By: Todd Heintzelman
HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Everything finally fell into place for Alan Krimes.
Krimes has been close to winning some races this year, but hasn’t been able to crack victory lane until Wednesday night at Hagerstown Speedway.
Krimes, of Denver, started on the pole and led all 30 laps to score his first Pennsylvania Speedweek victory and a $5,000 check.
Krimes, who is the Speedweek point leader, was flawless over the entire distance and was smooth and straight off the inside of the speedway and held off Greg Hodnett in lapped traffic.
Krimes became the fourth different winner in as many races of this year’s Speedweek series which continues tonight at Lincoln Speedway.
“It was definitely a key to start up front like that,” Krimes said. “I was trying to be careful lapping cars, but you can’t be too careful because the guys behind you are coming.”
Krimes and Brent Marks shared the front row of the main event with Krimes driving into the lead off the fourth corner.
Daryn Pittman and Greg Hodnett started in row two and drove by Marks on the first lap. Mark Smith drove into fifth spot.
It didn’t take long for Krimes to build a big lead as Smith moved up one spot and Danny Dietrich cracked the top five.
Hodnett began to pressure Pittman for the runner-up spot on lap six. They traded the spot for a lap and then Hodnett gained control.
Krimes began to lap slower cars by the seventh time around. At the time he had a straightaway lead over Hodnett.
Smith moved by Pittman and into third.
Hodnett closed the gap by lap 15, but the only caution flag of the event would give Krimes clear track again. Brian Montieth stopped in turn four on lap 17.
There was one lapped car between Krimes and Hodnett on the restart. Hodnett was by him on the backstretch and closed on Krimes.
Hodnett tried the outside of Krimes in the corners, but Krimes’ car drove off the corners well and he maintained the lead.
“I could hear somebody back there and then I moved my line up a little bit and didn’t hear him anymore,” Krimes said.
Krimes began to slowly pull away again over the final five laps. He did have to squeeze under a lapped car in turn three with one lap to go to secure the biggest win of his sprint-car career.
The Krimes’ family foots the racing bill and most of the crew is made up of family members.
“We build our own motors so it’s really cool to win,” Krimes said.
Hodnett, the 2009 Speedweek champion, settled for second ahead of Smith, Pittman and Dietrich. Lance Dewease came from 18th to finish sixth. NASCAR driver Dave Blaney came from 19th to finish seventh. Stevie Smith, Adam Wilt and Brian Leppo completed the top 10.
Hodnett set fast time over the 30-car field with a lap of 17.102. Hodnett, Leppo and Marks won the heat races. Blaney won the B-main.
Grandview Speedway winner Tyler Walker tore the ACL in his knee following his traditional victory lane back flip.
Speedweek Points Alan Krimes 558Mark Smith 535Greg Hodnett 532Daryn Pittman 495Fred Rahmer 445Lance Dewease 398Danny Dietrich 358Chad Latyon 355
Adam Wilt 341
Brian Leppo 336