The Dirt on Danny Holtgraver‏

The Dirt on Danny Holtgraver

(April 24-25 Weekend)

By John Jablonski – hotlgraverd4@gmail.com







After a rough start to the 2009 season at East Bay Raceway Park in Florida, Danny Holtgraver started the season at the local tracks (Lernerville & Mercer) with three straight top ten finishes; ninth on Opening Night at Lernerville, second on Opening Night at Mercer, then fourth a week later at Mercer. April 18 at Mercer ended in a mechanical failure in the form of a broken valve.



Last weekend, Danny started with a great run at Lernerville Speedway on Friday Night with a solid and sometimes spectacular run to a fourth place finish. Lernerville’s points started last week, so Danny knew it was time to go when the green flag dropped. He finished third in his heat race, then pulled the 4 pill for the start of the 25 lap feature. Danny ran with the leaders most of the race and made a late race pass of Rod George to second place. Rod took the position back on the next lap, then track champion Kevin Schaeffer passed him on the last lap.



Despite dropping back two spots in the final five laps, Danny’s fourth place finish was his career best at Lernerville. “I like it rough,” he stated referring to the track. “It was pretty cool to pass Rod George late in the race for second, but he passed me right back, then Kevin got me on the last lap. But it’s our best finish at Lernerville so we’re going to build on that!”



Mercer Raceway Park is a place where Danny has found more success. His first career win in a 410 sprint came at MRP in April of 2007; two more wins have followed since (one each at Mercer and Sharon). Win number four was not in cards last weekend at Mercer, however, as Danny didn’t get one lap in before he went for a wild ride courtesy of Chris Shuttleworth.



Of the wreck, Danny stated, “The car’s pretty much junk. We’ll get it back together and be ready to go next week!”



This coming weekend, the recently reconstructed D4 will be towed to Lernerville Speedway on Friday, possibly to Sharon Speedway on Saturday and finally to Franklin, PA on Sunday for the $2500 to win return of sprint cars to Tri-City Speedway.



Heading into this weekend, Danny is currently in fourth in the points at Lernerville Speedway, eight back of points leader Ed Lynch Jr. At Mercer, Danny is seventh in points, just 55 behind leader Rod George. He has a heat race win (at Mercer), three top fives and four top tens. Danny’s website www.DannyHoltgraver.com will be re-launched in the near future.



Danny would like to thank his family, crew and sponsors for everything they do to keep him on the track and running with the big dogs in the Western Pennsylvania 410 sprint car scene. 2009 sponsors and marketing partners include West View Motors, Ti22 Performance, Alternative Power Sources, Kistler Racing Products, Manno’s Automotive, J&J Auto Racing, Frankland Racing Supply, Butler Built Professional Seat Systems, Terry Key Detailing, Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts, D&T Auto Body, Simpson, VRP Shocks, Agip, Spinneweber Auto Sales and Mel Bagley’s Auto Service Center.