By ROB LEE
PUTNAMVILLE, IN – Jon Stanbrough found the hole.
The battle to the end of Saturday’s non-winged Sprint Car feature at Lincoln Park Speedway looked like it would be between veterans Dave Darland, Bill Rose and Bryan Clauson.
Then Stanbrough snuck a peek in the middle groove, passed Darland and Rose and cruised to the 25-lap Indianaopenwheel.com Racin’ Fest win.
Rose, fresh off the World of Outlaws tour and Darland swapped the top spot for the first nine laps before a red flag flew for the machines of Seth Parker and Jeff Bland, both upside down on the front stretch. The two No. 38s would retire.
As the green waved again, the fifth place Stanbrough picked off the top four cars in the next handful of laps.
Darland, Clauson, Rose and Shane Cottle rounded out the top five.
Matt Bex passed Brian Hayden just after halfway and went on to dominate the final few of the UMP Modified 20 laps. Hayden would later drop out with mechanical problems.
Wes McClara, Derek Groomer, Kenny Carmichael and Larry Lambert rounded out the top five in the attrition-filled event. Groomer avoided most of it. After spinning while running second he restarted at the back and rose to the third spot.
North Vernon visitor Troy Clark started out front and won the Super Stocks 20-lap main. Craig Walker finished his sweep of the Bomber class by taking that 15-lap finale.
A great season-opening crowd was treated to an efficient show despite a late start and an intermission of fireworks.
Racing continues at LPS Saturday. First green flag is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Following are results from racing Saturday evening at Lincoln Park Speedway, Putnamville.
Sprint Cars
Feature (25 laps) – 1. Jon Stanbrough 2. Dave Darland 3. Brian Clauson 4. Bill Rose 5. Shane Cottle 6. Casey Shuman 7. Coleman Gulick 8. Kevin Thomas, Jr. 9. Robert Ballou 10. Joshua Clemons 11. Jonathan Hendrick 12. Danny Holtsclaw 13. Chase Stockton 14. Scotty Weir 15. Travis Welpott 16. Brent Beauchamp 17. Dakota Jackson 18. Jeff Bland, Jr. 19. Seth Parker 20. Dickie Gaines.
Heat winners – Rose, Darland, Gurley, Holtsclaw. B-main – 1. Bland UMP Modifieds Feature (20 laps) – 1. Matt Bex 2. Wes McClara 3. Derek Groomer 4. Kenny Carmichael 5. Larry Lambert 6. Rodney Harris, Jr. 7. Eric Varner 8. Scott Ricketts 9. Kenny Carmichael, Jr. 10. Carlos Bumgardner 11. Kevin Gummere 12. Chris Brewer 13. Brian Amos 14. Brian Hayden 15. Craig Conyer 16. Gary Ricketts 17. Jake Waggoner 18. Josh Boller 19. Paul Bumgardner 20. Brian Yeatman.
Heat winners – Hayden, McClara, Groomer. B-Main – 1. Amos Super Stocks Feature (20 laps) – 1. Troy Clark 2. Doug McCullough 3. Slick Griffin 4. Cullen Goodman 5. Kenny Carmichael, Jr. 6. Kenny Carmichael 7. Travis Heramb 8. A.J. Smith 9. A.J. Clark 10. J.R. Watkins 11. Jake Byers 12. Matt Jordan 13. Josh McDaniel 14. Christian York 15. Tony Arthur, Jr. 16. Doug Bryant, Jr. 17. Kris Starks 18. Bobby Davis 19. Justin Hammond 20. Brian Kempf 21. Josh Fagg Heat winners – Clark, Carmichael, Jr., Goodman. B-main – 1. McCullough Bombers Feature (15 laps) – 1. Craig Walker 2. Brian Sims 3. Landon Miller 4. C.J. Bryan 5. Jeff Shepherd 6. Lee Hobbs 7. Ronnie Pardue 8. Mark Smith 9. Marlin Burns 10. Donnie Matthews 11. Megan Cavaness 12. Jeff Cast 13. Danny Ray Wampler 14. David Dobbs 15. Jerry Hutto 16. Jeff Beggs 17. Tanner Chastain 18. Doug McCullough 19. Marty Wilson 20. Doug Klyn 21. Michael Harris.
Heat winners – Smith, Walker, Miller. B-main – 1. Beggs