By Shawn Brouse
For The Daily Item
—
SELINSGROVE — Oklahoma native Daryn Pittman continued his domination of the biggest sprint car races at Selinsgrove Speedway when he was declared the winner of the 10th annual National Open for 358/360 sprints Saturday night following a post-race inspection that saw track dominator Pat Cannon stripped of the $8,000 victory.
Pittman actually wrestled the lead away from nine-time winner Cannon on the 28th lap of the 35-lap affair only to see Cannon reclaim the lead with a pair of laps to go.
Wheeling a 360-powered car, Cannon had originally taken the lead from 358-powered polesitter T.J. Stutts with 11 away, but not until after Stutts came back on him for control.
Once in front of the field, Cannon tried to distance himself but Pittman, who was also driving a 360, motored into second after overtaking Davie Franek with 16 laps to go.
A pair of restarts on the 24th and 25th laps cleaned the lapped car out of the way separating the two leaders so that Pittman was clearly striking for the lead and win.
He first tried a slider on Cannon and took the lead for a few moments in the second corner before Cannon drove back to the helm on lap 26, but two laps later Cannon succumbed to Pittman’s No. 27 and watched him drive away with the lead low out of the fourth corner.
With Pittman appearing home free, a red flag set up a four-lap dash to the finish and Cannon poured it on during the two-mile skirmish, taking the lead with an outside pass in the fourth corner with a pair of laps left.
The victory seemed sealed for Cannon and the Highlands No. 3 team but for those who headed home before victory lane ceremonies, the revelation that Pittman won after all surely made them wish they’d have remained.
After a lengthy delay, it was Pittman’s mount that was wheeled into the winner’s circle with the news that Cannon had come up a few pounds light on the scales, handing over the biggest payday in the history of the track for 358/360 racers.
“I’m not sure how to feel about this,” Pittman said. “But the rules are the rules.”
It was his third victory of the season at the oval, having also taken a pair of 410 sprint mains earlier this season. Overall, it was the midwest pilot’s 11th victory of the year.
“We got by him (Cannon) but I knew once he was out in front again he’d be hard to beat,” Pittman continued.
“I felt like if it would have stayed green, we would be alright.”
Advancing to second in the final run down was Franek, who pocketed $5,000. Aaron Ott was third for $3,400 followed by Blane Heimbach, Selinsgrove, who took home $3,100. Mike Walter, Penns Creek, earned $2,550 for finishing fifth.
Jason Schmidt won the 15-lap pro stock feature with heats going to Cody McFadden, Jason Smith and Nate Kerstetter
