By Kasey Kreider
(Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of Wayne Hohler Photography)
It was a fast-paced Saturday night at the Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway, as threatening skies loomed over the Newmanstown area as day turned to night. Thanks to great cooperation between track staff and the competitors, all five feature events were completed prior to 9 p.m., foiling the threat of any inclement weather.
The on-track action was just as frenzied, with several highlights and hair-raising moments throughout the night. One of those highlights was a first-time winner, as Maine’s Chase Rodgers made the long travel well worth it and finally scored his first Hyper Racing Wingless 600 triumph at the track. Bradley Brown and Nick Skias each continued torrid starts to the season, as Brown claimed his third consecutive win in the EVO Fuel Injection Winged 600s, while Skias made it back-to-back with the Border Magic 270s. In the first race under the “Yeti Fence” title sponsorship, defending Sportsman champion Corey Schmuck, Jr. took his No. 26 back to victory lane. And Trevor Waegel was the dominant driver of the Gretna Graphics 125/4 Stroke feature, scoring his second career win at the track.
Hyper Racing Wingless 600
After coming tantalizingly close to victory two weeks prior in the season-opening Spring Fling, it was pretty obvious that it was not a question of “if” – but a question of “when” – Chase Rodgers would score his first Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway win. “When” just so happened to be his very next race at the track, as the native of Old Orchard Beach, ME parked his Martel Motorsports No. 5 Hyper Chassis in the winner’s circle at night’s end.
Rodgers started from the outside pole and stalked Mason Beinhower for the opening few laps while the Dillsburg native set the pace at the front of the pack. As Rodgers reeled in Beinhower and those two drivers began to dice for the lead, Nate Freed quickly arrived on the scene to make it a three-car tussle for the top spot.
The race’s key moment came on lap 7, when Freed attempted to clear a slider on both Beinhower and Rodgers down into turn 1. Freed’s No. 91 clipped the front bumper of Beinhower’s No. 21B while sliding up the hill, breaking both drivers’ momentum and allowing Rodgers to scoot by both of them to claim the top spot.
From that point, Rodgers set sail and blistered the pace around the top side of the speedway. Freed took a couple more swings at Rodgers on a mid-race restart, but the two-time Granite State Micro Sprint champion withstood the challenge and eventually scampered off to seal his first micro sprint win in Pennsylvania with a final margin of victory of 1.306 seconds.
Freed came home with a runner-up in his best effort to date at the Clyde. Making a long haul of his own from Middleboro, MA, Justin Burr put on a show driving up from 15th to finish third. Abel Engler also made a late-race charge to finish a career-best fourth, and Beinhower rounded out the top five.
Results:
1. 5X-Chase Rodgers[2]; 2. 91-Nate Freed[5]; 3. 32-Justin Burr[15]; 4. 34-Abel Engler[11]; 5. 21B-Mason Beinhower[1]; 6. 08-Dominic Schmidt[7]; 7. 98-Matthew Warner[4]; 8. 2L-Luke Hess[20]; 9. 17-Cole Perez[8]; 10. 10L-Lukas Kostic[10]; 11. 11H-Holden Eckman[6]; 12. 15L-Landon Smith[17]; 13. 31C-Maverick Coffey[9]; 14. 99G-Gordon Greenlaw[16]; 15. 89S-Brett Greenlee[19]; 16. 14-Cole Gerber[13]; 17. 24-Cooper Fegely[3]; 18. 29X-Liam Kane[12]; 19. 3L-Nolen Layser[14]; 20. 18D-Dylan Smith[18]
Points (Top 5) (After 2 of 16 Races):
1. 10L-Lukas Kostic[240]; 2. 21B-Mason Beinhower[-32]; 3. 17-Cole Perez[-32]; 4. 5-Christian Bruno[-40]; 5. 14-Cole Gerber[-46]
Chase Rodgers pocketed career win number one at the Clyde in the Hyper Racing Wingless 600s. (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Hohler Photography)
EVO Fuel Injection Winged 600
You would be forgiven if you had watched Saturday night’s EVO Fuel Injection Winged 600 A-Main and got deja vu to the Clyde Martin Memorial Race from seven days prior. For the second-straight week, it was Bradley Brown and Brent Ely battling for victory in the second half of the feature event. And if you thought you were seeing triple by the end of the night, there’s no need to get your eyes checked. That was just “The Highsider” making it three wins in a row to start out the 2026 season.
Just as was the case last Saturday night, Ely started from pole position and set the pace for the first 13 circuits of the A-Main. The notable difference from last week was that this time around, the bottom groove was the predominant line that the No. 17 machine slotted into for most of the race.
And so in a role reversal from last week, Brown had to navigate up to the high side to make a challenge for the lead. After the race’s only restart on lap 10, Brown committed to the top groove and slowly began creeping alongside Ely, taking the advantage for the first time on the 14th lap.
Despite Brown pulling ahead, Ely wasn’t finished just yet, as the Sassamansville driver used the low side of the speedway to regain the advantage on two separate occasions.
But both times, Brown used his momentum from the top of turns 1 and 2 to beat Ely down to the bottom of turn 3. After some tight, wheel-to-wheel racing, Brown finally took the top spot for good with six laps left, and steered his Reanimated Art Tattoo Studio No. 23 RTS Chassis back to the winner’s circle to claim his third win in as many weeks of Winged 600 competition.
Bradley Brown (No. 23) and Brent Ely (No. 17) battled for the win of the EVO Fuel Injection Winged 600 feature for the second-straight week, with Brown once again coming out on top. (Photo Courtesy of Erik Williams/Erik’s Photos)
Ely was forced to be a bridesmaid once again, while Ely’s teammate Chris Gerhart prevailed from an exciting late-race duel with Brian Kramer to round out the podium. Finishing out the top five was Tommy Rinck, who scored his best Winged 600 result to date at the Clyde.
Results:
1. 23-Bradley Brown[6]; 2. 17-Brent Ely[1]; 3. 51-Chris Gerhart[4]; 4. 71-Brian Kramer[3]; 5. 11R-Tommy Rinck[7]; 6. 82-Rayce Martin[12]; 7. 26-Corey Schmuck Jr[2]; 8. 73-Andrew Rothermel[11]; 9. 90-Trent Warner[8]; 10. 75R-Brevan Rothermel[10]; 11. L13-Bob Potter[9]; 12. 15P-Christopher Panczner[5]
Points (Top 5) (After 2 of 18 Races):
1. 23-Bradley Brown[300]; 2. 17-Brent Ely[-15]; 3. 51-Chris Gerhart[-40]; 4. 71-Brian Kramer[-55]; 5. 11R-Tommy Rinck[-84]
Bradley Brown made it three-for-three to start 2026 in the EVO Fuel Injection Winged 600s. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Knappenberger Photos)
Border Magic 270
After racing inches from the guardrail en route to winning his first Clyde Martin Memorial one week prior, Nick Skias zipped around the infield tires to perfection on Saturday night, picking up his second-straight Border Magic 270 feature win on two vastly different track surfaces.
It was the older of the Skias brothers – Mike – who started on the pole and gained initial control of the race, while things began in adventurous fashion for younger brother Nick. The four-time defending track champion caught a massive piece of the middle set of infield tires in turns 1 and 2, shifting the car onto two wheels and nearly upside down. Skias recovered quickly, but a caution flag on the opening lap still gave him a chance to regroup after the hair-raising moment.
Nick Skias had a very close call on the opening lap of Saturday night’s Border Magic 270 A-Main after making contact with one of the sets of infield tires. (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Hohler Photography)
Once the race resumed, Nick wasted no time whatsoever in driving through traffic from seventh, with a No. 3 Viper Chassis that was notably hooked up on corner exit. After catching and making slight contact with Mike on lap 7, Nick eventually found his way past cleanly three laps later, and set sail from the rest of the field.
Unfortunately for Mike Skias, his race would come undone just a few laps later, as the rear axle of his car snapped and sent the left rear tire bounding off of his racecar. The misfortune for Mike put T. J. Greve into the runner-up spot, but not he – nor the rest of the field – had any answer to Nick Skias’ dominance on this night, as the Chuck Skias-owned entry sped off to a margin of victory of over two and a half seconds at the checkered flag.
Greve still held on for a second-place finish, while Brandon Heist made it two podiums in the same night and with the same car after finishing third. Tommy Rinck finished in fourth position, and Billy Logeman completed the top five. The Border Magic Hard Charger Bonus went to Logan Hess, who started in 24th but finished with a 10th-place result.
Results:
1. 3-Nick Skias[8]; 2. 16-Thomas Greve Jr[4]; 3. 99-Brandon Heist Sr[9]; 4. 11R-Tommy Rinck[2]; 5. 27O-Billy Logeman[10]; 6. 5-Bret Cronrath[3]; 7. 48-Jonah Meck[17]; 8. 96W-Chase Walker[7]; 9. 77G-Isaac Graby[6]; 10. 1L-Logan Hess[24]; 11. 94-Dallas Sanders[5]; 12. 28-Kyle Lindsey[14]; 13. 29-Steve Simmons[23]; 14. 4D-Dakota Deemer[20]; 15. 21D-Dave Williams[12]; 16. 39M-Austin Mieczkowski[11]; 17. 8S-Mike Skias[1]; 18. 27T-Michael Rutherford[16]; 19. 01-Daron Repperts[22]; 20. 2-Michael Miller[15]; 21. 29J-Jacob Neff[21]; 22. 81-Dylan Holmes[18]; 23. 11H-Chason Hauck[13]; 24. 32-Michael Hoffmaster[19]
DNQ: 34-Christi Sweigart
Points (Top 5) (After 2 of 17 Races):
1. 3-Nick Skias[300]; 2. 99-Brandon Heist Sr[-40]; 3. 16-Thomas Greve Jr[-45]; 4. 11R-Tommy Rinck[-95]; 5. 15-Alex Swift[-110]
Nick Skias went back-to-back in the Border Magic 270s on Saturday night at the Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Knappenberger Photos)
Yeti Fence Sportsman
Defending Yeti Fence Sportsman track champion Corey Schmuck, Jr. saw his season get off to a rough start in last Saturday’s Clyde Martin Memorial Race, as mechanical gremlins plagued his No. 26 Viper Chassis. But this weekend, the Lititz native and his machine were both back up to snuff, as Schmuck, Jr. carved through traffic to put himself into the redraw in his heat race, and then led all 25 laps of the feature from pole position to score his first win at the speedway since last June.
Usually a driver who loves to run the high groove, Schmuck, Jr. proved he could be just as effective on the low side of the speedway in Saturday evening’s 25-lapper, as he kept a smooth, steady, and fast pace around the bottom of the track. Schmuck, Jr.’s top challenge was in the form of 2024 Sportsman champion Brandon Heist, who had started all the way back in 15th but was in the runner-up spot by halfway.
It was a similar dilemma that Heist had faced a week prior. He may have been a tick faster than the leader, but the reigning champion never gave him an opportunity to make a move. Schmuck, Jr. pulled away to a three-car length advantage on the last restart with seven laps left, and Heist could only get back to his bumper by the time the cars crossed under the checkered flag.
Corey Schmuck, Jr. (No. 26) and Brandon Heist (No. 99) ran nose-to-tail across the finish line at the end of Saturday night’s Yeti Fence Sportsman A-Main. (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Hohler Photography)
After the top two, Matt Fernsler came home with a third-place finish, adding to his podium result in the 125/4 Stroke class one week ago. Mike Kreiser finished fourth, and Masen Stapleton turned in a great run from 16th to fifth – just one day after his 17th birthday.
Results:
1. 26-Corey Schmuck Jr[1]; 2. 99-Brandon Heist Sr[15]; 3. 23K-Matt Fernsler[8]; 4. 77-Michael Kreiser[7]; 5. 17-Masen Stapleton[16]; 6. 75-Justin Harrington[10]; 7. 21V-David Ravel[21]; 8. 3S-Charles Hellinger[14]; 9. 27-Dylan Pennypacker[13]; 10. 31-Tyler Martin[5]; 11. 21D-Dave Williams[6]; 12. 2T-Doug Pearson[20]; 13. 31M-Noah Merkey[22]; 14. 5-Bret Cronrath[19]; 15. 08-Austin Graby[4]; 16. 94-Dallas Sanders[2]; 17. 11H-Chason Hauck[3]; 18. 44E-Trevor Waegel[17]; 19. 9R-Mason Ruffner[18]; 20. 19-Wes Fasnacht[9]; 21. 20-Max Fasnacht[12]; 22. 2-Michael Miller[11]
Points (Top 5) (After 2 of 18 Races):
1. 99-Brandon Heist Sr[285]; 2. 77-Michael Kreiser[-48]; 3. 75-Justin Harrington[-49]; 4. 27-Dylan Pennypacker[-51]; 5. 2-Michael Miller[-55]
Corey Schmuck, Jr. led all 25 laps to win Saturday night’s Yeti Fence Sportsman feature event. (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Hohler Photography)
Gretna Graphics 125/4 Stroke
In another case of redemption from a mechanical issue in the Clyde Martin Memorial Race, Trevor Waegel returned with a vengeance to Newmanstown on Saturday night, as the Paulsboro, NJ native led wire-to-wire in the Gretna Graphics 125/4 Stroke A-Main to tally his second career win at the speedway.
Waegel started on pole position of the 25-lapper and simply remained in full command throughout the entirety of the feature. Waegel stayed smart despite dealing with lapped traffic at various points throughout the race, and never gave two-time track champion Justin Harrington a chance to close in.
Waegel’s HRS Design & Promotions No. 44s RTS Chassis came across the finish line nearly two seconds ahead of Harrington at the twin checkers, while Seth Gregory rounded out the podium. Asher Kempton came home with fourth, and John Maurer capped off a bit of a rough night with a top-five effort.
Results:
1. 44S-Trevor Waegel[1]; 2. 76-Justin Harrington[5]; 3. 14-Seth Gregory[3]; 4. 23-Asher Kempton[4]; 5. 82-John Maurer[6]; 6. 3H-Corey Harting[9]; 7. X-Dave Schroeder[7]; 8. 19-Matt Fernsler[8]; 9. 15-Alyssa Holmes[11]; 10. 3H2-Holly Harting[13]; 11. 74-Paige Rothermel[12]; 12. 112-Dylan Yeingst[10]; 13. 68-Kevin Jones[14]; 14. 4W-Brandon Worthington[15]; 15. 8-Michael Spadafora[2]
Points (Top 5) (After 2 of 18 Races):
1. 82-John Maurer[280]; 2. 19-Matt Fernsler[-22]; 3. 76-Justin Harrington[-25]; 4. 23-Asher Kempton[-25]; 5. 3H-Corey Harting[-52]
After scoring his first Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway win last September, Trevor Waegel made a return trip on Saturday night following the Gretna Graphics 125/4 Stroke feature. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Knappenberger Photos)
The Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway is back in action next Saturday, April 25, with another regular Saturday night points show featuring all five weekly divisions. Gates will open at 4 p.m., with warmups and on-track festivities starting at 5:30 p.m. General grandstand admission is just $10, and for those unable to attend in person, live streaming coverage will be provided by The Cushion.