Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Solid season for Lincoln’s “other” division”
As I’ve stated several times in the past, Lincoln (PA) speedway’s Thundercar
class has to be one of the premiere “support” divisions in the tri-state area.
Lincoln was able to spin-off twenty-six shows for the division in 2007 averaging
near twenty-one cars per-event. Six different drivers were able to reach victory
lane with two drivers (Nat Tuckey and Duane Watson) dominating the class scoring
eighteen feature wins between them during the season. Low car counts plagued the
division mid-season, but more often than not, the side by side racing the class
has been known for over the years made up for the lack of cars. When it was all
said and done a veteran of Lincoln Thundercar racing was crowned the track
champion, and as per usual Lincoln excitement, the title fight came down to the
last point-event of the season. Here’s Lincoln’s Thundercar season review,
March- After the scheduled opener was lost to weather, Lincoln’s lid lifter fell on March 3 and saw Biglerville, Pa.’s Nat Tuckey in victory lane. What a season Tuckey would enjoy, as this would be the first of several trips to Lincoln’s victory lane in 2007. Neil Smith (defending track Champion), Danny Beard, Mike Slaybaugh and Gino Comi completed the top-five over the twenty-seven car field. The run for Gino Comi, the eventual sixth place point finisher, would be his only top-five of the season. Week number two (March 25) found long-time Lincoln veteran, and three-time Lincoln thundercar champion, Bobby Beard scoring his only feature win of the season . Mike Slaybaugh, Brian Walls (His only top-five of the season), Neil Smith and Sam Gallagher trailed. Twenty-seven cars were in attendance. The final race of the month (March 31) produced the seasons third different feature winner, Neil Smith. Nat Tuckey, Sam Gallagher, Smoke Christine and Bob Stough were the top-five over the season high thirty-car field.
April- The first race of the new month also saw the season’s first repeat winner, Nat Tuckey. Duane Watson, Mike Zeigler Jr., Craig Wagaman and Smoke Christine completed the top-five over the twenty-nine car field. Also on the program was a make-up event from April 14 and Neil Smith scored his second feature win of the season over Ronnie Thomas, in his first top-five of the season, Duane Watson, Mike Zeigler Jr. and David Prunkl. The final event of the month, April 29, was lost to rain.
May- Duane Watson, the eventual track champion, scored his first feature win of the season on May 5. Smoke Christine, David Prunkl, Sam Gallagher and Neil Smith rounded out the top-five. Twenty-nine cars checked into the pit area. The final event of the month produced a career-first thundercar feature winner, Roy Warehiem Jr. Duane Watson, Mike Zeigler Jr., Nat Tuckey and Neil Smith followed the winner over the twenty-seven car field.
June- Abbottstown Pa.’s Duane Watson drove to his second feature win of the season on June 2. Nat Tuckey, Smoke Christine, Al Cramer (First top-five of the season) and Craig Wagaman rounded out the top-five. Twenty-three cars took part in the program. June 9 found Nat Tuckey in victory lane for the third time this season. Duane Watson, David Prunkl, Al Cramer and Smoke Christine followed over the twenty-six car field. Nat Tuckey scored his fourth win of the season on June 16. Mike Slaybaugh, Duane Watson, Danny Beard, his first top-five since opening day, and Neil Smith trailed over the twenty-car field. June 23 found Nat Tuckey scoring his third win in a row and fifth of the season over Mike Ziegler Jr., Duane Watson, Scott Fisher, his first top-five of 07’, and Sam Gallagher. Twenty-one cars were pitside. Nat Tuckey continued his mid-season heroics as he scored his sixth feature win on June 30. Duane Watson, David Prunkl, Neil Smith and Rob Rudisill Jr., his only top-five of 07’, were the top-five over the twenty-two car field.
July- Even with a new month it was the same story as Nat Tuckey continued his domination as he scored his fifth win in a row on July 7. Duane Watson, Mike Ziegler Jr., Mike Slaybaugh and Bob Stough completed the top-five. Duane Watson was finally able to break the stranglehold of Nat Tuckey as he won a March make-up race on July 7 as well. Tuckey would take second, Neil Smith, Smoke Christine and Mike Slaybaugh made up the top-five. July 14 once again found Nat Tuckey in victory lane as he collected his eighth feature win of the season. Mike Ziegler Jr., Neil Smith, Duane Watson and Mike Slaybaugh took the top-five over the seventeen car field. Nat Tuckey once again had the hot hand as he roared to his ninth Lincoln win of the season on July 21. Sam Gallagher, in his best outing of the season, Duane Watson, Scott Fisher android Warehime Jr. rounded out the top-five. The season low of only fifteen cars were in the pit area. For the third week in a row and tenth time this season Nat Tuckey was in Lincoln’s victory lane on July 28. Duane Watson, Sam Gallagher, Mike Ziegler Jr. and Mike Slaybaugh trailed the winner. Seventeen cars were in attendance.
August- After a season of absolute domination, Nat Tuckey scored his eleventh-and-final Lincoln feature win on August 1. Mike Walls, in his only top-five effort of the season, Ronnie Thomas, Mike Slaybaugh and Craig Wagaman were the top-five over the nineteen car field. Craig Wagaman came right back and collected his first feature win of the season on August 4. Duane Watson, Neil Smith, Nat Tuckey and Ronnie Thomas controlled the top-five over the twenty-three car field. This would be the final top-five of the season for Nat Tuckey, who oddly enough, sold his potent no.22 not long after this event and did not compete the rest of the season. Duane Watson returned to victory lane for the third time in 07’ on August 11. Ronnie Thomas, Larry Niederer, Danny Beard and Sam Gallagher followed the winner over the twenty-seven car field.
September- Neil Smith returned to victory lane on September 8. This was Smith’s third feature win of the season but his first since April. Craig Wagaman, Duane Watson, Mike Slaybaugh and Smoke Christine rounded out the top-five over the eighteen-car field. September 15 once again found defending track champion Neil Smith in victory lane. The win was his second-in-a-row, fourth of the season, but his final 07’ feature win as well. Duane Watson, Sam Gallagher, Scott Fisher and Mike Zeigler Jr. took the top-five over the twenty-car field. Duane Watson collected his fifth feature win of the season on September 16. Jimmy Combs, in his best run of the season, Craig Wagaman, Danny Beard and Al Cramer trailed. Sixteen cars were in the pits.
October- Duane Watson, In search of his first Lincoln crown, scored his
second-win-in-a-row and sixth of the season on October 6. Neil Smith, Ronnie
Thomas, Jimmy Combs and David Prunkl followed over the thirty-car field. An
August make-up race was also spun-off on the October 6 show and Craig Wagaman
was the winner, his second Lincoln thundercar win of 07’. Duane Watson, Jimmy
Combs, Neil Smith and Danny Beard completed the top-five. The final event on the
2007 calendar was also the final point race of the season. Neil Smith came into
the event as the point leader with Duane Watson, who had missed a race earlier
in the season, a not so distant second. Neil Smith would drop from the feature
with mechanical problems and Duane Watson would go on to collect his seventh
feature win of the season and his first-ever Lincoln Speedway Thundercar track
championship. Jimmy Combs, in his fourth-straight top-five, Mike Slaybaugh, his
tenth top-five of 07’, Bob Stough and Ronnie Thomas rounded out the top-five
over the twenty-nine cars in attendance. News or Notes to
djm5507@aol.com
December 9, 2007
Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Dillon and Franklin inducted to hall of fame”
Last Saturday night was the annual awards banquet for the Hagerstown (MD)
Speedway. They not only crowned their three division titlists for 2007, but also
celebrated sixty-years of racing in Maryland.
Winchester Va.’s JT Spence (Late Models), Mercersburg Pa.’s Andy Fries (Late Model Sportsman) and Greencastle Pa.’s Mark Jones (Pure Stocks) were all crowned track champions for the 2007 season. It was first-ever Hagerstown titles for both JT Spence and Mark Jones, while the title for Andy Fries was his second consecutive Late Model Sportsman crown.
All three driver plan to return to Hagerstown in 2008. “I can’t guarantee that we’ll run for the title again but we’ll be there most Saturday nights.” JT Spence explained. “We don’t plan on following any series or anything and with the cost of fuel nowadays you can only race where your budget will allow. Besides, I really enjoy racing at Hagerstown because the competition there is amazing.” As far as Andy Fries is concerned Hagerstown is home. “Yeah we’ll be back.” Were the words from the ever humble Fries. “We were able to accomplish one of our two goals in 2007. We won the track title at Hagerstown but before the season started we said we wanted to win at least five races. We won four, so that’s where we want to do better next season.” Fries was able to score single event wins at Hagerstown, Thunder Valley (PA), Port Royal (PA) and at Bedford (PA). Mark Jones will probably be the only one of the championship trio not to defend his title. “We’ll be back in 2008, but not in the pure stock.” Jones stated. “Were going to move up, but I’m not sure where yet. Whatever Lester (Nichols, Car owner) decides he wants to do I’ll be ready to drive.”
Two well deserving individuals were inducted into the Hagerstown Speedway hall of fame on Saturday as well. 1997 and 1998 Hagerstown late model champion Rodney Franklin and long time Hagerstown PR man and former AARN columnist Stan Dillon.
“I’m not sure what to say.” Were the words from a very happy Rodney Franklin as he graciously accepted his award. “I’ve been fortunate over the years to have been able to race at a bunch of different race tracks but Hagerstown was always my favorite and this is a real honor.” Franklin certainly left his mark on Hagerstown speedway. Besides his two titles, Franklin sits second on the all-time Hagerstown win chart with 114 career late model victories.
The award for Stan Dillon was equally deserving. In a career that’s spanned almost three decades Stan Dillon has done it all as far as racing journalism is concerned. I for one have idolized Dillon for many years. With his in-depth coverage of the sport Dillon, in my opinion, put area late model racing on the map and set the standard for what public relations has grown to be over the years. “This is truly an honor.” Dillon quietly said to the six-hundred plus people in attendance. “Racing as a whole is truly a labor of love and I feel fortunate to have been involved with it over the years the way I have.” “Hagerstown speedway is without doubt the finest track I’ve ever been associated with and you couldn’t ask for a nicer bunch of people to work with .”
This and That- New Oxford Pa.’s Arlin Brougher, third place point man in
the late model sportsman, has sold all his equipment and will not return to the
speedway in 2008. “Yeah this season was really tough for us.” Brougher bottom
lined. “I could tell it was time to take a break and this is the best time to do
it.” Gary Stuhler was given the sixtieth anniversary feature win sign in
recognition of his division leading five feature win season… Driving the Scott
LeBarron owned No.8, Alan Sagi received best appearing car award honors. Sagi’s
machine carries a body wrap by Delco Signs… Andy Anderson will return to
Hagerstown in 2008 aboard Rick Jones’ Rocket No.88. “We finished the season
pretty strong.” Anderson remarked. “We’ll be starting out the season in a brand
new car.” Now seems to be the appropriate time, as yours truly will be the 2008
Hagerstown speedway announcer. News or notes to
djm5507@aol.com
December 2, 2007
“Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Thunder Valley Raceway completes seventeen race schedule"
Thunder Valley (PA) Raceway was one of the many area racetracks that benefited from this summer’s drought. Plagued by rain last season, TVR was able to spin-off seventeen of its scheduled eighteen events, with sixteen of those events featuring the super late models. Under the watchful eye of second-year promoter Joe Padula, TVR enjoyed good crowd turnouts and car counts as his headlining super late models averaged eighteen cars per-show. Here’s TVR’s late model season in review.
May- Opening day fell on May 5 and found 1998 TVR limited late model champion Jeff Miller in victory lane. The win would be Miller’s 21st career TVR late model feature win, but his only score of 2007. Steve Everhart, Ron Delano, Scott Rhodes, and DJ Myers were the top-five over the eighteen-car field. The second week of the season (May 12) gave the fans a look at what they would see quite often in 2007, Scott Rhodes in victory lane. DJ Myers, Steve Everhart, Jeff Miller and Ron Delano followed. Nineteen cars were in attendance. May 19 found Stoystown Pa.’s Chad McClellan scoring his first-ever TVR late model feature win over the season-high twenty-two car field. DJ Myers, Jeff Miller, Scott Rhodes and Rick Singleton rounded out the top-five. The final event in May (26) produced the season’s fourth different feature winner, Matt Gaston. It was Gaston’s first top-five of the season and it would prove to be his only TVR feature win of the season. Johnny Kuzemchak, Doug Horton, DJ Myers and Ron Delano completed the top-five over the seventeen car field. The feature finishes for both Kuzemchak and Horton would be their only top-five’s of the season.
June- The first race of the new month (June 9) also saw the season’s first repeat winner, Chad McClellan. The win was McClellan’s second-and-final TVR feature win of the season. Rick Singleton, Scott Rhodes, Ron Delano and Chris Harr trailed. Nineteen cars were pitside for the event. June 16 produced yet another new feature winner, DJ Myers. Myers became the season’s fifth different winner, but it would be his only feature win of the season. Shawn Claar (His first top-five of the season), Scott Rhodes, Steve Everhart and Gary Beck controlled the top-five over the twenty-one car field. Yours truly was on hand for this event. Not only was it my first-ever visit to TVR, But I was the guest announcer for the evening. Scott Rhodes roared to his second feature win of the season on June 23. This was Rhode’s sixth top-five in the first seven races. Steve Everhart, DJ Myers, Shawn Claar and Ron Delano trailed over the smallest car count of the season (12). The final event in June (30) found Steve Everhart collecting his first TVR feature win of 2007. This was Everhart’s first TVR win since opening day of 2006. Scott Rhodes, Chris Harr, Ron Delano and Matt Gaston competed the top-five over the eighteen-car field.
July- Scott Rhodes became the first three-time winner as he scored again on July 7. Tom Decker Jr., Gary Beck, Chad McClellan and Steve Everhart followed. The finishes for both Tom Decker Jr. and Gary Beck would not only be their best finishes of the season but their final top-fives as well. Sixteen cars entered the event. July 14 produced a mild upset as Dave Bloss took his first-ever TVR feature win. With his win, Bloss became the divisions seventh different 2007 feature winner. Chad McClellan, Scott Rhodes, Steve Everhart and Shawn Claar completed the top-five over the twenty-one car turn-out. Steve Everhart romped to his second feature win of the season on July 21. Shawn Claar, Jeff Miller, Ron Delano and Scott Rhodes rounded out the top-five. The third place run for Jeff Miller was his first finish inside the top-five since May 22. Seventeen cars were in attendance. TVR history was made on July 28 as Rick Singleton not only scored his first late model win of the season, but he also captured the limited late model event as well. In doing so Singleton became the first driver in TVR history to win in two different classes on the same night. Steve Everhart, Chad McClellan, Scott Rhodes and Shawn McGreevy (The 2006 TVR LLM champion) completed the top-five over the 19 car field.
August- Steve Everhart scored his third-and-final TVR feature win on August 4. Scott Rhodes Darrell Dick, Matt Gaston and Rod Sweitzer (His first and only to-five of the season) followed the winner. Seventeen cars checked into the pit area. August 11 found Scott Rhodes collecting his fourth feature win of the season, and his first since July 7. Sawn Claar, Chad McClellan, Bryan Bernheisel and Jeff Miller rounded out the top-five over the twenty-two car field. In a bit of an oddity both the third and fourth place cars, Chad McClellan and Bryan Bernheisel, drive cars built by Bernheisel race cars (BRC) and carry the number 119. Scott Rhodes scored his second win in a row and fifth of the season on August 18. Steve Everhart, Darrell Dick, Jeff Miller and Shawn McGarvey took the top-five over the sixteen car field. The fifth place effort by Shawn McGarvey, driving Tom Gill’s potent no.55, would be his second and last top-five finish of the season.
September- The final event on the 2007 TVR calendar (September 1) found Scott Rhodes scoring his third win-in-a-row and sixth of the season in the late model season finale. It would be a historical night for Rhodes, as he not only scored his track leading 30th career TVR late model feature win but it was also his sixth consecutive TVR late model track championship. Shawn Claar, who tallied his fourth runner-up finish of the season, Rick Singleton, Chad McClellan, his seventh top-five of 07’, and Darrell Dick, who’s three top five’s of the season came in the final four events completed the top-five over the second lowest car count of the season (13).
December 2, 2007
Tyler Hershey Williams Grover 2007 Late Model Champions More images here
Photos submitted by Doug Watson
Tyler Hershey, 2007 Williams Grove 358 Late Model Track Champion
By Doug Watson
When Mercersburg Pa.’s Tyler Hershey made the decision to race full-time at the
Williams Grove (PA) Speedway, little did the sixteen year old sophomore
sensation know how well his season would turn out.
Hershey left little doubt that he would be a force to be reckoned with, as
he would win the 358 late model opener on April 28, in his first-ever visit to
the track. “The history of Williams Grove is just amazing and to add my name to
the list of drivers who have won here is incredible.” In the thirteen shows The
Grove was able to spin-off Hershey scored seven top-fives and nine top-ten’s
including two feature wins. Hershey took the point-lead after that opening night
feature win and would stay on top the standings all season long, and despite a
late season surge from runner-up Gene Knaub, would go on to claim his first-ever
track title.
The youthful Hershey becomes the youngest driver in the history of Williams
Grove speedway , at just sixteen, to score a track championship. “This title has
meant a lot to us.” Hershey stated. “We knew racing at Williams Grove would be
tough and we knew that we had good enough equipment to be competitive, but to
win the championship with all the good cars that are here is just awesome.”
Hershey’s tremendous season also found him in victory lane at the Lincoln
(PA) Speedway and the best was yet to come as he took the season ending
fifty-lap “Susquehanna Showdown” at Susquehanna (PA) Speedway Park in September
Bo Feathers 2007 Potomac Speedway Super Late Model Champion
By Doug Watson
Winchester Virginia’s Bo Feathers capped off a career season in 2007 with his first-ever Potomac (MD) speedway super late model track championship. What a season it was indeed for Feathers as he led the Northeast in feature wins as he was able to score fourteen victories, at four different race tracks during the season.
In the ten events contested at Potomac this season, Feathers was able to
score five top-five’s and seven top-ten’s including a division leading four
feature wins. Feathers was quite pleased with the outcome of his championship
season.
“I love Potomac.” Feathers stated. “It’s an awesome place to race. Potomac is
the kind of place where you have to be on your toes for every lap, and that’s
the kind of racing I like to do.”
A good racing surface is a must to produce the brand of racing Feathers
speaks of. “I’d have to say that Potomac has the best track prep in the area.”
Said Feathers. “Hats off to Pete (Cameron) and Ronnie (Hollidge) because about
90 percent of the time that place is right on the money, and that makes it not
only fun for the racer but the fans to, because the racing is usually pretty
good.”
As far as title defense in 2008, Feathers plans are still uncertain. “I plan on
running Preston’s (Dietz) car and I’ll have my own stuff for this season as
well. I’m sure we’ll be there, but we’ll take each week as it comes.” Feathers
four feature wins moves him to eleventh on Potomac’s all-time late model win
list with nineteen career victories and he becomes the twenty-second different
drive to win a Potomac late model title in the track’s thirty-five year history.
November 28, 2007
2007 Lincoln Speedway Thundercar Champion Duane Watson
By Doug Watson
In a title fight that came down to the very last point race, Lincoln (PA) speedway’s thundercar division once again proved to be one of the toughest “support classes” in all of central Pennsylvania.
Playing second fiddle to the mighty 410 sprint cars every Saturday night the thundercars were able to spin-off twenty-six shows during the season and when the dust settled, Abottstown Pa.’s Duane Watson collected his first-career Lincoln Speedway thundercar track Championship.
“After ten-years I feel like we deserved this one.” Watson stated. “We had a great car all season long and I’m glad things finally fell our way.” Watson was the epitome of consistency during the season. In the twenty-six shows contested, Watson racked up twenty-two top-five’s, twenty-two top-ten’s and scored seven feature wins.
“To win the championship the way we did is what makes it so satisfying.” Watson commented. At one point during the season we were almost five-hundred points behind because we missed the second race of the season, but we were able to dig ourselves out of that hole and come home with the title.”
Watson is planning to defend his Lincoln title in 2008. “Yeah
we’ll give it one more season.” Watson replied. “Over the winter we’re going to
update the car and as long as Lincoln’s rules stay the same, we’ll be back.”
Congratulations to Duane Watson and his entire team on a fantastic 2007 season.
November 25, 2007
Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Hagerstown Speedway, The Capitol of Late Model Racing”
Highly touted as the “Capitol of Dirt Track Racing”, Hagerstown (MD) Speedway once again lived up to its reputation. Twenty-one late model shows were spun-off during the season with eleven different drivers reaching victory lane.
Out of the twenty-one events contested twelve of those were point races and the track title wasn’t decided until the final point night. One driver dominated the points most of the season, but in the end it was a driver who scored the title in probably the biggest upset of all-time at Hagerstown. Here’s Hagerstown’s late model season in review.
March- Opening day fell on March 4 after the scheduled opener on February 24 fell victim to weather. Greencastle Pa.’s Gary Stuhler, a two-time Hagerstown track champion, took the victory. Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Matt Parks, Paul Crowl and Devin Friese were the top-five. The finishes for both Matt Parks and Devin Friese would be there only top-five’s of the season. The smallest car count of the season (20), signed into the pit area. Gary Stuhler romped to his second straight feature win on March 25. Stuhler would be one of only two drivers to post back-to-back feature wins all season. Roy Deese Jr. (06’ Champion), DJ Myers, Bo Feathers and JT Spence followed Stuhler. DJ Myers third place effort would be his only top-five of the season. Thirty-nine cars were on hand. March 31 found Gettysburg Pa.’s Jeremy Miller in victory lane. Miller, one of the dominant drivers at Hagerstown the past few seasons, would not win again until September. JT Spence, Gary Stuhler, Brian Booze, and Modified standout Billy Decker were the top-five.
April- Martinsburg West Va.’s Andy Anderson scored his first feature win of the season on March 20 in round one of the Hagerstown/Winchester shootout. Bo Feathers, Jason Covert, Daryl Hills and JT Spence trailed. Hills fourth place effort was his only top-five of the season. Fifty-five cars entered the event. March 28 featured the 26th annual Stanley Schetrompf memorial for the Lucas Oil Series and it was Lawrenceburg Indiana’s Scott James collecting $10,000 and his first-ever Hagerstown feature win. Steve Casebolt, Jason Covert, Donnie Moran and Don O’Neal took the top-five. Fifty-eight cars were on hand.
May- The first race of the new month found Winchester Va.’s Bo Feathers in victory lane on May 5. Gary Stuhler, Jeremy Miller, Kirk Ryan and Ronnie DeHaven Jr. rounded out the top-five. Thirty-two cars signed into the pit area. May 19 found thirty-six cars pitside, and Gary Stuhler scoring his third feature win of the young season. Jeremy Miller, Andy Anderson, Bo Feathers and Kirk Ryan followed. May 26 featured the Boney Bonebrake memorial and for the second time in three weeks, Bo Feathers was in victory lane. Ray Kable Jr., in his best performance of the season, Marvin Winters, Kirk Ryan and Andy Anderson were the top-five over the thirty-four car field.
June- The World of Outlaw late models made their first appearance of the season at Hagerstown on June 2. Moweaqua Ill.’s Shannon Babb, in his first-ever start at Hagerstown, scored the win. Jason Covert, Clint Smith, Chub Frank and Josh Richards were the top-five over the 50-car field. Gary Stuhler (8th) was the highest finishing Hagerstown regular. June 9 found Hagerstown Md.’s Alan Sagi collecting his first feature win of the season. Nathan Durboraw, Kirk Ryan, JT Spence and Frankie Plessinger trailed. Thirty-six cars entered the event. Bo Feathers, In the borrowed racer of Sean Cosgrove, romped to his third feature win of the season on June 16 in the final leg of the Hagerstown/Winchester shootout. With the win, Feathers was crowned the overall “mini-series” champion. Jeremy Miller, Kirk Ryan, Gary Stuhler and Jamie Lathroum, In his best Hagerstown performance to date, took the top-five over the Forty-four car field. Gary Stuhler was back for more as he drove to his fourth feature win of the season on June 23. Paul Crowl, in his best run of the season, was second with Bo Feathers, Former Hagerstown limited late model champion Les Hare, and JT Spence completing the top-five. Hare’s fourth place finish would be his only top-five of the season. Thirty-three cars were on hand. The last race of the month was the Johnny Roberts memorial on June 30. Mercersburg Pa.’s Brent Smith scored his first feature win of the season and his biggest Hagerstown triumph ever in this event. Andy Anderson, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Travis Dillman and Bo Feathers were the top-five over the forty-three car field. Dillman’s fourth place finish would be his only top-five of the season.
July- The first of only two events for the month was contested on July 7, and found Winchester Va.’s JT Spence in Victory lane. This would be Spence’s only feature win of the season. Kirk Ryan, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Bo Feathers and teenager Keith Jackson, in his best-ever Hagerstown outing, completed the top-five. Thirty-five cars took part in the program. The World of Outlaw late models made their second-and-final stop of the season at Hagerstown on July 21. Shinnston West Va.’s Josh Richards took the win. Clint Smith, Jason Covert, in his second straight Hagerstown WoO top-five, Steve Francis and Shane Clanton controlled the top-five over the forty-six car field. Bo Feathers (7th) was the highest finishing Hagerstown regular.
August- Fresh off his big WoO win the week prior, Josh Richards was back for more as he collected his second straight Hagerstown feature win on August 4. Driving a car owned by Ernie Davis, Richards scored the win in the Shorty Bowers/Bull Durham Memorial which carried the Independent Racing Series (IRS) banner. JT Spence, Robbie Blair, in his best run of the season, Gary Stuhler and Jason Covert were the top-five over the Fifty-one car field. August 11 saw Brent Smith collect his second-and-final Hagerstown feature win of the season. Jamie Lathroum, In his best-ever Hagerstown performance, Bo Feathers, Alan Sagi, who had been out of the top-five since his June Feature win, and Gary Stuhler took the top-five over the thirty-two car field. Marion Pa.’s Brian Booze scored his only feature win of the season in the last event of the month, August 18. This was only the second top-five all season for Booze as his other (a fourth) came on March 31. Alan Sagi, JT Spence, Marvin Winters and Al Shawver Jr., in his best run of the season followed over the thirty-car field.
September- The first race of September was the McBee/Hayes Memorial and it was also the final point race of the season. Andy Anderson scored his second feature win of the season over the thirty-nine car field. JT Spence, Alan Sagi, Billy Wampler and Jamie Lathroum trailed Anderson. Coming into the event Bo Feathers, who had led the point standings for most of the season, had a comfortable 100-point advantage over second place JT Spence. Feathers undoing came on lap seven of the feature as mechanical problems forced him to pit, where he would not return and finish the feature twenty-fourth. Spence, However, finished second in the feature (His 8th top-five of the season) and with double-points on the line collected his first-ever Hagerstown Late Model title by thirty-four points. September 15 was the annual Hub City National open. The unique format of this event features two fifty-lap qualifying features and a final fifty-lap feature that is comprised of the top-twelve from each of the two qualifiers. Bo Feathers collected his fourth feature win of the season in the first fifty-lap feature and In the second qualifier it was Gary Stuhler, in one of Charles Bucklers Rocket’s, notching his fifth win of the season. This was the first time since June that either Stuhler or Feathers was in victory lane. In the fifty-lap finale Jeremy Miller scored his second feature win of the season and first since March 31. Bo Feathers, who would go on to lead the northeast in late model feature wins with fourteen, Alan Sagi, Ronnie DeHaven Jr. and Dan Stone completed the top-five over the Fifty-two car field.
October- The final event on the Hagerstown schedule is the Octoberfest 350
on October 28. The late models run their only 100-lap race of the season in this
event and once again a good field of fifty-two cars took part in this two day
event. Alan Sagi drove to the biggest win of his career and a $10,000 payday in
the late model main event. Roy Deese Jr., Gary Stuhler, Rick Eckert and Jason
Covert followed. The run for Covert, who would go on to claim his
second-straight MACS title, was his sixth top-five of the season. News or notes
to djm5507@aol.com
November 17, 2007
Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Strong Season for Susquehanna Late Models”
During the off-season of 2006 Todd Fisher, Promoter of Susquehanna (PA)
Speedway Park, made the decision to move his highly successful Friday night
programs to Saturday nights in 2008. Super Sportsman, late models and street
stocks would be the three weekly attractions at the Newberrytown oval, but when
early season super sportsman car counts dropped considerably, Fisher decided to
drop the division from the weekly card and use the 358 late models as the
headlining division every Saturday night. Under much scrutiny Fisher went
forward as planned and even though he went head-to-head with Williams Grove (PA)
and Hagerstown (MD), two tracks that featured the 358 late models weekly, His
“Stock Car Saturday Night” programs went quite well. In the twenty-one point
events spun-off Fisher averaged twenty-three cars per night and hit a home run
with his season ending 50-lap late model special that attracted a stellar field
of 52-cars. Here’s a re-cap Of Susquehanna’s 358 late model season,
April- Opening day at Susquehanna fell on April the 14th and attracted a field
of twenty-two cars. Carlisle Pa.’s Scott Richwine, the 2002 and 2006 Winchester
(VA) speedway super late model track Champion, found being close to home quite
nice as he would win the opener. Carl Billet, Bob Scott Jr., Justin Ehrhart and
Gary Potts completed the top-five. Bob Scott Jr.‘s third place finish would be
his best run of the season. April the 21st gave the Susky fans a glimpse of what
they would see quite often in 2008, Carlisle Pa.’s Carl Billet in victory lane.
Carl Graves, Sterling Kinard, Gary Potts and Justin Ehrhart took the top-five.
The third week of the season produced the first repeat winner of the season,
Carl Billet. Scott Richwine, Gary Potts, Bud Witmer, and Charles Potts completed
the top-five.
May- The first race of the new month saw Carl Billet roar to his third -straight Susky feature win. Billet would be the only driver all season long to post consecutive victories, and he would do it again later in the season. Gary Potts, Bud Barton, Sterling Kinard and Jake Jones followed Billet. After posting four consecutive top-five’s, Gary Potts would not be back into the top-five until late July. Mt. Wolf Pa.’s Chuck Yingling Jr. snapped Carl Billets win streak with his first Feature win of the season on May 19th. Scott Richwine, Mike Walls, Carl Billet and Justin Ehrhart were the top-five. Justin Ehrhart’s fifth place finish would be his final top-five of the season.
June- Duncannon Pa.’s Carl Graves posted his first, and only feature win of the season, on June second. Bud Witmer, Scott Richwine, Carl Billet and Sterling Kinard completed the top-five. June the ninth saw opening day winner Scott Richwine back in victory lane. Bud Witmer, Jake Jones, Carl Billet and John Baker followed Richwine. Baker’s fifth place effort would be his best Susky finish of the season. Carl Billet continued his early season domination as he snared his fourth feature win of the season on June16th, over the largest car count (26) of the season to date. Sterling Kinard, Carl Graves, Mike Walls, and Randy Christine Jr. were the top-five. The finish for Randy Christine Jr., the eventual seventh place point man, was his first top-five of the season. Mt. Wolf Pa.’s Steve Billet drove the race of his career as he collected his first-ever Susky late model feature win on June 23rd. This race would prove to be Billet’s only feature win of the season. Jeremy Knoll, Carl Billet, Jake Jones and Scott Richwine were the top-five. Scott Richwine closed out the month of June (30th) with his third feature win of the season. This was Richwine’s seventh top-five of the ten-week-old season. Carl Billet, Carl Graves, Jake Jones and Sam Leonard Jr. took the top-five.
July- Dover Pa.’s Bud Witmer became the seasons sixth different winner as he scored his first feature win of the season on July 7th. Steve Billet, Jake Jones, Scott Richwine and Kyle Saylor rounded out the top-five. Kyle Saylor’s fifth place run would be his only top-five of the season. July the 14th saw Scott Richwine score his fourth, and final, Feature win of the season over the smallest car count of the season (17). Carl Billet, Jake Jones, Billy Wampler and Charles Potts trailed. July 21st saw Carl Billet collect his fifth feature win of the season and his first win in over a month over Jake Jones, Billy Wampler, teenager Cam Zeigler and Sam Leonard Jr. Chuck Yingling Jr. scored his second, and last, feature win of the season on July 28th. Charles Potts, in his best finish to date, Carl Graves, Gary Potts and Bob Scott Jr. followed.
August- Just like the first week of July, Bud Witmer scored his second Feature win of the season in the first event in August (4th). Hagerstown (MD) regular Richard Walls, Sterling Kinard, Carl Billet, and Steve Billet completed the top-five. August the 11th saw Spring Grove Pa.’s Cam Zeigler, just fifteen years old, score his first-ever Susquehanna 358 late model feature win in a flag to flag effort. Jake Jones, Bud Barton, Carl Billet and Chuck Yingling Jr. completed the top-five. Carl Billet was back for more as he tallied his sixth feature win of the season on August the 18th. Scott Richwine, Richard Walls, Charles Potts and Bud Barton were the top-five. Just like he did in April, Carl Billet scored his second win in a row and seventh of the season on August the 25th. Bud Witmer, Chuck Yingling Jr., Randy Christine Jr. and Carl Graves completed the top-five.
September- Dover’s Bud Witmer scored his third feature win of the season on September the 1st, as the division headed into the final month of the season. Jake Jones, Gary Potts, Sam Leonard Jr. and Scott Richwine finished second thru fifth. September the 8th saw Carl Billet pick-up his division leading eighth, and final, feature win of the season. With the win Billet was crowned the 2007 Susquehanna track champion, his fourth late model title at the Newberrytown oval. Charles Potts, Carl Graves, Scott Richwine and Sam Leonard Jr., who scored his second top-five in a row, trailed Billet. The final regular season event drew the largest car count of the season, as thirty-five cars entered the event on September 15th. Bud Witmer drove to his fourth feature win of the season over Jeremy Knoll, Scott Richwine, who recorded his twelfth top-five of the season, Sterling Kinard and track champion Carl Billet. The final event on the Susky calendar was the second annual 50-lap “Susquehanna Showdown” on September 29th. An outstanding field of 52-cars took part in the event. Mercersburg Pa.’s Tyler Hershey, The 2007 Williams Grove (PA) 358 late model track champion, scored his first-ever Susquehanna late model win in a big way. Seventeen year old Hershey had a tremendous season in central Pa. as he scored wins at Williams Grove (2), and Lincoln (1) speedway’s as well. Gene Knaub, Jerry Bard, fresh off a Big Diamond (PA) late model win, Kyle Lear, second place point man at Hagerstown (MD), and Susky regular Chuck Yingling Jr. completed the top-five.
News or notes to djm5507@aol.com
Maryland Clay Dirt
November 11, 2007
By Doug Watson
“Williams Grove 358 late model season review”
Playing as an undercard to the super sportsman on Saturday nights, the 358 late
models ran their second full season at the big five-eight’s mile oval of
Williams Grove (PA) speedway. The division was able to spin off thirteen shows
during the season with an average car count of 25 machines for each event. Seven
different drivers were able to score feature wins, with six of the seven being
career-first Williams Grove 358 late model wins. Here’s the 358 late model
season re-cap.
April- The first event of the season fell on April the 28th. The highest car count of the season (31), signed into the Williams Grove pit area. Mercersburg Pa.’s Tyler Hershey, just sixteen years old, walked off with his first-ever Williams Grove speedway feature win. Tyler Armstrong, Mike Walls, Pat Beard and Derek Byler completed the top-five. The run for Byler, a regular in Western Pa., would be his only Williams Grove start of the season.
May- Just like Tyler Hershey in the opener, St. Thomas Pa.’s Tyler Armstrong scored his first-ever Williams Grove feature win in week number two (May 5th). The win for Armstrong, who had defected from Hagerstown (MD) speedway, would not be his last. Tyler Hershey, Gene Knaub, Dave Sokoloski and Pat Beard were the top-five. Twenty-three cars were in attendance.
June- With the season now in full-swing, four events during the month were completed. June the second saw Dover Pa.’s Larry Baer, the 2006 Susquehanna (PA) speedway park late model champion, in victory lane. The win for Baer, would be his only Williams Grove feature win of the season. Gene Knaub, Bobby Beard, Mike Walls and Jake Lettich completed the top-five. Bobby Beard’s third place effort was his best run of the season. June ninth saw Dover Pa.’s Gene Knaub on the Grove’s front stretch. Mike Walls, Jake Lettich, Randy Scheaffer, and Bobby Beard completed the top-five. Just like Bobby Beard the week prior, Randy Schaeffer’s third place feature finish was his season’s best. Tyler Armstrong became the divisions first repeat winner on June 23rd. Bob Dunn, Tyler Hershey, Larry Baer and Travis Mease were the top-five. Twenty-nine cars entered the event. June the 17th saw Dover Pa.’s Jake Lettich in victory lane. Although Lettich would go on to finish fourth in the season point standings, this would be his only feature win of the season. Gene Knaub, Larry Baer, Mike Walls and Bob Dunn took the top-five. Oddly enough, for Mike Walls, Larry Baer and Bob Dunn, this event would be their final top-fives of the season. The season low of twenty-one cars signed into the pit area.
July- Tyler Armstrong scored his third feature win of the season on July 14th. This race capped off a great weekend for the 21-year old Armstrong as he had won the night before at Trail-Way (PA) Speedway. Terry Flaherty, Shaun Jones, Pat Beard and Jerry Bard rounded out the top-five. Sokoloski’s second place finish was not only his best run of the season but it was also his final top-five of the season. The race, for both Flaherty and Bard would be their only top-five finishes of the season at the Grove, although the pair both won events at Hagerstown (MD) during the season. Once again a full field of twenty-six cars entered the event. Harrisburg Pa.’s Travis Mease scored his first-ever late model win anywhere on July 28th. Mease would cap off a career season at The Grove with a fifth place finish in the final point standings. Dave Shulski, Tyler Armstrong, Tyler Hershey and Pat Beard rounded out the top-five. Pat Beard continued his consistency with his fourth top-five of the season in the divisions first eight events. Dave Shulski’s second place feature finish was not only his best-ever Grove effort, but it would be his only top-five finish of the season. Twenty-five cars were in attendance.
August- The first of three scheduled races for the month was spun off on
August the 4th, with Randy Croop scoring a flag to flag win. This was Croop’s
first-ever Williams Grove feature win and it would be his only top-five finish
of the season as well. Shaun Jones, Gene Knaub, Derrike Zirkle and Pat Beard
completed the top-five. Shaun Jones’ second place finish was his only his second
top-five of the season, but he would go on to claim the 358 late model track
championship at Lincoln (PA) Speedway. Tyler Hershey scored his second, and
final, feature win of the season on August 11th. Although it was Hershey’s last
feature win, he would go on to claim the Williams Grove 358 late model track
title. In doing so, Hershey became the youngest driver in the history of the
speedway to win a championship at just sixteen years old. Gene Knaub, John
Ebersole, Tyler Armstrong and Travis Mease were the top-five. Ebersole’s third
place finish would be his only top-five of the season. Twenty-five cars were
pitside. August the 25th saw Gene Knaub score his second feature win of the
season. Tyler Armstrong, Tyler Hershey, Jake Lettich and Travis Mease took the
top-five. The fourth place effort by Jake Lettich would be his final top-five of
the season. Twenty-three cars took part in the program.
September- Gene Knaub scored his third, and final, feature win of the season on
September 7th. Knaub was the only driver all season long to post back to back
victories. This win for Knaub continued his late season surge as it was his
fourth top-five in the last four races. Tyler Armstrong finished second for the
third time this season, Derrike Zirkle, Carl Billet and Tyler Hershey completed
the top-five. Carl Billet, last season’s champion at The Grove, scored his only
top-five of the season in this event. Billet had another outstanding season as
he was able to score eight feature wins and the 358 late model track title at
nearby Susquehanna (PA) Speedway Park. Twenty-Six cars were on hand.
October- Tyler Armstrong closed out the Williams Grove season with his
fourth feature win of the season as the division made it’s final appearance of
the season. 2007 Lincoln 358 late model track Champion Shaun Jones took second,
Pat Beard collected his sixth top-five of the season in third, Bernie Beard and
Travis Mease completed the top-five. Travis Mease closed out the season quite
strong. Since his July 28th feature win, Mease scored three top-fives in the
divisions last five races. Even with the point season well over and a feature
only format for this event, the last Williams Grove 358 late model event of the
season attracted twenty-one cars. New or notes to
djm5507@aol.com
“DELCO Signs, Then and Now”
By Doug Watson
The modern era of motorsports has seen it’s share of technological advancements
throughout the years, especially in the graphics department. Nowadays, with
today’s sponsor requirements, drivers and car owners pay almost as close
attention to their race cars appearance as well as it’s performance.
McSherrystown Pennsylvania’s Dave Loss, proprietor of DELCO Signs inc., has been an innovator in the race car graphics business for thirty-eight years. “I lettered my first race car back in 1969 and we’ve been going strong ever since.”
During his storied career Loss has been fortunate to have had some pretty famous customers over the years. “Yeah back in 1982 we lettered one of Geoff Bodine’s late model sportsman (Now Busch Grand National) cars, which were owned by McConnellsburg Pennsylvania’s Frank Plessinger, and it wasn’t but two seasons later he got a ride with Rick Hendrick in the cup division, that always stands out in my mind.” The likes of sprint car racing’s Bob Weikert, Walter Dyer and Bobby Allen and late model car owners Bobby Allen and Creed Calton always had Delco color on their race cars. “Yeah back in the day when all the cars were still hand lettered we did a bunch of them.” Loss explained. “One of my all-time favorites was the car we did for Doug Wolfgang when he drove for Bob Weikert. He won fifty-five features in 1986 including the Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals, not many graphics guy’s in the area can say they had a car win the Knoxville Nationals.”
Throughout his career Loss primarily hand-lettered race cars, but knew that vinyl graphics was going to be the wave of the future. “I always knew as the years went by that we’d be going in that direction.” Loss stated. In 1997 Loss’s son Jason, now twenty-seven, became the vinyl graphics specialist for DELCO Signs. “We bought our first vinyl machine that year and ever since Jason has taken on the day to day responsibilities of that side of the business.” I still do all the hand lettering which consists of race cars, trucks or whatever needs to be done, but Jason has become quite good with the vinyl.”
In June of 2007 DELCO Signs entered the ever burgeoning, and highly skilled art of body wraps. “It’s the state of the art in race car graphics.” Loss explained. “We decided that was the direction we wanted to take the business, so we invested in a wrap machine and even though we still learn new things with it every day, we know this is where we wanted to be.”
As far as goals are concerned, DELCO Signs has a very simple outlook. “I feel we offer a quality product whether it be paint, vinyl or a wrap.” Loss bottom lined. “Some of the other graphics companies out there are outrageously expensive and I feel as though we offer a quality product at a competitive price and most racers can afford to use us whether it be a sprint car, late model or a thundercar.”
Since 1980 DELCO Signs has lettered at least 150 race cars per season and
shows no sign of slowing down. “Yeah, we’re real happy with the wrap deal and
where it’s going. We want to try and make that grow into something big, but I’m
not ready to put the paint brush down just yet!” Between Lincoln (PA) and
Trail-Way (PA) speedway’s Loss still hand letter’s at least 30 to 35 thundercars
and street stocks each season.
Some of DELCO Signs current customers include Niki Young (410 Sprints), Jeff
Rorhbaugh and Billy Dietrich (358-Sprints), Alan Sagi (super late model) and 358
late model drivers Larry Baer and Gene Knaub. DELCO Signs is located at 356
Fairview avenue McSherrystown, Pa. 17344
November 4, 2007
Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Emotional Delaware Weekend for Roy Deese Jr.”
This past Sunday was the final dirt late model event of the Northeast
season and it came in the season ending Delaware State Dirt Track Championships
at Charlie Cathell’s Delaware International Speedway. A large field of
forty-three late models took part in the weekends activities. The fifty-lap
feature for the late models had a nice pay-out of $3000 to the winner plus lap
money. A beautiful fall afternoon in Delaware greeted the unusually low
grandstand turnout, but even with expected rubbered-up surface for the features
the racing was very good, especially in the late model headliner. Here’s some
notes and quotes from the show,
* The fifty-lap late model feature, which had a thirty-car starting field, was a
relatively clean event. The feature took the green at 2:35 and despite seven
caution periods was checkered at 3:15...
* Laurel Maryland’s Roy Deese Jr. scored a very emotional win. “It feels incredible.” Were the words from a very tired, but happy Roy Deese Jr. as we had a chance to catch up after the feature. “This is the first time I’ve won since I’ve been sick, I’ve had a lot of opportunity’s to win but never followed through especially this year.” “We worked hard this weekend. We hadn’t been fast all day until the feature. It feels real good to win again and I’m sure this will all sink in later. Roy’s winning run came in his trusty Hoosier clad Rocket with a Russell Baker/Samakow power plant under the hood. “This was a good run for my engine program.” Deese stated. “We’ve had a rough year with engines and Russell Baker and Samokow put a real nice piece under the hood.” The win for Deese was his first since May of 2005, also it was his first career DE State championships victory and his 10th career DIS late model score.
* Ellendale Delaware’s Rob Schirmer drove the race of his career in finishing second to winner Roy Deese Jr. “I just wanted to get close enough to let Roy know I was there, but you know with one-groove racing we had to take our time and get to the front.” Lapped traffic with about five laps to go made the conclusion of the fifty-lapper quite interesting. “Yeah that was my best shot, but we came up a little short but the car was really good, I’m tickled to death.” Schirmer’s strong run came in a BRC race cars Lazer chassis.
* Millsboro Delaware’s David Pettyjohn was quite pleased with his third place feature effort. “The track was dry and hard like usual but I was a little to tight.” Pettyjohn stated in reference to his Swartz-chassied machine. “This is the same car I won this race with last season, but something’s just not right because I’m a hair to tight, but it’s a good way to end the season. I’d rather have won the race but new came home in one piece, I’m pretty happy.”
* One thing I noticed that I found quite disturbing during the program was the lack of the “red flag”. The first lap of the big-block modified feature saw at least 10 to 12 cars all pile up going into the first turn, blocking the entire track. Secondly, in the late model feature, Bob Geiger flipped wildly down the backstretch and on both occasions, the red flag was never displayed. Maybe track officials deemed both of these incidents non red-flag situations, but I’ve never been to any track that especially when a car gets upside down the red flag is thrown immediately. Just an observation I found interesting.
* Mechanicsville Md.’s had a potentially wining run foiled on the 12th lap. While running second, to then leader Kenny Pettyjohn, Lathroum slipped coming off turn four allowing the third place car of Chuck Schutz to get a run down the homestretch. As Lathroum gathered his MasterSbilt no.6 back in he and Schutz made contact going into the first turn that saw Schutz spin wildly off the first turn banking and Lathroum drive to the pit with race-ending suspension damage to his mount. Last season’s event saw Lathroum (5th) and Schutz (6th) in the final rundown.
* Millsboro Delaware’s Kenny Pettyjohn had a disappointing day. Pettyjohn, a five-time winner of this event, was scheduled to start from the pole. A lap nineteen caution not only slowed the field, but proved to be Kenny’s undoing. A crushed left-rear quarter panel on his Warrior, while leading, saw him stop on the track and eventually head to the pits with tire problems. “I could hear the tire rubbing on the body.” A dejected Pettyjohn quipped after the feature. “They (Track Officials) told us at the drivers meeting we couldn’t stop on the track to fix damaged metal, oh well I guess that’s the way it goes‘.”
* Odenton Maryland’s Keith Jackson continued his late season heroics as he qualified for his first-ever DE state championships aboard Mike “Pickle” Cross’ Rocket No.07. Although Jackson would finish 20th , the young Maryland driver showed he has great potential.” This only my second time running in the rubber.” Jackson stated after the feature. “Mike Cross has given me the chance of a lifetime in driving his car.” Prior strong runs have all come in the last four weeks. “Hagerstown we were pretty decent, Potomac we were real happy but had some motor problems but I think we’re starting to get the hang of these daytime shows.” Jackson felt the outcome of the race would have been a little different If he would have started near the front. “I think we had the best car out there today.” Jackson bottom lined. “If we had of started on the pole I think everyone would have been in trouble.”
* 2004 DIS late model track champion Richard Jarvis had an interesting
weekend. Mechanical problems with his Mid-Coastal Siding Rocket on Saturday
forced Jarvis into one of the B-mains on Sunday. Jarvis would go on to qualify
and start 26th in the feature. After racing hard all day Jarvis was swept up in
an on-track incident that cost him a shot at a top-five finish. “I got involved
in the good old championship show melee they usually have.” Jarvis dejectedly
stated in front of his wrecked race car. “With the one-lane track everyone’s
fighting for as much as they can get and three-cars stopped in front of me, I
jammed the brakes but had nowhere to go. I just feel bad for all the guy’s who
make all this possible, I was a really hoping to give them a better finish than
this.” Jarvis would finish 14th in the main. News or notes to
djm5507@aol.com
Maryland Clay Dirt
October 13, 2007
By Doug Watson
“Knaub ‘Rockets” to Trail-Way 358 Late Model Win”
Pennsylvania’s Trail-Way Speedway, most noted for it’s Friday night 358 sprint
car shows, hosted the final event of a three-race series for the 358 late
models. The Forty-lap, $1000 to win feature, attracted a good field of
twenty-two cars. Clear but cold weather conditions greeted the enthusiastic
crowd and the racing, as per Trail-Way norm, was very good. Here’s some notes
and quote’s from the show,
* Race winner Gene Knaub was once again on top of his game in the 40-lap feature. Knaub, from Dover, led every lap of the event to score his sixth overall 358 late model win of 2007. Knaub’s other wins have come at Lincoln Pa. (2) and Willams Grove Pa. (3). “This is a big win for us tonight.” Knaub stated in Trail-Ways victory lane. “We weren’t even going to come here tonight because we wanted to save the car for the Grove on Saturday, but I’m glad we did! Holding Pa. legend Carl Billet at bay the entire event was extra-special for Knaub. “Carl (Billet) is the best there is around here and the car he’s driving I drove last season so it really feels good to be able to beat him.”
* Severn Md.’s Barry Lear Sr. had a night he’d like to forget. A crash in his heat race severely damaged the front end of his warrior no.51. He and his crew thrashed hard on the machine to get it ready for the feature. With repairs made, Lear strapped in and joined the field in his 16th starting spot. As the field took the initial green flag about ten cars all balled up in turn one, and one of those was Lear, Subsequently ending his night with unrepairable damage before one feature lap was completed.
* Abbottstown Pa.’s Bobby Beard may have had his last ride in his Chris Weaver owned no.23. Beard, a one-time 07’ 358 late model winner at Lincoln, had high hopes coming into the event. Scheduled to go from the 11th starting spot Beard raced hard the entire event, but could only manage an 8th place feature finish. Rumor has it that Beard will be the pilot of Joe Seymour’s no.81 next season. “Yeah, I think that’s what the plan is.” Beard stated in the pit area prior to the feature. “All the details haven’t been finalized but I do know we’ll have two Rocket cars, but were undecided where we’ll race on a weekly basis.”
* Mercersburg Pa.’s Tyler Hershey had a much better visit to Trail-Way than his last outing at the Hanover bull ring. In his prior visit Hershey, who just turned 17, fought motor problems the entire night and dropped from the feature early in the event. This visit, however, was much better. The 2007 Williams Grove 358 late model champion was slated to go from the 12th starting spot in the feature. Driving his Hershey Racing Engines Rocket no.74 Hershey was able to pass a bunch of cars and come home with a solid fifth in the 40-lapper. “ We don’t seem to draw very good.” Hershey stated before the feature. “We have a long way to go but I know we have a good enough car to get the job done.” I did have a chance to ask Hershey what his plans might be for 2008. “I’m not really sure just yet.” “We’ll probably be back with the 358’s, but we do have a super late model car so we might run that a few times, we’ll see what happens.”
* Dover Pa.’s Larry Baer was in the Trail-Way pit area, but as a spectator. Baer was able to score two 358 LM wins this season with wins coming at Trail-Way and Williams Grove. Next season Baer plans a full-time assault with the super late models. “We had a good season with the 358 car, but I want to go to Hagerstown (MD) next season and run a full schedule with the super late’s.” Baer explained in the Trail-way pit area. “The 358’s is a really good class but I think we’re ready to go to the next level.”
* I had a chance to catch up with Glen Burnie Md.’s Steve Axtell in the Trail-Way pit area Friday night. The elder Axtell owns the potent Dirtek no.81 that his son Steve Jr. wheels at Hagerstown in the late model sportsman division on a weekly basis. The youthful Axtell scored two wins at Hagerstown this season and just last weekend scored a big 35-lap win at Potomac (MD) speedway. “We’ve had a real good season.” Axtell explained. “We were going to go to Winchester (VA) speedway this weekend but Steve Jr. had a commitment he couldn’t get out of , so here I am!” 2008 will be a season of change for the Axtell’s. Young Steven plans on racing the Family owned LMS no.81 and will be the new chauffeur of Maryland car owner John Chamberlains, Ironically enough, super late model no.81. A new Rocket has been ordered by Chamberlain and the youthful Axtell Jr. will race the machine at Hagerstown and Potomac. “Yeah, were real excited.” Axtell quipped. “This is a good opportunity for Steven, but we’ll take each week as it comes.” Former pilots of Chamberlains equipment include long time Hagerstown veteran Mark Elksnis and Former Potomac champion Scott Cross.
* Abbottstown Pa.’s Duane Watson was also spectating in the Trail-Way pit
area Friday night. Going in to the final point event of the season for the
thundercars at Lincoln, Hanover Pa.’s Neil Smith holds a slim 10-point advantage
over Watson. Watson and I had a chance to talk about the point finale that will
take place in two weeks. “I’ll tell you what it’s been a long season.” Watson
stated. “We weren’t planning on racing a full season this year, but we started
to pile up some top-fives and then it wasn’t until about July that we thought we
might have a shot at the title. Neil Smith is the defending Lincoln thundercar
champion, and definitely knows how to win a title. “Neil (Smith) is a tough
racer.” Watson said. “I’m just going to go into the race like we have all season
long and just try to win the race. If we’re fortunate enough to win the title
that will be great, but in my opinion it’s Neil’s title to lose so I think all
the pressure is on him.” What a tremendous season Watson has put together at
Lincoln. In the twenty-five thundercar events run so far, Watson has won six
features scored 21 top-fives and has been in the top-10 21 times as well… News
or notes to djm5507@aol.com
October 13, 2007
“Trail-Way LM 40 to Gene Knaub”
By Doug Watson
Hanover Pa, Last Friday night the 358 late models made their third and final
appearance of the 2007 season at Trail-Way Speedway. Dover Pa.’s Gene Knaub was
victorious in the 40-lap, $1000 to win, 358 late model event becoming the
divisions third different driver to score a win at the Hanover speed plant.
Scheduled to start from the outside of the front row, Knaub left little doubt who had the fastest car this night. Knaub out-dragged fellow front row starter Jake Lettich to lead the first lap and would go on to control the remaining 39-circuits in quite a dominating performance aboard his Superior Homes, Rocket. During the later stages of the event, 2007 Susquehanna (PA) speedway Park late model champion, Carl Billet was able to get close to Knaub but was unable to make the pass before settling for runner-up honors.
“This win is extra special tonight.” A happy Knaub said from Trail-Way’s victory lane. “To beat a guy like Carl Billet is a real accomplishment because he’s one of the best there is.” Tire choice was a key factor in Knaub’s winning run. “We went with a hard tire on the right rear and it seemed to pay off. I have to thank Nat Tuckey for his help tonight.”
Ninth starting, and one-time 07’ Trail-Way 358 late model winner, Tyler Armstrong would take third, Jake Lettich came home fourth and 2007 Williams grove 358 late model champion Tyler Hershey came from twelfth to complete the top-five. Heats for the 22 cars in attendance went to Pat Beard, Tyler Armstrong and Bob Dunn.
Newville Pa.’s Rodney Clouser was victorious in the 20-lap thundercar/silver spring street stock special event. Ninth starting Clouser wrestled the lead from Jen Scott on the fifteenth lap and despite a smoking racer, would lead the final five laps to score the win. Lady racer Jen Scott would come home a strong second. The drive of the night went to 2007 thundercar track champion Craig Wagamam as he came all the way from the seventeenth starting spot to secure third at the finish. Neil Smith and Danny Beard would complete the top five. Heats for the 26 cars pitside went to Brian Walls, Neil Smith and Clouser with the consolation going to Duane McMillion.
Chambersburg Pa.’s Doug Bennett capped off his championship season in fine style as he collected his seventh win of the season over a charging Ron Schultz in the 15-lap street stock main.
Pit Notes
* 358 late model driver Charles Potts experienced motor problems in his Rayburn
no.5 after hot laps trailering the machine for the rest of the evening…
* Dover’s Larry Baer, a one-time Trail-Way 358 LM winner this season, was in the
pit area, but as a spectator…
* Trail-Way track conditions were quite good during the program. The fast,
smooth surface was multi grooved and allowed the drivers to race hard with the
late model feature being completed by 9:40...
358 Late Model Feature Finish
1. Gene Knaub 2. Carl Billet 3. Tyler Armstrong 4. Jake Lettich 5. Tyler Hershey 6. Pat Beard 7. John Moser Jr. 8. Bobby Beard 9. Bernie Beard 10. Travis Mease 11. Johnny Favingor 12. Cody Lear 13. Mark Grey 14. James Miller 15. Eugene Conlee 16. Corey Zirkle 17. Cam Zeigler 18. Mike Walls 19. Bob Dunn 20. Zach Kauffman 21. Barry Lear Sr. 22. Charles Potts (DNS)
Thundercar Feature Finish
1. Rodney Clouser 2. Jen Scott 3. Craig Wagaman 4. Neil Smith 5. Danny Beard 6.
Bob Stough 7. Barry Rinehart 8. John McDonough Jr. 9. Adam Gutshall 10. Justin
Mong 11. Jimmy Combs 12. Kyle Martin 13. Allen Cullum 14. Larry Neiderer 15.
Jeff Bennett 16. Scott Fisher 17. Bob Bare 18. Ronnie Thomas 19. Duane McMillion
20. Brian Walls
Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Notes From Potomac’s Southern Maryland Nationals”
October in Southern Maryland means only one thing, The Southern Maryland
Nationals. Potomac (MD) Speedway played host of the event for the 16th
consecutive season, which makes The National’s one of the longest running “Small
car” events in the tri-state area. Typically a two-day event, The nationals
schedule calls for qualifying on Friday night and features on Saturday night.
This season’s version of the event attracted Forty-Street stocks, 29 358 late
models, 16 hobby stocks, 9 four-cylinders and 11 four cylinder junk cars. Summer
like weather conditions greeted the Potomac faithful and once again a very nice
crowd gathered on Saturday night. Here’s some notes and quotes from the show,
* Hats off to Pete Cameron and his entire track prep crew. Despite the lack of rain in the St.Mary’s county area over the last few weeks, the track surface stayed multi-grooved and dust free the entire weekend.
* Mechanicsville Md.’s Dale Hollidge, The 40-lap street stock feature winner, becomes the 13th different driver to win this event. What a tremendous season Hollidge has enjoyed. His win on Saturday night was his sixth Potomac win of the season to go along with his single street stock win at Hagerstown as well. Hollidge and company plan on traveling to Winchester (VA) speedway for the Virginia Nationals next weekend with possibly a stop at Susquehanna (PA) Speedway Park for their fall classic in two weeks…
* What a drive Glen Burnie Maryland’s Jimmy Gardner had in the street stock event. Gardner broke an axle Friday night on the first lap of his heat race, forcing him out of the event. Gardner’s luck got worse as engine trouble caused him to drop out of the consi on the first lap. However Gardner’s luck would change as he was added to the thirty-car starting field as a provisional. Scheduled to go from the 29th starting spot Gardner kept his nose clean and at the conclusion of the 40-lapper Gardner took the checkered in sixth. Gardner collected two street stock wins at Potomac this season as well…
* Pasadena Md.’s Ed Pope, the 2007 Potomac street stock champion, didn’t have the weekend he’d hoped for. After struggling during qualifying on Friday, Pope was scheduled to go from the 14th starting spot for the main. “I’m not sure what the problem is.” Pope explained prior to the feature. “The car just won’t handle the way I want it to, I think we might have a bad spring or something.” Just before the halfway point of the feature the transmission in Pope’s no.11 let go forcing him from the event.
* Winchester Va.’s Brian Kerns, the defending and three-time champion of this event, was not able to repeat last seasons success. A solid qualifying run on Friday earned Kerns the eighth starting spot for the feature. However, Kerns was swept up in a lap nine caution sending him to the pits for repairs. Kerns would rejoin the event only to drop-out a few laps later, ending his chances for a fourth National’s crown.
*Pasadena Md.’s Kevin Sprague, a two-time Trail-Way (PA) street stock winner this season, had an uphill battle the entire weekend. Sprague’s struggle’s started on Friday when he didn’t time well which put him in the back of his heat race where he missed transferring. Sprague was, however, able to qualify through the consi where he earned the 24th starting spot for the feature. Sprague drove a great race to enter the top-ten just after halfway, but a sour power plant in his Jim Dockery no.11 forced Sprague to finish outside the top-ten in the 40-lap grind.
*What a season Glen Burnie Md.’s Steven Axtell Jr. is enjoying. A regular campaigner in the Hagerstown (MD) speedway late model sportsman division, Axtell was able to score two feature wins at the Washington county oval this season with the most recent being the 40-lap Shamrock Inn nationals. Axtell would have a great weekend at Potomac, Driving his father Steve’s Eastern homes, Dirtek, as he was four for four in the events he competed in. On Friday night he set fast time in time trials, won his heat race and then won the dash to start on the front row for the feature. Then on Saturday he took the win in the divisions 35-lap main event. “I’m not sure what to say!” Said the ever humble Axtell in Potomac’s victory lane. “I don’t think I would have had anything for the 11N (Bubby Dillman) he was pretty good. Most of all I have to thank my Dad he’s the reason behind our success.”
* Hanover Md.’s Eugene Conlee had a nice weekend at Potomac. Conlee, In a MaStersbilt machine recently acquired from BR Nalley, was able to transfer to the main in his heat race. Scheduled to go from the ninth starting spot for the feature Conlee was able to run near the front all night coming home with a fine fourth place feature finish.
* Former track Champion and Four-time 07’ Potomac Limited Late Model feature winner Sommey Lacey had another good run at Potomac. Lacey set sixth fastest time in time trials, started the main second and drove his Rocket no.45 home to a solid third at the finish.
* The 25-lap Four-cylinder feature was definitely the downside of a good
weekend of racing. With only nine cars starting the main you would have to think
the event should run straight through with no problems, right? Think again. The
25-lap main featured nearly a dozen yellow flags, took almost forty-minutes to
complete and was the worst event I’ve ever witnessed at Potomac. I’ve often
heard from some drivers and on message boards, “Why aren’t the four-cylinders at
Potomac every week?” With events like this why should they come back. News or
note to djm5507@aol.
September 30, 2007
Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Beard Thunders to Trail-Way Victory Lane”
Last Friday night the Trail-Way (PA) speedway played host to the annual “Thunder
on the Farm” stock car championships. Under perfect weather conditions 29
thundercars, 22 street stocks, 17 All- American outlaws and 15 limited stocks
lined the pit area in front of a very nice crowd. Here’s some notes and quotes
from the show,
* “I just want to thank the Trail-Way management for having this show” Stated a
very happy Bobby Beard after scoring his 36th career TW thundercar feature win.
“I think this is about 15 years now that Trail-Ways has been having this show
and this is only the second time I’ve won it. I have to thank Joe Seymour (car
owner) for giving me a chance to drive his car here tonight.” Beards 50-lap win
netted him a cool $1000...
* Westminster Md.’s Mark Shorb had the drive of the night. After missing the cut in his heat, Shorb was forced to run the consi. A tangle with Neil Smith, and then a difference of opinion with the Flagman, put Shorb’s qualifying hopes in jeopardy as he was sent to the pits for the event. However, Shorb was added to the line up as the highest TW point man who did not qualify. Shorb made the most of his good fortune as he drove a fantastic race to come home second to race winner Bobby Beard.
* Eleven-time feature winner and 2007 Trail-Way Thundercar track champion Craig Wagaman had a disappointing night. Wagaman came all the way from the 10th starting spot and was leading the event when his Mitz motorsports no.30 pulled up lame just after half-way. Wagaman would end up 12th in the final rundown…
* Current Lincoln (PA) speedway thundercar point leader Neil Smith did not have a memorable night at Trail-Way. Smith could not get going in his heat which forced him into the consi. While leading the event Smith tangled with Mark Shorb cutting down a left rear tire. Smith would re-join the field on lap but would miss qualifying for the feature by one spot.
*Gardners Pa’s Nat Tuckey was on hand for the event. Driving the no.93 formerly driven by Gary Warehime, Tuckey had a good night. Even with the unfamiliar mount, Tuckey came all the way from the 14th starting spot to take the checkered in fourth.
* Hanover Pa.’s Duane McMillion had a good night as well. McMillion, a one-time Trail-Way Thundercar winner this season, started the 50-lap grind all the way back in the 17th starting spot and would secure a fine fifth at the finish.
* Pasadena Md’s Kevin Sprague, a two-time TW street stock winner this season, had a good run in the divisions forty-lap contest. After dropping out of his heat race with mechanical problems Sprague would ultimately start the street stock main dead last. However, like Mark Shorb in the thundercars, Sprague would make the most of what he had and raced his way forward to a solid second place feature run. “Yeah the car was good .” Quipped Sprague. “I could get along side Danny (Furman, race winner) but I just couldn’t make the pass stick. I would have liked to won, but to come from the back the way we did makes me feel pretty good.”
* Duane Watson, last week’s thundercar winner at Lincoln, was in the Trail-way pit area but as a spectator…
* Gettysburg Pa’s Brian Walls had high hopes for the 50-lap feature. Scheduled to start the main from sixth Walls was coming to the front until he slid into the outside frontstretch retaining wall early in the event, forcing him to the pits for the evening. Walls would earn the 21st position in the final rundown…
* Gettysburg Pa’s Ronnie Thomas had a bizarre evening. Easily qualifying for the feature Thomas earned the fifth starting spot for the 50-lap thundercar feature. While racing along in the early part of the event the fuel cell in Thomas’s racer fell out on the backstretch! Although all the other competitors missed the derelict cell as it sat on racing surface, It certainly had the makings of what could have been quite a destructive situation.
* Coming up on October the 12th, The 358 late models will make their final
appearance of the season at Trail-Way. The thundercars, the Susquehanna street
stocks and the limited stocks will also be on the program. The 358 late model
feature is paying $1000 to the winner and $100 to take the green. News or notes
to djm5507@aol.com
September 23, 2007
Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
“Big Night for the “Small Cars” at Hagerstown”
Last Saturday a night at the Hagerstown (MD) speedway hosted the first annual
Shamrock Inn small car nationals. Under perfect weather conditions 39 late model
sportsman, 40 pure stocks and 45 four-cylinders lined the Hagerstown pit area in
front of a very nice crowd.
Hagerstown Notes
* Three former regulars at Hagerstown had solid runs in the forty-lap LMS
feature. Tyler Armstrong (third), Tyler Hershey (fourth) and Bobby Beard
(fifth). All three drivers have won features in 2007. Tyler Armstrong
(Hagerstown 1, Williams Grove (PA) 3 and Trail-Way (PA) 1), Tyler Hershey
(Lincoln (PA) 1 Williams Grove (PA) 2 plus the 358 late model track title) and
Bobby Beard (Lincoln (PA) 1).
* 2007 Potomac (MD) speedway limited late model track champion Derrick Quade
made his first start of the season at Hagerstown. Quade was able to qualify for
the feature, ultimately finishing 20th in the main…
* After scoring a convincing win in last week’s open competition LMS program,
Richard Walls could only manage a seventeenth place feature finish in the
divisions final appearance of the season.
* Ten-time feature winner and 2007 Thunder Valley (PA) Raceway semi-late track
champion Jamey Swank was back at Hagerstown. After a solid second place finish
during last week’s Hub City event, Swank was not as fortunate as he was only
able to muster a 15th place showing in the pure stock 25-lap main event.
* Second-place point man for 2007, Kyle Lear, put on the drive of the night.
Lear, A one-time LMS feature winner at Hagerstown this season, started the main
all the way back in the 22nd starting spot a drove forward to collect a fine
seventh at the finish.
Lincoln Notes,
* The Thundercar point race is really starting to heat up as the final point
event draws near. Duane Watson collected his fifth win of the season and pulled
to within 30 markers of current point leader and defending track champion Neil
Smith. The feature was not so kind to Smith as he was only able to produce a
13th place finish in the divisions 20-lap feature.
* Nat Tuckey will be racing with the 358 late models next season. Tuckey
acquired a MaStersbilt chassis from Alan Sagi, and plans on racing the machine
on the South Central Pa. circuit. Former 410 sprint car driver Jimmy Walker has
purchased all of Tuckeys Thundercar equipment. This is the same car that carried
Tuckey to 11 thundercar wins at Lincoln this season….
Delaware International Notes,
* DIS pulled it’s largest late model car count of the season for a regular show
last Saturday night as 26 late models were in the pits….
* Last weeks late model feature winner David Hill keeps adding to his impressive
overall career win total. Hill’s second DIS late model win of the season last
Saturday night was his 179th career late model feature win….
* 2007 DIS late model track champion Donald Lingo Jr. had a busy weekend. Lingo
went to Bedford (PA) on Friday night for the World of Outlaws show where he
qualified for the main, started the feature 22nd, and finished a very
respectable 17th in the final rundown. Forty-seven cars were pit side for the
Bedford event. Then on Saturday Lingo would travel back to his home state of
Delaware and take a solid fourth in the 20-lap late model main….
Trail-Way Notes,
* 2007 limited stock track champion and eight-time feature winner Kyle Rorhbaugh
plans on moving up next season. Plans are to either build a street stock or
possibly acquire a ride, or purchase, a 600cc micro sprint….
* What a turnout of 358 sprint cars TW had on Friday night. The $2000 to win
event attracted a forty-car field to the Hanover Pa. facility, Which in my
opinion has to be some sort of record.
* 358 late model pilot Bobby Beard was at TW on Friday. Beard was driving Joe
Seymour’s No.81 thundercar. Beard started last in the 18-car field and at the
conclusion of the 20-lap event Beard was second to race winner Craig Wagaman.
Oddly enough, Wagaman will be piloting a 358 late model for Joe Seymour in
2008.… News or notes to djm5507@aol.com
Maryland Clay Dirt
September 17, 2007
By Doug Watson
"Notes from around the Region"
As we get deeper in to the month of September, Most area tracks have concluded
their point racing and are now focusing on season ending special events. Extra
laps and increased pay-off's typically dot the Mid-Atlantic racing calendars
through November. Events like Hagerstown MD's Octoberfest, Potomac MD's Southern
Maryland Nationals, The Delaware state dirt track championships and the Millers
racing part's Fall Classic at Susquehanna (PA) Speedway Park are just a few big
events coming up in the area. With that in mind, here's some notes from around
the area last weekend,
* Last Saturday night at Todd Fisher's Susquehanna (PA) Speedway Park was the final point event of the 2007 season. A strong field of thirty-five 358 late models were on hand and at the end it was Bud Witmer as he raced to his fourth win of the season. On the strength of an eight-feature win season, Carl Billet Jr. was named the 2007 late model track champion...
* The final point event of the season at Potomac (MD) speedway was scheduled for Friday night September 14th, but the show was rained-out and will not be re-scheduled. Bo Feathers (LM), Derrick Quade (LLM), Ed Pope (SS) and Wayne Suite (HS) were all crowned champions for 2007 at the Southern Maryland oval.
* Good to see Gettysburg Pa.'s Jeremy Miller back in victory lane. Winning his second consecutive Hub City National open at Hagerstown has to give Miller and his entire Charles Buckler owned team some momentum as they head into the end of the season special events. This was Miller's first Hagerstown win since his triumph way back on March 31st...
* Probably one of the biggest disappointment of 2007 was Georgetown (DE) Speedway. Good crowds supported the speedway since it's reopening in early 2006, but the car counts were way off what management expected, forcing the investors to cancel the remaining events at the big half-mile including the upcoming show on September 21st...
* Rumors around the Southern Maryland area is that Potomac promoter Rick Jones may bring crate motors in for his limited late model division for 2008. Even when Jones relaxed his limited rules half-way through the season in an effort to attract more cars, his car count barely got out of the single digits for weekly shows. I, for one, would love to see the crate cars at Potomac, after all, look at what they've done for racing in Southern Delaware...
* Congratulations to Shermansdale Pa.'s Shaun Jones on winning the 2007 358 late model championship at the Lincoln (PA) speedway. Jones and his Magnum chassis No.1J defeated late model veteran Bobby Beard by a slim 10-point margin to garner his first-ever late model track title.
News or notes to djm5507@aol.com
September 3, 2007
“Anderson Doubles his pleasure, Wins Second Of Weekend at Potomac”
By Doug Watson
Budds Creek MD, Martinsburg West Virginia’s Andy Anderson capped off a perfect
weekend with a win in the 19th annual Ronnie McBee memorial Sunday nigh