SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Jason Shultz turned in a dominating performance Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway for his second career win in the Patriot Sprint Tour 19th annual Joe Whitcomb Memorial for 360 sprint cars.
Shultz earned the pole position for the Joe Whitcomb Memorial and beat out Parker Evans for the early lead at the drop of the green flag. Shultz quickly pulled away from the field as Evans and fourth-place starter Mike Thompson dueled for the second spot.
On the second circuit, sixth-place starter Derek Locke raced into the third spot with seventh-place starter Jake Karklin blasting into fourth by lap five.
While Shultz continued to stretch his lead, an exciting three-car battle unfolded for the runner up position between Evans, Locke, and Karklin. On the ninth circuit, Karklin advanced to second and attempted to reel in Shultz.
At the halfway point, ninth-place starter Mark Smith showed some speed and moved into the top five. With five laps remaining, Shultz developed over half a track lead as Locke powered into second. At the finish, Shultz posted a convincing 13.93-second margin of victory over Locke, Smith, Karklin, and eighth-place finisher Davie Franek.
The $3,071 win at the wheel of the Ritter Racing/Selinsgrove Ford No. 35 was also his second of the season and the 24th of his 358-360 sprint car racing career at the track.
Coleby Frye earned his first win of the season in the 25-lap super late model race. It was also his 24th career in the division at Selinsgrove. Frye became the fifth different winner in as many super late model races at the track this season.
Jake Jones of Hunlock Creek recorded his third win of the season in the 12-lap roadrunner race.
The Finish:
360 Sprint Car Feature (25 Laps): 1) 35 Jason Shultz 2) 77 Derek Locke 3) M1 Mark Smith 4) 5K Jake Karklin 5) 28F Davie Franek 6) 47 Adam Carberry 7) 11T Mike Thompson 8) 79 Jordan Thomas 9) 32 Kyle Smith 10) 61 Parker Evans 11) 22 Jonathan Preston 12) 22E Nash Ely 13) 19 Kruz Kepner 14) 41 Dalton Rombough 15) 2 Dave Axton 16) 7J Andrew Jacobus 17) 121 Steve Glover 18) 5 Dallas Schott 19) 2J Aaron Jacobus 20) 66 Jordan Hutton 21) 17 Jason Wagner 22) 10K Joe Kata DNS