06/15/2026
BRETT PERIGO WINS BUTCH SHATZER MEMORIAL
By Judy McGee Timmons
Brett Perigo started in 12th position in the Metzler Auto, Truck & Trailer Wingless Super Sportsman feature, but 40 laps later, had his racer in the winner’s circle, collecting the $2000.00 Payoff, for the Butch Shatzer Memorial race.
Eric Walker & Steve Wilbur were at the front of the 24-car field, with Wilbur pulling to the lead on green, as Walker, Brian Nace, Luke Lenker, & Bradyn Kuhn pulled into the top five. Tony Jackson moved from 8th place to pass Wilbur, with two laps recorded, starting a 14 lap competition, as the two racers exchanged the lead position three times. Jackson had moved by Wilbur, for the last exchange on lap 12, but Brian Nace pulled to the lead for two laps, before Brett Perigo took over on lap 17. The racers were running nonstop, with Perigo approaching the rear of the field on lap 19. Brian Nace was running second with Tony Jackson, Wilbur, & Luke Lenker in the top five.
The track became a blur of power as the racers filled the entire circuit, as they continued their non-stop pace. Brad Mellott moved by Wilbur, taking control of the top five spot, followed by Donnie Farlling, who pulled into sixth place. Brett Perigo, Tony Jackson, Brian Nace, Luke Lenker & Brad Mellott were the top five finishers. Tony Jackson had the best lap, running at 69.654 MPH in 12.921 seconds.
The Macri Concrete 600 Micro Sprints, had Darren Kauffman & Brandon Shearer, positioned in the front row, but a prelap caution for Taylor Smith, who hit the wall between turns one & two, putting her out of the race, brought the racers to an original restart.
Kauffman took the lead as Anderson pulled to 2nd, Randy Kunkle claimed 3rd, while Brandon Shearer & Jim Young held the top five. The top racers remained in their positions for five laps till Heath Walton passed Jim Young, taking control of the top five spot. Seven laps were complete, when a caution flag came out for Young, who had his racer sitting sideways, between turns 3 & 4, which was towed to the pit area. The reline was Kauffman, Anderson, Kunkle, Walton,& Shearer, until they went green, when Walton moved to 3rd, & Jason Sechrist passed Shearer to take fifth.
The racers battled in their top positions, throughout the final laps, maintaining their space, as Kauffman led them to the checkered flag. Kauffman was strong with emotion, during his winner’s circle interview, stating this was his first ever feature win. Darren also had the best lap, running at 76.414 MPH in 11.778 seconds.
The Zachary D. Crouse, DVM/ Friese Motorsports East Coast Legends, started their feature with a major 7 Car wreck in turn 2 on green, putting Scott Musselman, Shjon Dove, Chris Nicoll, Brock Doyle, & William Crook, out of the race.
The following lap also created a caution, when Matthew Parks spun out in turn three, returning to the rear of the field. Polesitters Hunter McElroy & Bill Diehl, led the racers to the green, as McElroy & Scott Houdeshell claimed the top two spots, followed by Diehl, Logan Jones, & Colton Friese. Jones passed Diehl for 3rd, & Dalton Friese drove by Colton Friese to take 5th place, as Jeremy Ott came from his 12th starting spot to go wheel to wheel with Colton Friese, then Dalton Friese, moving into the 5th position. Ott continued his advancement, passing Diehl, but suddenly showed problems going into turn three, as did Justin Wagaman, causing both racers to not take the checkered flag lap. Hunter McElroy took the win, followed by Scott Houdeshell, Logan Jones, Bill Diehl, Dalton Friese & Colton Friese for the top six finishers. Houdeshell had the best lap , running 66.259 MPH in 13.589 seconds.
The T.A. Ward Construction 270 Micro Sprints feature event had Tyler Brown & Kenny Hardy Jr. in the front row, with Brown pulling to the first lap lead, as Aidan Crouse, Chris Diehl, Cayden Forsythe & Wesley Libert, sat in the top five. Forsythe passed Diehl for 3rd, as Libert ran 4th, followed by Kenny Hardy Jr., for the top runners. Libert also passed Forsythe on lap 7, taking 3rd position as Hardy held fifth.
Brown was as full throttle, passing racers at the back of the lineup, when a caution was waved for Dylan Mickey, when his racer came to a stop on the frontstretch, retreating to the pit area, as Mark Knable, also retired his machine for the evening.
Hardy passed Forsythe, putting him in 4th place behind Brown, Crouse & Libert. The racers were approaching midrace, when 12th place starter, Cory Myers, pulled into fifth place. Brown stayed in control as the laps counted down, as Crouse Maintained 2nd & Cory Myers passing Libert & Forsythe to take 3rd. Jason Houtz brought his racer into fifth place, with 5 laps remaining, while Myers passed Crouse to take second, two laps later. Brown claimed the start to finish win, with Cory Myers, Aidan Crouse, Wesley Libert, & Jason Houtz collecting the top five positions. Tyler Brown also had the best lap, racing at 74.652 MPH in 12.056 seconds.
The Cisney’s Auto Parts 4 Cylinder Thunder Cars division had Aaron Updegraff & Jake Shoup at the helm, with Updegraff taking the first lap lead, with Roger Traxler, Brock Foster, Jackson Eutzy, & Ronnie Buck, pulling into the top five spots.
Jackson Eutzy passed Foster to take third, before the first caution was waved for Tara Sales & Dave Yoder, who got together in turn four, putting Yoder out of the race. Updegraff, Traxler, Jackson Eutzy, Foster & Buck relined for the green, with Foster & Eutzy racing side by side, until Foster passed Jackson Eutzy & Traxler to take 2nd place on lap 8.
The next two laps were like open season in racing, beginning with Lex Seibert’s racer coming to a stop in turn one, then being towed to the pits; followed by 3rd place runner, Roger Traxler, spinning in turn 4, stopping in the frontstretch infield before going to the rear. Jake Shoup & Bill Sterner’s racers spun out ahead of Doug Sales, resulting in Sales hitting Shoup in turn 4. Jared Traxler’s racer came to a stop in turn three, while Tara Sales ride came to a stop in turn two. Jeremy Eutzy left the track under caution & returned on the same lap, going to the rear. The restart lineup was now, Updegraff, Foster, Jackson Eutzy, Buck, & Kenny Yoder for the top five, until Jackson Eutzy passed Foster again, to take control of 2nd.
Seven laps remained when Wesley Young did a half spin coming out of turn two, taking him from 6th place to the rear. The top five remained the same, with Kenny Hill pulling back into 6th place, when a caution came out for Shaun Linn, who had oil dropping on the track from his racecar, retiring it for the evening. Brittany Arcq came to a stop on the backstretch, exiting the oval but returning to the track with 5 laps remaining.
The final green for the evening was about to be displayed as Updegraff, Eutzy, Foster, Buck, & Kenny Yoder sat in the top five spots. Eutzy attempted to pass Updegraff, racing inches apart, but Updegraff held his spot to the finish. Jackson Eutzy had the best lap, running at 62.112 MPH in 14.490 seconds.
PATH VALLEY RETURNS TO RACING NEXT WEEKEND FOR A DOUBLE HEADER RACING CARD YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS. THE PA POSSE 410 SPRINTS WILL BE APPEARING SUNDAY, JUNE 21st WITH THE METZLER AUTO TRUCK & TRAILER WINGLESS SUPER SPORTSMAN.
T.A. WARD CONSTRUCTION HAS ORGANIZED THE T.A. WARD 270 $10,000.00 TOTAL PURSE RACE FOR SATURDAY NIGHT, JUNE 20TH. ALSO ON THE SCHEDULE IS THE MACRI CONCRETE 600 MICRO SPRINTS, CISNEY’S AUTO PARTS 4 CYLINDER THUNDER CARS, ZACHARY CROUSE DVM LATE MODELS, & THE RANDY BURKHOLDER RACING SUPPLIES STRICTLY STOCKS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO WWW.PATHVALLEY.COM
Photo by Teal Beard of WRT SpeedWerx
