Winchester Speedway
June 16, 2012
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Fries Ninth Winchester Winner With First- Career Late Model Win
Ritter a Four-Timer in Limited Late Models

by Doug Watson
Winchester, VA- Mercersburg Pa.’s Andy Fries made his first start of the season last Saturday night at the Winchester speedway a good one, as he was victorious in the 30-lap, $2000 to win, late model main event. Fries win, the first of his late model career at Winchester, also made him the ninth different class winner of the season in the ten races run at the track in 2012.

By the luck of the draw, Andy Fries and Tony Crim lead the field to the initial start of the 30-lap main. Using the high-line of the speedway, Fries darted into the race lead as the pack completed the first circuit. As Fries lead, two-time Winchester winner Keith Jackson was making his presence known. Jackson and Fries hand the Winchester fans on their feet as they raced side by side for most of the event as last weeks winner Trever Feathers lurked in third. A lap-twenty-three caution set the stage for another epic Winchester finish as the threesome would come off the fourth turn for the checkered flag with Fries taking the win by less than a car-length over Keith Jackson.

“We made a last minute decision to come here tonight.” Fries stated in his post-race interview. “To come in here and win the first time we’ve been here all year is pretty awesome.” Eventual runner-up Keith Jackson made Fries get up on the wheel the deeper the feature got. “My car was pretty good on the top.” Fries stated. “I saw Keith stick his nose under me more than I care to remember, but he raced me really clean, and I’m glad we were able to hold him off for the win.” Trever Feathers settled for third, twelfth-starting Greg Roberson was fourth and CS Fitzgerald would complete the top-five. Heats for the 18 cars on hand went to Fries and Tony Crim.

Brad Ritter continued his mid-season surge as he posted his fourth win of the season in the 20-lap limited late model headliner. Ritter, who started second, lead the first six-laps before Jonathon DeHaven slid by to take the top-spot on lap-seven. DeHaven would lead until Ritter re-asserted himself and took control of the race for good on the seventeenth-lap. As Ritter sped to the win, DeHaven would have to settle for second for the third race in a row. Justin Weaver was third, Tanner Kerr took fourth and twelfth-starting Andy Anderson rounded out the top-five. Heats for the 21 cars entered went to Ritter, DeHaven and Will Rowe.

Former track champion Donnie Kenney Jr. became the seventh different winner of the season with his win in the 15-lap pure stock feature. Kenney and Buddy Wilson swapped the race lead several times for the first five laps before Kenney took the lead for good on the sixth-lap. As Kenney lead, Wilson made a furious last lap rush, but came up short and would have to settle for second place money. Michael Carter came home third, Terry Staton fourth and David Kaiser filled the front-five. Heats for the 19 cars went to Staton and Carter.

Current points leader Tom Paddock scored his second feature win of the season in the 20-lap u-car contest. Paddock started second and would eventually go on to lead every lap of the event. As Paddock lead, teammate Kevin Pollard came all the way from the thirty-third starting spot to finish in second. Cody Sweeney took a solid third, Robert Perry was fourth and fourteenth-starting Jason Wilkins were the top-five. Heats for the 34-cars pitside went to Brenda Alexander, Tom Paddock and Josh Wilkins.

“Krazy” Kenny Thomas continued his winning ways with his fourth victory of the season in the 15-lap enduro stock feature. Thomas, who lead laps four and five, fell into the clutches of Ray Priest who lead until the twelfth-lap. Thomas then re-took the race lead on lap-thirteen and drove off to the win. Priest held on for second, Mark Vegh was third, Bryan Green fourth and Jamie Mills completed the top-five. Thomas scored the heat win for the 10-cars entered.

Late model feature finish
1. Andy Fries 2. Keith Jackson 3. Trever Feathers 4. Greg Roberson 5. CS Fitzgerald 6. Tony Crim 7. Mark Pettyjohn 8. Bo Feathers 9. Denny Bonebrake 10. Kenny Pettyjohn 11. Scott LeBarron 12. Tommy Armel 13. Brad Omps 14. David Williams 15. Scott Richwine 16. Rob Schirmer 17. Kenny Moreland 18. Gerald Davis

Limited late model feature finish
1. Brad Ritter 2. Jonathon DeHaven 3. Justin Weaver 4. Tanner Kerr 5. Andy Anderson 6. Will Rowe 7. Travis Stickley 8. Jacob Burdette 9. Daniel Snead 10. Josh Roberson 11. Bubby Tharp Jr. 12. Keith Walls 13. Bruce Kane 14. Kris Eaton 15. Kris Holliday 16. Jimmy Richards 17. Butch Chapman Jr. 18. Kevin Deremer 19. Dallas Richards 20. Tom Chaffins 21. James Lichliter

Pure stock feature finish
1. Donnie Kenney Jr. 2. Buddy Wilson 3. Michael Carter 4. Terry Staton 5. David Kaiser 6. Mike Franklin 7. Mike Corbin 8. Billy Farmer 9. Mike Grady Jr. 10. Craig Parrill 11. Mike Warrenfeltz 12. Keith Koontz 13. Brian Luttrell 14. Hans stamberg 15. Barry Williams 16. Scott Wilson 17. Josh Williams 18. Dave Alley 19. Eddie McClellan

u-car feature finish
1. Tom Paddock 2. Kevin Pollard 3. Cody Sweeney 4. Robert Perry 5. Jason Wilkins 6. Kevin Oates 7. Josh Wilkins 8. Billy Poston 9. Brenda Alexander 10. Robert Wilson 11. Gene Wilson 12. Randy Wilkins 13. Steve fadeley 14. Jeff Oster 15. Jeff Wilkins 16. Alan Dice 17. Chase Schneider 18. Scott Nalevanko 19. David Funk Jr. 20. Chris Kline 21. Joe Yablonski 22. Kim Breeden 23. Kevin Welsh 24. Joey Strosnider 25. Thomas Cox 26. Michael Pfaff 27. Steve Katz 28. Justin Katz 29. Reese Alley 30. Larry Lamb 31. Brian Skelley 32. Travis Carroll 33. Allen Jones 34. Mark Pollard

Enduro stock feature finish
1. “Krazy” Kenny Thomas 2. Ray Priest 3. Mark Vegh 4. Bryan Green 5. Jamie Mills 6. Devon Riley 7. Danny Holmes 8. Gary Moreland 9. Jonsey Jones 10. Rodney Miner