ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 5/7/2011
For low-buck racer Alan Krimes, the wins never seem to come easy.
And Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway was no exception.
But he used all his equipment and experience to catch race-long leader Justin Collett with a slider in turns three and four of the 20th lap to score his first win of the year in a thrilling 25-lap “410” sprint car feature that saw wheel-to-wheel racing for every position.
Krimes started fifth, caught Adam Wilt for second on the second lap, and chased third-starting Collett over the next 18 laps before making the race-winning pass. Krimes was closing on Collett as the leaders raced through heavy lapped traffic between laps 13 and 17. The second caution flag of the race for a stopped Brian Montieth (flat tire) on lap 18 put Krimes on Collett’s rear bumper for the restart. The two battled for the top spot for the next two laps before Krimes made the race-winning pass.
“I really didn’t think I was going to catch Justin,” said Krimes upon exiting his Conestoga Valley Garage/Krimes Racing Engines #87 in victory lane, “I had my wing the whole way back and his wasn’t, and I was on a tire that we used last night for time trials and the consolation at Williams Grove. Justin’s a good racer and he raced me clean, and that was fun.”
Collett, seeking his first Lincoln “410” sprint win, settled for second, with 11th-starting Fred Rahmer crossing third, Wilt fourth, and Danny Dietrich fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Aaron Ott, Brian Leppo, Brent Marks, Jim Siegel, and 21st-starting Adam Lawrence.
Heats for the 26 “410” Sprints were won by Dietrich, Collett, and Frank Cozze, with Gerard McIntyre, Jr. winning the consolation.