Hagerstown Speedway
May 25, 2012
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LATHROUM LANDS ROUND ONE OF HAGERSTOWN/WINCHESTER SHOOTOUT SERIES

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (May 25) - After winning his heat race and then randomly picking a young fan from the stands who had a Frisbee with the number one marked on the inside, Jamie Lathroum led all the way in Round one of the Hagerstown/Winchester Shootout at Hagerstown Speedway to score the 35-lap victory worth $3.000. It was the second career victory for the Mechanicsville Md. late model driver, his first coming on September 5, 2009. The race ended in a one lap shootout which he won by .974 second over Dan Stone.

Keith Koontz, Boonsboro, MD, was in the right spot at the right time when Rick Stouffer’s car hesitated for a few moments on the sixth lap of the Ernie D’s pure stock feature as Koontz took over and held off several challenges in three late race cautions to score his first ever victory. In the Smokey Snellbaker Memorial for the All American Outlaws, returning to Hagerstown after making their debut there five years ago, Brooks Coleman of Mt. Airy, MD led all the way to score that prestigious feature.

Lathroum sped into the first corner while third starting Dan Stone quickly grabbed second over polesetter Scott LeBarron with Kenny Pettyjohn passing Lebarron on the second lap.      

Lathroum has stretched his lead to more than three seconds and was approaching the rear of the field when the first caution waved on lap ten. Following the restart, Lathroum held a low line while Stone toured the top and stayed within several lengths until three consecutive cautions on laps 22-24.  Pettyjohn took over second following the first restart, but Stone came back the next green and retook the position and stuck to the back of Lathroum until the 27th circuit when Lathroum began pulling away and had another nearly three second lead by the lap 34 yellow. Stone gave it all he had into the first and second turns but Lathroum sped away to grab the checkered for race one of the Shootout and leads the way for a possible $1,000 bonus from Nininger’s Tire and Auto Service for the driver having the highest point average over the four race series. .

“I think I saw him there on the last restart,” Lathroum said, “Someone was right there. I figured if I held my line I’d be okay. I needed some longer runs. I think we were a little hard on tires and better on the longer runs, but it worked out in the end. “

Pettyjohn came home third followed by Gary Stuhler and 14th starting Mike Lupfer while LeBarron was sixth with Jason Covert, Brian Booze, Jerry Bard and David Williams completing the top ten. 

Jeremy Miller, Lathroum, Tommy Armel and Pettyjohn won the heats while Kyle Lear was the consy winner.

Rick Stouffer led the pure stocks from the start but suddenly was off the pace momentarily on the sixth lap while he watched Koontz, Kenny Dillon and drew Fitzsimmons speed by before his car came back up to speed.

Dillon was trying his best to get past Koontz until he spun on the 12th lap which turned second to Fitzsimmons but in a final two lap run, Koontz held a one length advantage at the finish. Tony Catlett was third with Kevin Boyer and Darrin Younker completing the front five. Stouffer and Koontz were the heat winners.

Coleman and Jessie Morrison led the Outlaw field to the green while Coleman pulled out front and began opening his lead over Morrison, who was being challenged by Fred Cullum who took second on the ninth lap. Coleman was already 3.35 seconds ahead by the halfway mark as Cullen gave up the chase when he pulled pit side five laps later. With Morrison back into the runner up spot, she didn’t allow Coleman to escape and trailed him by 1.59 seconds at the finish. Tony Crummit who came from the rear of the field ended third with Hunter Nester and Scott Jorda completing the top five. Cullum and Randy Doty were heat winners.

“This is awesome,” Coleman said. “I only knew Smokey one year when he raced with us. He was a great guy to be around. I enjoyed every minute he was around.”

The latest news, results, photos, schedule or rule changes can be on the speedway’s website:  www.hagerstownspeedway.com. Follow the speedway on Twitter and Facebook. Also check the website for any changes in weather conditions that may delay or cancel the program or contact the speedway office at 301-582-0640.

Hagerstown Speedway Results

Winchester/Hagerstown Shootout,  35 Laps, 32 entries, (Lap leaders Jamie Lathroum 1-35) –1.Jamie Lathroum, 2.Dan Stone, 3.Kenny Pettyjohn, 4.Gary Stuhler, 5.Mike Lupfer, 6.Scott LeBarron, 7.Jason Covert, 8.Brian Booze, 9.Jerry Bard, 10.David Williams, 11.Roy Deese Jr., 12. Alan Sagi, 13.Tyler Hershey, 14.Chad Hollenbeck, 15.Marvin Winters, 16.Tommy Armel, 17.Jeremy Miller, 18.Keith Jackson, 19.Frankie Plessinger, 20.Nick Dickson, 21.Kyle Lear, 22.Trever Feathers, 23.Larry Baker II, DNS: Justin Kann DNQ-C.S. Fitzgerald, Duane Harbaugh, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Ashley Barrett, Bo Feathers, Al Shawver Jr, DNS: Steve Axtell Jr., DSQ – D.J. Myers
 
Ernie D’s Pure Stocks – 15 Laps, 23 Entries, (Lap Leaders Rick Stouffer, 1-6, Keith Koontz 7-15) – 1.Keith Koontz, 2.Drew Fitzsimmons, 3.Tony Catlett, 4.Kevin Boyer, 5.Darrin Younker, 6.Dave Stouffer Jr., 7.Steve Lowery, 8.Charlie Pensinger, 9.Chris Ebersole, 10.Wayne Hawbaker, 11.Bruce Leibowitz, 12.Brandon Churchey, 13.Lloyd Kane, 14.Mike Kratovil, 15.Rick Stouffer, 16.Eddie McClellen, 17.Brian Miller, 18.Kenny Dillon, 19.Danny Beavers, 20.Kevin Koontz, 21.Brian Swigert, 22.Denny Durboraw, DNS – Kenny Day

All American Outlaws: Smokey Snellbaker Memorial, 20 Laps , 20 Entries (Lap Leaders Brooks Coleman 1-20) 1.Brooks Coleman, 2.Jessie Morrison, 3.Tony Crummitt, 4.Hunter Nester, 5.Scott Jorda, 6.Justin Cullum, 7.David Egge, 8.Carnie Fryfogle, 9.Brittany Coleman, 10.Garrett Boone, 11.Tony Jorda, 12.Al Daniels, 13.Fred Cullum, 14.Allen Daniels, 15.Tim Fake, 16.Randy Doty, 17.Dylan Keim, DNS – Denny Gross, Ron Ritenour, Ed Sheller