FORT HILL, Pa. — A 20-car field made the trip to Clinton County Speedway on Friday night to contest the next round of the NY Penn IMCA Modified Series.
Former NASCAR stars Ken Schrader and David Stremme were part of the field looking for the winner’s payday in the 25-lap feature, while Eddie Sites looked to maintain his points lead going into the first race of a doubleheader weekend.
Jake Maynard and Rodney Morgan brought the field to the green flag, with Morgan grabbing the early lead. Stremme and Rich Michael Jr. started 10th and 12th respectively, with Stremme breaking out first, moving to third by lap five and pressuring Maynard for second. Michael Jr. cracked the top five on lap six and battled with Keith Jack Lamphere and George Dixon as the first caution flew for debris on lap seven.Â
Under the caution, Dixon pulled up in turn four and stopped, needing a push to the pit area.
On the restart, Stremme lined up alongside race leader Morgan on the inside of the front row, with Stremme taking over the lead while Lamphere fought with Maynard, taking third.Â
Michael Jr. slid wide in turn four and lost several spots, dropping into eighth in front of Schrader. Lamphere had contact with another car and fell back to sixth as Brad Sites jumped forward to third.Â
Schrader’s night ended with a mechanical issue just before the halfway point, as he headed pitside with Shawn Bruce. Sites, who broke a suspension part in the right rear during his heat race, dodged a jamfest on the backstretch and moved into the top ten after starting in last place.
After a quick yellow flag for a spin by J.W. Lamphere on lap 16, racing resumed with Stremme and Morgan pulling away while Sites, Maynard and Michael Jr battled for third spot as Sites advanced to sixth, then passed Maynard for fifth one lap later.
Stremme continued to lead, but a spin by Matt Benjamin on lap 22 bunched the field once again. Stremme held off Morgan on the final restart to take the victory by five car lengths over Morgan, followed by Brad Sites, Michael Jr. and Eddie Sites.  Â
Feature Finish (25 Laps)
DAVID STREMME, Rodney Morgan, Brad Sites, Rich Michael Jr, Eddie Sites, Jake Maynard, Tyler Stoddard, Tyler Belcher, Keith Jack Lamphere, Jakub Ingham, Jacob McConnell, Gary Roberts, Bobby Maynard, Shawn Bruce, Matt Benjamin, AJ Hunsinger, Ken Schrader, JW Lamphere, George Dixon, Lance Conley (DNS).