"I just got lucky," said Ely with a big smile in victory lane, "During one of those (complete) restarts at the beginning, I had a really close call out of the second turn when Curt (Michael) spun...and I thought if we made it through this one, I think we're going to be pretty blessed tonight."

"Half the time I've been running here this year I don't even remember going home because I got my bell rung," Ely said, "I mean just tearing up stuff...it's good to turn it around."

The outset of the feature saw four consecutive cautions as several drivers lost the handle. They included Jeff Rohrbaugh, Dan Dietrich, Curt Michael, Chris Knopp, Glendon Forsythe and Billy Sims.

Outside frontrow starter Jesse Wentz was finally able to lead the field around to complete the first lap, with polesitter Brook Weibley, Niki Young and Lance Dewease in tow.

Meanwhile Ely, who had started seventh, had dropped back as far as ninth in the early stages before mounting his charge to the front.

"The beginning of the race I had my doubts," Ely reflected, "I think I dropped back to about eighth or 10th at one point...it just rolled up terrible and we had no stick. I got some heat in my tires, got going and found a nice spot, rolled the wing around a little bit, and got going better."

Then two-time 2000 Lincoln winner Rahmer, who had originally started 12th, began his familiar charge to the front and passed race-long leader Wentz in the first and second turns for the lead on the 11th lap and began to pull away.

The caution waved on the 16th lap for Curt Michael's stopped sprinter on the frontstretch, allowing the field to close back up on the leader.

It was at this point that Ely made his move. He passed Wentz for fourth and Lance Dewease for third on the 20th lap, and then passed Keith Kauffman for the runner-up spot on the 21st lap as Rahmer raced out to a commanding 2.49 second lead. But a Jimmy McBee spin in the fourth turn on the 22nd lap gave Ely the break he needed to close in on Rahmer.

On the restart, Ely followed Rahmer for the 22nd lap and then dove under Rahmer entering the third turn for the lead as Rahmer tried to block his move on the 23rd lap. Ely began to pull away, and appeared to be heading to the checkered for the win when another McBee spin in the third and fourth turns on the final lap forced out the caution flag, and a subsequent red flag for fuel as the lap count had expired - much to the dismay of the fans.

"It really didn't bother me that bad," said Ely on the fuel stop with one lap to go. "As soon as we stopped I just told my guys not to touch the car - make the other car get better. We drove by him, so now it's up to them...the ball's in there court if they want to get better."

Ely was up to the task, as he simply drove away from Rahmer on the final lap to take the checkered .69 seconds ahead for his first win of the year - worth $2,500.

"I just try to think of all the cars as being plain black cars with no numbers, I don't care who it is," Ely said. "My job is to pass them...of course Fred (Rahmer) is the best there is, and you feel good going home if you beat him - but I've got a long way to go to get into his shoes. I'm pumped every time I go to the races. I just love doing it. And when things are going great you just can't wait to get there."

"My Mom and Dad, Mike and Vicki Ely, and Larry and Jane Gilbert, they've just been behind me for years," Ely added, "Everything I have I have because of them. There's just a bunch of people here that just put everything they got that they earn five days a week earning into this race car and I'm just glad I can drive it for them."

Rahmer crossed second, with Kauffman, Siegel (who came from 19th starting spot), and Lance Dewease completing the top five. Dewease was penalized during a 16th lap caution for a jump on the original start.

Rounding out the top ten were Danny Jones, Brook Weibley, Johnny Mackison, Jr., Skip Jackson, and Rohrbaugh.

Heats for the 30 super sprints on hand were won by Dietrich, Knopp, and Michael, with Siegel winning the consolation.

Littlestown's Sean Herrick raced to his first career Lincoln win in the 15-lap thundercar feature. Herrick started on the pole and led wire-to-wire, while several cars battled for the runner-up spot. Mike Zeigler, Jr. got the best of his dad and Greg Feltch to go from fourth to second over the final two laps, with Feltch making his best run of the year to finish third and Zeigler fourth. Tony Kuhn crossed fifth.

Heats for the 29 thundercars on hand were won by Ken Berwager, Cork Laughman, and David Prunkl, with Bernie Beard winning the consolation.

Lebanon's Ed Hollenbach was named the winner of the 15-lap 4-cylinder pure stock feature when apparent race winner John Stoll, Jr. was disqualified after the checkered flag dropped. Track officials observed Stoll removing glass from a rear-view mirror after the finish. After the interview with Hollenbach, second-place finisher Danny Lichliter was disqualified for modified trailer arms, giving the runner-up spot to Dale Kreiser. Third through fifth were awarded to Ronnie Buck, Leroy Long, and Lou Parson.

Heats for the 29 4-cylinder pure stocks on hand were won by Lichliter, Craig Swartzlander (who dropped from the field with a flat-tire in the feature), and Buck. Leroy Long won the consolation.

Lincoln Speedway swings back into action next Saturday night, April 8th, with the super sprint and thundercar regulars being joined by the Northeast Classic Cars in there first race of the season at the Pigeon Hills oval. Gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps at 5:30 p.m., with heats getting underway at 6 p.m.

RACE RESULTS
Saturday - April 1, 2000
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA

Super Sprints:
Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 77E-Dave Ely ($2,500); 2. 77-Fred Rahmer; 3. 7-Keith Kauffman; 4. 59-Steve Siegel; 5. 88H-Lance Dewease; 6. 8J-Danny Jones; 7. 32-Brook Weibley; 8. 65-Johnny Mackison Jr.; 9. 1-Skip Jackson; 10. 29-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 11. 69-Donnie Kreitz Jr.; 12. 2W-Jesse Wentz; 13. 17N-Niki Young; 14. 10N-Jimmy McBee; 15. 7R-Becca Anderson; 16. 81-Bob Beidleman; 17. 00-Shane Smith; 18. 26-Pat Cooper; 19. 6W-Josh Wells; 20. 94-Glendon Forsythe (DNF); 21. 07-Curt Michael (DNF); 22. 6-Chris Knopp (DNF); 23. 55S-Billy Sims (DNF); 24. 8-Dan Dietrich (DNF). No Time

Lap Leaders - Jesse Wentz (1-10), Fred Rahmer (11-22), Dave Ely (23-25)

1st Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 8-Dan Dietrich; 2. 32-Brook Weibley; 3. 2W-Jesse Wentz; 4. 17N-Niki Young; 5. 7R-Becca Anderson; 6. 69-Donnie Kreitz Jr.; 7. 59-Steve Siegel; 8. 5A-Brian Allman; 9. 11D-Mike Duncan (DNF); 10. 6W-Josh Well (DNF). No Time

2nd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 6-Chris Knopp; 2. 77E-Dave Ely; 3. 88H-Lance Dewease; 4. 7-Keith Kauffman; 5. 26-Pat Cooper; 6. 29-Jeff Rohrbaugh; 7. 6B-Jimmy Stitzel; 8. 10N-Jimmy McBee; 9. 00-Shane Smith; 10. 7K-Dan Shetler. No Time

3rd Heat (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 07-Curt Michael; 2. 8J-Danny Jones; 3. 77-Fred Rahmer; 4. 65-Johnny Mackison Jr.; 5. 1-Skip Jackson; 6. 55S-Billy Sims; 7. X-Bobby Weaver; 8. 81-Bob Beidleman; 9. 94-Glendon Forsythe; 10. 43-Larry Shive. Time - 2:23.68

Consolation (10 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 59-Steve Siegel; 2. 10N-Jimmy McBee; 3. 81-Bob Beidleman; 4. 00-Shane Smith; 5. 94-Glendon Forsythe; 6. 6W-Josh Wells; 7. 7K-Dan Shetler; 8. 43-Larry Shive; 9. 5A-Brian Allman (DNF); 10. 6B-Jimmy Stitzel (DNF). No Time

4-Cylinder Pure Stocks:
Feature (15 Laps) - 1. 13-Ed Hollenbach; 2. 23-Dale Kreiser; 3. 8-Ronnie Buck; 4. 84-Leroy Long; 5. 29-Lou Parson; 6. 88X-Chappy Knack; 7. 88-Justin Hollinger; 8. 21E-Eric Hollenbach; 9. 22-Brian Gordon; 10. 96-Scott Moyer; 11. 21-Arlin Brougher; 12. 9-David Bull; 13. 102-Justin Hinkle; 14. 28-Kyle Parson; 15. 67-Karl Hinkle; 16. 25-Gary DeHart Jr. (DNF); 17. 6J-Jim Smith (DNF); 18. 15-Craig Swartzlander (DNF); 19. 3-Jim Naugle (DNF); 20. 45-Barry Hawbaker (DNF); 21. 26-Jerry Bard (DNF); 22. 65-Mark Whitsel (DNF); DISQUALIFIED - 11S-John Stoll Jr., 8L-Danny Lichliter. No Time

Lap Leaders - Danny Lichliter (1-4), John Stoll Jr. (5-15)

1st Heat (6 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 8L-Danny Lichliter; 2. 23-Dale Kreiser; 3. 3-Jim Naugle; 4. 26-Jerry Bard; 5. 21E-Eric Hollenbach; 6. 28-Kyle Parson; 7. 9-David Bull; 8. 6J-Jim Smith; 9. 2-Ron Morris (DNF); 10. 37-Brian Miller (DNF). Time - 2:15.10

2nd Heat (6 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 15-Craig Swartzlander; 2. 65-Mark Whitsel; 3. 22-Brian Gordon; 4. 102-Justin Hinkle; 5. 67-Kyle Hinkle; 6. 45-Barry Hawbaker (DNF); 7. 21K-Ray Kratzer (DNF); 8. 21-Arlin Brougher (DNF); 9. 75-Ricky Harper (DNF). No Time

3rd Heat (6 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 8-Ronnie Buck; 2. 13-Ed Hollenbach; 3. 29-Lou Parson; 4. 88-Dustin Hollinger; 5. 25-Gary DeHart Jr.; 6. 11S-John Stoll Jr.; 7. 96-Scott Moyer; 8. 84-Leroy Long; 9. 88X-Chappy Knack (DNF); 10. 51-Bill Ryland (DNF). No Time

Consolation (6 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 84-Leroy Long; 2. 96-Scott Moyer; 3. 9-David Bull; 4. 88X-Chappy Knack; 5. 6J-Jim Smith; 6. 21-Arlin Brougher; 7. 51-Bill Ryland; 8. 2-Ron Morris; DNS - 75-Ricky Harper, 37-Brian Miller, 21K-Ray Kratzer. Time - 2:17.74

Thundercars:
Feature (15 Laps) - 1. 25-Sean Herrick; 2. 100-Mike Zeigler Jr.; 3. 4-Greg Feltch; 4. 21A-Mike Zeigler; 5. 6-Tony Kuhn; 6. 3-Duane Watson; 7. 10-Steve Clabaugh; 8. X-Bernie Beard; 9. 5-Bobby Beard; 10. 7-Duane Hahn; 11. 8MD-David Prunkl; 12. 61-Mike Ciezobka; 13. 1-Neil Smith; 14. 22-Nat Tuckey; 15. 77-Ken Berwager; 16. 28-Tom Walls; 17. M1-Mike Potts; 18. 3B-Pete Lawrence; 19. 21-Jerry Bingaman (DNF); 20. 19-John McDonough (DNF); 21. 16J-Randy Zechman (DNF); 22. 60-Cork Laughman (DNF); 23. 3R-Bobby Rudisill (DNF); 24. 30-Bryan Wagaman (DNF). No Time

Lap Leaders - Sean Herrick (1-15)

1st Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 77-Ken Berwager; 2. 25-Sean Herrick; 3. 3R-Bobby Rudisill; 4. 3-Duane Watson; 5. 61-Mike Ciezobka; 6. 6-Tony Kuhn; 7. X-Bernie Beard; 8. 44-Chuck Walls; 9. 3B-Pete Lawrence (DNF); 10. 1-Neil Smith (DNF). No Time

2nd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 60-Cork Laughman; 2. 22-Nat Tuckey; 3. 21A-Mike Zeigler; 4. 4-Greg Feltch; 5. 10-Steve Clabaugh; 6. 7-Duane Hahn; 7. M1-Mike Potts; 8. 0-Pat Saltzgiver; 9. 2-Steve Gantz; 10. 21X-Bill Thompson. Time - 2:48.07

3rd Heat (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. 8MD-David Prunkl; 2. 100-Mike Zeigler Jr.; 3. 28-Tom Walls; 4. 5-Bobby Beard; 5. 16P-Randy Zechman; 6. 30-Bryan Wagaman; 7. 21-Jerry Bingaman; 8. 19-John McDonough; 9. 9J-Mike Johnson (DNF). No Time

Consolation (8 Laps/6 to qualify) - 1. X-Bernie Beard; 2. 21-Jerry Bingaman; 3. M1-Mike Potts; 4. 3B-Pete Lawrence; 5. 19-John McDonough; 6. 1-Neil Smith; 7. 0-Pat Saltzgiver; 8. 44-Chuck Walls; 9. 2-Steve Gantz; 10. 21X-Bill Thompson; 11. 9J-Mike Johnson (DNF). No Time