Allegany County Speedway
July 9, 2011
________________________________________

Sponaugle storms to third win at The Rock

CUMBERLAND, Md. -- Matt Sponaugle conquered the field again in the 358 BedRock Shootout series on Saturday night at The Rock, Allegany County Speedway.

Daryl Whetstone and Kevin Beers Jr. picked up their first wins of the season in the Street Stock and 4-Cylinder races, respectively. Marcius VanMeter and Gary Proctor won the Hobby Stock and 6/8-Cylinder races for their second wins.

Sponaugle started the 25-lap feature out front and drove away in the last half of the race. The win was his third overall and second this season in the 358 Shootouts presented by BBi and Cresap Automotive Machine. Two races for the Shootout remain this season.

With Sponaugle out front, Corey Weaver picked up second from Travis Stickley on lap three. Tim Smith Jr. followed to take third on the next lap. After the second and final caution on lap six, Sponaugle raced his way to a comfortable lead and went on to win by a straightaway. Weaver's runner-up finish was his best of the season. Smith settled for third after pressuring Weaver in the last half of the race. Stickley and Brian Lowery wrapped up the top five finishers.

Whetstone broke through for the victory in the 16-lap Street Stock feature after three straight runner-up finishes this year. He outdistanced previous feature winners Brian Duffy and John Whitfield by over two seconds at the finish. Whetstone started on the pole.

Whitfield and Duffy started fifth and sixth. Whitfield got to second quickly but gave up the spot to Duffy on lap five. Whetstone was too far ahead and no cautions came to help Duffy and Whitfield close the gap. Justin Bonnett and Kevin Deremer completed the top five.

VanMeter's big move at the start of the 15-lap Hobby Stock race allowed him to get the lead and eventually the victory. Starting fourth, VanMeter sprinted toward turn one when the green waived on the outside, charging past pole-sitter David Riley, Justin Michael and Jimmy Moreland. VanMeter won by seven car lengths over Riley. Michael, Moreland and Bill VanMeter finished third through fifth.

Beers claimed the 4-Cylinder win by three seconds over Davey Lambert, Mike Lauffer, Jason Riggleman and Nick Iski. Beers came from sixth to the lead in the first three laps. He got around Mike Lauffer in turn two on lap three and pulled away from Lambert late in the race. Lambert took second from Lauffer on lap seven.

Proctor's win was his second straight in the 6/8-Cylinder main event. He started seventh, avoided an early crash and grabbed the lead on lap three from Ray Shepherd. Jason Stoner also passed Shepherd for second moments later. Proctor led by 10 car-lengths until Stoner bounced off the wall on lap nine. Proctor cruised ahead to win by over four seconds. Stoner, Shepherd, Brian Ringer and Joe Rodgers completed the top five.

The Rock will be back in action on July 30.

The Rock - Allegany County Speedway
Saturday
July 9, 2011
Race Results

LIMITED LATE MODEL
358 SHOOTOUT ROUND 3 (25 laps): 1. Matt Sponaugle, 2. Corey Weaver, 3. Tim Smith Jr., 4. Travis Stickley, 5. Brian Lowery, 6. Barry Miller, 7. Matt Emerick, 8. Travis Calhoun, 9. Jake Griffith, 10. Craig Perigo, 11. Ryan Dixon, 12. Ronnie Bottenfield, 13. Eric Irvin, DNS: Nathan LaSalle.

STREET STOCK (16 laps): 1. Daryl Whetstone, 2. Brian Duffy, 3. John Whitfield, 4. Justin Bonnett, 5. Kevin Deremer, 6. Keith Koontz; DNS: Buddy Wilson, Elwood Hyre, Rick Wright.

HOBBY STOCK (15 laps): 1. Marcius VanMeter, 2. David Riley, 3. Justin Michael, 4. Jimmy Moreland, 5. Bill VanMeter, 6. Mike Lewis, 7. Bradley Feight; DNS: Bryan Morris.

FACTORY STOCK 4-CYLINDER (12 laps): 1. Kevin Beers Jr., 2. Davey Lambert, 3. Mike Lauffer, 4. Jason Riggleman, 5. Nick Iski, 6. Chris Shoemaker, 7. Phil Best, 8. Kevin See, 9. John Crowfis Jr., 10. Jason Poland, 11. Daniel Wratchford, 12. Dwain Rhodes, 13. DacRon Powell; DNS: Neil Bauer Jr.

FACTORY STOCK 6/8-CYLINDER (12 laps): 1. Gary Proctor, 2. Jason Stoner, 3. Ray Shepherd, 4. Brian Ringer, 5. Joe Rodgers, 6. Dave Comer, 7. Ryan Peer, 8. James Clark, 9. Russell Hutzell, 10. Brandon Inglish.