FRANKLIN, Pa. — Jack Sodeman Jr. regained the lead when Mark Smith lost a powerplant while gunning for his third win of the weekend in Western Pennsylvania.
Sodeman continued without a significant challenge and took home the $4,000 pay envelope for the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars.
“It has been so long since I pulled up to victory lane, I thought I wouldn’t find it,” Sodeman said. “Jesus himself couldn’t catch Mark (Smith). I appreciate the win, but not like that, with him having motor problems.”
Sodeman pulled the pole for the start of the 25-lap A Main in the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars. Next to him was the visitor from across the pond, Ryan Harrison from the United Kingdom. Greg Wilson and Andy McKisson were in row two, with Mark Smith and Andy Priest in row three. The fourth row belonged to Sean Rayhall and points leader A.J. Flick. Behind them were Bob Felmlee, currently sitting second in points, and Michael Bauer in a rare Tri-City appearance.
Sodeman powered into the lead, followed by Smith, Harrison, Wilson, Flick, McKisson, Rayhall, and Priest. Smith quickly closed in on Sodeman and drove by him on lap three.
Lap six was a tumultuous one. Cameron Nastasi spun for the first caution. On the restart, Bauer crashed hard in turn two. Bauer was the first 410 sprint car to get upside down at Tri-City.
Smith broke away from the field once again when the race resumed. Sodeman continued in second, while Flick hounded Wilson for the third position. Rayhall and Harrison competed for fifth. Meanwhile, Felmlee started to move forward.
With a comfortable lead on lap fourteen, Smith suddenly lost power coming through turns three and four. Flames shot from the engine compartment, signaling the end of his stellar run.
Sodeman went back to the point for the final restart. Wilson remained in second, but Flick increased the pressure, to no avail. Felmlee moved into fourth, but he could not get by Flick to gain any ground in the battle for the point championship. Rayhall took over the fifth position and held it to the end.
Also capturing wins at Tri-City Raceway Park were Mike Kinney, a first-time winner in the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds, Josh Seippel in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and Matt Urey in the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks.
Feature Finish (25 Laps)
Jack Sodeman, Jr., Greg Wilson, A.J. Flick, Bob Felmlee, Sean Rayhall, Ryan Harrison, Andy Cavanaugh, Cameron Nastasi, Bodey McClintock, Steven Bright, Andy McKisson, Mark Smith, Leyton Wagner, Michael Bauer, Nathan McDowell, Bob Lime, Andy Priest, and Carl Bowser.