Story By: KASEY KREIDER / LINDA’S SPEEDWAY – JONESTOWN, PA – Even though he was competing in his first race at the Linda’s Speedway since the end of the 2022 season, you would’ve thought that Grantville’s Troy Hostetter had never missed a lap after watching Friday night’s 20-lap Tommy B Classic Race for the Open 4 Cylinder Stock Cars.
The three-time Charger champion at the speedway hopped back aboard a familiar and fast No. 12, and steered it to a place that both car and driver had visited several times in the past – Linda’s Speedway victory lane.
Hostetter didn’t always look to have the dominant car throughout the night, but came to life when it mattered most in the feature. Hostetter was part of a three-way battle for the lead with Jeremy Ott and Dave Eitnier. Ott led the way for the first seven laps, but then spun out entering turn 3, which gave Hostetter a lead that he would not relinquish all the way to the checkered flag.
With Eitnier falling out of the running in the second half of the race, it was Hostetter leading Butch Helsel and Josh Michael across the line to make up the podium.
A double dosage of 600 Micro Sprint action graced the Linda’s Speedway on Friday night. The Stolz Stove Sales Winged 600 Micro Sprints were up first, and it was Fleetwood’s Jason Swavely taking advantage of a broken rear axle on teammate Anthony Yerger’s car to pick up his third win of the season. Meanwhile, Brent Shearer collected a fourth-place finish, giving him a 19-point lead over Brian Kramer entering the championship finale on Sept. 20.
When the 600s took the wings off for the second leg of the doubleheader, it was all Ryan Groff, as the Manheim native claimed his second Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Wingless 600 Micro Sprint win of the year. Groff scored maximum points on the evening by winning both his heat race and the feature event, and his points lead stands at 18 ahead of the Wingless 600s’ final points race on Oct. 4.
The Midgets contested their final race of the season on Friday night, and Mechanicsburg’s Rodney Westhafer picked up his first win in the division. Briggs Danner appeared to have the car to beat, but suffered a flat tire and then a mechanical issue while battling Westhafer for the lead with six laps remaining. Although Westhafer was collected in the incident, he was able to rejoin the field, and made the pass for the victory on J. R. Booth with four laps left.
The J&J Auto Body Junior Slingshots and the Junior Sprints also returned to the quarter-mile with some familiar faces landing in the winner’s circle. Hailey Eroh bagged her sixth win of the year in the Junior Slingshots, while Jase Smith went to victory lane for the fourth time in the Junior Sprints.
Linda’s Speedway has another special tribute night on tap for next Friday, Sept. 13. The speedway will pay tribute to local racing legend Smokey Warren with a five-division show headlined by a 54-lapper for the Xcel 600 Modified Tour. The Mt. Gretna Roller Rink 270 Micro Sprints and the Hoffer Paving All Star Slingshots will also be in action. The PA Micro Midgets will make their return as well with both the 500 and 300 classes competing.