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Colton Friese Claims Path Valley for His Fourth Win of the Season
Path Valley Victor Colton Friese in Victory Lane with Bree Kaylor, Miss East Coast Legend Series (photo by Teal Beard/wrtspeedwerx)
May 17, 2024 (Spring Run, PA)-Colton Friese continues to serve notice that he is focused on successfully defending his 2024 East Coast Legend Series championship. Friese outdueled Scott Houdeshell in the waning laps Saturday at Path Valley Speedway to claim the $500 top prize in the Ron and June O’Donnell Memorial. This victory was Friese’s fourth of the East Coast season and two-in-a row for the driver of car No. 7.
As the green flag fell on the 20-lap affair sponsored by Dr. Zach Crouse, DVM, Houdeshell grabbed the early lead and paced the field for the first two circuits. Then, Friese moved by Houdeshell on the backstretch to claim the top spot for the next two laps.
On lap four, third-running Tyler Kaylor got out of shape on the back straightaway and found himself sitting still facing oncoming traffic. As the field scattered high and low to miss Kaylor, veteran driver, Rick Hartwig, ran out of real estate and made hard head-to-head contact with Kaylor. Both drivers were okay, but both machines suffered extensive damage and were retired for the evening. The accident involved several other drivers including Ben Morrow and rookie contender Cameron Sutton, who also suffered significant damage.
The lap five restart saw Friese still in front followed by Houdeshell. Series veterans, Travis McClelland and Bill Diehl battled in third and fourth, and Andrew Mowen was experiencing an exceptional night as he ran fifth
This fivesome would continue to command the top five until lap 13. This is when Mike Racine and Logan Carbaugh would get by Mowen to hold fifth and sixth, respectively. At lap 15, Jeremy Ott moved by Carbaugh to take fifth for the first time in the race. The 16th circuit showed Friese leading followed by Houdeshell. McClelland held third followed by Diehl in fourth. Racine held fifth.
The action heated up beginning at lap 17. Friese held the point, but Houdeshell made a move by Friese in turn two to grab the top spot by lap 18. Houdeshell held the point for the 18th and 19th circuit, but Friese would move by Houdeshell off turn two on the final circuit to reassume the lead. As the checkers fell, Friese took the victory just .222 seconds in front of Houdeshell, who claimed the runner-up spot.
McClelland continued his strong run all night to take a podium finish in third. Ott maintained a good pace to finish fourth. Bill Diehl likewise stayed strong all night to round out the top-five.
Devin Friese recovered from an early-race spin to finish sixth. Carbaugh maintained a strong effort throughout the event to take seventh. Likewise, Racine continued his good outing to take eighth. Scott Musselman recovered from a spin in the lap four mele to take ninth, and Kelby Friese rebounded from an early-event skirmish to take 10th, just in front of Mowen who continued his career night with a solid 11th-place effort.
Thirty-five (35) drivers/cars entered the event. Heat race winners earlier in the evening were Kaylor, Houdeshell, Devin Friese and Colton Friese. Claiming the B-Mains were Wayne Dutterer, Jr., and Tyler Rampmeyer.
The East Coast Series returns to action this coming Saturday, May 24 at Winchester Speedway in Virginia. David H. Martin Excavating LLC is the Series sponsor. Additional sponsors for the Path Valley event include Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard, Fairfield Auto Service and NAPA Auto Parts of Taneytown.
Full field rundown: 1. Colton Friese, 2. Scott Houdeshell, 3. Travis McClelland, 4. Jeremy Ott, 5. Bill Diehl, 6. Devin Friese, 7. Logan Carbaugh, 8. Mike Racine, 9. Scott Musselman, 10. Kelby Friese, 11. Andrew Mowen, 12. Tracy Linn, 13. Eric Hurst, 14. Dave Benner, 15. Kirk Martin, 16. Colby Miller, 17. Donald Stoudt, 18. Ben Morrow, 19. Bill Funk, 20. Wayne Dutterer, Jr., 21. Tyler Kaylor, 22. Rick Hartwig, 23. Cameron Sutton, 24. Tyler Rampmeyer
DNQ: Scott Spidle, Dustin Burnisky, Moses Goetz, Kayleigh Linn, Matt Grebe, Brad Friese, Hunter McElroy, Ryan Walls, Jr., Evan Benner, Ryan Walls, Brady Moats
2025 East Coast Legend and INEX MEMBERSHIPS
AVAILABLE ON PIT PAY!
2025 East Coast Legend Series Rules Updates
1. Drivers who do not qualify or start a feature will now receive 40 show-up points. Again in in 2025, feature winners receive an additional 10 points. Feature Winners will now receive 110 points. The difference in points between first and second is now 13 points. The point difference between 24th and those who do not qualify/start a feature is now 19 points. This does not alter how INEX points are awarded. In a case where show-up points are awarded, this point differential will not be applicable
2. In 2025, The East Coast Legend Series will continue the Rookie Rule (with changes). For a Rookie's first FIVE events, he/she will be required to start at the rear of heat races ONLY. After the driver's respective heat race, the driver will then start in either the A/B Main in the qualified spot from the heat race. If the event has time trials/hot lap time trials, Rookies will start in the qualified position posted from time trials. Rookies will be required to have their rear bumpers, and new for 2025 their front bumpers, painted or taped yellow from bumper tab to bumper tab or rear horn to rear horn, and the bumpers must remain yellow for the duration of the season. Rookie drivers are those with NO prior Legends experience or less than FIVE Legends events as a driver. After the completion of a Rookie's first FIVE events, the driver will not be required to adhere to the Rookie Rule UNLESS the Series race director feels it's warranted based on performance shown by driver.
3. In 2025, a driver will be allowed to miss/drop TWO races. For example, if a driver does not attend two races, it will not count against him/her. If a driver attends all the races, then he/she will be allowed to drop their two worst finishes. If a driver does not attend one race, then that race will not count against said driver, and the driver will then be allowed to drop his/her worst finish for another race until the race tally reaches two. This miss/drop procedure will be in effect through the August 30 event at Winchester Speedway. Following that event, drivers will have their misses/drops calculated, and the remainder of the points season will be run "heads up" points and no misses/drops will be allowed. If a driver chooses to run a Legends event outside of the East Coast Series on the same night that the East Coast Series has a race, then that driver will not be allowed to use that date as a miss/drop. If an event is canceled, the miss/drop procedure does not apply.
4. Regarding the event at Action Track USA. The winner receives 110 points. All other drivers attending that event will receive 100 show-up points regardless of finishing position. Drivers who do not attend the Action Track event will be allowed to drop that race, provided that they have not already extinguished his/her two MISS races prior to the event. Hagerstown Speedway events will no longer be show-up points. Those events are regular East Coast points races.