Curtis Shows The Way In Lebanon Valley Sportsman; Yetman Hits Century Mark With Pro Stock Win

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – For Chris Curtis and Rob Yetman, Saturday night at Lebanon Valley provided both with the best way to achieve maximum points in their search for track championships.

The Sportsman feature was a run away for inside front row starter Curtis who took the lead off of turn two on the first lap when outside pole sitter Todd Buckwold did a complete 360 but kept going.

Even through all the yellow flags, the 2017 Glen Ridge Motorsports Park champion went on to capture his first of the season on the high banks.

“Last week after practice, we knew this car was phenomenal,” Curtis said. “We had a few issues that we got fixed last Saturday and from the moment we took it out of the trailer here today, it hasn’t stopped. It’s been amazing.”

A late caution around lap 15 took out several of the heavy hitters in the feature including Michael Sabia and Alan Houghtaling, both of whom were hunting for a top five finish.

Defending Sportsman champion Whitey Slavin came home second with Kevin Ward finishing third. Peter Carlotto and Adam Gage rounded out the top five.

For the 100th time in his career, Rob Yetman took home the checkered flag, this time taking the Pro Stock opening night win. The defending track champion started on the front row and was in the lead by turn two as he passed pole sitter Ed Bishop and never looked back.

“We just seem to click on opening night here at Lebanon Valley,” he said. “It’s great to be back out here getting after it again.”

For Yetman, it was another opening night victory as he goes after his sixth Pro Stock championship at the Valley. After the cold off-season, this was a strong way for Yetman to get the fire going in 2018.

“We just seem to click on opening night here,” he said. “Winters are long and I don’t think this one is over yet but it’s great to be back out here and getting after it again.”

Second place finisher was Jason Meltz who has really come into his own since making the jump back to Pro Stocks last season. After starting in the sixth spot, he knew he had to go if he wanted any chance to catch Yetman for the win.

“I was trying to wait to make my move but I couldn’t wait much longer,” he said. “Eddie (Bishop) was fast all night and so was Jay (Casey). They were all pretty equal and Eddie got bottled up with Jay and I took advantage and was able to get both of them in one lap. But I couldn’t get to Rob.”

It was a great start to the new season for the Ghent Wood Products, Meltz Lumber #51 team as they look to improve on their runner-up points finish of a year ago.

“We’re happy with how tonight went,” he said. “I think we have to do a little more homework to catch that 7 car but we’re working on it.”

Jay Casey took the third position with Bishop and Nick Hilt rounding out the top five.

John Devine, Chad Arsenault and Gary O’Brien were victorious in the three Pure Stock feature events.

News & Notes…

Andy Bachetti will be driving Jim Winchell-owned #17 in 358-Modified division this season at the Valley. This is the same machine that was formerly piloted by JR Heffner for Winchell a few years back.

Michael Sabia had a good run going in the Sportsman feature only to be involved in the late race accident. According to Sabia, the steering box broke in his #7 Teo Pro Car and the machine shot straight into the frontstretch wall, causing a major pileup. He was uninjured.

Alan Houghtaling was also collected and said he had no place to go.

“All I saw was the 7 car turn hard right and it was a mess from there,” he said. “My arm’s a little sore but I’m okay and we can fix the car. We’ll be back with it in a few weeks when the class runs again.”

Jason Casey had a great run going early in the Pro Stock main, only to have it go by the wayside just past halfway when the rear end let go in his #324. The rear was brand new and gave no warning before it had its problems.

The younger Casey showed great promise before the rear end failure, running in the top five in his team’s first race back at the Valley as a regular competitor.

The night moved along nicely as the final checkered flag flew before the clock high 10pm.