By Shawn Brouse
For The Daily Item
—
PORT ROYAL — Daryn Pittman added Port Royal Speedway to his resume of conquered area tracks by picking up the first oval win of his career in the 59th annual Labor Day Classic for 410 sprint cars Monday afternoon.
Pittman bested a scant field of just 14 racers who turned out for the event, taking the lead from defending Labor Day winner Mike Wagner on the eighth circuit of the nonstop 25-lapper.
“We can only control one car, that’s why we’re here,” Pittman said of his Michael Heffner owned racer in reaction to nearly every other Central Pa. hotshoe who failed to show up for the prestigious affair, which was worth $3,000.
Among those missing from action were Mark Smith, Fred Rahmer, Greg Hodnett, Tyler Walker, Danny Dietrich, Stevie Smith, Lance Dewease and a host of others.
“It’s a shame none of those guys were here,” Pittman said. “We’re just awful glad we came. This definitely wasn’t the typical daytime racetrack.”
For sure it wasn’t as Pittman’s line for most of the event was way up against the outside guardrail, although he could run the bottom groove when necessary.
He moved through the field, lapping cars at will and had made it up to sixth place runner Keith Kauffman when the checkered flag fell.
“I don’t care if it’s a daytime show or not, it didn’t look like a day show,” the happy winner said after pumping his fist to the crowd after finally winning a race at the Juniata County facility.
“I don’t think I’ve ever run that high here at night, of course, maybe that’s why I’ve never won here either,” Pittman joked.
“But this is a place with a lot of history that anyone wants to win at.”
The victory was the third of Pittman’s four-day weekend, having also scored an event at Williams Grove on Friday and an $8,000 purse in the Selinsgrove Speedway 358/360 Nationals on Saturday.
Overall, the win was the 12th for Pittman this season, while it was the 13th for owner Heffner.
Newly crowned 2010 track titlist Chad Layton of Harrisburg took second from Wagner with four laps to go but was more than a straightaway from Pittman at the finish.
Wagner finished third, followed by Justin Henderson and Todd Shaffer. Twin heats went to Layton and Wagner.
Selinsgrove driver Dylan Yoder finished one spot short of picking up the victory in the 20-lap late-model main, instead following freshly coronated track champion Scott Haus across the line at the finish after starting 10th in the field. Haus started second.
Tim Wilson, Gary Beward and Waylon Wagner rounded out the top five. Heats went to Brian Sipe, Wagner and Mike Lupfer.
