“CLASH AT THE CAN” AT PENN CAN REVISITS THE MOST TALKED ABOUT RACE OF 2014; THE DEAD HEAT BETWEEN HARTNETT AND JOHNSON. CAN IT HAPPEN AGAIN?

 

 

SUSQUEHANNA, PA…The most talked about race of the 2014 racing season is gearing up for the 2015 version at Penn Can Speedway. The “Clash At The Can” will take place on Sunday, September 20th at 4:00 p.m. It will feature a Race of Champions Tripleheader featuring the RoC Modifieds, RoC Sportsman and RoC Street Stocks, along with the Grit Series Sportsman and the Four Cylinders.

   Last year’s race featured one of the most exciting finishes in Penn Can Speedway history as Track Champion Kevin Hartnett tracked down Danny Johnson in the closing laps to end up in a dead heat at the finish. The final 32 laps went caution free and Hartnett methodically worked his way to the front to chase down the high flying Johnson. Ryan Watt also joined in on the fun in an absolute thrilling display of racing.

   Hartnett worked the bottom repeatedly before finally switching lanes on the final lap and going to the outside of Johnson. The cars came across deadlocked and track officials called it a draw.  Watt was third ahead of young stars Anthony Perrego and Tyler Dippel. Matt Sheppard, Stewart Friesen, Nick Rochinski, Rick Laubach and Erick Rudolph completed the top ten finishers.

   The rematch will take place on Sunday, September 20th as the Race of Champions Modifieds return to Penn Can in a 60 lap, $5,000 to win showdown.  Defending Series Champion Stewart Friesen is back on top of the heap in this year’s RoC point standings. He holds a 23 point advantage over Danny Johnson in the current standings. Matt Sheppard, coming off a big win at Utica Rome is currently third ahead of Pat Ward and Billy Decker. Sixth through tenth in the current standings are Rudolph, Mike Mahaney, Jimmy Phelps, Laubach,and Vic Coffey.

   The RoC Modifieds always put on a tremendous show at Penn Can and this year will be no exception. They will be joined on the card by the RoC Sportsman, RoC Street Stocks, the Grit Series Sportsman and the Four Cylinders.  Last year in the Sportsman portion of the Clash at the Can, it was Brian White taking the win over 2014 Penn Can Track Champion Ryan Olsommer, Brandon Walters, Kevin Jordan and Butch Green. The winner of this year’s Sportsman 30 lap feature will pocket $1,000 for his efforts.

   The RoC Street Stocks will run a 25 lap feature paying $500 to win as they cap off a Race of Champions Tripleheader. Joining them will be the Grit Series for Crate Sportsman. Their 30 lap feature will pay $1,000 to win. The Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders will have a huge event with the 20 lap feature paying $400 to win.

   Can history repeat itself? Hartnett is back on top, once again taking home Track Champion honors at Penn Can. Dan Pompey has had an up and down year. Although he was the winningest driver at the track with six feature wins, he had several DNF’s that dropped him into a three way tie for second in the final standings. He is coming off a huge win in the 50 lap Seward Rice Memorial Spectacular on September 4th. His dominant performance makes him one of the track regulars to keep an eye on.

    Pompey was tied for second with Alan Rudalavage and Nick Rochinski. Rudalavage claimed one win on the season while Rochinski used consistent up front finishes in spite of not scoring a win. Brian Weaver has gotten hot in the latter part of the season, scoring three feature wins in the process. Another local driver to watch is Brian Malcolm, who knows how to get the job done in the extra distance races. They will represent the home track well when the invaders of the Race of Champions Series come to town on Sunday, September 20th.

   Penn Can Speedway is located on Route 171 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. For more information look us up at penncan.com or check out our Facebook page at Penn Can Speedway.  You won’t want to miss this one race fans, it’s the “Clash at the Can”.