By Shawn Brouse
For The Daily Item

An excerpt:

Daryn Pittman, a two-time 410 sprint winner at Selinsgrove this season, will compete in Saturday's 358/360 National Open. Brian Harro/For The Daily Item

Invader Daryn Pittman, the winner of both 410 sprint races at the track so far in 2010, hopes the speedplant will have a cushion to ride.

“I really would consider that place to be a place that I would struggle at,” Pittman admits. “It’s not a place that really is suited to me but we’ve been really good there this year. Honestly, both nights we’ve won, we’ve had something to lean against on the top. Hopefully that’s there again.”

“I’m just not good at running the bottom there. I just feel more comfortable there running around the top although it gets pretty thin sometimes. As long as there’s two grooves, I think we’ll definitely be in contention.”

By Shawn Brouse
For The Daily Item

An Excerpt:

So, the question is, who is coming to Selinsgrove for the big 358/360 National Open this Saturday?  

Glad you asked.

As previously noted, counted in are invading 410 sprint regulars Mark Smith and Daryn Pittman. Incidentally, Smith convincingly beat Pat Cannon in a 360 race sanctioned by URC on Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. And Pittman took $4,000 in a URC race at the Grove a few weeks ago.

By Mike Leone

An Excerpt:

Pittman had the best seat in the house and would make his move on lap 19 driving hard underneath Lynch in turn two to make the pass for second.

With six laps to go, Pittman found himself a straightaway behind. With each successive lap, Pittman slowly cut into Sodeman’s lead. With the white flag waving, Sodeman caught traffic with a gaggle of racers battling for position. Pittman was right on Sodeman as the duo sliced and diced through lapped traffic. The experienced Pittman was right there hoping for a mistake or bobble, but it never happened as Sodeman barely held off Pittman for the popular win.

Pittman, who has nine victories this season driving the Michael Heffner #27, came up just shy in his first ever appearance at the track.

$44,000 Purse - Possible $26,000 Winners Share

An excerpt:

Daryn Pittman of Owasso, Okla., won the only two 410 sprint car races to be held at the track this season. Pittman, who was victorious in the May 30 Keystone Cup race and the July 4 PA Speedweek finale, is expected to be a top contender to pull off the National Open sweep. Fred Rahmer of Salfordville is the only five-time winner of the National Open at Selinsgrove Speedway.

By Mike Leone

An excerpt:

Owasso, Oklahoma native Daryn Pittman, who now resides in Pittsboro, Indiana, claimed the opening event on June 20 at Sportsman's Speedway over a 33-car field.

Pittman meanwhile has been a true "Outlaw" this season running whenever and wherever for Pennsylvania car owners. He started the season in the Jesse Keen #17 before swapping rides with Tyler Walker and has found a nice home with collectible guru Michael Heffner and his #27. Pittman recently finished 11th in the Knoxville Nationals for car owner Tom Buch. It's been quite the year for Pittman in Heffner's ride scoring nine victories since May 27 including the Keystone Cup Championship. Pittman, who has never competed at Mercer before, will easily be considered a favorite.

By Steve Inch

An excerpt:

Daryn Pittman of Owasso, Okla., won the only two 410 sprint car races to be held at the track this season. Pittman, who was victorious in the May 30 Keystone Cup race and the July 4 PA Speedweek finale, is expected to be a top contender to pull off the National Open sweep. Fred Rahmer of Salfordville is the only five-time winner of the National Open at Selinsgrove Speedway.

By Mike Leone

An excerpt:

Owasso, Oklahoma native Daryn Pittman, who now resides in Pittsboro, Indiana, claimed the opening event on June 20 at Sportsman's Speedway over a 33-car field.

Pittman meanwhile has been a true "Outlaw" this season running whenever and wherever for Pennsylvania car owners. He started the season in the Jesse Keen #17 before swapping rides with Tyler Walker and has found a nice home with collectible guru Michael Heffner and his #27. Pittman recently finished 11th in the Knoxville Nationals for car owner Tom Buch. It's been quite the year for Pittman in Heffner's ride scoring nine victories since May 27 including the Keystone Cup Championship. Pittman, who has never competed at Mercer before, will easily be considered a favorite.

PIT STOPS

PITTMAN UPDATE:Last Saturday at Lincoln Speedway, Daryn Pittman had a scary moment.

On the final lap of Lincoln's feature, Pittman and Greg Hodnett were racing hard for positions in the top five. Then it all turned bad in a hurry.

Race leader Brian Moniteth barely clipped the car of Gerard McIntyre as he attempted to lap him going into the third turn. The contact was just enough to disable McIntyre's racer. The field was baring down on McIntyre in full race mode, and neither Hodnett nor Pittman could avoid the car.

The three-car crash left Pittman with discomfort in his right arm. Fortunately, Pittman was able to climb from the car unaided. He later went to a Harrisburg-area hospital on his own for an X-ray, which came back negative. No word yet on whether the injury will keep the area's hottest driver on the sidelines for any amount of time.