PORT ROYAL — Jake Karklin’s first career 410 sprint car win at Port

Royal Speedway was eventful to say the least.

After his heat race win, his car caught fire as he went back to the

pit area and he received minor burns. He redrew the pole for the

25-lap feature and his crew got the car ready.

Karklin got sideways on the start triggering a massive pile-up in the

fourth turn. However, the contact from third starter Brock Zearfoss

straightened him out allowing him to keep going and remain the

polesitter.

On the second starter, Derek Hauck grabbed the lead from Karklin, but later lost power, handing the lead back to the Karklin Racing 5K.

Later in the race, Karklin made a mid-race save in turn four as he got

sideways again. Then, leading with three to go, and with Doug Hammaker closing, rain began to fall, and the race was stopped and cars sent to the pits. The feature was called official with 22 laps completed.

Karklin, of Beavertown, earned $5,000 for the unforgettable win.

On the initial start, Karklin got sideways as the field took the

green. Third starter Zearfoss got into Karklin and then into the

fence. Karklin continued as others piled into Zearfoss and each other, including most of the inside row starters such as fifth starter Logan Wagner and seventh starter Chase Dietz. Ninth starter Brandon Spithaler flipped landing on other cars. No injuries were reported.

Zearfoss and Gerard McIntyre Jr. made repairs and returned to the race. Hauck grabbed the lead on the second start, but lost power a few laps later, handing the lead over to Karklin.

Ryan Smith challenged Karklin for the lead on the restart as Doug

Hammaker took third from AJ Flick. Karklin pulled away racing on a

very tricky surface as Smith raced a lower groove. Troy Wagaman Jr.

was racing fifth.

Karklin caught slower traffic with 12 laps completed as Smith slowed and pitted. Hammaker closed as Karklin got sideways once again in turn four. Karklin finally cleared a pair of slower cars giving him some

breathing room over Hammaker.

The yellow flew with three laps to go as rain began to fall. The feature was declared official with Karklin scoring his first career 410 sprint car win. Hammaker scored his best career 410 sprint finish in second. AJ Flick finished third in his debut in the BK Motorsports No. 77 subbing for Michael Walter. Troy Wagaman Jr. started 11th, missed the opening wreck, and finished fourth. Zearfoss rebounded to fifth.

Joey Amantea, TJ Stuttts, Buddy Schweibinz, McIntyre Jr. and Logan

McCandles rounded out the top 10. Heat races for the 25 sprint cars went to Wagner, Zearfoss and Karklin.

The season opening features for the Pennsylvania Sprint Series 305’s

and the limited late models were postponed to April 18.

Heat races for the 42 cars in the 305’s went to Dylan Shatzer, Kenny

Heffner, Jeff Weaver Jr. and Johnny Scarborough. Tyler Schell won the consolation race. Lane Snook and DJ Myers won heat races for the 14 limited late models.

Port Royal returns to action Saturday night with the PA Posse Sprint

Car Series, and late models.

RACING RECAP

Steven Snyder Jr. won his first career 410 sprint car feature Friday

night at Williams Grove Speedway. Lance Dewease, Freddie Rahmer, Dylan Norris and Zearfoss completed the top five. Anthony Macri will be out of the seat indefinitely after suffering a broken back in a crash at the Grove.

Danny Dietrich won the sprint car feature Saturday night at Lincoln

Speedway. Rahmer, Cam Smith, Matt Campbell and Preston Lattomus completed the top five.

Selinsgrove Speedway kicks off its season Friday night with 410 sprint

cars and late models.