ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. — Greg Hodnett turned his early season misfortune into an advantage in Saturday night’s 25-lap sprint-car feature at Lincoln Speedway, using a favorable starting position to help defeat a strong field.
Hodnett ranked only 18th in the standings after two races, so with point handicapping in effect for the first time this season he lined up sixth. The transplanted Tennessean, a former Outlaw traveler himself, quickly moved into second and swept around pole starter Pat Cooper for the lead with six laps completed.
Runner-up Mark Smith helped to create his own opportunity with five laps to go, drifting into the lapped car of John Westbrook who did a gentle rollover in turn four. Although the restart put Smith on the leader’s tail, Hodnett pulled away to win by 2.58 seconds.
 Following Hodnett and Smith to the line was Ryan Taylor, who scored his best career finish. World of Outlaws point-leader Craig Dollansky, fresh off a Willimas Grove win the night before, charged from 12th to fourth, while track champion Fred Rahmer was fifth.
The finish:
Greg Hodnett, Mark Smith, Ryan Taylor, Craig Dollansky, Fred Rahmer, Cris Eash, Chad Layton, Brian Montieth, Pat Cooper, Lucas Wolfe, Nick Schlauch, Jr., Doug Esh, T.J. Stutts, Niki Young, Cody Darrah, Joey Saldana, Lance Dewease, Chad Kemenah, John Westbrook, Michael Carber, Jeff Busby, Aaron Ott, Rick Lafferty, Brian Paulus, Stevie Smith, Jim Siegel.