K-C Raceway
July 9, 2011
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Montgomery mauls AMA Late Model field at K-C Raceway

By Scott Wolfe
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-The NRA Sprint Invaders blitzed into K-C Raceway where Ronnie Blair, Troy, Ohio brought home the popular win over a fine field of cars in a green-to-checkered, non-stop run at Jeff and Vicki Schrader's K-C Raceway Saturday night. In the highly competitive AMRA Late Model feature, Jackson, Ohio driver Jason Montgomery blasted from a 6th place start to the win, Jeremy Berwanger, Murray City claimed the AMRA Modified main, and unstoppable Jamey Adams claimed the Hobby Stock win. 104 cars graced the pit area and a large mid-summer crowd was in attendance at Ohio's fastest 3/8 mile dirt track.

Ronnie Blair, the 2003 Limaland Rookie of the Year, and semi-regular on the K-C high-banks took the lead from Luke Hall on the 5th circuit and never looked back. Hall led the initial parade into turn one with Blair close in tow. On the first restart Caleb Helms and Shawn Dancer tangled to bring out the red.

Once the race restarted, it was flat-foot, pedal-to-the-metal racing for the next 25 circuits. Hall led early with Blair and Butch Schrader all within a nerf-bar of the leader. The trio raced hard for 8 laps with Blair the new leader, now being chased by Schroeder and a rocketing fast-timer Kyle Sauder.

Jimmy Nier battled Luke Hall and Sauder much of the early going, while J.R. Stewart began a march to the front. Sauder bagged both Hall and Nier for third, then Nier held off the charges of Stewart for a top five.

Momentarily, Blair got hung up in lapped traffic, allowing Schroeder to make a last bid. Once again in free sailing Blair blitzed on to the popular win in his Eagle Chassis/Charlie Fisher engines #35. Always a crowd pleaser at K-C Blair said, "I've just kept getting closer and closer (to a win). I think this is my greatest track in the country. I love to run here and do pretty well here. Wow! It's great to get this win. It is Awesome!"

Rounding out the top ten were Ronnie Blair, Butch Schroeder, Kyle Sauder, Jimmy Nier, J.R. Stewart, Randy Hannigan, Luke Hall, Tony Beaber, Jared Horstman, and Hud Horton. J.R. Stewart was the Hard Charger in a 12th to 5th place run. Young Jesse McCreary had a good run come to an end when a broke wheel sent him catapulting through turn four in his heat. McCreary was uninjured.

The late model feature was a stacked, star-studded field which included many track champions from both the surrounding area and K-C Raceway. A great three-wide race between Rod Conley, Jason Montgomery, and Chad Smith, highlighted the first eleven laps. Conley grabbed the lead on the initial start, pulling Smith into turn one. Smith dogged Conley much of the first six laps, when sixth place starter (due to the redraw) Jason Montgomery made it a three way race.

Fans watched the great dual in awe as Montgomery twice pulled along-side Conley in traffic only to get squeezed by a lapped car and shuffled back to third. Smith flew high by Conley momentarily on the high side down the main chute, but Conley again pulled rank at the flagstand. A pack of ten cars, three front runners and seven cars back in the pack made both for a tedious and exciting race for nearly ten laps. Montgomery came back into the fold and took the lead on lap 12, only to have a spin slow the field and put Conley back on the point.

Two laps after the restart Montgomery in his Chip Estes Engines/Rocket Chassis #21 flexed his muscle and sailed on to the win. Gaining popularity with the K-C fans, Smith held third until late when veteran points leader Delmas Conley blasted by for position. Fast timer Ben Adkins tried Smith several times with no avail, while Mark Frazier, who battled hard with Kevin Wagner much of the race finally made the past for sixth. Dean Boyd had a good car all night long, racing hard with Wagner and Mike Wilson for position and Dylan Huron worked his way up the ladder for tenth.

Rounding out the top ten were Montgomery, Rod Conley, Delmas Conley, Chad Smith, Ben Adkins, Mark Frazier, Kevin Wagner, Dean Boyd, Mike Wilson, and Dylan Huron . Montgomery was also the hard charger in the nearly caution free run.

"Rod raced us clean. He always does," exclaimed Montgomery. "This is the first victory with my new daughter here, so that made it special."

"Thanks to my family, crew, all my sponsors, and Montgomery Machine. This win was for my Grandma and Aunt that I lost this week, and for racer Paul Coyan, former K-C Champ who had a heart bypass and has helped influence my racing. It was a tough week, but winning helps."

Jeremy Berwanger took advantage of an early spin by points' leader Dave Fireball Pinkerton, then blasted off to the races. Former AMRA champ Kenny Johnson was eliminated on the first start as well, setting the stage for what was another great, caution-free feature. Brian Whiteman overcame a couple weeks of hard luck to return to championship for as the defending champ challenged early and posted a strong second place. Whiteman had the hammer down, but the x-car of Berwanger had just a little too much.

Tim Tribby it seemed had cars around him all night long, but the veteran maintained poise in holding off hard charger Rob Stambaugh and Steven Duty, then making a late race pass of Tim Rayburn. Mark Kaetzel has had two impressive runs at K-C this season holding off great charges of Jimmy Lennex, Jeremy Rayburn, and Luke Jordan. Stambaugh was nothing less than impressive in a 20th to fifth place run. Vince Conrad, one of the AMRA points leaders, in a rare K-C appearance won the consy and advanced seven spots in a great run.

Rounding out the top ten were Jeremy Berwanger, Brian Whiteman, Tim Tribby, Tim Rayburn, Rob Stambaugh, Mark Kaetzel, Jimmy Lennex, Jeremy Rayburn, Luke Jordan, and Vince Conrad.

Berwanger said in victory lane, "We've been good and had a great race car all year. We've just had some bad luck and it was good to see it come together tonight, especially for my crew. Thanks to all my sponsors, my owners--Tony, Delbert, and Ralph and everyone else who works so hard on this team."

Jamey Adams now has a bounty of over $150 on him. He is now 9 for 9 after bring home the Dan Reno Hobby Stock win Saturday over the ever-improving, hard running Brandon Mather. Mather stayed with Adams much of the way, but Adams was just too overpowering. Three great runs highlighted the night. Brandon Thompson started scratch in Jason Holstein's car and blasted toward the front. No less impressive was that of Tommy Mossbarger, former track champion, who started 17th and catapulted to a fourth place run only to be edged out by inches at the line for third. The three drivers all had great drives for good finishes. Officially, the last to third run of Thompson was the Hard Charger honor.

After tempers had flared earlier in the night all the hard-charging and good show was praised by the fans and staff in the feature of the highly competitive division.

Additionally, Tracey Ross was involved in a mid race tangle and blasted back off the tail for fifth in a great drive. Davey Akers held third much of the race, but faded late for sixth. Rounding out the top ten were Jamey Adams, Brandon Mather, Brandon Thompson, Tommy Mossbarger, Tracey Ross, Davey Akers, Phil Rice, Jack Martin, Butch Eblin, and Paul Baker.

K-C races again Saturday, July 16 with the Late Models, AMRA Advanced Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and the non-win Boss Sprint Series.

The summary: July 9, 2011 K-C Raceway

AMRA Late Models (23)
Fast Time: Ben Adkins 14:80
Heat One: Delmas Conley, Ben Adkins, Mark Frazier, Paul Davis, Kenny Spencer, Roger Pertuset, Josh Bivens, AudieSwartz, Shannon Roese
Heat Two: Rod Conley, Chad Smith, Mike Wilson, Dean Boyd, Ken Howell,Jason PErry, Rod Evans, Richard Jenkins
Heat Three: Jason Montgomery, Kevin Wagner, Kevin Layne, Dylan Huron, Billy Gullion, Brett Foster, Butch Dowdy, Tommy Bigham
B-Main: Jason Perry, Brett Foster, Shannon Roese, Audie Swartz, Rod Evans, Butch Dowdy, Roger Pertuset, Josh Bivens, Richard Jenkins, Tommy Bigham
Feature: Jason Montgomery, Rod Conley, Delmas Conley, Chad Smith, Ben Adkins, Mark Frazier, Kevin Wagner, Dean Boyd, Mike Wilson, Dylan Huron, Ken Howell, Billy Gullion, Kevin Layne, Jason Perry, Audie Swartz, Brett Foster, Kenny Spencer, Shannon Roese, Rod Evans, Paul Davis

NRA Sprint Cars (25)
Fast Time: Kyle Sauder 13:001
Heat One: Tim Allison, Hud Horton, J.R. Stewart, Butch Schroeder, Kyle Sauder, Jared Horstman, Jarrod Delong, Jesse MCCreary, Todd Heuerman
Heat Two: Ketn Wolters, Dennis Yoakam, Ronnie Blair, Shawn Dancer, Ryan Myers, Caled Helms, Gregg Dalman, Mike Miller
Heat Three: Jimmy Nier, Randy Hannigan, Dallas Hewitt, Luke Hall, Tony Beaber, Max Stambaugh, Jeremy Powley, Tim Viles
B-Main: Caleb Helms, Shawn Dancer, Jared Horstman, Mike Miller, Tim Viles, Max Stambaugh, Jarrod Delong, Jeremyu Powley, Jesse McCreary, Todd Heureman
Feature: Ronnie Blair, Butch Schroeder, Kyle Sauder, Jimmy Nier, J.R. Stewart, Randy Hannigan, Luke Hall, Tony Beaber, Jared Horstman, Hud Horton, Ryan Myers, Dennis Yoakam, Dallas Hewitt, Tim Allison, Kent Wolters, Mike Miller, Gregg Dalman, Tim Viles, Shawn Dancer, Caleb Helms

MALTA AMRA MODIFIEDS (35)
Advanced Services Modifieds
Heat One: Dave Pinkerton, Kenny Johnson, Mark Kaetzel, Adam Colley, Derrick Ramsey, Lee Slusher, Bob Hurst, Brad Butler, T.J. Harper
Heat Two:Jeremy Berwanger, Bob Crace, Jr., Tim Tribby, John Arthurs, Vince Conrad, Rick Venham, J.OPP. Roberts, Eric Hatfield, Sean Settles
Heat Three: Tim Rayburn, Jimmy Lennex, Luke Jordan, Bruce Gould, Donnie Stewart, Scott Collier, Eddie Cottrill, Rob Stambaugh.
B-Main One: Vince Conrad, Rick Venham, J.P. Roberts, Derrick Ramey, Sean Settles, Bob Hurst, Jr., Brad Butler, Lee Slusher, Eric Hatfield, T.J. Harper
B-Main Two: Donnie Stewart, Rob Stambaugh, Lonnie Kidd, Dale Lyons, Scott Collier, Mike Arthurs, Chris Moore, Eddie Cottrill, Jr.
Feature:Jeremy Berwanger, Brian Whiteman, Tim Tribby, Tim Rayburn, Rob Stambaugh, Mark Kaetzel, Jimmy Lennex, Jeremy Rayburn, Luke Jordan, Vince Conrad, Bob Crace, Jr., Steven Duty, Rick Venham, David Pinkerton, Bruce Gould, Mark Bailey , Adam Colley, John Arthurs, Donnie Stewart, Kenny Johnson

Dan Reno Hobby Stocks (21)
Heat One: Brandon Mather, Brandon Thompson, Tracey Ross, Mike Brust, Paul Baker, Tim Cutler, Zach Vanhoose, Travis Pertuset, Tommy Mossbarger, Cort Fisher, Gary Park
Heat Two: Jamey Adams, Jason Holstein, Davey Akers, Phil Rice, Butch Eblin, Jack Martin, Danny Hamilton, Blake Sheets, Evan Seitz
Feature: Jamey Adams, Brandon Mather, Brandon Thompson, Tommy Mossbarger, Tracey Ross, Davey Akers, Phil Rice, Jack Martin, Butch Eblin, Paul Baker, Tim Cutler, Zach Vanhoose, Mike Brust, Travis Pertuset, Blake Sheets, Danny Hamilton, Jason Holstein, Cort Fisher, Evan Seitz, Gary Park