Knaub Moves to "Susquehanna Showdown" Victory at SSP

Todd Fisher, SSP track report

NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. - Oct. 2. Dover’s Gene Knaub won the 50-lap Cumberland Truck Parts Late Model feature event at the Susquehanna Speedway Park on Saturday.  In a quick exchange of the top spot, Knaub was the third leader of the event that paid the winner $3,000, and gave him a shot at an additional $25,000 through the luck of the draw.

Polesitter Justin Ehrhart grabbed the lead from the start with Grant Adams in hot pursuit during the early stages of the 50-lapper.  Adams bolted by Ehrhart on the third circuit using the top side of the finely prepared surface by track preparer Bobby Weaver. 

A caution on lap four for three spinning cars in turn two slowed the field.  On the restart, Ehrhart pressured Adams on the low side, but Knaub followed Adams and made the pass by Ehrhart entering turn one.  One lap later, Knaub took command of the top spot and never looked back to claim the 50-lap main event. 

Throughout the middle stages of the race, the battle for second was wild and furious.  Adams, Ehrhart, Travis Mease, Shaun Jones and Craig Wagaman all made challenges for second.  Wagaman held onto the runner-up spot from the middle of the race to lap 42.  Wagaman came from a 19th place starting spot and took over second on lap 25.  Justin Ehrhart rebounded to reclaim it from Wagaman to finish there at the end.  Shaun Jones made a last lap pass to claim third over Wagaman.

Miller collected $3,000 for his win, but failed to choose the correct two envelopes for the $25,000 bonus.  Knaub opened up the first envelope that did contain the correct half of the $25,000 prize, but car owner Donnie Broderick did not have the correct second half in his envelope.  This was the closest any driver has come to winning the $25,000 in five years.