Matt Fernsler Captures 270 Micro Sprint Barnburner At Linda’s Speedway
Story By: KASEY KREIDER / LINDA’S SPEEDWAY – JONESTOWN, PA – In a Mt. Gretna Roller Rink 270 Micro Sprint feature that saw four different leaders over the course of the 25-lap affair, Annville’s Matt Fernsler made the final decisive move to pick up the win in Friday night’s only A-Main event at the Linda’s Speedway.
The race – which was a makeup feature originally scheduled to be run on April 4 – saw pole sitter Billy Logeman lead during the early laps while the rest of the competition jockeyed for spots behind him. Things looked to be going smoothly for Logeman, but the former Race of Champions winner ran into an issue with the powerplant on the No. 27o with just 10 laps remaining and was forced to pull off.
That gave the lead to Courtney Kupp, who was in search of her first Linda’s Speedway win. But a similar fate would find Kupp just a half-mile later, as her No 23K blew up entering turn 1 and came to a stop, bringing out the caution with eight laps to go.
Josh Stoyer became the race’s third different leader, and what followed over the final two miles of racing was an intense, three-way fight for the win between Stoyer, Fernsler, and defending champion Brandon Heist – who had started 13th.
With four laps remaining, Heist moved inside of Fernsler for second, and nearly completed the pass. But Fernsler was able to keep the nose of the No. 19 to the outside, and then used that high groove to motor back around Heist and to the outside of Stoyer as the drivers came to the white flag.
With the momentum from the upper groove, Fernsler was able to surge ahead despite a little bit of contact in the final corner and beat Stoyer back to the finish line by a car length.
Unfortunately, the remainder of Checkered Flag Fan Club Night at the quarter-mile was a wash, as a heavy storm passed over the speedway soon after that 270 makeup event. The regularly-scheduled 270 event, in addition to Winged and Wingless 600 competition, Junior Sprint action, and a race for the Xcel 600 Modifieds all fell victim to the rain. Since heat races for all divisions were not completed, those races will not be made up. Rain checks are valid for 30 days.
Linda’s Speedway will hope for better weather next Friday, May 9, for Teacher Appreciation
Night at the quarter-mile. The Skeet Craft Collision Junior Sprints will run a Winged and
Wingless doubleheader, while the Hoosier Tire Winged 600 Micro Sprints return to action. The All Star Slingshots, GP Motorsports Front Wheel Drive Cars, and the Midgets will make their 2025 season debuts as well.
Results 5/2/2025 (4/4/25 Make-up Feature)
Mt. Gretna Roller Rink 270 Micro Sprints 21 Entries
A-Main 25 Laps
1. 19-Matt Fernsler[4]; 2. 3-Josh Stoyer[2]; 3. 5R-Brandon Heist Sr[18]; 4. 11-Brian Heist[12]; 5. 21J-William Mohring[10]; 6. 11H-Chason Hauck[19]; 7. 34-Christi Sweigart[14]; 8. 94-Dallas Sanders[11]; 9. 08-Jason Paisley[13]; 10. 23K-Courtney Kupp[5]; 11. 27O-Billy Logeman[1]; 12. 71D-Joseph Dopke[15]; 13. 1L-Dave Labe[16]; 14. 27-Brayden Spencer[7]; 15. 19P-Dalton Patteson[21]; 16. 77-Ben Stolz[8]; 17. 2-Troy Groft[17]; 18. 22J-Joshua Ohlinger[3]; 19. 3X-Nick Skias[6]; 20. 71-Scott Zimmerman[9]; 21. 27E-Elly Snyder[20]
