Story By: A2DPR / ZACH NEWLIN RACING – YORK HAVEN, PA – Zach Newlin may not have won the Dirty 30 show at BAPS on Saturday night, but he certainly gave the fans a show.
It was a night of challenges that on paper didn’t look like it was shaping up to be a success story, but Zach Daddy picked off the competition lap after lap as he charged from the back of the field in the A-main to nearly take home a top five finish.
Newlin and the Manchester Hydraulics, Marlow’s Metal Fabrication, Safety Kleen, Lee Chassis Repair & Components, Will’s Lawncare, Mansberger Motorsports No.21m were part of a 29 car field that signed in for BAPS Motor Speedway’s Dirty 30 race, an annual event for the 358 sprint cars that offers a well above average purse for the division.
Group timed hot laps set the heat lineups for the night, which put Newlin outside the 3rd row in heat number three. As the Millerstown, PA native rolled onto the speedway for the qualifying race, something was amiss on the Mansberger Motorsports No.21m and he returned pit-side.
The diagnosis, a disconnected spark plug wire. It was too late however and Newlin missed his heat race.
Relegated to a 10th starting spot in the B-main, Newlin raced his way in by advancing to a 5th place finish.
Newlin had partially recovered his evening by turning a missed heat race into a main event start, but he wasn’t done yet.
Zach Daddy, as he is known to fans, started 23rd after squeaking in through the B-main. It didn’t take long for fans to see Newlin had a far better car than his starting spot might have suggested.
By lap five Newlin had already surged forward into the 14th position. From there on he chipped away, claiming another spot every couple laps. Fans watched the battle at the front of the field but had one eye on Newlin as he sliced through traffic.
Newlin cracked the top ten with a big move, 11th to 8th on lap fourteen. As the race entered its final five laps, Newlin moved into 6th after being stalled in 7th for ten circuits. He appeared to need one more trip around to claim a top five finish but the checkered flag ended the impressive run with a 6th place finish.
“We are finally figuring this thing out. That’s the best we have had the car since I’ve been in the seat. I think these new tires have actually helped me feel more comfortable.“, Newlin said, referring to the new line of Hoosier sprint car tires that teams have had to switch to this season.
It has been noticeable in recent outings that Newlin, along with brother Lance on the wrenches of the Mansberger ride, have made strides. It has showed in their performance. Newlin was the hard charger at Williams Grove earlier in the month, then backed that up with a podium finish there just a week ago.
The Dirty 30 has become an annual event nearly every 358 sprint car team circles on their calendar.
“I want to thank Bill Devine and everyone who puts this event on. It’s a great race for the 358 division. I really enjoy running it and the team appreciates the opportunity to race for money that makes a real difference to our season.“, Newlin commented.
Zach and the Mansberger Motorsports team will return to Williams Grove Speedway on June 9th for a 358 Summer Series race.