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Curt Michael and the United Racing Club Make a Statement at Williams Grove

Curt Michael and the United Racing Club Make a Statement at Williams Grove.

Eight time URC Champion, Curt Michael, driving the Bill Gallagher 5g made a statement that he is a force to be reckoned with for the 2015 URC Championship in winning the feature event after battling with Steve Buckwalter and Mark Smith.

The United Racing Club made the statement that the Club is Back! With 42 sprint cars filling the Williams Grove pits, a handful of 410 drivers doing double duty, along with the New York Invaders, Jason Barney and Chuck Hebing, the United Racing Club Feature was the best of the year at the fast 1/2 mile speedway.

Four heat races were on tap with 5 to qualify out of a starting grid of 10-11 cars in each, making just qualifying a task. After the pill draw, many of the top 360 drivers had their work cut out for them.

Heat race wins went to Aaron Ott, Greg Hodnett, Chuck Hebing and Mark Smith. Heat race 2 was red flagged by a multi car accident involving David Swanson, PJ Williams, Robbie Stillwaggon, Mike Walter, and Danny Dietrich. David Swanson's badly damaged race car was the only car able to refire, but Swanson returned the 117 to the pits 1 lap later. The Consolation event was more of a feature event with 23 cars scheduled to start. With the likes of Stillwaggon, Josh Weller, Danny Dietrich, and Jason Schultz, racing into the top 5 was going to be a challenge. The consi was won by Josh Weller in the Eldreth Construction #25.

The feature event was by far the best in recent memory of the United Racing Club. Leading the 25 starters to the green flag were Jason Barney and Larry Kelleher. Barney and Kelleher battled for the lead, with Kelleher leading for around 10 laps before the strong field finally caught up to him. Steve Buckwalter and Mark Smith charged from their 6th and 9th starting positions with Buckwalter taking the lead. Multi-time URC Champion Curt Michael also worked his way into the mix with the 5g advancing from his 5th starting position. Aaron Ott and Greg Hodnett, both doing double duty, advanced their way into the top 5 as well. Just as the top 3 of Buckwalter, Smith and Michael were ready to duke it out, the caution came out providing a 2 lap shootout for the fans’ enjoyment.

With Buckwalter leading Michael and Smith to the green flag, the excitement was building as the 3 drivers entered turn 1. Exiting turn 2 the line up stayed the same with Michael making a move down the backstretch, and Smith wanting a part of the lead as well. With the 3 entering turn 3, almost 3 wide, Michael was able to make the slide job stick and lead the field to the white flag lap. Michael entered turn 1 with Buckwalter and Smith stalking him. Michael was able to keep the lead off of exit 2 but Smith was now in control of 2nd place and trying to run down Michael for the lead. Michael triumphantly lead the field to the checkers closely followed by Mark Smith, Steve Buckwalter, Aaron Ott, and Larry Kelleher.

This was Michael's 2nd win on the year, now tying him with Mark Smith who also has 2 with URC as well. This was also Michael's 3rd win in a 360 at Williams Grove, and now his 51st win all time with URC.

URC sprints, 25 laps: 1. Curt Michael, 2. Mark Smith, 3. Steve Buckwalter, 4. Aaron Ott, 5. Larry Kelleher, 6. Greg Hodnett, 7. Jason Barney, 8. Tyler Ross, 9. Glenndon Forsythe, 10. Robbie Stillwaggon, 11. Ryan Kissinger, 12. Chuck Hebing, 13. Tim Wagaman, 14. Cody Lehman, 15. Davie Franek, 16. Eric Tomecek, 17. Josh Weller, 18. Troy Betts, 19. Derek Locke, 20. Mark Bitner, 21. Bryn Gohn, 22. Justin Hoffman, 23. Keith Prutzman, 24. Mallie Shuster, 25. David Swanson

DNQ: Jonathan Swanson, Eric Riggins, Art Leidl, PJ Williams, Chris Arnold, Danny Dietrich, Mike Walter, Scott Lutz, Jason Cherry, JR Berry, Jason Schultz, Adam Lyman, Brad Franks, Leah Starner, Kevin Albert, Jason Clauss, Jimmy Stitzel

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Tim Moran
www.wrtspeedwerx.com
WRT Speedwerx Photos
Official Photographer of United Racing Club

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