Tyler Walton started fourth.
Walton got by Montieth for third at the start of the race, as Smith led Dietrich around the three-eighths-mile oval.
It didn’t take Montieth long to start challenging Walton for third. Montieth took the spot back on lap three after getting under Walton going into the third turn.
The first caution of the race came on lap four for Freddie Rahmer, who was parked sideways in turn four. Smith, Dietrich, Montieth, Walton and Anthony Macri were the top five heading into the restart.
Smith got a great start and went high going into turn one, with Dietrich opting for the bottom of the track. Manwhile, Macri used the bottom of the track to challenge Walton for fourth and took the spot on lap six.
The yellow flag flew again on lap seven, as Anthony Fiore and Brett Michalski got turned around in turn four. It was a close call for Smith and Dietrich, as they nearly get together avoiding the spun-out cars.
Dietrich went low again into turn one on the restart, but once again Smith held him off.
Dietrich was searching for something on the bottom of turns one and two as he tried to reel in Smith. Smith entered lapped traffic on lap 13, and as Dietrich was rim-riding in turns three and four, he hit the wall on lap 16 and lost nearly a second to Smith.
Another yellow flag came out on lap 18 when Chris Arnold ended up facing the wrong way in turn 4.
On the restart, Dietrich once again went low, and this time he stayed within striking distance of Smith. Dietrich slid Smith in turns three and four for the lead, but Smith beat him back to the line.
Dietrich tried another slide job in turns three and four as the white flag waved for the leaders, but once again Smith was able to hold him off.
Smith beat Dietrich to the checkered flag for his first 410 win of the season by .952 seconds. Montieth crossed the line third.
Macri was fourth and Chad Trout completed the top five.
In other racing action, Jon Stewart parked his No. 13 in victory lane for the first time in his career on Saturday night after making the pass for the lead with seven laps to go in the 358 sprint car main event.
Stewart crossed the line for his first career win at Lincoln .825 seconds ahead of Cody Fletcher. Kyle Rohrbaugh finished third. Troy Wagaman Jr. was fourth and Doug Hammaker completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. 72-Ryan Smith; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich; 3. 21-Brian Montieth; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri; 5. 1X-Chad Trout; 6. 39-Cory Haas; 7. 59-Jim Siegel; 8. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 9. 14T-Tyler Walton; 10. 75-Chase Dietz; 11. 87-Alan Krimes; 12. 24-Lucas Wolfe; 13. 51-Freddie Rahmer; 14. 99-Kyle Moddy; 15. 15-Adam Wilt; 16. 33-Jared Esh; 17. 69-Tim Glatfelter; 18. 48H-Bradley Howard; 19. 8-Billy Dietrich; 20. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe; 21. 73B-Brett Michalski; 22. 5-Jeff Halligan; 23. 91-Tony Fiore; 24. 23-Chris Arnold.
Lap Leader(s): Ryan Smith 1-25.