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Darrah speeds to victory in Grove Open
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MECHANICSBURG — Cody Darrah scored the biggest win of his young sprint car career Saturday night, leading all 40 laps in the Morgan Hughes National Open at Williams Grove Speedway.
Darrah started on the pole, outraced Mark Smith into the first corner and never looked back. Eight-time Grove champion Fred Rahmer was quickly into second and stalked Darrah the final 30 laps, but never got close enough to challenge for the lead.
A fuel stop with 10 laps to go gave Rahmer one more shot, but Darrah never faltered and drove away from Rahmer over the final laps.
The National Open was rained out a few weeks ago, but speedway manager Justin Loh rescheduled it as a non-sanctioned event. Darrah earned $12,000. The race was originally set to pay $50,000 under World of Outlaws sanctioning.
The 19-year-old from Red Lion is in his third season behind the wheel of a sprint car, but this season he’s raced more than the last two years. During his rookie season, Darrah raced primarily at Susquehanna Speedway Park. Last season, he suffered a broken arm in a crash at Lincoln Speedway and missed half the season.
Mechanic Lee Stauffer has been instumental in coaching Darrah and turning him into a much better racer. Darrah has become much more patient, which was very evident in his National Open win and earlier this season when he tamed the intimidating half-mile Port Royal Speedway.
“He’s such a good coach and a best friend, I don’t know how I’d do it without him,” Darrah said. “I was a little nervous about the restart with the 51 behind me, but the car got better.”
Cody’s parents, Joe and Kitty Darrah, own the No. 89.
“I’m very proud,” Joe Darrah said. “I walked about 20 miles on top of the trailer.”
Darrah comes from a family full of racers, including his uncle Rick Eckert, who is a former champion of the World of Outlaw late models.
For Stauffer, who’s had a lot of bad luck during the open, it was his first National Open win as a mechanic.
Darrah won his first two career features at Lincoln Speedway in the same night on May 10. He won at Lincoln again on August 23. Before the open, his most impressive win came during Speedweek at Port Royal.
For Rahmer, it was the third time he’s finished second in the National Open. He’s never won it.
The outcome would have been different had the yellow flag came out with three laps to go because Lincoln Speedway champion Brian Montieth had the fastest car. Montieth started 21st and restarted sixth after the fuel stop. He advanced to third in 10 laps using the very outside groove of the speedway, but was too far back to challenge for the win without a caution.
Jim Siegel and Greg Hodnett completed the top five. Doug Esh, Mark Smith, Alan Krimes, Todd Shaffer and Brian Leppo completed the top 10.
A strong field of 44 sprinters took part in the National Open. Four-time Knoxville Nationals winner Danny Lasoski drove Jim Nace’s No. 6. He finished 13th. Former outlaw Tim Shaffer and traveler Jesse Hockett were other invaders driving locally-owned cars. Shaffer finished 25th while Hockett didn’t qualify.
Western PA star Ed Lynch Jr. made the trip East as did All Star driver Lee Jacobs, who is the son of legendary Kenny Jacobs. Lynch was 21st and Jacobs didn’t make it.
The open was the Grove’s final race of the season. Williams Grove will begin its 70th anniversary season Friday night, March 20. There will be no Sunday afternoon races next season.
Darrah started on the pole, outraced Mark Smith into the first corner and never looked back. Eight-time Grove champion Fred Rahmer was quickly into second and stalked Darrah the final 30 laps, but never got close enough to challenge for the lead.
A fuel stop with 10 laps to go gave Rahmer one more shot, but Darrah never faltered and drove away from Rahmer over the final laps.
The National Open was rained out a few weeks ago, but speedway manager Justin Loh rescheduled it as a non-sanctioned event. Darrah earned $12,000. The race was originally set to pay $50,000 under World of Outlaws sanctioning.
The 19-year-old from Red Lion is in his third season behind the wheel of a sprint car, but this season he’s raced more than the last two years. During his rookie season, Darrah raced primarily at Susquehanna Speedway Park. Last season, he suffered a broken arm in a crash at Lincoln Speedway and missed half the season.
Mechanic Lee Stauffer has been instumental in coaching Darrah and turning him into a much better racer. Darrah has become much more patient, which was very evident in his National Open win and earlier this season when he tamed the intimidating half-mile Port Royal Speedway.
“He’s such a good coach and a best friend, I don’t know how I’d do it without him,” Darrah said. “I was a little nervous about the restart with the 51 behind me, but the car got better.”
Cody’s parents, Joe and Kitty Darrah, own the No. 89.
“I’m very proud,” Joe Darrah said. “I walked about 20 miles on top of the trailer.”
Darrah comes from a family full of racers, including his uncle Rick Eckert, who is a former champion of the World of Outlaw late models.
For Stauffer, who’s had a lot of bad luck during the open, it was his first National Open win as a mechanic.
Darrah won his first two career features at Lincoln Speedway in the same night on May 10. He won at Lincoln again on August 23. Before the open, his most impressive win came during Speedweek at Port Royal.
For Rahmer, it was the third time he’s finished second in the National Open. He’s never won it.
The outcome would have been different had the yellow flag came out with three laps to go because Lincoln Speedway champion Brian Montieth had the fastest car. Montieth started 21st and restarted sixth after the fuel stop. He advanced to third in 10 laps using the very outside groove of the speedway, but was too far back to challenge for the win without a caution.
Jim Siegel and Greg Hodnett completed the top five. Doug Esh, Mark Smith, Alan Krimes, Todd Shaffer and Brian Leppo completed the top 10.
A strong field of 44 sprinters took part in the National Open. Four-time Knoxville Nationals winner Danny Lasoski drove Jim Nace’s No. 6. He finished 13th. Former outlaw Tim Shaffer and traveler Jesse Hockett were other invaders driving locally-owned cars. Shaffer finished 25th while Hockett didn’t qualify.
Western PA star Ed Lynch Jr. made the trip East as did All Star driver Lee Jacobs, who is the son of legendary Kenny Jacobs. Lynch was 21st and Jacobs didn’t make it.
The open was the Grove’s final race of the season. Williams Grove will begin its 70th anniversary season Friday night, March 20. There will be no Sunday afternoon races next season.
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