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While April showers tend to bring May flowers, and canceled races, April brought a welcomed string of strong results and the chance to travel to new tracks. Lane Snook had only been on track three times through the first month of the season. And after a couple of weeks of rainouts, April would see the young 16-year-old race on seven occasions, at many different facilities. The first race of the month was actually a first-time visit to the Winchester Speedway in Virginia, after a rainy weekend washed out local competition in PA on Saturday, April 12th.

Winchester proved to be a worthwhile trip for the 23 team. “It wasn’t quite what I’ve seen on video,” stated Snook as the track was fast and rough. Rolling off 5th in the feature, Lane was able to pick off a few spots, as passing was at a premium “on a one lane racetrack” and finished 3rd. This was the first new track the team had ventured to since the trip to Eldora Speedway last season. “I wouldn’t mind going down there to try again and hopefully get a better surface to race on.”

The following day, the team headed to Path Valley Speedway. After a heat win and a 4 pill in the redraw, Snook was able to grab yet another podium finish with a 3rd place finish. After the daytime show was done at Path, the team hauled the car over to the BAPS Motor Speedway for an evening show. With a 10th-place starting spot, after going quick time and pulling the invert, Snook was able to drive up to the 2nd position, closing out a busy week of racing.

Selinsgrove was next on the books on the 18th, and the night started off rough. After a lap one crash in his heat, “the crew got the car back together for the feature, and we started 22nd and with a very fast race car, we were able to finish 3rd.” This hard-charging effort proved a lot to not only the competition, but also to Snook himself. Hard work in the shop followed Friday night’s action, as the team worked on the car until 4:30 in the morning, getting it ready for BAPS.

All the hard work was well worth it, come race time on Saturday. “I was able to pick my way through traffic, one at a time, to pick up our second win of the season.” This was the Mifflintown racer’s 6th straight podium finish dating back to March 29th at Port Royal. “There’s been a lot of hard work over the past month, with multiple nights staying up until 4-5 in the morning to race the next day.” The hard work was paying off, as strong results continued to be produced even with some misfortune.

The final weekend of the month started out with a return to the Selinsgrove Speedway. After starting 9th in the A-Main, misfortune struck again. “I was passing for 4th on the rubbered surface and had a car get loose in front of me and I spun to avoid wrecking us both. I was able to rebound for a 12th-place finish.” Even though the result was not what Snook wanted, a rebound with only 5 laps to go in the feature to still gain some positions was welcomed.

Port Royal Speedway closed out a busy month of racing with a Sunday night show alongside the Lucas Oil Late Models. With a strong heat race run from 9th to 2nd, Snook rolled off 6th in the feature. “We tried something a little different and it didn’t work how I’d like it to, but we still managed to finish 6th.”

This would round out the month and leave the young driver with a monthly average finish of 4th and a season average in the limited division of just under 4. “We’ve had a very fast racecar, and I hope results continue to show.” Although the results have been there, Lane still feels that there is an even better side that the team hasn’t seen yet. “We just need to put an entire night together,” stating that results seemed to be very good early and not strong at the end of the night, or the opposite, and sometimes even regardless of how the car feels. Even with this in mind, Snook is still happy with the speed and results of the 23 car. “I think we’ve found where we need to be now, and I believe we will have some very strong runs coming.” Lane and team look to continue into May with strong performances and hopefully a few more triumphs over the competition.

May will start with trips to Selinsgrove and Port Royal on the 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Clinton County and Selinsgrove will be on the card the next weekend, with Hagerstown to follow on the 17th. The limited late models tag team with High Limit Racing, during the Weikert Memorial over Memorial Day weekend. The team plans to round out the month with a repeat of Clinton County and Selinsgrove. Make sure to keep up with the team on Facebook and on the Lane Snook website throughout the season for updates.

After an offseason of traveling around and getting to experience life on the road with a late model team, March brought about the start of young Lane Snook’s racing season. Getting to hit the track for the first time every year, can bring about all sorts of emotions. Nervousness, anticipation, and in Snook’s case, confidence. “I was very confident with our stuff after using the knowledge I learned from Florida on my own equipment.” Showing speed late in the 2024 season and getting a ton of new knowledge for 2025, the start of the season couldn’t come soon enough. “We went to a practice at BAPS and I knew our car was very good.”

Confidence in his equipment and ability showed itself on the first race day of the year at BAPS Motor Speedway. Lane and team brought out the limited car for an afternoon of racing and didn’t miss a beat. The 23 team was “able to get the first win out of the way for the season” after an impressive 8th to 1st run. After nearly half the season expiring before getting win one in 2024, 2025 seemed to be trending in a better direction from the onset.

The following weekend brought about a different type of challenge for the Mifflintown native. Stepping up to the super late model division for an opening day race at Port Royal Speedway. A new experience getting to race in the division would come with some troubles after a promising start. Rolling off 8th in the feature, Lane slid back a few positions early but was able to start to make gains throughout the feature, on a tough track surface.

With less than 10 laps to go in the feature event, the motor let go and ended a promising result. “It was pretty cool getting to race the super even though I wish it had a different ending. I think it helped me as a driver for the laps I did get to run” said Snook. A different feel within the car and a change in driving style were some of the things Lane noticed. “I feel if I could’ve gotten a few more races under my belt in the super, we could’ve been competitive up front every week.”

The next weekend would feature racing for the team, but back in the limited late model division at the ‘Speed Palace’ for the final daytime show until Labor Day. Track conditions were much different than the week prior, as temperatures were near 80 degrees, creating a slick surface. Leaning back on his experience from the week before, Snook was able to win his heat race from 4th and then have a strong 2nd place finish in the feature. “I think it (being in the super) helped me a lot. The track was slicker for the limited race so I think it helped me with throttle control and it also slowed everything down.” On a track that started to become very bottom-dominant, Lane thought that he “should’ve moved back to the bottom and I would’ve stayed with Kyle (Hardy).” Still a strong showing after disappointment the week before and proving the speed of their limited program with a 1st and a 2nd on the year.

Looking ahead to what the month of April has in store for the 23 car, the team plans to head back to Port Royal this Saturday, weather dependent. A few busy weeks will follow as the team plans to head to Clinton County, Path Valley, and BAPS, on the 11th-13th respectively. Then the team plans to attend Selinsgrove on the 18th, with plans for the 19th TBD. Three-race weekend is again the plan for the last weekend of the month, with stops at several different tracks around the region. Keep updated on the team’s schedule and results by checking out the new website at LaneSnookRacing.com.

The team would, as always, like to thank all of the great partners and sponsors that have made this year possible: Grassmyer Auctioneering, MHT Transport, Stydinger Bros Excavation, Fryeco Fabrication, Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management, Mexico Ridge Beef Farm, Garman Concrete, The Olde Hatchery, Juniata Beverage, Sunny View Roofing, Keister Karting Products, Team22 Inc, AllStar Performance, Dyers Top Rods, Swift Springs, BDR Products, Keizer Wheels, and Winters Performance Products.