By Andy Marquis, racingforthewin.com
BUDDS CREEK, Md. (April 4, 2009)—Controversy and breathtaking racing kept spectators entertained at Greg Gunter’s Potomac Speedway all night Friday as they witnessed some exciting racing during “Marshall & Associates Insurance Night”. Close racing, beautiful weather and no rain. What more could you ask for?
A couple weeks ago in the first race of the 2009 season, the Street Stock feature had a controversial finish when Kurt Zimmerman’s red and black #9A car spun off the front bumper of the red #55 piloted by Barry Williams, Jr. Zimmerman and Williams said they have put the incident behind them, and Williams insisted the contact was not intentional. He was iffy about his chances on Friday Night and would not be a factor in the feature. Barry Williams, Sr., an accomplished driver at Potomac Speedway and former Southern Maryland Nationals winner, said his car was solid.
D.J. Myers, who won the opening night Super Late Model event, wasn’t sure about his chances. “We’ll try [to repeat],” insisted Myers. “Normally 20 or 25 cars have a good chance to win.”
David Williams, who battled with Myers for the win, discovered problems with his #07 Chevrolet and told racingforthewin.com before the race that the problems were fixed and that “the car’s good tonight, we’re ready to go.”
Williams had an incident in hot laps when he took off and tried to split two racecars and ran in to the side of George Moreland’s car. Both teams were able to get their cars fixed in time for their respective heat races.
There was also a noteworthy incident in the second Super Late Model heat race. Roland Mann, who went on to win the feature, made contact with Kyle Lear in a battle for the lead. After the finish, Lear drove up beside Mann’s car and rubbed tires.
Modified feature: The Modified feature race concluded with a finish that would take your breath away. Brett Hamilton started on the pole and led the first six laps, until Dan Arnold in car number 5w came roaring by. Arnold would hold on to the lead until a late race caution set up a final lap shootout. That put James Marshall’s number 5 car on his rear bumper for the restart and set up “the five and five show”. Marshall went to the inside and pulled alongside Arnold on the backstretch and took the lead. In turn three, Arnold pulled a crossover move and recaptured the lead from Marshall. Marshall battled back on the outside and bypassed Arnold off of turn four to score back-to-back victories.
Street Stock Feature: Much like the first race of the season, the second street stock feature of the 2009 season ended with bent sheet metal and angry drivers. Ricky Edmonds started on the pole and led every single lap until lap 13. Barry Williams, Sr., who was very confident about his car, pulled to the inside of Edmonds on the backstretch and tried to squeeze by in turn three, but Edmonds was in no mood to give up the lead. Both cars made contact as Edmonds went spinning off the front bumper of the elder Williams. Track officials ruled the contact was a result of aggressive driving and put Williams at the end of the longest line on the restart.
The contact gave the lead to Ben Bowie, who was in the right place at the right time again. However, Ben Bowie pulled the “classic Mark Martin”, going to pit lane on the last lap thinking the race was over. (The “classic Mark Martin” refers to a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol in 1994). Kurt Zimmerman would flash by the slowing Bowie machine and went on to score the upset win.
After the race, racingforthewin.com talked to both Williams and Edmonds about what transpired on the racetrack between them. Williams expressed that he had the inside line and Edmonds blocked him. Edmonds disagreed and felt the contact was intentional, stating Williams was not alongside in turn three. Edmonds also said, “I used the same line I was using all night.” Williams’ take: “He knew I was there and he blocked me.”
Super Late Model feature: Jamie Lathroum held off Ryan Kable, Jr. and Nathan Durnorow for the win. David Williams, who was a factor much of the evening, had mechanical problems and pulled off the track on lap 16.
“This car was on a string tonight.” Lathroum said from Potomac’s victory lane. “Huey and all the guy’s had the car perfect tonight, I think anyone could have driven it.” Five caution periods during the race put the field on Lathroum’s back bumper, but he was more than up to the challenge. “The bottom was the place to be tonight.” Lathroum stated. “The top had gone away, so I knew if we held our line it would be tough to pass up there.”
Hornet feature: Robb Hitt (#41) started on the pole but early mechanical problems forced him to cut his evening very short. That put Nick Catena out front until Buddy Dunagan took the lead on lap 10. Dunagan led until mechanical problems forced him out on lap 16. Dunagan’s problems handed the lead and the win to Nick Catena.
Hobbystock feature: “Wild man” Jimmy Suite started on the point and led the first three laps, until Rusty Alton got the lead. Alton, Suite and Thomas Pickeral battled for position the whole race. Pickeral mounted a late charge at Rusty Alton but came up short.
After two races, the points look like this: Jamie Lathroum leads the Super Late Model point standings by 18 points over D.J. Myers. Darryl Hills is third, Ray Kable is fourth and David Williams fifth. Tommy Wagner leads in Limited Late Model points over Derrick Quade. Craig Tankersley has a five point lead over Kurt Zimmerman in Street Stock points. James Marshall enjoys a 15 point coushin over Dan Arnold in Modified point standings. Rusty Alton leads in Hobbystock points, and Nick Catena leads in Hornet points.
Potomac Speedway PR contributed to this report.
RESULTS:
Super Late Models
1. Jamie Lathroum
2. Ray Kable Jr
3. Kyle Lear
4. Darryl Hills
5. Austin Hubbard
6. Dale Hollidge
7. George Moreland
8. D.J. Myers
9. Deane Guy
10. Jeff Pilkerton
11. Sommey Lacey
12. David Williams
13. Roland Mann
14. Chris Cromer
15. Matt Quade
Street Stocks
1. Kurt Zimmerman
2. Donnie Smith
3. Craig Tankersley
4. Mike Reynolds
5. Josh Gass
6. Ricky Edmonds
7. Kevin Cooke
8. Barry Williams Sr
9. Dale Pope
10. Ben Bowie
11. Scott Wilson
12. Stephen Quade
13. Billy Crouse
14. Barry Williams Jr
15. Kyle Nelson
16. Country Prince
Hobbystock
1. Rusty Alton
2. Thomas Pickeral
3. Jimmy Suite
4. John Burch
5. Don Breach
6. Mike Scaggs
7. Hilton Pickeral
8. Josh Dotson
9. Sam Archer
10. Greg Copsey
11. John Latham
12. Dale Simpson
13. Will Nelson
14. Ronald Meador
Modifieds
1. James Marshall
2. Dan Arnold
3. Brandon Galloway
4. Brett Hamilton
5. Rich Marks
6. Josh Harris
7. Brian Dobie
8. Joey Polevoy
9. Kelly Samuels
10. Tony Quade
11. John Ferguson
Hornets
1. Nick Catena
2. Truman Hancock
3. James Stone Jr
4. David Mabie
5. Buddy Dunagan
6. Kevin King