Elkins Raceway
June 9, 2012
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Byers wins Street Stock Sizzler

Kerens, W.V. 6-10-12 - It was Budweiser night, former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine was there to race. Plus the rained out makeup of the Valley Steel Street Stock Sizzler, made a full card Friday night at the Elkins Raceway. 

In the Valley Supply Street Stocks, Dusty Swecker, Chad McLean and Ricky Vest snared heat victories. Swecker jumped to the lead at the outset of the Valley Steel Street Stock Sizzler only to have Vest swipe it away on lap two. Vest smoked an engine on lap six handing the lead back to Swecker. The race resumed with Swecker, McLean and Mike Duritsky (from ninth) battling for the front spot. On the eleventh go round Duritsky grabbed the lead. With Duritsky, McLean, Jim Byers, Swecker and Ronnie Tincher now filling the top five. After a yellow fell on lap 12 to stop action, on the restart, Byers slipped by McLean for second. The next stoppage came on lap 17. On that restart, Byers moved to the high side and motored by Duritsky. A final yellow flew on lap 19 when Duritsky looped his mount in turn four, just as McLean had mechanical problems. As the checkered fell, Byers driving the A & P Trucking / Sprouts Place #36 claimed the $500,. Tincher, Swecker, Barry Faris and Duritsky rounded out the top five. James Nelson claimed the Leggett Refrigeration Hard Charger.

Former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine paid a visit to the Kerens facility and was behind the wheel of the Steve Wilmoth owned crate Late Model. The car is normally driven by Norm Weaver, but this week the car sported the throwback Levi Garrett / Exxon Superflo #5* logo. Bodine slipped high in the loose stuff in turn four on the first lap of his heat and slapped the turn four wall. Unfortunately the car was too badly damaged to continue. 

In the Budweiser crate Late Models, Robert Cossell IV powered to turn one from his inside second row starting spot, and drove away and hid. The only thing that slowed Cossell was the cautions that fell on laps one, five, and nine. Cossell parked the Uniontown Toyota / High Gear Speed Shop #50C in victory lane for his first ever Elkins win. Kyle Thomas, Daniel Hill, Derek Rogers and Duane Moreland completed the top five.

The Jenkins Ford Super Late Models had Steve Booth and Billy Holbert snagging prelim honors. In his heat Holbert moved to the high side and motored his way to the front. In the feature, he did the same. Holbert built a huge lead, and by the half way mark he had a full straight away cushion. It was the Ace Metal Works / Mountain Tech Heating & Cooling driver’s first career checkboard at Elkins. Chuck Harper, Butch McGill, Charlie George and Tim Senic were second through fifth. 

In the Super finale, Jamie McCloud drove into turn three a little high, dropped off the embankment and flipped the car twice. Thankfully Jamie was ok.

At Elkins Raceway this year, there has been an added twist to each week. When you win a feature, the next time you race ( whether it next week, two weeks or whenever) and you qualify through your heat, you can start no better than eighth. Brent Trimble had to serve his part last week and would climb to second. This week after Mike Murphy won last week, Trimble was moved from the outside pole to the inside pole. Trimble used that to his advantage and collect his second Miller’s Used Cars Modified feature. Murphy crossed in second. Robert Smith, Matt Chenoweth and Brandon Kerr finished third through fifth. David Stanley Consultants / H & R Block adorn the side of Trimble’s #1B

Billy Bunnell won the 4 cylinder finale ahead of Steve Frazier, Dusty Wamsley, Mike Frazier, Scott Crutchfield and Justin Hornick.

Only two Mod Lites signed in, Zak Kimbrew and Jay Smarr.

Logan Hitt collected his third Mini Wedge checkers as he bested Elliot Newlon, Brett Coberly, Trey Watson, and Paige Bragg.

This week is Aaron’s family Night plus bicycle races for kids 12 and under. Helmets must be worn.

Street Stocks; Jim Byers, Ronnie Tincher, Dusty Swecker, Barry Faris, Mike Duritsky, James Nelson, Rick Isner, Ryan Watson, Bill Deem, J P Tallman, Dustin Isner, Jamie Keene, Kenny Vest, Rick Knicley, Josh Mullenax, Chad McLean, Randy Bohan, Patrick Zirkle, J R Auvil, Ricky Vest. DNS; Samantha Rogers, James Billie, Ryan Newman. Heats; Swecker, McLean, R. Vest. 

Crate Late Models; Robert Cossell IV, Kyle Thomas, Daniel Hill, Derek Rogers, Duane Moreland, Greg Hicks, Shane Hitt, Donnie Dotson, Chad Green, Bob Norman, Shawn Jett, Louie Krushansky, Mike Thorne, Tyler Hitt. DNS; Geoff Bodine. Heats; Rogers, Krushasnky.

Super Late Models; Billy Holbert, Chuck Harper, Butch McGill, Charlie George, Tim Senic, Paul Wilmoth Jr., Skip Hare, Steve Booth, Bob Gordon, Shaun Poling, Jamie McCloud. Heats; Booth, Holbert.  

Modified; Brent Trimble, Mike Murphy, Robert Smith, Matt Chenoweth, Brandon Kerr, Kenny Harris, Bill Vandevender, Michael Cromer. Heat; Murphy

Mini Wedge; Logan Hitt, Elliot Newlon, Brett Coberly, Trey Watson, Paige Bragg, Austin Simmons, Abby Watson, Olivia Ferguson, Caleb Nolan, Levi Nolan, Chance McCartney, Skylar Moats, Kaitlyn Frazier. Heats; C. Nolan, Hitt.