Car owner Jerry Parrish was sitting in the suites above Williams Grove Speedway, pleading for his driver to make a move. It was late the race, and his driver, Brian Montieth, was out in front…barely. Stalking one car-length back was impressive rookie Ryan Smith. "I don't know if he heard me, but I was screaming for him to get to the bottom," Parrish said. Montieth didn't need any instructions. The Phoenixville driver is known for rim-riding around the half-mile speedway. But going into turn 3 on the last lap, he shot to the bottom and cut a hole in Smith's moment to hold on for the victory in the 25-lap Sprint Car feature. It was a big win for a team that has been fast on a weekly basis but has had a rash of mechanical woes lead to disappointment. "We've lost a lot of equipment the last few weeks," Parrish said. "We should have three or four wins, but this place had our number." Not on this night. Montieth earned a $3,600 base and an added $120 in lap money for his high-wire act along the cushion and the knowledge of what to do in a tight spot. "Experience is all it is," said Montieth, who also has four wins at Lincoln Speedway. "I've been in school 18 years and have learned a lot of stuff from the veterans. "It's good to just finish one of these things. I told the guys coming in that I just wanted to get a top 10 and finish all 25 laps. We have a good team that keeps digging." The initial start was waved off when Chad Layton rolled to a stop in turn 2. Gerard McIntyre Jr. took the lead from Smith out of turn 4 to complete lap one with Montieth settling in to third. Montieth started his march to the front on lap 8. He dove to the bottom of turn 1 and shot to the top in front of Smith to take second. By the time the field hit backmarkers on lap 10, he was one car-length off the pace. Danny Dietrich slowed and brought out the second caution on lap 11. When the race went green, Montieth reeled in McIntyre and pulled in front through turns 1 and 2 to lead. McIntyre tried to take the spot back in turn 3 but spun and backed it into the fence. "I was watching [Ryan] and Gerard in the heat race, and they ran good races," Montieth said. "If it would have been any other track tonight, it would have been tough. "The track was unforgiving. If the racetrack is going to be like that the rest of the year, it's going to be tough." Smith made Montieth sweat. After McIntyre spun and the red flag was displayed for the teams to refuel, Montieth and Smith raced the last 11 laps under a blanket. Smith pulled alongside the leader on two occasions in the last two circuits. But experience won out. Montieth took Smith's line away and collected the win. Smith settled for a career-best second-place finish ahead of Lance Dewease, 13th-place starter Cory Haas and Fred Rahmer. "I think I had the better car, it was just inexperience with the air," Smith said. "He did what he had to do to win. "The guys gave me a great car tonight. I just have to learn to roll the bottom more like Donny [Kreitz Jr], but this could turn the whole season around for us." Matt Mountz captured the 20-lap 358 Sprint Car feature by less than a car length over Grantville's Dale Hammaker. It was his second win of the season at the speedway. Mechanicsburg's Kevin Nouse, Ryan Wilson and Nate Hammaker completed the top five. TRAIL-WAY: Steve Owings captured the 25-lap 358 Sprint Car feature at Trail-Way Speedway. It was his third win of the season at the Hanover facility. Mike Bittinger, Trevor Little, Jeff Rohrbaugh and Keith Prutzman completed the top five. ATTICA RACEWAY PARK: Danny Holtgraver stormed through the pack from 10th to claim the first leg of All-Star Ohio Speed Week at Attica Raceway Park. Craig Mintz came from 15th to finish second. Brian Sebetto, Stevie Smith and Dale Blaney completed the top five.

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