Winchester Speedway
October 20, 2012
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Mark Pettyjohn Wins Big in Raye Vest Memorial at Winchester Speedway
Covert Tops in Preliminary Action on Friday night



by Doug Watson
WINCHESTER, VA (October 20) - Milton Delaware’s Mark Pettyjohn closed the 2012 Winchester speedway season in a big way as he collected the biggest win of his career in last Saturday nights third annual running of the 50-lap “Raye Vest memorial”. The win, for Pettyjohn, was his second Winchester late model feature score of the season and earned him a cool $8000 payday.

Pettyjohn and defending WoO late model series champion Rick Eckert paced the field to the initial green flag of the event. Eckert got the jump at the start as he roared into the race lead as the mob exited turn-two, with Pettyjohn tucked into second. Eckert’s lead would only last for five-laps as Pettyjohn snared the lead from Eckert at the completion of the sixth circuit. Pettyjohn would then go on lead the final,44 caution-free, laps and a late race surge by Greg Satterlee to score the enormously popular win in his Swartz chassis no.8Ball. “I’m speechless right now.” An emotional Pettyjohn stated as his climbed from his winning mount in Winchester’s victory lane. “ Just to race with guy’s like Rick Eckert, Jason Covert and all the good cars that are always here, and to beat them, I couldn’t be more proud.” Pettyjohn’s crew thrashed on his winning car right up until race time. “We broke an oil pump here last night and we didn’t get the part we needed until today.” Said Pettyjohn. “My dad and all the guys on this crew got this car perfect tonight and again to win this race means so much, and I couldn’t have done it without them.” Satterlee settled for second, Jason Covert was third, Dan Stone fourth with Rick Eckert rounding-out the top-five. Setting fast-time in Friday’s time trials over the 34-cars on hand went to Jason Covert with a one-lap time of 14.898. The two 24-lap, $1000-to-win qualifying events run on Saturday, went to Mark Pettyjohn and Rick Eckert.

On Friday a 35-lap, $3500-to-win, event was run for the late models that featured the top-24 from time trials. York Haven Pa.’s Jason Covert collected his third Winchester feature win of the season with his win in this event. Covert grabbed the top-spot on lap-four from Rick Eckert and cruised to the relatively easy win aboard his Barry Klinedinst owned Rocket no.43A. “To beat a guy like Rick Eckert, with as strong as he’s been lately, is something to be proud of.” Covert stated. “The track was real racy tonight and these American Racer tires were just about perfect. This team works really hard to get this car right, and I’m glad I can get a win for them here this weekend.” 2012 track champion Kenny Pettyjohn was second, Greg Satterlee was third, Gary Stuhler collected fourth and DJ Myers completed the top-five.



In Saturday’s support action Kyle Lear (limited late models), “Krazy” Kenny Thomas (enduro stocks) and Kevin Oates (u-cars) all scored wins. Lear’s first 20-lap LLM triumph of the season came over Jonathon DeHaven, Chad Myers, Andy Anderson and Travis Stickley. Heats went to Derrick Quade and DeHaven. 2012 track champion “Krazy” Kenny Thomas rolled to his ninth win of the season as he lead all 15-laps. Joe Rodgers was second, Devon Hart third, Joe DeArmitt fourth and Danny Holmes took fifth. Thomas was the heat winner. Kevin Oates, the 2012 u-car point champion, raced to his seventh win of the season as he started on the pole and would lead all 15-laps of the feature. Kevin Pollard was second, Travis Carroll third, Cody Sweeney fourth with Michael Webb taking fifth. Heats went to Oates and Brenda Alexander.

Late Models (Saturday)
1. Mark Pettyjohn 2. Greg Satterlee 3. Jason Covert 4. Dan Stone 5. Rick Eckert 6. Kenny Moreland 7. Gary Stuhler 8. Scott LeBarron 9. Keith Jackson 10. Brian Tavenner 11. Kenny Pettyjohn 12. Andy Fries 13. David Watt 14. Nick Dickson 15. Brad Omps 16. Trever Feathers 17. Coleby Frye 18. Tommy Armel 19. Tony Crim 20. Rusty Schlenk 21. Bo Feathers 22. Ronnie DeHaven Jr. 23. Tim Senic 24. Dale Hollidge 25. Joe Leavell DNQ- Kyle Hardy, Frankie Plessinger, Tom Decker Jr., DJ Myers, Chad Hollenbeck, Brad Ritter, Stevie Long, Mike Steck, CS Fitzgerald

Late Models (Friday)
1. Jason Covert 2. Kenny Pettyjohn 3. Greg Satterlee 4. Gary Stuhler 5. DJ Myers 6. Joe Leavell 7. Brian Tavenner 8. Nick Dickson 9. Dan Stone 10. Frankie Plessinger 11. Bo Feathers 12. CS Fitzgerald 13. Dale Hollidge 14. Tommy Armel 15. Trever Feathers 16. Tin Senic 17. Andy Fries 18. Chad Hollenbeck 19. Mark Pettyjohn 20. Scott LeBarron 21. David Watt 22. Brad Omps 23. Rick Eckert 24. Kenny Moreland

Limited Late Models
Main: 1. Kyle Lear 2. Jonathon DeHaven 3. Chad Myers 4. Andy Anderson 5. Travis Stickley 6. Mike Walls 7. Jeremy Coffey 8. Tommy Wagner Jr. 9. Tanner Kerr 10. Robbie Emory 11. Kris Holliday 12. Tyler Emory 13. James Lichliter 14. Bubby Dillman 15. John Baker 16. Jason Smith 17. Dallas Richards 18. Ernie Shirley 19. Derrick Quade 20. Don Woodruff

Pure Stock
Main: 1. Kurt Zimmerman 2. Ricky Edmonds 3. David Kaiser 4. Brandon Churchey 5. Wayne Hawbaker 6. Barry Williams 7. Dickie Tharp 8. Jimmy Randall 9. Tony Catlett 10. Bryan Kerns 11. Mike Corbin 12. Josh Wilkins 13. Jerry Fifield 14. Keith Koontz

Four-Cylinder
Main: 1. Richard Gwizdale 2. Randy Linaburg 3. Scott McCartney 4. Ryan Laye 5. William Riley 6. Jeremy Ott 7. Deuce Wright 8. Michael Warrenfeltz 9. Bill Kessler 10. Greg Gunter 11. Kyle Wiser 12. Rodger Whitlock 13. Gary Newell 14. Jeff Koller 15. Billy Sonner 16. Austin Stover 17. Sonny Hatzell 18. Tommy Whitt (DQ)