Donny Schatz capitalizes on Sheldon Haudenschild’s heartbreak
to win 5th career Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup
Sarver, PA (July 18, 2017) For 35 laps, Sheldon Haudenschild appeared to be primed for his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series A-Main win, but a late race caution and ensuing restart ended up in heartbreak for the Child of the Wild Child. With Donny in the catbird seat, Sheldon jumped the cushion in turn four and became the latest victim of the wall of the front straightaway. With five laps to go and restarting with the lead, Donny Schatz is nearly impossible to beat and he drove away to his fifth career Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup victory and a $25,000 payday just days after a $50,000 Kings Royal victory at Eldora Speedway.
Daryn Pittman won his heat and the Craftsman Club Dash to start on the pole of the 40-lap A-Main, but watched Haudenschild drive away at the drop of the green flag and then got passed by Schatz mid-race. Pittman chased Schatz to the checkered flag and came home in second ahead of 25th Anniversary Silver Cup Champion David Gravel in third.
Hometown favorite and former, two-time Silver Cup Champion Tim Shaffer was the fast qualifier, won his heat race and finished fourth in the A-Main. All Star regular Chad Kemenah rounded out the A-Main top five. In addition to Shaffer and Pittman, Schatz and Haudenschild also won their respective heat races. AJ Flick on the C-Main, but used a track provisional to start the A-Main. James McFadden won the Last Chance Showdown.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will set their sights east across the PA Turnpike for this weekend’s Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. Lernerville Speedway will be back in action this Friday night with Modified Madness; a $2,000-to-win Big Block Modified special, plus $1,500-to-win for the E-Mods as well as the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds and Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar/RUSH Pro Stocks.
7.18.2017
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprints Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup A-Main (40 Laps)
1. (15) Donny Schatz, Minot ND
2. (9) Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK
3. (5) David Gravel, Watertown, CT
4. (49X) Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa
5. (10H) Chad Kemenah, Alveda, OH
6. (49) Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA
7. (11K) Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN
8. (41) Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA
9. (13D) Danny Dietrich, New Oxford
10. (17X) Carson Macedo, Lemoore, CA
11. (2) Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK
12. (4) Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN
13. (1) Dale Blaney, Fowler, OH
14. (7S) Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN
15. (22) Brandon Spithaler, Evans City
16. (17) Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH
17. (98) Carl Bowser, Sarver
18. (93) Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH
19. (2M) Kerry Madsen, St. Marys, New South Wales, AUS
20. (19) Brent Marks, Myerstown
21. (3H) James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT
22. (2AJ) A.J. Flick, Apollo
23. (1S) Logan Schuchart, Hanover
24. (24) Lucas Wofle, Mechanicsburg
25. (7K) Dan Shetler, Johnstown
26. (1A) Jacob Allen, Indianapolis, IN
Fast Qualifier: Tim Shaffer – 13.293
Heat Race Winners: Shaffer, S.Haudenschild, Schatz, Pittman
Last Chance Showdown Winner: James McFadden
C-Main Winner: AJ Flick
Dash Winner: Daryn Pittman
Car Count Total: 39
Contact: Lernerville Speedway
Eric J. Westendorf, Track Announcer
(724) 664-1075 / ewestendorf@tsmlernerville.com
Photos courtesy of John Stivason/Stivason Photos
