
Photo courtesy of
WRT
Speedwerx - McConnell
Rahmer Rallies in Outlaws Season Debut at
Williams Grove
Pennsylvania legend passes Hodnett for lead
with five laps to go to claim the opener
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — May 11, 2012 — To say
Fred Rahmer knows his way around Williams Grove Speedway is an
understatement.
Since claiming the 1986 Rookie of the Year,
Rahmer has amassed eight track championships en route to
becoming the winningest driver in Williams Grove history. He
added to that list on Friday and picked up his fifth career
World of Outlaws feature victory in front of a packed crowd on
Night 1 of a weekend doubleheader at the historic paper-clip
half-mile oval.
“Any time you get a win against this group,
plus our local guys, it’s a good win,” Rahmer said. “When you
respect somebody as much as most of the guys around here respect
(the Outlaws), it feels really good. It’s tough to put a whole
night together and end up standing here in the winner’s circle.”
The Hall of Famer timed in third quick of the
season-high 45 cars. He then finished fourth in his heat race to
advance to the feature and lock himself into the dash. The
invert was a six, starting Rahmer fourth in the six-lap dash. He
gained a position to earn the third starting spot for the 25-lap
feature and then he began to play the guessing game.
“I knew watching the (Last Chance Showdown)
that there was no way it could sustain life on the top the whole
race,” he said. “I just hoped it gave up quick enough and it
did. I saw Steve (Kinser) driving across the track in the (Last
Chance Showdown) and that’s my best line. We were just fortunate
that it gave up just enough right at the right time.”
Rahmer, who rocketed into second place as
polesitter Jason Sides took an early advantage in the feature,
peaked late in the race. Midway through the event Rahmer fell to
fourth place as Greg Hodnett began to work his way toward the
front.
Hodnett passed Daryn Pittman and Rahmer to
advance to the runner-up position on lap 13. Hodnett reeled in
Sides through lapped traffic and slid for the lead in turn four
on lap 19.
At that time Rahmer also found a groove and
advanced to second on the ensuing lap. He then passed Hodnett
for the top spot as the duo exited turn two on lap 21.
“I thought we were pretty decent,” Hodnett
said. “I was floating around, not really running the bottom, not
really running the top. I just kept doing what I was doing and I
think it kind of took half rubber on the bottom of (turn) four.
I just kept sliding by it and I was having to slow down too much
to get to it.”
The only caution came on lap 22 as Sides
appeared to have something break in the front of his car
entering turn one while running fourth. He spun up the track and
had to be towed to the pits.
Rahmer lined up on the inside for the
double-file restart and checked out during the last four laps.
Pittman slid Hodnett for second place in the final couple of
laps.
“To be good enough to race with Fred and
actually pass Hodnett back, those guys have been really good and
we haven’t even been in their league,” Pittman said. “It’s fun
to be competitive again.
“Every time I thought I had something figured
out I’d change around and get better. The track really, really
changed a lot as the race went on. That was fun driving it, so
that had to have been fun to watch.”
For Hodnett, it was a disappointing end to a
promising night in his return to a sprint car. It was Hodnett’s
first race back since his father, Hoyette, passed away last
Saturday.
“We want to come out with a win every night,
but this one would have been pretty nice,” he said. “Obviously
we’re going to try again tomorrow, but I really wanted to win
this one and it just didn’t work out.”
Danny Dietrich, who claimed his first career
World of Outlaws win on Thursday at Lincoln Speedway, finished
fourth and Steve Kinser led the Outlaws with a fifth-place
finish.
Stevie Smith was sixth,
Don Kreitz Jr. placed seventh and Sammy Swindell earned the KSE
Hard Charger Award after driving from 23rd
to eighth. He also reclaimed the World of Outlaws points lead,
which has swapped each of the past seven races.
Craig Dollansky, who set quick time with a
lap of 17.118 seconds, finished ninth and Lucas Wolfe rounded
out the top 10.
Dietrich, Hodnett, Smith and Wolfe each
claimed a heat race victory.
Kinser won the Last Chance Showdown and Paul
McMahan was victorious in the C Main.
Chessie Rahmer, Hannah Bergey and Jessie
Offner celebrated their mutual birthday by throwing a ‘Sweet 16’
party together for all of their friends to attend. The
girls sent their invitations out notifying the guests that any
gifts collected would be donated on behalf of the celebration.
Thanks to the parents and friends of all the attendees who
contributed, the donation of $1500.00 is being sent to a
non-profit organization called ‘Peaceful Living’ in the
Harleysville, Pennsylvania area. Thanks to everyone who
contributed and to our ‘Sweet 16’ girls for the idea of helping
others.

Braydon & Tony Stewart
Volusia
Speedway Feb. 2012
Chad and Jenn Clemens are pleased to
announce that in 2012 it will be
business as usual for their CJB
Motorsports #51 team with driver
Fred Rahmer.
The team consisting of Crew Chief
Barry Jackson and crew members, Greg
Walsh, Freddie Rahmer, and Brandon
Rahmer will remain intact.
The 2011 season was rolling along
quite well with a Keystone Cup and
PA Speedweek Championships already
in hand by July. However, an
unfortunate accident and injury in
the heart of the season and right
before the month of money really set
the team back while Fred recovered
from his injuries. The team
continued to persevere and move
forward, building more team
chemistry which will lead to good
things in the future. With a season
under their belts now and the
challenge of developing a new
driver-crew chief relationship, as
well as, new chassis and motor
combinations, Chad, Fred, and Barry
feel all the pieces are in place to
be really successful in 2012.
The CJB Motorsports team will build
upon its stable of potent Kistler
Engines and brand new GF1 Chassis by
Ti22 Performance are currently being
built.
CJB Motorsports would like to thank
all of the following companies for
their support and great products.
VRP Shocks, Winters Performance
Products, ARTS Radiator, ATL Fuel
Cells, FK Rod Ends, Fastener
Specialties, Schoenfeld Headers, MPD
Wheels, GME Steering, Brown &
Miller, Top Flight Wings, Engler
Machine & Tool, Ben Cook Race
Products, and Kaeding Performance.
CJB Motorsports would also like to
thank our sponsors for their hard
work and support. C & S Lawn and
Landscape, Bair's Tree Service, Tru
Line Contractors, ARAN Trading,
Specialty Rigging, Trevdan Building
Supply, Henry Dunn Insurance Agency,
Real Estate Excel, and Panchos
Racing Products.
The team will begin the 2012 season
in Florida with the All-Star's
and The World of Outlaws, then
follow the Outlaw tour west
through the early part of the season
until the PA season gets under way.
From that point we will look to run
as many time trial races as possible
whether it be Outlaw, All Star, or
PA races, and will not pursue any
weekly points chases which involve
handicapping.
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