Winchester Speedway
August 18, 2012
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Winchester Streak Extended to 14, Mark Pettyjohn Claims Career-First
Franklin Over Bennett for Fourth Pure Stock Score

by Doug Watson
Winchester, VA- Milton Delaware’s Mark Pettyjohn added his name to the Winchester speedway’s late model winners list as he was victorious for the first time in his career in last Saturday nights 30-lap main event. Pettyjohn’s $2000 score, made him the second driver from Delaware to win at the track this season, and the 14th different late model feature winner of 2012.

Mark Pettyjohn and Tommy Armel shared the front-row for the start of the 30-lap late model main. Armel, fresh-off his August 5th feature win, out-dragged Pettyjohn into the first turn to become the leader of the event. As Armel lead, Pettyjohn tucked into second, and dogged Armel over the next thirteen-laps. Pettyjohn’s opportunity came as the duo was coming to complete lap-fourteen, as Armel slid high in turn-three allowing Pettyjohn to drive to the bottom off turn-four and snare the top-spot. Pettyjohn would go on to lead the distance, but would have to survive a lap-twenty-eight caution, to post the break-through win aboard his Swartz race cars, Cropper racing engines no.8Ball.

“I can’t tell you what it means to be standing here right now.” Pettyjohn stated in Winchester’s victory lane. “ We missed a few weeks there getting this car together, but I guess all the hard work paid-off because this thing was just about perfect tonight.” Pettyjohn was quick to acknowledge his legendary farther, Eddie Pettyjohn, who was instrumental in his winning drive. “Dad and I sure do argue a lot back there in the pits.” Pettyjohn said with a laugh. “We’re always trying to find a way to get better and I sure wouldn’t be standing here right now without him. I just want to thank all the fans and people who support us here, it’s great coming to Winchester.” Armel settled for a hard-earned second, last weeks winner DJ Myers came home third, Ronnie DeHaven Jr. was fourth and points leader Kenny Pettyjohn rounded out the top-five. Heats for the 20-cars on hand went to Armel and Mark Pettyjohn.

Former track champion Mike Franklin continued his stellar season as he claimed his division-leading fourth feature win of the season in the 15-lap pure stock feature. Franklin started on the pole and would eventually lead every lap, but he would have to repel a late-race charge from Mike Bennett over the final seven-laps to post the win. Donnie Kenney came home third, Eddie McClellan was fourth and Buddy Wilson completed the top-five. Heats for the 16-cars entered went to Franklin and McClellan.

Points leader “Krazy” Kenny Thomas continued his championship march as he was victorious for the sixth-time this season in the 15-lap enduro stock main. Jamie Mills lead the first eleven-laps before Thomas got racy and slid by Mills on lap-twelve. Thomas then controlled the final laps to score the win over runner-up Mills. Danny Holmes was third, Devon Riley fourth and Bryan Green fifth.

Kevin Oates, also a former Winchester track champion, drove to his fifth feature win of the season in the 15-lap u-car feature. Oates, who started second, would eventually lead green to checker but had to hold-off a hard charging Cody Sweeney the entire distance to collect the win. Josh Wilkins was third, Brenda Alexander fourth and Justin Katz rounded out the top-five. Heats for the 32-cars went to Alexander, Oates and Wilkins.

The visiting ARDC wingless midgets made their final appearance of 2012 as they ran two features. With rain interrupting the Friday show at Potomac, the decision was made to spin-off the final 14-laps Saturday at Winchester. Tim Buckwalter was the winner with Steven Dervicki second and Parker Evans third. In the regularly scheduled event Brett Wanner scored his first-career ARDC midget feature win over Brett Arndt with Tim Buckwalter coming home third.

Late Model feature finish
1. Mark Pettyjohn 2. Tommy Armel 3. DJ Myers 4. Ronnie DeHaven Jr. 5. Kenny Pettyjohn 6. Trever Feathers 7. Glen Elliott 8. Kyle Hardy 9. Keith Jackson 10. Brad Omps 11. Wesley Bonebrake 12. Tony Crim 13. Denny Bonebrake 14. CS Fitzgerald 15. Bubby Dillman 16. Chris Cromer 17. Bo Feathers 18. Bubby Tharp Jr. 19. Pancho Lawler 20. Jimmy Richards

Pure Stock feature finish
1. Mike Franklin 2. Mike Bennett 3. Donnie Kenney 4. Eddie McClellan 5. Buddy Wilson 6. Hans Stamberg 7. Brian Luttrell 8. Mike Grady Jr. 9. David Kaiser 10. Michael Carter 11. Craig Parrill 12. Dylan Rutherford 13. Dave Alley 14. Terry Staton 15. Mike Corbin (DNS)

Enduro Stock feature finish
1. “Krazy” Kenny Thomas 2. Jamie Mills 3. Danny Holmes 4. Devon Riley 5. Bryan Green 6. Gary Moreland 7. Jonsey Jones 8. Rodney Miner (DNS)

U-car feature finish
1. Kevin Oates 2. Cody Sweeney 3. Josh Wilkins 4. Brenda Alexander 5. Justin Katz 6. Travis Carroll 7. Robert Perry 8. Robert Wilson 9. Scott Nalevanko 10. Steve Fadeley 11. Steve Katz 12. Allen Jones 13. Kevin Welsh 14. Jeff Oster 15. Austin Nichols 16. Randy Wilkins 17. Tom Paddock 18. Ronnie Bolstridge 19. Jason Wilkins 20. William Poston 21. Larry Lamb 22. Michael Pfaff 23. Gene Wilson 24. Kim Breeden 25. Alan Dice 26. David Funk Jr. 27. Kevin Pollard 28. Steve Riggleman 29. Reese Alley 30. Samantha Thompson 31. Josh Reedy 32. Theo Funk