Wayne County Speedway
April 27, 2012
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Helms, McLoughlin, Aronhalt and Dickerson winners at Wayne County Speedway

by Ryan Pearson
Orrville, Ohio (April 27, 2012) Under sunny and cool conditions officials at NAPA AUTO PARTS Wayne County Speedway swung open the gates for the second edition of 2012 racing season. Fans were treated to some door handle to door handle racing in all divisions.  Orrville Surplus sponsored the evening’s action. “The racing tonight was real fast. These cars weren’t far off the track record.” stated General Manager Jason Flory. “The track was tacky the whole night and the racing was really good” Flory continued.
 
In the Fisher Performance 410 Sprints Findley, Ohio Caleb Helms and Millersburg, Ohio Rob Chaney brought the field down to the green flag. On the opening lap Chaney bolted to the lead ahead of Helms, Bryce Dickson and Mitch Harble. As Chaney stayed out front eyes were on Danny Mumaw who on lap ten dipped under Harble for third. On lap thirteen Chaney’s left rear tire went flat nearly making the 38k car drift into the turn two guardrail. Chaney was able to keep it off the guardrail but came to rest with the flat tire as he was leading. Helms benefited from Chaneys misfortune as he was handed the lead. When the racing resumed a tight battle broke out between Cole Duncan and Andrew Palker for third. On lap fourteen Palker used the high side to pass Duncan. On lap sixteen Duncan didn’t give up and re-took the position from Palker and set his sights on second place running Mumaw. In the closing laps Helms held the lead over Mumaw, Duncan, Palker and Jason Dolick. As Helms entered turn one Mumaw dove under Helms, contact ensued and Helms spun. Under caution race track officials charged Mumaw with causing the caution and Helms was given his position back. Helms held off a charging Duncan to take the win; Palker, Dolick and Mumaw rounded out the top five. Helms and Chaney won heat races and Nick Patterson (#33) was the hard charger. In NAPA AUTO PARTS Victory lane Helms dedicated his win to a friend who recently passed away.
 
In the Lias Tire Super Late Model division Cory Conley and Ryan Markham led the field to the green flag. From the drop of the green flag an epic battle waged at the front of the pack between Conley and Markham. For the first three laps side by side, both drivers pushing their machines hard. On lap four Markham took the lead by a nose ahead of Conley. The war waged as Conley fought back and took the lead on lap six.  More door handle to door handling racing ensued as Markham was not giving up. As each lap ticked away these two warriors were continuing to duke it out not giving up. Conley then Markham then Markham ahead of Conley a great back and forth battle. On lap ten Markham slightly slid high and Conley cleared him to take the lead. The tight racing up front allowed Shane McLoughlin to quietly stalk the leaders from his third place position. He was followed by Doug Drown, George Lee and Doug Dodd. On the next circuit McLoughlin charged past Markham and closed the gap on Conley. Lap twelve McLoughlin caught Conley and slipped under him to take the lead. The leaders caught lapped traffic on lap fifteen but McLoughlin was able to maneuver through traffic without losing any ground. On lap twenty the races would be halted as the red flag flew over the track for Drown who had mechanical issues and slid out of control and struck a uke tire. Drown was ok but his Rocket chassis suffered severe damage. When racing returned to the track McLoughlin jumped back ahead of Conley and held him off for the win. It was McLoughlins first win at WCS this season. He was followed to the checkers by Conley, Lee, Markham and Rick Bond. Conley, Markham and Drown won heat races. Larry Bellman won the B-Main and Charlie Duncan was the hard charger.
 
In the Bremenour Electric Modifieds Norm Aronhalt and Jess Hartman led the charge to the green flag. Aronhalt jumped to the lead ahead of Hartman and Kevin Morehouse. The racing was fast and furious for the battle for fourth place as Darrick Hubbard, Jesse Wisecarver and Larry Kugel were battling three wide. Morehouse snuck under Hartman for second and aimed his sights at Aronhalt. Morehouse attempted to close the gap on Aronhalt but Aronhalt held a comfortable lead. On lap nine Aronhalt began to stretch his lead over the field. On lap ten Wisecarver slung shot his way past Morehouse but then retired pit side due to mechanical issues. The caution flag flew for debris erasing the lead Aronhalt had over second place. On the final lap Aronhalt led over Morehouse and Kugel. As the racers charged down the back stretch Morehouse closed up and slightly bumped Aronhalt as the cars entered turn three. It didn’t shake the veteran Aronhalt as he took the checkers ahead of Morehouse, Kugel, ninth starting Rick Aukland and Hartman. Aronhalt, Morehouse and Hartman won heat races.
 
In the Thrifty Discount Muffler Jeremy Dickerson and Gary Hoopingarner lead the field to the green flag. Dickerson jumped out to the early lead just ahead of Hoopingarner and Brandon Gardner. Dickerson making his inaugural start at NAPA AUTO PARTS Wayne County Speedway this season powered away from the field.  The racing through the field was just as intense as the other divisions as seventh starting Jeremy Lynch sliced and diced his way to the front moving ahead of Kyle Dickinson and Gardner for third. Dickinson keeping pushing is race car as he fought back to battle with Lynch for third. Dickerson still lead but Hoopingarner found the inside groove to his liking and began closing on the leader. It was too little too late as Dickerson won narrowly over Hoopingarner, Lynch, Dickinson and Gardner. Dickerson and Hoopingarner won heats races.
 
Next week at NAPA AUTO PARTS Wayne County Speedway the newly formed “Renegades of Dirt Modified” series will head line the evening events. Also racing are the Fisher Performance 410 Sprints, Lias Tire Super Late Models and Thrifty Discount Muffler Pure Stocks. Come see our regular racers in the Bremenour Electric Modifieds take on the travelers.  Pit gates open at 4:00 PM, General admission at 5:00 and racing at 7:45 PM Sharp. For additional information contact Jason or Kristin Flory at: 330-465-2365, or email at kristinu2@yahoo.com. For news, updates and schedule visit the Wayne County Speedway website at www.waynecountyspeedway.com. Wayne County Speedway is located nine miles east of Wooster, or 15 miles west of Massillon on US Rt. 30, then one mile north on Carr Road.
 
Fisher Performance 410 Sprints (16 Cars)
Heat #1
1. Caleb Helms 2. Cole Duncan 3. Mitch Harble 4. Jason Dolick  5. Danny Mumaw 6. Shawn Hubler 7. Bob Lime 8. Nick Patterson (#33)
Heat #2
1. Rob Chaney 2. Bryce Dickson 3. Andrew Palker 4. Jamie Myers 5. Chris Myers 6. Nick Patterson (#23) 7. Chris Smith 8. Alec Martin
Feature:
1. Caleb Helms 2. Cole Duncan 3. Andrew Palker 4. Jason Dolick 5. Danny Mumaw 6. Mitch Harble 7. Shawn Hubler 8. Nick Patterson 9. Bob Lime 10. Nick Patterson (#23) 11. Bryce Dickson 12. Rob Chaney 13. Chris Myers 14. Chris Smith 15. Alec Martin 16. Jamie Myers
 
Lias Tire Super Late Models (24 Cars)
Heat #1
1. Cory Conley 2. George Lee 3. B.A. Malcuit 4. Rick Bond 5. David Liles 6. Larry Bellman 7. Jeff Wages 8. Kyle Moore
Heat #2
1. Ryan Markham 2. Shane McLoughlin 3. JR Gentry 4. Ricky Conley 5. Eric Smitley 6. Matt Mallet 7. Ben Mott
Heat #3
1. Doug Drown 2. Doug Dodd 3. Travis Mensching 4. Chester Elliot 5. Charlie Duncan 6. Blaine Aber 7. Hiram Bachman
B-Main (Top 5 to Feature)
1. Larry Bellman 2. Hiram Bachman 3. Matt Mallet 4. Matt Aber 5. Jeff Wages 6. Kyle Moore 7. Ben Mott DNS: Don Conley, Larry Baldwin
Feature:
1. Shane McLoughlin 2. Corey Conley 3. George Lee 4. Ryan Markham 5. Rick Bond 6. Doug Dodd 7. JR Gentry 8. Charlie Duncan 9. Travis Mensching 10. B.A. Malcuit 11. David Liles 12. Chester Elliot 13. Larry Bellman 14. Ricky Conley 15. Matt Bee Aber 16. Eric Smitley 17. Doug Drown 18. Matt Mallett 19. Jeff Wages 20. Hiram Bachman
 
Bremenour Electric Modifieds (20 Cars)
Heat #1
1. Norm Aronhalt 2. Darrick Hubbard 3. Jason Graham 4. Josh Pyers 5. Mitchell Lam 6. Charlie Summers 7. Nathon Loney
Heat #2
1. Jess Hartman 2. Larry Kugel 3. Vic Hottinger 4. Bruce Miller 5. Eric Singhaus 6. Jim Nicely 7. Mark Pogue
Heat #3
1. Kevin Morehouse 2. Jesse Wisecarver 3. Rick Aukland 4. Rick Mardis 5.Eddie Wilson 6. Sid Danals 7.Lance Elson
Feature:
1. Norm Aronhalt 2. Kevin Morehouse 3. Larry Kugel 4. Rick Aukland 5. Jess Hartman 6. Nathon Loney 7. Vic Hottinger 8. Rick Mardis 9. Sid Danals 10. Eddie Willson 11. Jim Nicely 12. Mark Pogue 13. Jesse Wisecarver 14. Jason Graham 15. Darrick Hubbard 16. Eric Singhaus 17. Lance Elson 18. Bruce Miller 19. Mitchell Lam 20. Josh Pyers 21. Charlie Summers

Thrifty Discount Muffler Pure Stocks (16 Cars)
Heat #1
1. Jeremy Dickerson 2. Kyle Dickinson 3. Roger Drouhard 4. Jeremy Lynch 5. Butch Butcher 6. Paul Whitten 7. Victor Bunt 8. Josh Miller
Heat #2
1. Gary Hoopingarner 2. Justin Patterson 3. Brandon Gardner 4. Brandon Craver 5. Dennis Amstutz  6. Tyler Nicely 7. Jon Preston 8. Gary McGregor
Feature:
1. Jeremy Dickerson 2. Gary Hoopingarner 3. Jeremy Lynch 4. Kyle Dickinson 5. Brandon Gardner 6. Brandon Craver 7. Dennis Amstutz 8. Victor Bunt 9. Tyler Nicley 10. Paul Whitten 11. Jon Preston 12. Roger Drouhard 13. Butch Butcher 14. Justin Patterson DNS: Josh Miller, Gary McGregor