PORT ROYAL, Pa. (Sept. 10, 2016) – Tonight’s Arctic Cat All Stars Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway paid $12,000 to the winner and $600 to start.
Dave Blaney and the Motter Equipment Mohawk Northeast Beltline Body Shop team finished sixth last night and were optimistic about participating in tonight’s historic event.
With 41 cars in the pits, qualifying was divided into two groups. Blaney wheeled the 71M to sixth position in Group B qualifying order, chalking up a 16.805-seccond lap on the half-mile track.
The Buckeye Bullet started on the outside of the front row in the fourth heat.
When the green flag dropped, pole sitter TJ Stutts paced the field with Blaney in pursuit. The two drivers remained one-two through the first five laps when a lengthy red flag stopped racing action. When racing resumed Stutts again was running point with Blaney behind but heavily challenged by Tim Shaffer. In a dog fight Blaney and Shaffer traded positions multiple times on the final lap. At the checkered flag it was Stutts with the victory, Shaffer second and Blaney third. The top five clinched starting positions in the A Main.
In tonight’s Tuscarora 50 format, the drivers were introduced on the stage in front of a huge crowd. There was a redraw for the top 10 starting positions.
Blaney, the 1983 Tuscarora 50 winner, occupied the 14th starting position for tonight’s event. When the starter turned the field loose, pole sitter Greg Hodnett assumed the lead with a lot of shuffling going on among the drivers behind him. On lap 12, the yellow came out when Hodnett grenaded an engine.
On the restart, Lance Dewease led the field followed by Dale Blaney and Sheldon Haudenschild. Dave Blaney was 16th.
There was a scheduled five-minute break in racing action at the halfway mark, lap 25. Drivers were able to refuel, make adjustments on their car, but were not allowed to change tires.
At the break it was Dewease with the lead, Stevie Smith second and Dale Blaney third. Dave Blaney was 14th.
When racing resumed, Dewease continued to pace the field with Stevie Smith close behind. Dave Blaney moved to 13th and then gained a pair of positions on a gutsy maneuver that advanced him to 11th. At the checkered flag, it was Dewease winning a record fifth Tuscarora 50, Stevie Smith was second and Dale Blaney came home third.
Dave Blaney finished 11th.
Blaney and the Motter team are scheduled to return to racing action Sept. 24 for the third annual Dirt Classic at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.
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