Stevie Smith wins Speed Week opener at Williams Grove, Fred Rahmer fires shot at Greg Hodnett

Stevie Smith

Stevie Smith leads all 25 laps in the Pennsylvania Speed Week opener at Williams Grove Speedway. Team owner Fred Rahmer indicates the team could run the entire Speed Week series. (PennLive photo)

MECHANICSBURG: It took all of one race for the first shot to be fired in Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speed Week.

And it came courtesy of Fred Rahmer.

No, Rahmer didn't come out of retirement and jump behind the wheel. But that didn't stop him from throwing down the gauntlet on the frontstretch at Williams Grove Speedway.

Stevie Smith, Rahmer's hired gun, wired the field in the Speed Week lid-lifter. He led the entire 25-lap distance, beating Greg Hodnett for the posted $5,000 top prize.

Afterwards, Rahmer indicated that his team might run the entire Speed Week series. The reason: to beat Hodnett.

"It wasn't my first choice," Rahmer said of running Path Valley Sunday. "We are going to have to run three cars at least three nights this week.

"Out there, Hodnett was cheating his [butt] off on the starts. That is what his job is, but we want someone to beat his [butt] for the points this week, and Stevie is the one to do it, I think."

Continued Rahmer, "Greg is a great driver, but we want to keep him honest. There are a lot of great drivers, but Stevie is better than all of them and we will see what happens."

OK, then.

Smith set fast time for the 33-car field and drew a zero for the inversion, which put him on the front row.

That paid dividends on the start. Smith blasted out front, with fellow front-row starter Greg Hodnett and Danny Dietrich in tow.

While the top three ran in order, Brian Montieth was on the move. He started seventh on the grid but rocketed past Brock Zearfoss for the fourth position in Turn 1 on lap 3.

Hodnett started to close on Smith on the same circuit. But before he could make a bid for the lead, Mark Smith spun in Turn 2 to bring out the first caution on lap 4.

Montieth took advantage of the restart. He blew by Dietrich for third and was beside Hodnett for second. The two battled for position until Cory Haas rolled to a stop on lap 8.

"We were getting killed on the restarts," Hodnett said. "We were just way too tight.

"We seemed fast in the middle of the race, but we just couldn't get going on the restarts."

Montieth took advantage and got beside Hodnett on the lap 8 restart. Still, the Spring Grove ace held the spot and managed to close to within five car-lengths of Smith by lap 12.

That was as close as Hodnett would get under green conditions. Smith started to find a rhythm and maintained a comfortable advantage by the time lap 20 was scored.

"The car was really good," Smith said. "I just had to work on the driving part, and it felt better.

"The team, the motors, the crew ... Moon [Byers] and Freddie [Rahmer], it felt like we were back on track. I know it could be different tomorrow, but the car felt like it did when we were really good last year."

Smith was the class of the field the rest of the way. Despite racing part time this season, he was masterful through two late cautions to claim his 31st career Williams Grove win.

"I just need to make sure I'm staying with the pace," Smith said. "I had to drive a little straight on entry and race it harder.

"Sometimes, I get out there in the lead and I want to ease up and not make mistakes. But then, it doesn't feel good, so I have to race it. The harder I raced it, the better it felt."

Hodnett finished second and is 26 points behind Smith in the Speed Week point standings.

As for Rahmer's comments, Hodnett seemed pleased that Smith was going to run every race.

"I wish he would run every race to keep me honest," Hodnett said. "The more we get pushed, the better we have to be.

"I need to start next to him every race, because that means I will always start on the front row."

Montieth slowed on lap 21 and had to tag the rear. Dietrich, Lucas Wolfe and Brent Marks completed the top five.

PJ Gargiulo captured the 20-lap ARDC Midget feature.

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