Musser is Upset SpeedSTR Winner; Butler is World Champ @ Pagoda MC

Story By: BARRY ANGSTADT / PAGODA MC – BIRDSBORO, PA – Sometimes, you just have to put yourself in the right place at the right time. Just ask Jason Musser.

The Frankford, DE driver returned to SpeedSTR racing over the weekend, and he left The Speedway at Pagoda Motorcycle Club with a $4,000 check after winning the 75 lap, PA State 75 on Sunday. Musser was running third when race-long leaders Tanner Van Doren and Bobby Butler got together in turn one with nine laps remaining, handing over the top spot to Musser.

“This car has not run in 2 1/2 years,” said the elated winner afterward. “I just started it about two weeks ago when we decided to come up here and run this weekend. I can’t believe I am standing here right now,” said Musser from the Speedway at Pagoda’s victory lane.

The race essentially boiled down to a torrid duel between Van Doren and Butler. They scuffled lap after lap, and for a while, it seemed whoever was running second when the yellow appeared would get the advantage and go back in front on the ensuing restart. As the race entered its final stages, the duo battled side by side for several laps with Butler maintaining a slim lead.

On lap 63, Van Doren bobbled in turns one and two, allowing Butler to open a five car length margin. But, with ten to go, Butler got loose in turn two, almost bicycling, as Van Doren capitalized and shot by to retake the race lead.

Musser, who started 13th, had quietly survived a couple of pile ups and worked his way to third. He watched as Van Doren, with nine tours left to run, set his car to enter turn one. But Butler, thinking the Schnecksville, PA wheel-twister was going to run the high side through the corner, cut low just as Van Doren did likewise. Slight contact between the two sent Van Doren spinning while Butler slid to a stop. That scenario enabled Musser to inherit the top spot.

“I figured, since there were only nine laps left at that point, it was just a heat race and, as long as I don’t screw up, I figured, ‘hey, I can do this.’”

And do it he did, winning by holding off a hard charging Van Doren over the final circuits to register the big victory.

“It’s just me and my dad working on this thing, so this win means a lot,” said Musser as he became emotional in victory lane.

While Musser won the $4,000 battle, it was Butler who emerged victorious in the season long war for the World Championship title. But the Milford, NJ throttle-jockey could not completely enjoy his newly earned title, as he lamented the contact between himself, and Van Doren.

“I apologize to Tanner and his whole team,” said a dejected Butler. “I thought he was going to enter (turn one) up high again, but he came down all of a sudden and I could not avoid the contact. I’m glad he came back and finished second; I would have liked to see him win the thing.”

Butler came into the weekend with a scant ten point lead over Dustin Morris. He finished first and third in Saturday evening’s Twin 20’s, extending the margin by a slight amount.

On Sunday, after the contact with Van Doren, Butler rebounded to finish fourth, locking up the ‘25 World Championship in the process.

At the finish, it was Musser scoring the huge win over Van Doren, while Dan Lane Jr. finished third. Butler claimed fourth place cash, and Sammy Martz Jr. persevered to finish fifth.

The Infinite Solutions Group LLC Pro4 Series main event began with Julian Storms battling his dad, Rob, for the race lead. Julian was trying to make it two in a row after his Pagoda win on Saturday evening, and he went side by side with his father before he eventually cleared the No. 99x of the elder Storms on lap five. From that point on, even lapped traffic could not slow Julian Storms’ progress as he romped to the victory over his dad, with Matt Peck getting the better of Adam Kratzer to take over third position.

At the end, it was Julian Storms scoring his second consecutive Pro4 Series win at the Speedway @ Pagoda MC with his dad settling for runner-up honors. Peck raced home in third with Kratzer and Jay Lowman completing the top five.

Jon Laureigh, from Ship Bottom, NJ, led all the way to win the All Star Slingshot feature. Brett Bieber motored into the runner-up spot with just three laps remaining, passing Mason Pittenger. Pittenger then had to fend off his brother, Lucas, who appeared to be getting faster as the race went on.

The checkered flag fell over the No. 74 of Jon Laureigh, with Bieber chasing him to the finish. Lucas Pittenger wound up third, with Mason Pittenger placing fourth. Dylan Cordier wound up fifth.

In Junior Slingshot competition, Rhodesdale Maryland resident Waylon Wolf grabbed the lead from Aiden Buckwalter on a restart with four trips complete. Wolf then drove to the triumph over Saturday night winner EJ Hatch, Barry Seaman, and Anthony Dinatale.

The Legend Cars made an appearance on Sunday, with Scott Houdeshell leading all the way to secure the triumph. Ryan Walls wound up second, with Todd Walls finishing third and Ryan Walls Jr. taking fourth place pay. Trisha McClain completed the top five.

All Pro SpeedSTR PA State 75 (75 laps): 1.Jason Musser, 2.Tanner Van Doren, 3.Dan Lane Jr., 4.Bobby Butler, 5.Sammy Martz Jr., 6.Billy Pauch Jr., 7.Cale Zangli, 8.Scott Houdeshell, 9.Earl Paules, 10.Tim Buckwalter, 11.Matt Chowns, 12.Alex Bright, 13.Cole Stangle, 14.Kenny Miller III, 15.John Barnett, 16.Steve Young, 17.Andy Ressler, 18.Dustin Morris. DNS: Matt Janisch.

Pro4 Series, 25 laps: 1.Julian Storms, 2.Rob Storms, 3.Matt Peck, 4.Adam Kratzer, 5.Jay Lowman, 6.Josh Bittner, 7.Chris Yob, 8.Kelly Frantz, 9.Vince Wollyung, 10.Nathan Keim, 11.Drac Lewis, 12.Robbie Strain. DNS: Rob Pyle.

All Star Slingshots, 20 laps: 1.Jon Laureigh, 2.Brett Bieber, 3.Lucas Pittenger, 4.Mason Pittenger, 5.Dylan Cordier, 6.Zack Gerber, 7.Jocelynn Darinsig, 8.Daniel Betz, 9.Amanda Angstadt, 10.Haley Thunberg, 11.Chris Laureigh, 12.Dan Lane Jr., 13.Chad Kohler.

Junior Slingshots, 15 laps: 1.Waylon Wolf, 2.EJ Hatch, 3.Aubrey Romig, 4.Barry Seaman, 5.Anthony Dinatale, 6.MJ Trailes, 7.Preston Trautschold, 8.Brody Jennings, 9.TJ Crone, 10.Billy Pauch III, 11.Logan Showers, 12.Aiden Buckwalter, 13.Lilly Esterly, 14.Khloe Dennis.

Legend Cars, 20 laps: 1.Scott Houdeshell, 2.Ryan Walls, 3.Todd Walls, 4.Ryan Walls Jr., 5.Trisha McClain.