The 7th annual Dayton Spring Fling USA-EAST sanctioned event had some very interesting and yet some unexpected results on Saturday, June 7, 2008. With excellent weather and a large contingent of enthusiastic fans in the grandstand, the pull was once again one the most successful early season test for the pullers in four different classes. A huge throng of pulling and trucks packed the pit area and represented the states of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. Saturday night’s weight transfer was the Decision Maker Green operated by Milt Lebe who did another excellent job of setting the sled ‘just right’. The Dayton Spring Fling is produced by Full Pull Productions, Inc.
STREET LICENSED DIESEL 4x4 TRUCKS (2.6 class)
An invader from the state of New York showed the way on Saturday night at Dayton. Dan Pfeffer from Eden, New York with his nicely prepared 2003 Dodge took the victory with a mark of 291.87 in his first run of 2008. This was also Dan’s first-ever win in the state of Pennsylvania. The truck was prepped by Brother’s Diesel of Springville, New York. Bill Bowser, the winner at Mercer two weeks ago had to settle for 2nd this time as he went 286.08 with “Old Blue TWO” from nearby Mayport, Pennsylvania. Third went to Ed Dicks from Portersville, Pennsylvania with his 2004 Dodge as the Cummins Mopars grabbed all three top spots.
LIMITED PRO – SUPER FARM TRACTORS
Six of the combined tractors made full pulls to set up a super pull-off at Dayton. Ted Giovanelli from Fredericktown, Pennsylvania proved that he will be one of the top players in the 2008 USA-EAST with a narrow win with his IH1066. Giovanelli’s “Shazzam” went 304.36 in the pull-off. The local favorite, Greg Ferringer from Dayton, Pennsylvania was 2nd with “Smokin’ John” at 302.99 and third went to the “Blue Reaper” Ford 9000 of Nathan Graham from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Mark Bell’s “FireFox” had to settle for fourth with “Buck Fever” and Danny Hildenbrand 5th and Ross Martin ending sixth in the pull-off with “Runnin’ Red Warrior”. Five of the top six ended between 301 and 305 in the pull-off.
MODIFIED 4x4 TRUCKS (‘Run What Ya Brung’ Series)
Probably the most interesting class of the evening was the season-opener for the ‘Run What Ya Brung’ Series. This class permits the modified diesel trucks to compete right alongside the modified gasoline trucks in a ‘shoot-out’ format that gives the fans a completely new perspective in the age old argument between gasoline and diesel. For the first time in two years a diesel was the winner as Matt Weingart’s “PowerMax Express” Chevrolet from Salem, Ohio took the win in a four-way pull-off with a mark of 306.42. Weingart’s Duramax is a regular in the USA-EAST Pro Street Diesel division and served notice that it is going to be heard from in 2008. Last year’s champion, Jeremy Davis from Jefferson, Pennsylvania was second as the “Producer’s Supply” Chevrolet – now fitted with a new and larger GM plant went 302.68. Ryan Ritzert, driving the “Size Matters” Chevrolet for the Jack Kiehl team from Cabot, Pennsylvania was 3rd in the pull-off. The 4th truck in the pull-off was the vastly improved “Never Satisfied II” Ford of Fred Virgili from Mather, Pennsylvania. That 4x4 lost the power steering just past the 100’ mark and took a sharp right turn crashing into the concrete barrier and creating an unnerving stir in the grandstands. Virgili was unhurt in the unfortunate accident and the beautifully prepared Ford suffered only minor cosmetic damage.
STREET LICENSED GASOLINE 4x4 TRUCKS
Six trucks made a full-pull in the first hook of 2008 for this open street licensed class of pulling trucks using gasoline as a fuel. The “Black Sheep” Ford of Aaron Rupert has show marked improvement in the past four years and captured the victory with a resounding run of 328.1. Rupert is from Rural Valley, Pennsylvania just over the hill from Dayton, so the victory was even more sweet for the “Black Sheep” team. Ford also got the runner-up spot as Titusville’s Craig went 321.33 with his crew cab. Kevin Nemeth made it 1-2-3 Ford as his “Casper” 1978 Ford from Cochranton, Pennsylvania set a mark of 307.28. Chevrolet got fourth as Dan Casciere from Saltsburg went out to 291.5. Two trucks made the pull-off but could not return due to breakage. Brett Casiere from Saltsburg and Hawthorne’s Bruce Clinger each had to withdraw from the pull-off.
Next up for USA-EAST is a trip to the Lawrence County Fairgrounds on the outskirts of New Castle, Pennsylvania for the annual “Pennsylvania Power Pull” on Saturday, June 14th at 7:00pm.
