August 4, 2008

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“Andy Fries Looking for Third Straight Hagerstown Crown”

Mercersburg Pa.’s Andy Fries is poised to score his third consecutive late model sportsman track title at Maryland’s Hagerstown speedway. Fries has enjoyed a solid campaign to date scoring five top-five feature finishes including two feature wins, with his most recent triumph coming last Saturday night.

“We raced late models for a long time before making the switch to the sportsman division.” Fries explained in victory lane on Saturday night. “I’m not sure what it is, but we’ve really seemed to hit something with these 358 cars. Hopefully we can keep it going because our goal this season was to win the points here at Hagerstown.”

The late model sportsman division this season at Hagerstown has been as solid as ever despite the fact that at least three other tracks in the area run the class on the same night. Car counts have ranged from as low as twenty-one to as high as thirty-six and the racing has been excellent. Twenty-one different drivers have scored heat race wins and eight different drivers have scored feature wins. Andy Fries joins Kyle Lear as the only other multiple feature winners as they have each scored twice this season. Pete Weaver, Derek Byler (First-ever), Jerry Bard, Ashley Barrett, Barry Miller and Richard Walls have also found victory lane at the big half-mile.

Even though the LMS played as an undercard to the Lucas Oil Series late model event on Saturday the 30-lap event was well run, and even though Fries scored a relatively easy win, the race from second on back was quite entertaining. Here are some notes from the show-

*One-time winner Jerry Bard appeared to have the car to beat as he shot to the early lead, and led the race’s first eight circuits. However, Bard hung tough and scored a solid second in his Rocket no.26…
*Williamsport Md.’s Pete Weaver had a solid run as well. Weaver raced in the top-five the entire night before settling for third at the checkered. Weaver’s MasterSbilt no.16 was sporting all new sheet metal after being involved in a hard third crash a few weeks back…
*Chambersburg Pa.’s Ashley Barrett, Coming off a third place effort in the last event for the class, did not have a stellar night. Barrett was slated to go from the third starting spot for the feature, but just could not get a hold of the Hagerstown surface and would quietly finish 11th in his Rocket no.75X…
*Both Barry Miller (5th) and Richard Walls (6th) came from deep in the pack to post solid finishes. Miller came from 18th and Walls from 19th. Walls and Miller are both winners at Hagerstown in 2008…
*Severn Md.’s Kyle Lear continues to slide in the point standings. After back-to-back feature wins early in the season, Lear was atop the point standings. Lear’s outing on Saturday was less than desirable. Lear was scheduled for the sixth starting spot for the feature, but like Ashley Barrett, could not get a hold of the Hagerstown Surface and would be paid for fifteenth…

News or notes to djm5507@aol.com 

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“Potomac’s Bobby Allen Memorial is Rich in Tradition”

Coming up on August the fifteenth, Southern Maryland’s Potomac speedway is set to host the 13th annual Bobby Allen Memorial. One of the premiere events on the Potomac calendar for the super late models, the 55-lap event pays $2000 to the winner, but the prestige this race holds far out-weighs the winners share.

Baltimore Maryland’s Bobby Allen owned dirt late models for nearly thirty years and his potent orange and yellow number 55 machines were a mainstay up and down the east coast. Drivers like Ronnie McBee, Gary Stuhler, Booper Bare and Larry Moore (Just to name a few) all piloted and won in Allen’s cars over the years. In 1995 the colorful car owner lost his life after a long battle with diabetes. Potomac speedway is proud to host this event in his honor.

Bobby Allen was a special person to me as well. Before his passing, I had become quite close with him and his family. He often told me that out of all the race tracks he’d ever been to Potomac was his favorite place to watch a race. “There’s nowhere else like Potomac.” Allen once stated. “I can go there and watch my car race and be back home in my own bed the same night.” Bobby Allen was a very candid car owner as well. He once told me, “If a race paid two-dollars to win or ten-thousand for second I’d still rather win.” There was also a time when Scott Cross (Two-time Potomac LM track champion) won in his car at Delaware International speedway and had lapped up to the third place car. When Allen greeted a happy Cross in victory lane, He leaned inside the cockpit of the car and said, “What’s wrong with you, you should have lapped the entire field!” That was Bobby Allen.

Booper Bare won the inaugural event in 1996 and what an emotional night that was. Booper and Bobby Allen had been quite a formidable team in the late 80’s early 90’s. Booper took the 1989 Delaware state dirt track championship event and then won nine features and the 1990 Potomac Late model track title. Bare won in four different states driving for Bobby Allen with probably his biggest win a STARS event at Bedford (PA) in 1992. Nathan Durboraw (97), David Williams (98 & 99), Roy Deese Jr. (00), Deane Guy (01), Rick Eckert (02), Jeremy Miller (03 & 04), Bare again in 2005 and Bo Feathers (06 & 07) have all had the honor of taking home the Bobby Allen memorial trophy.

Potomac Friday Night Notebook-

* A field of 19 late models signed in to do battle under absolutely perfect weather conditions. The large Potomac crowd was offered a five-division p rogram with the final checkered flag of the night waving at 11:30...

* It appears as though Keith Jackson and Car owner Mike Cross have parted ways. Jackson scored his first-ever late model feature win at Potomac on July 3rd driving Cross’s potent Rocket no.07, but was at the controls of his own MasterSbilt no.11J on Friday night. “We had some differences in opinion.” Cross stated as we had a chance to chat prior to the feature. “We just felt is was in our best interests to part ways and do our own thing.” “Scott (Mike’s brother) will be back in the car the rest of the season and we have some really good equipment so I’m pretty excited.” Jackson’s return to his family owned mount was less than memorable. A crash on lap 27 while running sixth severely wounded his racer, but Jackson soldiered on to a seventh place feature finish…

* Georgetown Delaware’s Ross Robinson made his first-ever start at Potomac on Friday night. Robinsons night started out quite well as a second place run in the first late model heat earned Robinson the fifth starting spot for the feature. “This is a tricky little place.” Robinson remarked prior to the feature. “We’re used to running big half-mile tracks like Georgetown and Delmar, but we have a good starting spot so we’ll see what happens.” Robinson piloting his Warrior no.7R, was up to second by lap 15. However, while runni ng second something on his machine broke as he entered the third turn on lap 31 sending his car hard into the fence. Shaken, but unhurt, Robinson climbed from his battered racer and would be paid for 14th…

* Winchester (VA) speedway regular Shane Coffey had a good night as well. Coffey, Like Ross Robinson, was making his first-ever start at Potomac as well. Coffey, in a brand new BRC race cars Lazer no.24C, started the feature in sixth, raced with the leaders all night before settling for a solid fifth place effort at the conclusion of the 40-lapper…

* Chaptico Md.’s Roland Mann suffered a miserable night at Potomac. A heat race crash heavily damaged his Pete Cameron owned Rocket no.55 forcing him to start last in the feature. Mann raced hard and got as high as ninth by lap seven. Unfortunately mechanical problems forced him to pit on lap fourteen, earning him a sixteenth in the final rundown…

* Former two-time late model track champion Daryl Hills night almost ended before it got started. Coming down to take the green in the first late model heat race the steering wheel on Hill’s Rocket no.7 came off. In the ensuing melee he collected luckless Barry Lear Sr. and Roland Mann. However, Hills car was not badly damaged as he would go on to take third in the heat and then nail-down a solid third in the feature…

News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

July 20, 2008

“Wagaman Rim-Rides to First-ever Lincoln 358 Late model Win”

By Doug Watson

Abbottstown, PA- “What a track!” Were the words from Gettysburg Pa.’s Craig Wagaman as he exited his racer in Lincoln speedway’s victory lane in last Saturday nights “Topless 20” for the 358 late models.

After scoring twenty-seven thundercar feature wins and nearly forty-wins in the old semi-late model division, Craig Wagaman broke-through to score his illusive first-ever 358 late model feature win at Lincoln.

“Usually when we come here we end up on two wreckers.” Were the words from Wagaman prior to the nights events. “Hopefully we can change our luck tonight.” Change it he did indeed.

A win in the third late model heat earned Wagaman the fourth starting spot for the feature. Outside front-row starter John Baker snared the early race lead. Baker’s lead would be short lived as he spun while leading on lap three, taking fifth starting and one-time Lincoln late model winner Bobby Beard with him. Wagaman then assumed the race lead and would lead the next eight circuits. As Wagaman lead the event sixth starting Pat Beard made his presence known. Beard surged ahead to lead laps thirteen and fourteen. Wagaman then would re-assert himself as he made what would be the winning pas s on the fifteenth circuit. However, the race was far from over. As Wagaman re-took the lead, eighth starting Mike Walls followed into second and tenth starting and three-time winner Gene Knaub closed in on Pat Beard as he sat fourth. The foursome battled furiously for the next three laps before Wagaman was able to scamper away to nearly a one-second win over runner-up Mike Walls.

“I had to really be up on the wheel tonight.” Wagaman bottom lined. “Pat (Beard) kind of snuck up on us there, but we were able to get back by.” Wagaman was quick to praise not only his car owners for his winning run, but super late model standout Jeremy Miller as well. “Jeremy was our ace in the hole tonight.” Wagaman explained. “Guy’s like him and Rick Eckert have really helped the past few weeks and they’re the ones that got us here.” Pat Beard hung on for third, point-leader Gene Knaub settled for third and eleventh starting Shaun Jones completed the top-five. Heats for the 28 cars on hand went Bobby Beard, Wagaman and Knaub with Travis Mease winning the consolation.

358 Late Model feature finish (20-laps)

1.Craig Wagaman 2. Mike Walls 3.Pat Beard 4.GeneKnaub 5.Shaun Jones 6.Bobby Beard 7.Matt Nailor 8.Roy Warehime 9.Jake Lettich 10.Chad Myers 11.Dave Sokoloski 12.John Ebersole 13.Scott Lupfer 14.Chaz Walls 15.Fred Harden 16.Bob Minnich 17.Roy Miller 18.John Baker 19.DJ Mease 20.Jerry Bard 21.Mike Goodwin 22. Chase Bil let 23.Travis Mease 24.Travis Beaver (DNS)
DNQ- Bruce Kane, Jamie Lloyd, Gino Comi, Mike Spangler

Lincoln Notebook-

* Forty-one 358 sprints and twenty-seven thundercars also took part in the night’s program. The Lincoln grandstand were at about half-capacity due in part to the all-mighty 410 sprints having the night off while the visiting WoO sprints were at Williams Grove (Pa) speedway…

* Shippensburg Pa.’s Jerry Bard, Who’s taken 358 LM feature wins this season at Path Valley (PA) and Hagerstown (MD), dropped-out of the feature early and was credited with twentieth. However, Bard’s teammate Shaun Jones, the defending Lincoln speedway 358 late model track champion had a solid night taking fifth in the event…

* Gettysburg Pa.’s Jeremy Miller, who won the late model event at Hagerstown (MD) the week prior, was spectating at Lincoln on Saturday. “We decided to take the night off” Miller replied. “We have some big races coming up next weekend, so I decided to come watch Craig (Wagaman) race tonight.” Miller was instrumental in Wagaman’s winning run…

* Abbottstown’s Bobby Beard endured a frustrating night. A heat race win earned Beard the fifth starting spot for the feature. Beard, a one-time Lincoln winner in 2008, was swept-up in the lap-three John Baker incident and was relegated to the rear. Beard responded nicely coming all the way from the rear to score a solid sixth at the checkered aboard his Joe Seymour owned Rocket no.81S…

* Former Lincoln Thundercar champion, and 42 time feature winner, Neil Smith has apparently sold all his thundercar equipment. Plans to what he’ll do this season or even next season are still uncertain…

* The top-four late model feature finisher’s, Wagaman, Walls, Beard and Knaub, have accounted for 63 Lincoln thundercar feature wins. Out of the foursome, only Wagaman and Knaub have been able to score a Lincoln LM Feature win…

* Defending Lincoln thundercar champion, and three-time 08’ feature winner, Duane Watson has also sold all his potent thundercar equipment and now has a 358 late model (A former Pat Beard Rocket) at his disposal. However, Watson was a spectator this night. Watson leaves the thundercar ranks with 20 career victories…

*Pylesville Md.’s Gino Comi, a two-time 08’ thundercar winner in a former Neil Smith machine, had a busy night. Comi scored a fourth in the makeup thundercar feature and a twelfth in the regularly scheduled event while he was a DNQ for the late model show…

* Hanover Pa.’s Sam Gallagher, The current Thundercar point leader, had a very solid night. Gallagher took his fourth win of the season in the makeup event and would then nail-down a solid third place effort in feature number two…

* Spring Grove Pa.’s Mike Span gler had a miserable night at Lincoln. The two-time 358 LM winner in 2007, just could night get going all night as he struggled with his Rocket no.28 in both his heat and the consolation forcing him to watch the feature from his hauler…

* Gettysburg Pa.’s Brian Walls, a two-time Lincoln thundercar winner this season, did not have a memorable night at the Pigeon Hills. During the makeup event Walls was battling for the win with Rick Weaver (Who scored his first-ever thundercar win at Trail-Way (PA) on Friday night) and Larry Neiderer, but unfortunately all three crashed on the final lap of the feature in turn-three. The Walls crew worked hard to get the machine ready for the regularly scheduled program, but the damage was to severe and the car was scratched for the rest of the program…

* The show produced three first time feature winners, Kevin Nagy (358 sprints), Wagaman (Late Models) and Ronnie Thomas (Thundercars), but was a trifle on the long side as the final checkered waved on Sunday morning at 12:30...
News or notes to djm5507@aol.com 

July 13, 2008

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“A Much Needed Break From Point Racing”

Last Saturday night the Hagerstown (MD) speedway hosted the “Ernie’s Salvage Yard 25” for the late models. The race was a special non-point event for the late models with a pill draw for the heats then, the top-four drivers from each of the three heat races came to the front stretch during intermission to re-draw for the top-twelve starting spots for the feature.

A nice field of thirty-one late models signed in to do battle on the spacious half-mile along with twenty-one late model sportsman and thirty pure stocks. Once again the Hagerstown surface was in excellent shape and the well-run show had the large crowd on their way home by 10:30.

Here’s some notes from the show-

* Feature winner Jeremy Miller pocketed $2500 for the win plus an additional $350 in lap money. Miller, in his trusty Charles Buckler owned Rocket no.24, quickly quieted the tire skeptics on this night. His racer, shod in American Racer rubber, was the class of the field. Miller, at one point in the event, had nearly a five-second lead before taking the win over defending MACS champion Jason Covert, who won the night prior at Bedford (PA) speedway, and also used American Racer rubbe r on his Rocket no.43A…

* Thompson Pa.’s Dan Stone had a nice run as well. Driving his family-owned Rocket no.21D, Stone started in the sixth starting spot, raced hard the entire night before coming home with a solid third place effort. Stone has collected 2008 feature wins at Port Royal (PA) and Penn Can (PA) speedway…

* Noticeably missing from the event was third place point man Kirk Ryan. This would be the second consecutive show he and his Rocket no.5K were not in the pits…

* Mechanicsville Maryland’s Jamie Lathroum was back this week after his hard front-stretch crash the week prior. With damage estimated at nearly five-thousand dollars on his MasterSbilt no.6, Lathroum was ready for a good night. However Lathroum encountered mechanical problems during hot-laps and was a no-show for both his heat and the consi making him a DNQ for the night…

* Mercersburg Pa.’s Brent Smith capped off a good night with a solid fifth place feature effort. Driving his Rick Mastrino owned Rocket no.50E, Smith started fifth in the feature, got as high as second at one point in the event before the checkered flag dropped…

* Winchester Va.’s Ronnie DeHaven Jr., a Hagerstown feature winner a few weeks back, did not have a good night. A heat race crash severely damaged his GRT no.1D and he did not make the call for the consi resulting in a DNQ for the night…

* Curre nt Late model point leader Roy Deese Jr. had to be happy this was not a point night. Deese started the main twelfth in his Rocket no.05, ran there most of the event before retiring with mechanical problems on the fifteenth lap…

* For the second consecutive week the late model feature saw a car get upside down. This week it was Frankie Plessinger who got on his lid coming off turn two on lap twenty-three. Fortunately Plessinger was not hurt in the mishap, however, the same could not be said for his MasterSbilt no.9...

* Chambersburg Pa.’s Ashley Barrett had a strong third place run in the Late model sportsman twenty-lapper after starting twelfth. Since his June 21 feature win Barrett has scored a second and now a third in the last two LMS events run at the track…

* Congratulations to Abbotstown Pa.’s Bobby Beard on his fantastic weekend in Central Pa. Over the last few weeks Beard has really come on strong in his Joe Seymour owned Rocket no.81.Two Saturday’s ago at Lincoln (PA) speedway Beard scored his first win of the season in a special $1500 to win 358 late model special event at the pigeon hills. Then last Friday night he took second at Trail-Way (PA) speedway to race winner Gene Knaub in a 358 late model event. On Saturday night Beard scored his second win of the season at Williams Grove (PA) speedway in the 358 late model divisions twenty-lap event…
News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

July 12, 2008

“Jeremy Miller Makes First Hagerstown Start a Good One, Pockets “Ernie’s 25” Cash”
Wayne Walls Jr. Breaks Winless Drought in LMS, Stamberg Collects Third Pure Stock Triumph”

By Doug Watson

Hagerstown, MD- Gettysburg Pa.’s Jeremy Miller made a profitable return to the Hagerstown speedway last Saturday night. Miller pocketed a cool $2850 for his efforts as he scored his first Hagerstown feature win of the season in the “Ernie’s Salvage Yard 25“, and his career 24th at the fabled Washington County oval.

Front row starters DJ Myers and Jeremy Miller brought the twenty-four car starting field down to the initial green flag. Myers quickly asserted himself as he grabbed the early race lead. Myers led effortlessly for the first eleven circuits until Miller made what would be the winning pass for the lead on lap twelve. However, the race was far from over. As Miller built up nearly a five-second lead in the closing laps of the event, ninth-starting Jason Covert was on the move. Covert disposed of Brent Smith to reach second by lap twenty-four. As Miller was taking the white flag a Scott LeBarron caution set up a one-lap dash to the checkered flag. When the green flag came out for the final time Miller got a good jump on the sta rt but Covert was right in his tracks. As the duo came off the fourth turn for the checkered flag, Covert made one last ditch effort to unseat Miller, but Miller would hang on to score the very popular win.
“Those cautions at the end of the race really hurt us.” Miller stated from victory lane. “It took a while for the tires (American Racer) to come in, but once they did they were really good.” Miller’s 2008 season has been quite a roller coaster ride. “We won that Outlaw deal at Virginia a while back, and that was huge.” Miller commented. “We’ve been fast all season but we’ve had little stuff take us out races, but it sure does feel good to win here at Home.” Covert would hang on to second, Dan Stone took third, early leader DJ Myers collected fourth and Brent Smith completed the top-five. Heats went to JT Spence, Myers and Dan Stone with Frankie Plessinger winning the consolation.

St. Thomas Pa.’s Wayne Walls Jr. scored his first feature win of the season in the twenty-lap late model sportsman event. The win, for the seven-time track champion, was his division leading 44th career Hagerstown LMS feature win. Pole sitter Gene Conlee grabbed the lead at the start. Conlee’s lead would be short-lived as Scott Palmer slid by to take the lead on lap-two. Palmer appeared to have the car to beat until mechanical problems ended his night while leading on lap eight. Walls, who was second at the time, assumed the top-spot and held off the advances of eventual runner-up Brian Lessley to post the enormously popular win. “I have to thank all the boys on the crew.” Walls replied from victory lane. “I told the crew during the week we need to do something with this thing (Rocket/Hoosier) and I guess all the hard work paid-off.” Twelfth starting Ashley Barrett came on strong for third, tenth starter Barry Miller (Hard charger) was fourth and defending track champion Andy Fries controlled the top-five. Heats went to Barrett and Walls.
Hedgesville West Virginia’s Hans Stamberg took the lead from Billy Ecton Jr. on lap-five and drove off to a very convincing win in the fifteen-lap pure stock feature. In scoring his third feature win of the season, Stamberg had to hold off Steve Lowery, in his best run of the season, to score the win in just six minutes and fourteen seconds. “This is the old car.” Stamberg stated from victory lane. “This is the same car we won the championship with a few years back and it still runs pretty good.” Jim Snyder took a strong third, point leader Dale Hollidge was fourth and Wayne Hawbaker (Hard Charger) completed the top-five. Heats went to Billy Ecton Jr., Lowery and Snyder with Randy Kline winning the consolation.
 

Hagerstown Speedway Results

“Ernies Salvage Yard 25” Cindy Rowe Auto Glass Late Models, 31 entries. (Lap leaders DJ Myers 1-11, Je remy Miller 12-25)
1. Jeremy Miller 2. Jason Covert 3. Dan Stone 4. DJ Myers 5. Brent Smith 6. JT Spence 7. Billy Wampler 8. Daryl Hills 9. Gary Stuhler 10. Mike Lupfer 11. David Williams 12. Paul Crowl 13. Brian Booze 14. Marvin Winters 15. Jim Yoder 16. Alan Sagi 17. Al Shawver Jr. 18. Scott LeBarron 19. Rusty Sites 20. Frankie Plessinger 21. Roy Deese Jr. 22. Keith Jackson 23. Les Hare 24. Devin Friese

DNQ- Ronnie Dehaven Jr., Doug Stine, Harold Dorsey Jr., Chris Fletcher, Ray Kable Jr., DJ Troutman, Jamie Lathroum.
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Late Model Sportsman 20-laps, 21 entries. (Lap Leaders- Eugene Conlee 1-2, Scott Palmer 3-8, Wayne Walls Jr. 9-20)

1. Wayne Walls Jr. 2. Brian Lessley 3. Ashley Barrett 4. Barry Miller (St Thomas Towing/Checkered flag Lube Hard Charger) 5. Andy Fries 6. Eugene Conlee 7. Terry Flaherty 8. Richard Walls 9. Shaun Jones 10. Kyle Lear 11. Dylan Yoder 12. Jerry Bard 13. Courtney Shreiner 14. Cody Lear 15. Glen Ninninger Jr. 16. Rick Stouffer 17. Scott Palmer 18. Justin Hart 19. Chad Myers 20. Rob Gergel 21. Michael Collins (DNS)

Ernie’s Auto Enterprises Pure Stocks 15-laps, 30 Entries (Lap leaders- Billy Ecton Jr. 1-4, Hans Stamberg 5-15)
1. Hans Stamberg 2. Steve Lowery 3. Jim Snyder 4. Dale Hollidge 5. Wayne Hawbaker (J&M Sports world hard charger) 6. Darrin Younker 7. Kevin Boyer 8. Mike Sanders 9. Bill Ecton 10. Randy Kline 11. Kenny Dillon 12. Billy Ecto n Jr. 13. Drew Fitzsimmons 14. Kevin Keefer 15. Lin Sutphin 16. Bill Reitober 17. Kenny Day 18. Danny Beavers 19. Dave Mikolajski 20. Brian Swiger 21. Dave Boring 22. Tony Catlett 23. Deane Holmes 24. Kevin Koontz. DNQ- Kevin Dayhoff, Frank Dibella, Dave Gross, Bobby Taylor, Dave Stouffer Jr., Tim Monn.

July 6, 3008

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“Kenny Dillon Adds His Name to Hagerstown Pure Stock Win List”

What a busy night it was indeed last Saturday night at the Hagerstown (M) speedway. Thirty-two late models, 28 late model sportsman, 28 pure stocks and 27 enduro dash cars lined the Hagerstown pit area in front a very nice crowd.

The late models, late model sportsman and the pure stocks were all competing in extra-distance events for the evening and with the enduro cars also on the program, time was of the essence. However, Mother nature had other idea’s as a late evening rain shower hit the speedway prior to the first set of late model hot-laps. The shower quickly moved out, but the racetrack was in sad shape. So after nearly a two-hour delay the program re-started at 9pm.

One driver who was very happy that the Hagerstown management did not throw in the towel was Hanover Pa.’s Kenny Dillon. Kenny was victorious in the 13th annual Cornett tribute twenty-lap pure stock event. The win was Kenny’s 19th career Hagerstown pure stock feature win and his third in this prestigious event. “If I don’t win another race all season I can at least say I won the Cornett tribute, because this race means an awful lot to me.” Dillon stated from the Hagerstown victory lane. Dillon becomes only the fifth different driver to score a pure stock win at Hagerstown this season. “I have to thank Mark Small Machine. He does all of our motors and with all the horsepower he’s given me I’ve had a hard time getting it all down on the racetrack. Hopefully this win will turn our season around.” Dale Hollidge (3), Hans Stamberg (2), Darrin Younker (2) and Mike Warrenfeltz (1) are the other drivers who have scored 2008 feature wins in a division trademarked by its three and four wide racing each week.
Hagerstown (Saturday) Notebook

* What a weekend Odenton Maryland’s Keith Jackson enjoyed. After claiming his first-ever late model win at Potomac (MD) on Thursday night, Jackson drove his Mike Cross owned Rocket no.07 from the fourteenth starting spot in Saturday night’s forty-lap feature to score a solid third at the checkered…

* York Pa.’s Rick Eckert mad a surprise visit to Hagerstown on Saturday. Fresh off a WoO late model win in Canada Eckert was ready. However, Eckert struggled in his heat race forcing him to run the consolation. Eckert started twentieth in the feature in his GRT no.24 and drove through the field to collect fifth at the finish. Eckert is a two-time feature winner at Hagerstown in 2008 as he scored early in the season before hitting the road with the Outlaw’s…

* Eight-time late model track champion Nathan Durboraw, Of Hagerstown Maryland, took one of the wildest rides in quite some time on Saturday night. Durboraw flipped his car during the third late model heat. The car vaulted into the air and flipped at least five times before coming to a rest upside down on top the fourth turn guardrail. Durboraw’s Rocket no.41 was a total write-off but, the burly veteran was miraculously unhurt in the devastating crash…

* St. Thomas Pa.’s Tyler Armstrong was doing double-duty at Hagerstown on Saturday night. Armstrong started sixth in the late model feature aboard his Rocket no.84 and took runner-up honors to winner Gary Stuhler. In the 30-lap Late model sportsman event Armstrong started seventh and took his second top-five of the night coming home fourth…

* Current Hagerstown pure stock point leader Dale Hollidge was making his patented charge to the front from his 12th starting spot . Hollidge surged into second by lap fourteen but, his undoing came on lap seventeen as a broken timing chain sidelined him for the rest of the night. Hollidge would be credited with nineteenth at the finish…

* LMS rookie Franny Stone had a goon night at Hagerstown. Stone qualified through his heat earning himself the 17th starting spot for the feature. Stone drove a steady race taking a respectable twelfth in the feature in only his second career Hagerstown start…

* Hollsopple Pa.’s Jamey Swank had a solid drive in the LMS Thirty-lapper as well. Swank won the consolation giving him the nineteenth starting spot for the feature. Swank drove his Rocket no.8J hard the entire event before collecting fifth at the finish. Swank is the defending Semi-Late track champion at Joe Padula’s Thunder Valley(PA) Raceway… News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

June 23, 2008

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“Hagerstown Provides Fan-Friendly Shows”

Last Saturday night Hagerstown (MD) Speedway was able to beat the weather, in an already rain-plagued season. The large Hagerstown crowd was treated to thirty-three late models, twenty-seven late model sportsman, twenty-nine pure stocks and twenty-nine enduro dash cars under picture perfect weather conditions during race time. However, it did rain not long after the show was completed.
The program, that featured three new faces in victory lane, offered twelve qualifying events and four features and had the fans on their way home by 11:30.

Here’s some notes from the show,

* Upperco Maryland’s Paul Crowl had a great weekend. Crowl won his heat race and led the first nine laps of the late model feature at Potomac (MD) on Friday night, before settling for a solid third at the finish. At Hagerstown on Saturday Crowl started all the way back in the sixteenth starting spot, and drove a fantastic race collecting sixth at the checkered. With his run, Crowl earned the hard charger award as well…
* Once again there was plenty of passing on the well prepared surface. Alan Sagi (eighth to second), Gary Stuhler (eleventh to third) and Paul Crowl (sixteenth to sixth) all garnered strong feature finishes.
* Late model sportsman driver Fred Harden had quite a solid night as he started on the pole for the twenty-five lap event. Although he did not lead a lap, Harden hung around the front pack all night before coming home with a solid second place effort…
* Defending late model track champion, JT Spence, continues to struggle at Hagerstown in 2008. The Winchester (Va.) charger has had several good runs this season, but has yet to produce a feature win. Saturday night Spence could not get a hold of the Hagerstown surface as he struggled in both his heat and consolation event, before ending up a DNQ for the night…
* Current pure stock point leader Dale Hollidge, who came from eleventh to win the feature, pretty much solidified that he is the one to beat for the pure stock crown this season…
* Mike Lupfer’s win in the third late model heat made him the twenty-third different driver to score a heat race win in 2008...
News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

June 15, 2008

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson
 

“Beard Brothers Score Big in PA”

The Beard family name has earned quite a reputation in the Central Pa. region over the years. Last Saturday night Bobby Beard (Williams Grove 358 late models) and Bobby’s brother Danny Beard (Lincoln thundercars) each scored their career first feature wins at each respective racetrack.

In the late 90’s and early 2000’s Bobby Beard was once a dominator in the thundercar ranks scoring nearly sixty feature wins and several track titles, including three-straight championships (99, 00 and 01) at Lincoln (Pa) speedway. Since joining the 358 late models a few season’s ago, Beard has enjoyed moderate success in this highly competitive division. Beard hasn’t won in the 358’s as often as he did in the thundercars, but he has been able to take feature wins at Hagerstown (MD) and Lincoln (PA) and has now added his name to the Williams Grove win list. The win also marked the first-ever 358 late model triumph for his car owner Joe Seymour, who once fielded winning thundercars with the likes of Mike Ziegler Sr. and Sam Gallagher, at the controls.

“Once the tires came in, we had the car to beat.” Were the words from Beard’s tire specialist and area graphics wizard Dave Loss of Delco signs. “Gene (Knaub), eventual runner-up, was coming.” Loss stated. “We were getting a little worried because he started back a lot further than we did, and he always runs really good here, but it all worked out for us tonight.”

Danny Beard ended several season’s of frustration as he scored a flag to flag win in the thundercar feature at Lincoln. After scoring a street stock title at Trail-Way (PA) speedway in 2001, The younger Beard decided to go thundercar racing. Danny was able to score several top-fives, but was unable to produce a feature win until Saturday night. With that first feature win now under his belt, hopefully this will be the first of many more wins to come.

Potomac (Friday Night) Notebook-

* The highest 358 late model car count of the season, seventeen, graced the Potomac pit area. Unfortunately, it was one of the more destructive shows of the season as only eight of the original sixteen starters were around at the finish…
* Current Hagerstown (MD) late model sportsman point leader, Kyle Lear, made his first Potomac start of the season. With two Hagerstown feature wins this season, Lear was ready for Potomac, a track he’s never won at. Unfortunately, Lear crashed hard on the first lap of his heat race severely damaging his no.151 ending his night early. In a bit of good luck for Lear, Hagerstown rained-out on Saturday…
* Barry Lear Jr., Kyle’s brother, had a much better night. Currently third in the point standings, Lear scored his fourth top-five of the season with a solid third place effort in the twenty-five lap main…
* With his second place feature run, One-time feature winner Tommy Wagner Jr., took the top spot in the point standings in his Scott Thompson owned Rocket no.4S…
* Gino Comi made his first-ever Potomac 358 late model start on Friday night. Comi, a two-time Lincoln (PA) thundercar winner in 2008 had a tough night. A heat race crash knocked the nose piece off his no.41,but his crew repaired the machine and Comi started the feature from fifteenth. Despite an ill-handling racer Comi raced hard all night coming home with a very respectable tenth place feature finish…
* Feature winner Roland Mann had a clean sweep of the night as he also won his heat race as well. The win was special in several way’s. It was the first-ever feature win for car owner Ricky Lathroum, it was only the second time the car has ever been on the track this season and it was the first time Mann had ever sat behind the wheel of the machine. Not to bad!!
* Coming off two consecutive runner-up feature finishes‘, Sommey Lacey fought mechanical problems for most of the feature before settling for ninth at the finish… News or notes to djm5507@aol.com
 

Maryland Clay Dirt

June 9, 2008

By Doug Watson

“Myers seventh different Hagerstown Winner”

Last Saturday night the Hagerstown (MD) speedway hosted the wingless USAC sprint cars and a regular twenty-five lap program for the late models. Twenty-six sprint cars and thirty-one late models lined the Hagerstown pit area under hot and humid weather conditions, in front of a very nice crowd.

Greencastle Pa.’s DJ Myers shook his early season doldrums as he drove his Greg Gunter owned, Warrior chassis no.70J, to his first Hagerstown win of the season. “These day’s this game is all about luck.” Myers commented prior to the feature. “The guy’s on the crew have been working their tails off, and the car’s been pretty good but we just haven’t had any luck. We have a good starting spot tonight (fourth) so hopefully, we can do something with it.” Do something with it he did, as he wrestled the lead from Jack Pencil on lap thirteen and drove off to a very convincing feature win, the 14th of his Hagerstown career. Here’s some notes from the show,

*Avenue Maryland’s David Williams had the drive of the night. Fresh off a late model win at Potomac (MD) the night prior, Williams wasn’t even going to race at Hagerstown on Saturday. When youthful Matt Quade injured his wrist at Potomac on Friday, Williams was called to fill in for Quade at Hagerstown on Saturday night. In an unfamiliar car, Williams quickly acclimated to the machine as he started the feature from fourteenth and then drove the car home to a second place feature finish, his best Hagerstown performance of 2008…

*Hagerstown Maryland’s Alan Sagi had a very strong run as well. Wheeling his trusty Scott LeBarron owned GRT no.8A, Sagi’s night started out rough. A hard heat race crash left his mount with significant right side damage, forcing him into the consolation. Sagi qualified the car earning himself the 24th starting spot for the feature. Sagi then charged through the field coming home with a solid eighth place feature finish. Sagi currently sits sixth in the point standings…
* Bedford Pa.’s Jack Pencil had a heart breaking night. In search of his first-ever Hagerstown win things looked good as he was slated to start from the pole for the twenty-five lap main. Pencil lead for the first thirteen laps before DJ Myers slid by to take the lead. Pencil’s final undoing came on lap eighteen of the feature, while running in the top-five, when his car failed and he was forced from the event. Pencil would be credited with sixteenth at the finish… News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“Street Stock Ace Dale Hollidge, Prepping for Late Model Competition”

Mechanicsville Maryland’s Dale Hollidge, the current Hagerstown (MD) speedway pure stock point leader, will attempt to tackle the ever tough super late model wars at the close of the 2008 season.

In his short street stock career, Hollidge has captured seven wins at Potomac (MD) speedway including the prestigious Southern Maryland Nationals, and has also scored three wins at Hagerstown. Two of Hollidge’s Hagerstown feature wins have come this season, in only five events run so far at the fabled Washington County oval.

Rumors of Hollidge racing super late models have been running ramped for quite some time in southern Maryland, but now it looks like it might be a reality.

“We bought the Rocket Andy (Anderson) had been driving for Rick Jones (Potomac Promoter). Were the words from Dale’s Mom, Denise as we had a chance to chat at Potomac on Friday Night. “It was a deal we couldn’t pass up.” Denise offered. “Rick sold us the car complete, minus the engine, so all we have to do is bolt a motor in it and go racing.” This is the same machine that carried Anderson to an early season feature win at the Williams Grove (PA) speedway.

With a late model car now in the Hollidge stable what about the street stock was my next question. “We’re going to finish the season in the street stock.” Denise replied. “Dale’s really excited about the late model, but we really want to win the pure stock title at Hagerstown.” Plans are to debut the car at the end of the season. “Once the points are over at Hagerstown we’ll race the late model as often as we can, so that’s our plan for right now.” Dale Hollidge is a very talented racer and everyone who knows him knew he would be in a super late model, eventually, and now he will be.

Potomac (Friday Night) Notebook.
* 358 late model racer and last week’s feature winner, Tommy Wagner Jr., had a solid night. A first lap tangle forced Wagner to the rear, but Wagner rebounded nicely with a third place feature finish. Wagner currently sits second in the point standings…
* Former 358 late model track champion Sommey Lacey, a four-time winner in 2007, has been at Potomac two times this season, finishing second on both occasions…
* Glen Burnie Md.’s Bruce Kane had an interesting evening. Slated to start from the pole, Kane’s lead would be short-lived as he spun while leading on lap two. Relegated to the rear, Kane was swept up in several incidents that saw him pit his 1K several times. However, Kane soldiered on and brought his severely wounded machine home sixth at the checkered…
* One-time street stock winner this season, Kurt Zimmerman produced a strong finish as well. A lap-seven yellow forced Zimmerman to the rear, but Zimmerman hung tough and rallied to a runner-up finish, his second top-two feature finish in the past two-weeks…
* Current street stock point leader, Kyle Nelson, had a tough night. Already a three-time feature winner this season Nelson got as high as second by lap-seventeen before a crash sent him to the rear. Despite heavy front-end damage to his racer Nelson completed the distance taking sixth at the finish…
* Jimmy Gardner, a two-time street stock winner last season, had high hopes for the feature. A third place effort the previous week and a fifth place starting spot for the twenty-five lapper would be the only bright spot as a first lap crash saw Gardner retire his car to the pits ending his night early. Gardner would be paid for fifteenth…
* Lady Racer Wendy Jessmer made her season debut on Friday night. Second in points in 2007, Jessmer started tenth in the feature, entered the top-five by lap twenty-three, before settling for fifth at the finish. Her husband, Jimmy, would go on to win the event… News or notes to djm5507@aol.com 

Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
 

“Scary Night at Potomac”
 

Any racetrack official, from just about any track in the country, will tell you that their job is not about money, but for the love of the sport.

Probably the most often overlooked aspect of a typical short-track event are safety precautions corner workers and especially flagman can take for any given race meet. Each new season brings technological advances for the safety of race cars and drivers as well, but what about a race track official?

I guess what I’m driving at is what took place at the Potomac (MD) speedway last Friday night. During the street stock feature three cars, three-wide, came off the fourth turn with contact being made. One of the three machines started to flip wildly down the front stretch, taking the flagman’s stand with it. “That was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.” Were the words from former Potomac promoter Pete Cameron. “After the car hit the stand and then the stand hit the speedway I thought for sure they were dead.”

The scariest thing, for me, is the fact that I wasn’t there. I’m usually the head flagman at Potomac every Friday night, but my Saturday venue (Hagerstown) had a Friday night show this week and I was there instead. So my usual assistant on Friday’s, longtime area late model campaigner Mark Elksnis and his assistant for the night Billy Affeldt, were at the controls.

According to Elksnis, it was quite a wild ride. “I’ll tell you what, I’ve driven race cars for a lot of years, including a crash at Williams Grove (PA) speedway when I almost hit the bridge on the backstretch, and I can honestly say that was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through.” Once the stand hit the track it took out all the track safety lights as well. “Lucky for me the fourth-turn flagman was heads up enough to jump out on to the track and get the leaders slowed down, If it hadn’t been for him I don’t think the lead pack of car’s would have been able to slow down in time and I don’t want to think of what could’ve happened after that.”

Elksnis and Affeldt, although shaken and sore, were not seriously injured. “Billy has a pretty bad cut on his arm and I have a big bruise on my shin, but all in all we came out pretty good considering how bad it could have really been.”

So quickly after all the chaos on Friday night Pete Cameron, Ronnie Hollidge and his family and a slew of volunteer help started to erect a new flagstand by 8:00 Saturday morning. By the time I arrived at the speedway at 5:30 Sunday afternoon I caught a glimpse of what would be my “new” Friday night home. “We moved the stand back about four-feet and buried the pole in the ground at least six feet with eight-yards of concrete around it.” Cameron stated. “The stand that got knocked down was the original stand the speedway had since it opened in 1973, so we knew for a long time it was time for a change, but we didn’t want to have to do it under these circumstances. This is definitely a safe flagstand .”

After the driver’s meeting broke on Sunday, I apprehensively climbed into my new perch as some cars came on to the track for hot-laps. Pete Cameron stood up there with me until hot-laps were over, and by then all my nervousness had gone. What did I have to be nervous about? I wasn’t the one who was there on Friday. Everybody wanted to talk about what happened and to see how Mark and Billy were doing, but by race time, I was ready to talk about something else. Once we got going the show went very smooth and the bad thoughts quickly left my mind.

So as far as Mark Elksnis getting back in the flagstand, only time will tell. “I tell you what Doug, I’m almost fifty years old and I’m getting to old to be flying around in the air like that.” Elksnis said with a laugh. “I’m not going to say no for sure, but I’ll take a little time to think it over.”

News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

May 18, 2008

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“Rain, A four-letter word in Hagerstown”

As the fans started to file in and the race teams were preparing for another busy night, rain once again found it’s way to the Hagerstown (MD) speedway.

Thirty-seven late models, 37 late model sportsman, 28 pure stocks and 25 enduro dash cars lined the Hagerstown pit area in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd. However, mother nature had other ideas, as the show came to a screeching halt as heavy rain hit the speedway as the fourth late model sportsman heat was near completion.

“We just can’t seem to get a break.” Were the words from Competition Director Steve Crumbacker as we sat together in the scoring tower watching the rain pelt the speedway surface. “It’s really frustrating especially when we’ve had the car counts like we’ve been having. I really feel bad for all the fans who came to see a good show and now they have to go home.” This would be the sixth show, out of twelve, that was canceled due to weather.

The only bright spot of the night was the make-up late model feature from two-weeks ago was able to be run and produced a mild upset feature winner, Les Hare. The win was Hare’s first Hagerstown late model feature win in many seasons and only the fourth of his career at the fabled Washington County oval. Here’s some notes from the show,

* Avenue Md.’s David Williams had a heart-breaking night. Already a two-time late model winner at Potomac (MD) speedway in 2008, Williams was slated to go from sixth for the feature. Williams wasted little time as he blasted to the race lead by the third-lap. Williams looked quite strong, but his undoing came on lap-fifteen as a broken nose-piece support allowed Les Hare to slip by to take the lead and eventual win. Williams then fought his ill-handling racer home to a disappointing, but respectable, seventh place feature finish.
* Greencastle Pa.’s Gary Stuhler seems to be getting his rhythm going in his Glen Ninninger owned Rocket no.90. A one-time Hagerstown winner this season, and fresh off a Winchester (VA) speedway late model feature win the week prior, Stuhler was ready, but was starting deep in the pack (11th) for the twenty-five lap event. Stuhler drove his usual patient race as he got to second by lap-fifteen but could not reel-in leader Les Hare, and settled for runner-up money…
* York Haven Pa.’s Billy Wampler had quite a good run as well. Starting deep in the field (15th) Wampler used the high-side of the speedway to enter the top-five by the twentieth circuit, coming home a solid fifth at the checkered in his Rocket no.1W.
* Former Bedford (PA) speedway track champion Jack Pencil had the haul of the night. Scheduled to start twenty-third on the grid, Pencil had a long way to go to get to the front. In a feature that saw the caution flag fly only a few times, Pencil raced hard all night in his Rocket no.14 winding up ninth at the finish, earning himself the hard-charger award for the event…
* Hyndman Pa.’s DJ Troutman, driving Chet Laye’s Rocket no.151, started the race from the pole. Troutman led the first three-laps of the event before fading late earning himself twentieth at the finish…
* What a sight to behold was the Hagerstown pit area. One hundred twenty-seven race cars signed in for competition this night, and it was just a regular show…
* As I’ve mentioned just about every week in this column, Hat’s off to the Hagerstown track-prep crew as the surface was once again very smooth and offered multiple grooves of racing…
* Pure stock racer Steve Lowery drove a great race to nail-down the win in the third pure stock qualifier, only to come across the scales light, disqualifying him from the event…
* Potomac speedway limited late model rookie Franny Stone made his first-ever Hagerstown speedway start on Saturday. However, Stone crashed heavily with Rob Gergel at the conclusion of the third LMS heat leaving his mount with significant front-end damage…

News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

May 11, 2008

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson
 

“Craig Wagaman Joins Williams Grove Win List”
 

In a career that spans well over two-decades, Gettysburg Pa.’s Craig Wagaman has seen his share of success on the bull-rings of south-central Pennsylvania.

A win total well over one-hundred, between the Semi-lates & thundercars and several track titles, Wagaman’s resume speaks for itself. Wagaman was able to add to his already impressive win total, but this time it came at a track he’s never won at and in a class he’s never won in either.

Williams Grove (PA) speedway was the place and for Craig Wagaman it was his first-ever 358 late model feature win. “The car was awesome.” Wagaman stated by phone on Sunday. “We’ve been getting better every week and last night was just our night.” Naturally Wagaman was quick to praise his car owners. “Without Deb Coshun and all the Lawrence’s we wouldn’t be able to do this.” Wagaman bottom-lined. “They’ve given me top-notch equipment to drive and to get a win for them, especially at The Grove, is just amazing.”

During his thundercar days Wagaman was a frequent visitor to victory lane, but the 358 late model class has been a little more difficult. “We’ve had decent finishes this season.” Wagaman explained. “I knew we had a better car than what the results were showing, so now Maybe we’re on track and our second win won’t be to far away.” The top-three finishers in Saturday night’s 358 late model feature found three former thundercar heavy-hitters battling for the win as, Bobby Beard and Nat Tuckey trailed Wagaman at the finish.

Potomac (Friday night) Notebook-'

* Even with heavy rain and severe weather on Thursday, Potomac track-prep aces Pete Cameron and Ronnie Hollidge had Potomac ready for action on Friday night with nearly a perfect surface…
* Roy Deese Jr., In his family-owned Rocket No.05, suffered another miserable night at Potomac. Starting fourth in the feature, Deese’s hopes were high. However a broken left-rear wheel on lap-six while running third, dashed Deese’s hopes of a win this night as he retired from the event, taking twenty-second in the final rundown…
* Defending, and two-time, MACS series late model champion Jason Covert, In his Klinedinst owned Rocket No.43A, made a rare Potomac start. Taking second in his heat earned Covert the sixth starting spot for the feature. Covert was able to stay out of trouble on the tight confines of Potomac speedway and complete all thirty-five laps, but could only produce a seventh place feature finish…
* Seaford Delaware’s Ricky Elliott, In his Charles Jarvis Rocket No.45, made his first Potomac start of the season. Elliott just could not get going as he started eighth in the feature and struggled his way to a ninth place feature finish…
* Former track champion Scott Cross had a great night in his brother Mike’s Rocket No.07. Starting back in the thirteenth starting spot Cross entered the top-five (fifth) by lap twenty-five, which is where he stayed, to secure one of his better Potomac runs in quite some time…
* Former Delaware International speedway track champion David Pettyjohn made his first Potomac start of the season. After starting sixteenth, Pettyjohn climbed to tenth by lap-twenty six. Unfortunately Pettyjohn’s Swartz chassied racer lost a cylinder not long after ending his night with an eighteenth place finish…
* Roland Mann had a good night as well. Driving his Pete Cameron owned Rocket No.55, Mann started tenth in the feature and drove a steady race to take sixth at the checkered…
* Luckless DJ Myers was once again fast in his Gunters Honey Warrior, but could not complete the distance. Myers got to as high as third in the feature before he and Jamie Lathroum tangled on lap twenty-four. Even though the damage seemed minimal on his car, Myers pitted and would not return , earning himself twentieth at the finish… News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“Where are all the Cars?”

Potomac (MD) Speedway promoter Rick Jones can only wonder why his car counts have been so low thus far in 2008. The 358 late model division has certainly fallen on hard times. For the second week in a row only eleven cars signed in to race.

Tracks to the north like Williams Grove (PA), Susquehanna (PA), and Hagerstown (MD) all feature a 358 late model class, run on the same night (Saturday), and all get fields of cars of 25-plus. Now, you have Potomac, One of the few Friday night venue’s in the area and still can do no better than eleven cars for a regular show.

Don’t get me wrong the teams that race at Potomac are very loyal and race hard every week, but in my opinion deserve the chance to compete against some larger fields. Potomac’s pay-off, from what I understand, is pretty good but the rules have gotten a little out of hand and maybe that’s the reason for the decline in car count. Whatever the reason’s are hopefully sooner than later the car counts will rise and both the racer and the paying fan will be better off for it.
Potomac (Friday Night) Notebook

* Tommy Wagner Jr. endured a frustrating night. Wagner ran second to eventual feature winner Paul Cursey until the seventeenth lap when mechanical problems beset his Scott Thompson owned Rocket. Wagner would end up eleventh in the final rundown…
* Defending Potomac 358 late model champion Derrick Quade made his season debut on Friday night. Quade missed the first three events due to the lack of a powerplant for his Dirtek no.74. Starting eighth in the feature Quade drove a solid race to take third at the checkered.
* Barry Lear Jr. scored his second top-five run of the season on Friday night as well, taking fourth in the twenty-five lap event. Lear is at the controls of the family owned Lear Family Racing Warrior no.51...
* Chuck Bowie kept his streak intact as he scored his third consecutive runner-up finish of the season, in just three races to date. Bowie left the event the divisional point leader…
* Veteran street stock racer PJ Hatcher has had his hands full with his no.77 machine so far this season. Hatcher led the first eleven laps of the feature before fading late and settling for a seventh place feature finish. Hatcher has only scored one top-five so far this season, a fourth, in the divisions second event of 08’…
* Once again dismal car counts graced the Potomac pit area. Twenty street stocks, 11 358-late models, 7 crate late models, 7 four cylinders and 13 hobby stocks took part in the program. News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

April 20, 2008

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson

“Future at Thunder Valley Looking Brighter”

Despite all the rumors of Joe Padula’s demise as the promoter at Thunder Valley (PA) Raceway, racing will take place at the Central City Pa. oval in 2008.

“We’ve got just about everything we need.” Padula stated as we had a chance to catch up by phone last Sunday afternoon. “We still need some run-in cars and tow trucks, but we’re getting closer everyday.” As far as TVR’s schedule is concerned , the May 3 lid lifter will be a reality. “We won’t have enough equipment available to prepare the track for the April 26 practice session, but the season opener should go-off as expected.” Padula explained.

“I haven’t been this excited in a long while.” Padula bottom lined. “We’ve been able to come such a long way in a short period of time, and I want to say thanks to all the people who have called and offered help, and to those who have given us help, I just can’t say enough.”

Thunder Valley Raceway’s season opener slated for Saturday night May 3, will feature a four-division program of late models, semi-lates, pure stocks and four-cylinders with racing @ 7:30.
Hagerstown (Friday Night) Notebook

* Two-time late model feature winner and current point leader Roy Deese Jr., did not have a memorable outing. Scheduled to start eleventh in the second heat race, that only qualified five cars, Deese had his work cut out for himself. An early race backstretch skirmish, with several cars getting involved including Deese, left his Rocket no.05 with heavy right-side damage, but he was able to continue. When the race finally got underway, Deese had worked himself back to the top-five when he and Mike Lupfer tangled in turn three, with Deese spinning to a stop. Deese was shown to the rear for the incident, but quickly showed his displeasure with Lupfer. Pulling alongside the Lupfer no.06 on the front stretch under caution earned Deese the black-flag for the event. “I don’t think I got the benefit of the doubt on that one.” Deese commented. “I was clearly ahead of him (Mike Lupfer) going into three, and he got into me causing me to spin.” Deese deemed the black-flag inappropriate. “I pulled alongside him (Lupfer) to show him I wasn’t happy, I think he took me out, and I guess the track saw it a different way.” Deese’s misfortune would continue as he was unable to transfer through his consolation, earning himself his first DNQ of the season…
* Mike Atherton drove a tremendous race in taking a solid fourth in the 40-lap event. Atherton also won his heat race as well…
* Winchester Va.’s Bo Feathers made his Hagerstown debut on Friday night. Feather’s easily qualified through his heat earning himself the twelfth starting spot for the feature. However, Feathers was never a factor in the feature, quietly finishing eighteenth…
* Defending MACS series champion, Jason Covert made his first Hagerstown start a good one, as he drove his Klinedinst no.43A from eleventh to fifth at the checkered…
*Tommy Armel had a very good night as well. Off-season rumors had him a weekly campaigner at Hagerstown in 2008, but this would be his first start of the season. Armel drove well all night coming home second to race winner Gary Stuhler.
* Jim Bernheisel had a solid run as well. In his first 08’ Hagerstown appearance, Flyin Jimmy started all the way back in eighteenth and drove a steady race to collect seventh at the finish.
* Pure stock driver Darrin Younker rebounded from his disappointment last week, that saw him break while leading, to score a fine fourth place effort in the fifteen-lap pure stock feature.
* Two-time pure stock feature winner Hans Stamberg broke his streak of top-five feature finishes. An early race tangle sent him to the rear, but Stamberg rallied to take sixth at the checkered.
* Fresh off his big win at Winchester (VA) the week prior, Defending Hagerstown late model champ JT Spence was ready. However, Spence endured a frustrating night that saw him win one of the two consolation races that gave him the twenty-second starting spot for the feature. While coming through the field Spence collected the third turn wall early in the event, wounding his Rocket no.91, and ending his night with a disappointing twenty-third place finish. News or notes to djm5507@aol.com 

May 4, 2009

Maryland Clay Dirt

By Doug Watson
 

“Fun for all at Latimore Valley”
 

Last Sunday afternoon I made my first-ever visit to the Latimore Valley fairgrounds and the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR). Also on tap was the 8th annual Gary Wolford fish fry and Silver Spring (PA) speedway reunion.
Actually what prompted my family and me to travel there on Sunday was a phone call I received from Pennsylvania promoting legend Alan Kreitzer earlier in the week. He asked me if I would like to be a co-pilot to late model driving legend Denny Bonebrake and Hagerstown speedway announcing great Frank Sagi in a special three-lap match race where the drivers are blind-folded! Naturally I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. Fred Rahmer, AARN’s Jerry Reigle and Williams Grove Speedway’s Justin Loh were team number two, Candy Eckert (Rick’s sister) and Kitty Darrah were team number three and Freddy Adam (Reading Speedway modified legend) and Earl Derr were team number four.

That was probably one of the neatest experiences I’ve ever had in all my thirty-six years of motorsports. When the green flag came out, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and none of the other drivers did either to I suppose. Anyhow, we got stuck in the mud in the first turn and after we got out of that jam we completed the three laps, not even guessing where we finished, and put on a whale of a show for the large crowd that was on hand.

When the feature was over, all four teams pulled there cars on to the front-stretch and did a nose-to-nose burn-out until the rear tires blew out on all the cars! Once again the crowd cheered wildly as if we were in victory lane at the Williams Grove national open. So there I was, like a kid in a toy store, standing in a so-called victory lane with some of the greatest driving talent of our area, or in the country for that matter. This is something I’ll truly remember forever.

After that was said and done, it was off to the museum and none other than sprint car hall of famer Lynn Paxton was the driver of the shuttle bus that took you over to the museum. Once again I was on cloud nine. The museum is a sight to behold, especially if you’re a diehard open-wheel fan. Naturally I wish it had some more late model/stock car memorabilia, but nevertheless the museum has so much to look at and all the people who have been involved in getting the museum to where it is today, hats off to you and keep up the good work.

Now that the museum tour was over it was back to the fairgrounds to watch some of the vintage, and not-so-vintage cars race around the fairgrounds oval. As we all piled into the shuttle bus Mr. Paxton took a so-called “Short-cut” back to the fairgrounds that saw us fly down a steep grass covered hill than a sharp right hand turn through a large and deep mud hole, and the whole time Paxton was saying, “I cut this grass all the time, and since when has a little mud ever hurt anyone.!” My wife (Jennifer) and our two daughters (Meghan & Madelyn) laughed wildly as this was without a doubt for them, the highlight of the day.

Back at the fairgrounds we watched several restored cars zip around the nifty shaped oval for several laps. Restored midgets, full-sized sprinters and much to my pleasure even a few stock cars put on quite a nice show. I was thoroughly impressed with the whole afternoon. Not only were we blessed with perfect weather, but the entire day was flat-out fun all day long. I really liked the fact that I was able to take the family along and I think they really enjoyed it, especially the bus ride! I feel so fortunate sometimes because I have met so many people and made so many good friends through racing and a day like this is what it’s all about. If you ever get a chance to go to the EMMR, especially when the fairgrounds are open, take the family and enjoy a great day. News or notes to djm5507@aol.com
 

Maryland Clay Dirt
 

By Doug Watson
 

“Bruce Kane, A Williams Grove Winner”

What a night it was indeed for Glen Burnie Maryland’s Bruce Kane last Saturday night at the Williams Grove (PA) Speedway. Kane pretty much shocked the Williams Grove 358 late model faithful as he scored his first-ever feature win at the fabled 5/8th’s mile oval.

Kane, who ran second for much of the twenty-lap 358 late model feature, figured he had a second place car this night. Race long leader Jake Lettich retired from the event on the sixteenth lap. “Jake had the fastest car out there.” Kane remarked. “He hit some oil or water up there in turn three and he hit the wall. Fortunately for us we were at the right place at the right time.”

Tricky track conditions and a fast closing Bobby Beard at the end of the event had Kane wondering. “We definitely went with the wrong tire.” Kane Bottom lined. “It was really slick going in and coming off the corners, but I knew if we stayed on the bottom we’d be ok.” After it was all said and done Kane was in victory lane. So what was it like to win at Williams grove Speedway?

“I’ve been coming here ever since I was a kid and I always wanted to win here, and now I have and it’s a great feeling.” Kane started his 358 late model career back in 2005 and in 2006 he was able to win his first-ever feature at Potomac (MD) speedway. Since that point Kane has enjoyed moderate success, but feels the best is yet to come. “We have good equipment (MaStersbilt/Jules/Hoosier).” Kane stated. ’We had the car really good towards the end of the season last year and I feel when we get it back to that point, we’ll be even better.” Kane’s weekend started off well as he drove to a fifth place feature finish at Potomac on Friday night…

Potomac (Friday Night) Notebook
*Street stock winner Kurt Zimmerman surprised even himself when he collected his first-ever Potomac feature win. “ I think this is only the twelfth or thirteenth time I’ve ever been in a stock car.” Zimmerman stated from Potomac’s victory lane. “I came from a drag racing background, but this stock car stuff sure is a whole lot more fun!”

* Two-time (04 & 05) Potomac street stock track champion Wayne Suite made his season’s debut on Friday. Suite started eleventh in the main and drove home to a solid fifth at the checkered. Last season saw Suite score seven feature wins and the 2007 hobby stock track title…

* 358 late model pilot Tommy Wagner Jr. was the only driver of the twin-feature program to finish in the top-five in both events. Driving Scott Thompson’s Rocket no.4, Wagner scored a second and a fourth…

* Kyle Nelson became the first multiple feature winner of the young Potomac season as he’s scored wins in the street stocks and on Friday he scored his first Hobby stock win of the season. His hobby stock score was his career 22nd at Potomac…

* Ageless Larry Fuchs, who’s been racing at Potomac since 1975, keeps on winning as he scored a strictly stock feature win on Friday Night…

* Jimmy Gardner, a two-time Potomac street stock winner last season, made his first start of the season on Friday. However it wasn’t very memorable as a first lap crash in the feature ended his night…

* Rookie 358 late model racer Franny Stone had a solid evening. Stone came home third in the first feature and then ended his night with an eighth place ride in feature number two…

* A Solid field of twenty street stocks signed into the pit area on Friday. This is as strong as the street stock ranks have been, this early in the season, since the early 2000’s…

* Former hobby stock champion Chuck Bowie continues to impress in the street stock ranks. In two features run to date, Bowie has two second place feature finishes…

* Since opening day, hobby stock drivers Scotty Nelson and Jason Murphy have not finished outside the top-three. Coincidentally, both drivers have won features this season as well…
News or notes to djm5507@aol.com

April 7, 2008

Maryland Clay Dirt
By Doug Watson
 

“It’s all Worthwhile for Dale Hollidge”

The two-and-a half hour tow one way from Mechanicsville Maryland to the Hagerstown (MD) Speedway every Saturday is all worth while for third year pure stock racer Dale Hollidge. Mid-way through the 2007 season Dale Hollidge and his family run race team decided if they were going to showcase their talents, Hagerstown speedway was the place to do it.

The move paid dividends quickly as the young charger found his way to victory lane at Hagerstown late last season after only a handful of starts. So naturally the decision was made to race at “The Capitol” full-time in 2008 and chase the pure stock division crown.Last Saturday night the first point event of the season was spun-off at Hagerstown and Dale Hollidge scored a thrilling pure stock feature win over opening day victor, Hans Stamberg. “It always helps to start up front.” Hollidge stated in reference to his outside front-row starting spot for the feature. “Hans drove a clean race. I knew he was back there but I knew if I held my line we’d be ok.” With thirty cars in attendance for the event, just qualifying for the event would be a chore. “You’ve got to be right to win up here.” Hollidge bottom lined. “There’s so many good cars up here and when you can win here, you’ve really done something.” Even though Hollidge led all but one lap of the main, he wasn’t completely satisfied with his car. “ The car was just a tick off.” Hollidge revealed. “We got a little tight towards the end of the race, so that’s something we’ll have to work on for next week.”

Hagerstown Notebook

* The large Hagerstown crowd was treated to an overflowing pit area as thirty-eight late models, twenty-five late model sportsman and thirty pure stocks took part in the program under beautiful weather conditions.
* Gary Stuhler made his second Hagerstown start of the season and it was back behind the wheel of his trusty Glen Ninninger owned Rocket. Stuhler recorded a heat race win and collected a solid second place feature finish…
* Brent Smith made his first start of the season on Saturday. Driving Rick Mastrinos Rocket no.50E, Smith did not have a memorable night. A win in the consi gave Smith the twenty-first starting spot for the feature. However, Smith was caught-up in a wild lap ten crash that saw him flip his car on the backstretch. Smith was uninjured in the mishap but the same could not be said for the machine…
* late model driver Scott LeBarron had a solid night. Qualifying easily through his heat, earned LeBarron the eighth starting spot for the feature. LeBarron drove a very smart race to come home fifth at the checkered…
* Opening day LMS feature winner and defending track champion Andy Friese had an interesting evening. A heat race win earned Friese the sixth starting spot for the feature. On lap one of the feature the steering broke on his Rocket no.82 and he was forced to pit. His crew quickly made repairs before he lost a lap. Rejoining the field at the rear Friese quickly re-entered the top-ten before he spun on his own just after half-way. Friese would tag on the rear once again and soldier on to a final ninth place finish. Whew!…
* Last weekend’s late model feature winner Jim Yoder backed up his winning run with a fourth place effort after starting twelfth. His son Dylan was second in the LMS feature…
* Seven-time LMS track champion Wayne Walls Jr. had a miserable night. At the controls of the family owned Rocket no.01Walls struggled in his heat and could only produce a seventeenth place feature finish after starting twentieth…
* Pure stock driver Billy Ecton Jr. became the first driver of the season to get on his head. Ecton flipped his car in the first pure stock heat ending his night…
* Marvin Winters, a twenty-one time Hagerstown winner in the late models , continued his early season misery as he backed up his twenty-second place finish the previous week with a twenty-sixth place finish in this event…
* Two-time Hagerstown pure stock champion Deane Holmes produced a solid sixth place feature effort after starting nineteenth…
* Late model pilot Billy Wampler had a good night in his Rocket no.1W. Wampler won his heat and then raced in the top-five for most of the twenty-five lap feature before settling for sixth at the finish… News or notes to djm5507@aol.com. 

April 7, 2008

“No “Thunder” at Thunder Valley this Season?”

By Doug Watson
 

Thunder Valley (PA) Raceway, one of the premiere racetracks in Western Pennsylvania, has seen it’s share of success since its doors were first opened in June of 1997. However, with its scheduled May opener right around the corner, Thunder Valley may not be racing this season.

Former Bedford (PA) speedway promoter and Hagerstown Maryland Native Joe Padula took the controls of the ailing facility at the start of the 2006 season. Since then, Padula and his staff have brought life back to the Central City Pa. half-mile.
Willie Will, or “Mr. Will” as he was often referred to, constructed the facility in an old coal mine high atop the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania. At the conclusion of the 2004 season the Will family decided not to re-open the facility for the 2005 season. Enter Joe Padula.

Padula and his promotional team were hired by Mr. Will to take the reigns of the facility and bring it back to life. In his two seasons at Thunder Valley, Padula has not only brought it back to life, but has turned it into one of the most successful tracks in the region. Solid car counts, good crowds and quick efficient shows have become the norm rather than the exception at Thunder Valley every Saturday night.

So, with all the improvements Padula and company have brought to Thunder Valley, why is the tracks future in jeopardy?
“It was a huge blow, not only for Thunder Valley but racing in the region, when Mr. Will passed away this winter.” Padula stated. Willie Will had been fighting some pretty serious health issues for the past couple of years before his untimely passing in March of 2008.

“We’re less than a month (May 3) away from our scheduled opener, and things don’t look to good for us.” Padula replied. “Deanna (The late Mr. Wills wife) and I have had limited conversations during the off-season and for whatever reasons she has, it seems like she doesn’t want us there.” “We finally spoke on March 27 and she told me that we would not be allowed to utilize much of the equipment (Water trucks, graders, run-in cars etc..) necessary to operate the facility and I for one, do not understand her thinking.”
With all the success Padula has brought to Thunder Valley what could possibly have prompted Mrs. Will to do this? I for one saw Padula’s show’s first hand as I filled in as his announcer for a show in June of 2007 and things, in my opinion, were very good at Thunder Valley.

“Even though we have a ten year lease to the speedway (Through 2016) I’m really offended at the fact that she thinks that