Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Josh Weller from Mertztown, PA claimed his fourth career Grandview Speedway United Racing Club Sprint Car main event on Saturday Night.
Grandview Speedway is considered the home track for Weller and on Saturday Night Weller used that experience to run down race leader Adam Carberry and steal away the win with 5 laps to go in thrilling fashion.
The United Racing Club has been presenting Sprint Car Racing for 75 years and Saturday showcased why the URC Club continues to be one of the premier Winged Sprint Car Clubs in the country.
The feature event paying tribute to former racer Tim Higgins and paying a cool $3100 to win for 31 laps. Another cool $3800 was added in lap sponsorship and contingency money by the United Racing Club, Sponsors and Fans.
Brandon McGough and Josh Weller led the 15 car URC Field to the green flag.
Brandon McGough powered the beautiful blue #669 into the lead at the drop of the green with Josh Weller, Adam Carberry, Dallas Schott and Mike Thompson in chase.
At the lap 5 mark of the race, McGough was setting the pace out front with Carberry, Weller, Schott and Thompson the rest of the Top 5.
On Lap 6, Yellow and Red lights were displayed for a flipping Robbie Stillwaggon in turn 3. Stillwaggon exited the car safely with no injuries. The field was restacked for the lap 7 restart with McGough, Carberry, Weller, Schott and Thompson the Top 5.
On the lap 7 restart Adam Carberry pulled a slide job on Brandon McGough for the lead and took control of the race. Josh Weller followed into 2nd, Dallas Schott into 3rd, Brandon McGough to 4th and Troy Betts into 5th.
Once in the lead Adam Carberry blasted away from the field.
As the field clicked off lap 10, Carberry had a solid lead out front with Weller, Schott, Betts and Joe Kata in the Top 5.
On lap 13 Kyle Ganoe pulled to the infield. Adam Carberry remained your leader, but Josh Weller was reeling in Carberry as both racers sped away from the field nearing the halfway flags. Schott, Betts, and Kata remained the top 5.
At the halfway mark Carberry remained the leader, Weller, Schott, Betts, and Kata were the Top-5.
With 20 down Carberry was still in control but Weller was only a car or so behind and starting to run down Carberry. Schott, Betts, Kata, and McGough were in chase.
At the lap 24 mark of the race Josh Weller was starting to make his presence known at the front of the pack as he was challenging Carberry for the race lead. Schott, Betts, Kata, Mike Thompson and Brandon McGough followed.
On lap 26 Josh Weller powered around Adam Carberry for the race lead. Carberry moved to 2nd, Schott 3rd, Betts 4th, and Kata the Top-5.
Josh Weller cruised the rest of the way to the 31 Lap / $3100 to Win main event victory. Adam Carberry was 2nd, Dallas Schott 3rd, Troy Betts 4th, Joe Kata 5th, Mike Thompson 6th, Brandon McGough 7th, Jason Schultz 8th, Denny Peoples 9th, Ryan Stillwaggon 10th.
Weller and Carberry lapped up to the 9th place car all under green from Lap 6 on. The race between Adam Carberry and Josh Weller was outstanding as Weller ran down a strong running Carberry under green flag racing and stole the win.