FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 12, 2010

PLESSINGER, WEAVER, WARRENFELTZ PICK UP HAGERSTOWN’S TOP AWARDS

By BOB VORES
HAGERSTOWN, MD -- Celebrating the 2010 season and passing out awards to the top ten drivers in each division, Hagerstown Speedway officially ended its 63rd season on Saturday evening with the Annual Awards Banquet. Two new faces were atop the standings as Frankie Plessinger and Pete Weaver recorded their career first championships while Mike Warrenfeltz wrapped up in his fifth title.

Plessinger, of Big Cove Tannery, Pa., having lost the 2009 bid in the late model division by one point, was on top the standings all but the first week to get his first ever title in 27 years. Weaver, of nearby Williamsport, Md., who moved into the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic late models sportsman class in 1996, went atop the standings on July 3rd and just got better towards season end to earn his first honor. Hagerstown’s Warrenfeltz remained steadfast from the first race when he was involved in an early race skirmish, restarted on the rear and went to the front until the last in the Ernie D’s pure stocks.

Plessinger had other issues that weighed on him during the 2009 season, but still provided good competition to the final race when Roy Deese Jr. won his seventh title.

“That was a tough deal for the whole year,” Plessinger said of his one point loss last season. “Everything that happened, losing Granny Jean (Weaver), (Uncle) Henry (Plessinger) and all that, and then losing the points by one, the whole year fit in the same by losing. I’d rather have lost by 100 points than the one point.”

But Plessinger came back this season, looked down the road and set his sights on the big picture.

“It was something I kept on my mind all year,” said Plessinger, 45. “It was something I’ve wanted to do. I have trophies from every finish in the top ten points, a couple seconds, a couple thirds, but not a first. I’ve been trying to, but just had bad luck in past years. Once we got these Rocket cars, it seemed like we got turned around. Back when (Rodney) Franklin won the points in 1997, we switched cars and were out to lunch for a long time.”

Only 39 points behind, Deese was still in contention for this year’s title until he had a suspension problem in the next to last race and retired to the pits which opened Plessinger’s lead to 125 heading into the final Hays/McBee event. Alan Sagi passed Deese in the event and trailed Plessinger by 94 in the final tally.

Plessinger’s single win this season was the 45th Annual Johnny Roberts Memorial.

“That was the one race that I wanted to win, more than any other after I had won the McBee,” Plessinger said.” I’d run second in it a couple times.”

He posted five top fives and nine top tens in nine point races while having seven top fives and 15 top tens in the overall 18 events.

Plessinger gave special thanks to crew members Ellis McQuade, P.R. McQuade, Johnny Seiders and Bill Cover who kept the P&W Excavating/Ott Brothers/Shear Custom & Speed/AAMCO Transmission Rocket late model on the track and been behind his efforts for many years.

Sagi was strong towards the end of the 50-lap Hays/McBee event to overtake Deese and advance into the points runner up spot by 15 markers. He recorded two wins, five top fives and eight top tens in the nine point events and overall had 10 top tens in the overall l8 events. Deese had one score, five top fives and eight top tens while overall had seven top fives and 10 top tens in the 18 events. Tyler Hershey and Mike Lupfer were next, separated by only three points, having competed in all point events and 15 overall events.

There were 13 different winners during the season with Josh Richards picking up the opening event plus the World of Outlaw Conococheague event with Jason Covert (Three State Flyer), Marvin Winters (Ernie’s 25), Gary Stuhler (Octoberfest) and Alan Sagi (Bowers/Durham) having double scores. Single wins were posted by Al Shawver Jr, Plessinger (Roberts), Deese Jr., and J. T. Spence (Hays/McBee), while first timers were Jack Pencil (TSF), Dan Schlieper (Lucas), Dan Stone (TSF) and Scott LeBarron (TSF).

With two rain outs, the late models averaged 26.4 cars for the nine point events, 29 cars for the 18 overall events affected by seven rain outs and 36.6 for the six special (Lucas, World of Outlaw, Three State Flyers) events.

Weaver, 43, who previously spent countless hours involved with his two sons quarter midget racing careers over a combined 17 years along with his own racing career which dated back 18 years, continued with even more responsibility as 16 year old Justin joined him on the track.

“I’ve been involved in racing for a long time,” said Weaver driver of the Wise Construction/D&D Auto Recyclers/Tri State Fence Rocket. “The quarter midgets was a tough deal even if it was in Hagerstown, but with two boys…some shows were all day Saturday’s and then I’d go over and race at the big track. I look back now and wonder how in the heck I ever did it.”

When the final point race ended, it was a Weaver celebration in victory lane when Justin won his career first late model sportsman race and Weaver locked up the championship.

“I think he has a lot more talent than his dad,” Weaver said. “We joked about it on Wednesday the week before and it was the last points race. I told him ‘You have one last shot to get it done. It’d really be cool if you’d win and I could win the championship.’ I’ll be darned if that isn’t how it worked out.”

After taking the point lead and remaining consistent, he ended with a 140 point advantage over Terry Flaherty. He ended with a pair of wins and four seconds in the twelve point events.

“We had some pretty consistent runs which I contribute mostly to Dougie Timmons. He’s the one that sets the car up,” Weaver said about teaming with former Winchester Speedway promoter Doug Timmons and son Dougie at the end of the 2008 season.

Flaherty posted five top fives and nine top tens in the 12 point events while four time champion, Wayne Walls Jr. had two top fives and seven top tens in the 12 events while Scott Palmer was only 17 points behind with one win, five top fives and nine top tens while competing in 11 events. Ashley Barrett was fifth with two wins, seven top fives and nine top tens in his ten events.

There were nine winners in the 13 overall events with 2009 champion, Kyle Lear having three scores including the Bowman Special while Weaver (Hoosier Daddy) and Barrett each recorded two. Singles went to Steve Axtell Jr, Palmer, Glenn Elliot and Frankie Plessinger (Small Car Nationals) while rookies, Rodney Walls and Justin Weaver each were victorious for the first time. With two rain outs, the division averaged 24.4 cars for the 12 point races and 25 for the 13 overall events.

Warrenfeltz previously won the pure stock championship in 1992 and 1997 before teaming with car owner Todd Smith in 2000 aboard the Turner Bowling Centers/ Nutter’s Ice Cream/Weiner Distributing/Antetiem Paving/New Horizon/NAPA Monte Carlo. He then won the title in 2004 and again in 2007.

Domination was the name of the game this season as even following a skirmish in the opening race, pitting and restarting on the rear, Warrenfeltz surged to the front to win the opening event and seven more including the Cornett Memorial in the 16 point events and totally, had 14 top fives by season’s end.

“I try to give the sponsors 150% every time I’m behind the wheel,” said Warrenfeltz. “I want to thank all the sponsors, the guys that worked on this car every week, the car owner, Todd Smith and my wife, they sacrificed a lot to get here. There will be no more championships. I’ll just come and collect a win every once and awhile.”

Finishing 187 points back and recording his career first win was Steve Lowery who also had 10 top fives and 14 top tens in the point events. It was another 293 points to Charlie Pensinger who recorded four top fives and eight top tens while Kenny Dillon was fourth with a single win, five top fives and ten top tens. Two time winner Dave Stouffer Jr. ended fifth, having eight top fives and 13 top tens.

Warrenfeltz and Stouffer were the only drivers to score more than once. Dillon, Brian Miller, Darrin Younker scored single wins while first time winners were Lowery, Danny Beavers and Brian Duffy.
Pure stocks averaged 18 cars for the 16 point events and 19.4 cars in 17 overall events.

Weather played a big factor in lost dates for the late models lost as the initial three events were cancelled while four later dates affected them and the other regular divisions. Late model sportsman lost two races while the pure stocks lost four.

The enduro racers had eight events overall with “Krazy” Kenny Thomas posting five wins with Kenny Thomas having a single score while Chris Ebersole doubled and included the 75-lap championship finale as part of the Small Car Nationals.

The 410 sprints made three visits as Daryn Pittman was the Keystone Cup Series winner while Allen Krimes posted the PA Sprint Speedweek win a month later. After being injured in a traffic accident in February, Cody Darrah made his first return behind the wheel a good one as he collected the $10,000 Octoberfest triumph to close the season.

Billy Decker was victorious in the season opening DIRT modified event while Brett Hearn picked up the early small block modified Octoberfest qualifier win. Hearn then won the big block event in the Octoberfest while Tim McCreadie was the small block winner.

The (Silver Spring) super sportsman racers returned this season as part a special program with the Three State Flyers late model finale as veteran Rich Eichelberger collected that win.
Richards Gwizdale won the four cylinder feature as part of the Small Car Nationals.

Special awards were presented to various drivers in the three divisions.

Recipients of the late model awards were: Mike Lupfer (Sportsmanship Award); Roy Deese Jr. (Hard Luck Award); and Gary Stuhler (Best Appearing Award).
The HTMA late model sportsman awards went to: Donnie Farlling (Sportsmanship); Richard Walls (Hard Luck); and Courtney Shreiner (Best Appearing).
Receiving the Ernie D’s pure stock awards were: Charlie Pensinger (Sportsmanship); Darrin Younker (Hard Luck); Danny Beavers (Best Appearing).

Rookie of the Year was third generation driver, Rodney Walls, grandson of the late Wayne Walls Sr. and son of Richard Walls. Coming from the four cylinder division at Hill Valley, he scored his career first win and ended ninth in the standings.

C. J. Lovelace of Shippensburg, Pa received the 2010 Media Award. Lovelace joined the Hagerstown Herald Mail and began supplying the weekly results for publication.

Sponsor appreciation awards were also provided to the following businesses for their support and involvement throughout the season: Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic (Late Model Sportsman title sponsor, Shootout race & Hoosier Daddy race sponsor); Premium Distributors (Miller Light Point Fund); Ernie D’s ( Pure Stock title sponsor, Ernie D’s 25 late model race); Sleep Inn, McDonalds – Clear Spring; Booze Brothers Performance (Parts supplier); Sign Design-Bill Funk (Champion signs); Hagerstown Ford (Pace Truck); Checkered Flag Lube Center (Late Model Sportsman Hard Charger): Turner’s Bowling Centers (Pure Stock Hard Charger); D & D Auto Recycling (Sunoco Race Fuel supplier); County Medical Ambulance; Nininger’s Tire & Auto Center (Red Nininger Memorial sponsor)

Inducted into the Speedway Hall of Fame was Hagerstown’s Bill Potts, an unknown to some but well known to others.

Potts has been involved around the race tracks for more than 50 years and still can be seen at Hagerstown on any given Saturday evening after beginning to work there in 2004 as one of the tow truck operators.

His first experience as a car owner was in 1955. Two of his known first drivers were Fred Rohrer and Mert Stine. He’s either owned or been the crew chief for a various number of sprint car drivers and includes such names as Smokey Snellbaker and Keith Kauffman, both who still are active drivers, along with Johnny Haberback, Joe Lingle, Rick Schmelyum and others.

Potts has also been crew chief for late model drivers such as Ronnie Byers, Ernie Davis, Nathan Durboraw, Bobby Ballentine, D J. Myers, Andy Anderson and more.

With his vast experience, Potts remains a wealth of knowledge to many drivers who still ask his guidance about the handling of their race cars.

“He’s helped a lot of people, made a number of guys good race car drivers and can tell all kinds of stories,” a good friend said. “He’s super smart on chassis set ups and tire choices. A lot of the pure stock guys and others tell him what their car is doing and he’ll tell them what to do with it. He keeps up on that stuff. I’ve seen him help out on some quarter midgets. He’s friends with everybody. It’s amazing just how many people he knows.”

He’s not out to attract attention but will help anyone that asks him something about racing.

“’I like being in the shadows’, is what he told me,” a friend said.

Potts joins previous inductees: Buddy Armel, Denny Bonebrake, Larry Gorman, Sam Nally, Wayne Stouffer, Tom Peck, Jerry Hart, Frank Sagi, Dick Warrenfeltz, Bill Richards, Al Richards, Rodney Franklin, Stan Dillon, Mert Stine, Johnny Grum and Jerry Fries as recipients of the prestigious honor.

Promoter Frank Plessinger released the tentative 2011 schedule which will get under way with the Race –A-Rama on Thursday-Saturday, February 24-26th with a test and tune session on March 19 before racing officially begins.

Promoter Plessinger and the speedway staff wish everyone a safe and very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and look forward to everyone being able to rejoin us in 2011.
For all the up to date news, the 2011 schedule, driver information and more, check out the speedway’s website at www.hagerstownspeedway.com.

2010 Final Point Standings

Late Models: 1.Frankie Plessinger, 2193; 2.Alan Sagi, 2099; 3.Roy Deese Jr. 2084; 4.Tyler Hershey, 2046; 5.Mike Lupfer, 2043; 6.Al Shawver Jr., 1993; 7.Gary Stuhler, 1986; 8.Marvin Winters, 1982; 9.Jerry Bard, 1867; 10.Brian Booze, 1586

Hoosier Tire Late Model Sportsman: 1.Pete Weaver, 2526; 2.Terry Flaherty, 2386; 3.Wayne Walls Jr, 2296; 4.Scott Palmer, 2279; 5.Ashley Barrett, 2200; 6.Ryan Walls, 2171; 7.Coutney Shreiner, 2165; 8.Richard Walls, 2089; 9.Rodney Walls, 1978; 10.Donnie Farlling, 1938

Ernie D’s Pure Stocks: 1.Mike Warrenfeltz, 4126; 2.Steve Lowery, 3939; 3.Charlie Pensinger, 3646; 4.Kenny Dillon, 3639; 5.Dave Stouffer Jr., 3592; 6.Kevin Koontz, 3526; 7.Danny Beavers, 3511; 8.Drew Fitzsimmons, 3422; 9.Brian Miller, 3255; 10.Darrin Younker, 3094