By Andy Marquis, RacingForTheWin.com
BUDDS CREEK, Md. (May 9, 2009)—Some of the biggest names in super late model dirt racing were at Potomac Speedway on Friday
night to compete for a $5,000 purse at Potomac Speedway’s 36th anniversary in the Stinger 50. The rain held off all night, and a 'full house' of fans enjoyed watching some of the best racing the region has had to offer this year.
The impressive entry list included Ricky Eckert, Jeremy Miller, Jason Covert, Ricky Elliot along with 29 other local and regional racers.
Kirk Ryan and Darryl Hills brought the night’s action to the green flag in the first Super Late Model heat race. Ryan jumped the start, forcing Jason Covert to take the lead due to a penalty for Ryan. Kirk Ryan took the lead on the second lap. Covert and Ryan began eating and banging for the lead, and Covert took the lead back on lap 4. On the last lap, Ryan got in the back of Covert in turn 4 to take the lead and the win.
DJ Myers brought the second heat to the green flag but Andy Anderson took the lead by the time they completed the first lap. Josh Richards scooted by for the lead on lap 6, with DJ Myers back in second. Josh Richards held on to win the heat with DJ Myers finishing second and Eckert 3rd.
A jumped restart on the 3rd heat put Ricky Elliott on the pole and he took advantage by leading every lap and winning the heat by a comfortable margin.
David Williams started on the pole in the 4th SLM heat race. Jeremy Miller rocketed to second place and took the lead on lap 4, but Williams took it back on the outside line. The following lap, Miller went back to the front and the two traded positions several times. Williams took the outside and Miller took the inside, but a caution came out with 2 to go, resetting the field with Miller in front. Williams' car stalled in turn 2, and he could not get it re-fired and they dropped out of the heat, moving Deane Guy to second but Guy was unable to do anything with Miller and Jeremy Miller won.
Ray Kable, Jr. and Harold Dorsey, Jr. brought the field to the green flag in the Consultation heat (run to fill the last four spots for the main event). Dorsey won the race, and Dale Hollidge got the last transfer spot by edging out Roy Deese in a fantastic side-by-side battle.
The Dash, an 8 lap heat race run to determine the starting lineup, was next on the agenda. Deane Guy started on the pole with Austin Hubbard alongside. Guy spun in turn 4 on the second lap, handing the lead to Hubbard. Richards took the lead on the restart, Hubbard fell to second and Myers moved to third. Kirk Ryan got by Myers for third on lap 5. Richards held on to the lead, edging out Hubbard at the line while Kirk Ryan slammed the outside wall off turn 4.
That brought us to the main event, a 50 lap dash for $5,000 cash. Josh Richards and Austin Hubbard brought them to the stripe, and the Stinger 50 at Potomac Speedway was green. Hubbard challenged for the lead immediately but Richards held him off. The first caution came out on lap 4 for George Moreland and Andy Anderson. Both cars spun in turn 1, both drivers were able to continue. The third caution slowed the field on lap 21 when Darryl Hill's car came to a rest just as the leader was putting cars a lap down. Jamie Lathroum, speedway point standings leader, started 23rd and was up to 9th by lap 21. Kyle Lear was also working his way through the field; he was up to fourth by lap 24.
Ray Kable Jr.’s car came to a rest in turn 2 slowing the field down for the fourth time of the night on lap 25. Jamie Lathroum also took his car behind the wall during the yellow-flag, ending his impressive charge to the front. On the ensuing restart, Kyle Lear rocketed his way from seventh to fourth position just before the caution came out again.
Ricky Elliott broke loose on lap 30 and he slipped back three positions but got back going. DJ Myers' bid ended on lap 33 when he took his car to pit road. All the while, Lear and Hubbard began putting pressure on race leader Josh Richards. Lear moved to second and then took the lead in turn one on lap 38. Hubbard slipped to fifth in the ensuing laps.
The last big shake up inside the top five all night took place on lap 41 when Jason Covert, Austin Hubbard and Josh Richard got in to some side-by-side, and at times three-wide, racing. Hubbard moved to second and would hold on to the position. Kyle Lear held on to the lead for the remainder of the event and took home the $5,000 paycheck.
A frightening moment to report on during the Street Stock feature: Several cars got stacked on the back straightaway, in what was just the product of good hard racing. The stack up led to Scott Wilson slamming in to the inside barriers head-on. Wilson walked away on his own power and required no medical assistance. His car, however, was devastated. Kurt Zimmerman went on to win the race, which will put a dent in Donnie Smith's lead in the championship point standings.
RACE RESULTS:
Super Late Models
1. Kyle Lear
2. Jim Bernheisel
3. Jason Covert
4. Josh Richards
5. Rick Eckert
6. Ricky Elliott
7. Austin Hubbard
8. Ross Rbinson
9. Andy Anderson
10. Deane Guy
11. Billy Wampler
12. Dale Hollidge
13. Harold Dorsey Jr
14. Roland Mann
15. George Moreland
16. Rob Schirmer
17. D.J.Myers
18. Jamie Lathroum
19. Ray Kable Jr
20. Roy Deese
21. Greg Roberson
22. Darryl Hills
23. Jeremy Miller
24. Bo Feathers
Street Stocks
1. Kurt Zimmerman
2. Kyle Nelson
3. Donnie Smith
4. Kevin Cooke
5. Ben Bowie
6. Ben Oliver
7. Craig Tankersley
8. Kirk Evans
9. Ricky Edmonds
10. Country Prince
11. Scott Wilson
12. Mike Reynolds
13. Jason Murphy
Modifieds
1. Brett Hamilton
2. James Marshall
3. Rich Marks
4. Dan Arnold
5. Brian Maxey
6. Brandon Galloway
7. Brian Dobie
8. Joey Polevoy
9. Josh Harris
10. Kelly Samuels
11. Tony Quade
Hornets
1. Buddy Dunagan
2. Nick Catena
3. David Mills
4. Truman hancock
5. Jake Riethmeier
6. Joey Dorshefski
7. Kyle Proctor