Elkins Raceway
July 20, 2013
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Elkins outruns Mother Nature with Skidmore and Hitt Memorials

by Jeff Yost
KERENS, WV (July 20) - After getting washed out three out of the last four races, Elkins Raceway defied Mother Nature and got both nights of the Budweiser All Star Memorial weekend in. 

Friday night the 3rd annual Jim Hitt Memorial presented by Roy's RV / Hitt's Garage / H & M Motors / Mt. Lakes CVB / and Middletown Homes paying $5,000 to the winner of the Jenkins Ford Super Late Models. Running under the ADRA / Elkins Raceway banner. Dave Johnson in the Imperial Towing #1J set the Quicktime Suspension fast time of 15.22 (88.8 mph) in the Bob Scott Memorial fast qualifier. Johnson garnered $180 courtesy of Robbie Scott. After a draw for starting spots, the eight fastest qualifiers raced 10 laps with Shane Hitt taking the checkers. Derek Doll and Austin Hubbard then took prelim honors. When the field roared to life, Jacob Hawkins, Shane Hitt, Zach Dohm, Jared Hawkins and Johnson filled in the top five slots. On lap five Jared and Hitt made contact resulting in Hitt going over the turn three and four embankment. The Hawkins brothers were now one and two with Johnson, Butch McGill and Dusty Hamrick in tow. Jared pressured his younger brother but really couldn't make a serious attempt until go round nine. Jacob had been flirting with the cushion in turns three and four and it nipped him enough to give Jared the room to dart under him for the lead. At the half way mark Jared, Jacob, Hamrick, Johnson and Billy Holbert were the top five. Hamrick began to apply heavy pressure to Jacob and used the 'slide job' move on lap 28 to get around him in turn two. Jared was slicing through traffic as Hamrick turned up the wick and closed within two car lengths with ten to go. But Jared driving the J C Distributing / Melvin's Automatic Transmissions #37 would be able to stretch his advantage and grab the $5,000 check. Hamrick, Jacob, Austin Hubbard (from tenth), and Johnson crossed second through fifth.

In the Budweiser FASTRAK Late Models, Kyle Thomas grabbed the point at the outset and never looked back. Defending track Champion Thomas piloting the Paint by Grover / Dodd's Sporting Goods #32 won his first feature of the season. Billy Beachler made a late charge but fell short. Greg Hicks, Chad Green and Kris Southern were third through fifth.  

Brent Trimble won his heat in the Fast 'N Friendly Pharmacy Modifieds and quickly took command in the nightcap. Trimble driving the David Stanley Consultants / H & R Block #1B added his fourth checkerboard ahead of Shawn Davis, Dave Defibaugh, Phil, Jeffries and Randy Bohan. 

In the Miller's Used Cars Street Stocks, Scott Bittinger used his pole starting spot to his advantage and held court for the first six circuits. On a restart of lap six, Bittinger pushed over turn four allowing Jim Byers to take the spot. Just two go rounds later, Byers did exactly the same thing giving Dickie Tharpe the front slot. With multiple yellows, the time limit expired giving Tharpe in the Tharpe Roofing the victory as he bested James Nelson, Brian Mitchell, Jim Byers, and Ryan Watson. 

Ryan Harris took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the Good Samaritan of Barbour County Mod Lite Newlon's of Elkins sponsored feature and would stay there flag to flag. It was the Harris Construction / Life Tite Metals first career win. Beau Newlon, Jeff Fornash, Matt Ward and Matt Cain completed the top five.

Logan Hitt in his Hitt Enterprises / High Point Construction #2* continued his domination in the Darren's Pizza Shack Mini Wedges as he added his fifth win as he out ran Jackson Jacobs, Kaitlyn Frazier, Hayden Jacobs and Skylar Moats.

Saturday once again the Kerens 3/8 mile oval dodged the rain drops as night two of the Budweiser All Star Memorial Weekend with the 3rd running of the Richard Skidmore Memorial. 

The Jenkins Ford Super Lates were again co sanctioned with the ADRA and Elkins Raceway rules. Mason Zeigler was the Quicktime Suspension fastest qualifier with a time of 14.13 (95.4 mph) After drawing for starting spots the four fastest qualifiers ran six lap dash with Paul Wilmoth Jr. taking the checkers. Jared Hawkins, Tim Senic and Davey Johnson scored the heat victories. Jacob Hawkins, for the second night in a row jumped to the point and set sail with Wilmoth, Zeigler, Mike Benedum and Jared Hawkins in tow. It took only five laps for Jacob to reach the tail of the field. As the leaders now darted through traffic the laps clicked off. On lap 15 Jacob and Skip Hare made contact in turn two spinning both, ending Jacob's quest. Wilmoth took over the front spot with Benedum, Jared Hawkins, Zeigler and Johnson now the top five. The next stoppage came on lap 22 when Billy Brown rolled to a stop off the track in the infield on the backchute. The green waved again with Wilmoth still in command when David Watts slipped off the embankment in turn four on lap 37. On the restart Jared and Benedum fought for second in turn ones and two, with Hawkins gaining the advantage. The remaining 37 circuits were ran caution free as the top five stayed unchanged as the Adkins Timber / Midcap Land and Timber #B1 scored the $10,000 check. It made Wilmoth the first repeat winner of the event as he took the big check home last year. Hawkins, Benedum, Zeigler and Johnson were second through fifth.

Young phenom Michael Lake would lead wire to wire in the Budweiser FASTRAK Late Model finale. Lake, driving the Bobby Lake Motorsports / High Gear Speed Shop #27 crossed the stripe ahead of Billy Beachler, Kyle Thomas, Mike Thorne and Brandon McGrady. 

Adding his fifth checkerboard to the collection, the H & R Block / Estel Construction #1B of Brent Trimble would lead flag to flag in the Fast 'N Friendly Pharmacy Modifieds. Shawn Davis chased Trimble the entire distance but had to settle for second. Phil Jeffries was third, Dave Defibaugh and Robert Smith were fourth and fifth.

In the Miller's Used Cars Ricky Vest would snare the point at the drop of the green, but mechanical problems on lap two ended his evening quickly. J P Tallman took over only to have Scott Bittinger take the spot. Bittinger built a full straight away cushion enroute to an apparent second win. But in post race inspection it was found Bittinger used an illegal fuel. That would move Brian Mitchell in the Pap's Speed Shop / Liberty Machine #M1 into the first spot. Tallman, Dickie Tharpe, James Nelson, and Josh Mullenax were second through fifth. 

In the Good Samaritan of Barbour County Mod Lites, it was the Knepper show battling for the Gutterworks / Karen Bialek Nationwide Insurance special. When the checkers fell Alan in the Evolution / Knepper ATV #20 bested Lynn for the win. Mitch Ward crossed in third, Matt Ward was fourth and Randy Kerns rounded out the top five.

The stranglehold being held in the Darren's Pizza Shack Mini Wedges has been lifted. Jackson Jacobs driving his Paul's Distributing / Quicktime Performance #J4 ended Logan Hitt's winning streak. Jacobs took the win over Hayden Jacobs, Hitt, Braydon Beachler and Abby Watson.

This week at the Elkins Raceway is Darren's Pizza Shack Friday Night Thunder. Plus Local Convention and Visitors Bureau presentation night. 

For all the latest news, points and announcements, go to www.elkinsraceway.net
 
Class results:

 [Friday]

Super Lates; (25) Jared Hawkins, Dusty Hamrick, Jacob Hawkins, Austin Hubbard, Davey Johnson, Tim Senic, Mason Zeigler, Chris Ferguson, Billy Holbert, Derek Doll, Butch McGill, Chuck Harper, Paul Wilmoth Jr., Shane Hitt, Bryan Casey, Jamie McCloud, Mike Benedum, David Watts, Skip Hare, Bob Gordon, Charlie George, Robbie Scott, Wayne Hughes, Ricky Williams, Zach Dohm. Dash; Hitt. Heats; Doll, Hubbard.   

[Saturday]

Super Lates (26); Paul Wilmoth Jr., Jared Hawkins, Mike Benedum, Mason Zeigler, Davey Johnson, Tim Senic, Chris Ferguson, Jacob Hawkins, Zach Dohm, Butch McGill, Dusty Hamrick, Bryan Casey, Steve Weigle, David Watts, Jamie McCloud, Charlie George, Billy Holbert, Ricky Williams, Skip Hare, Billy Brown, Shaun Poling, Wayne Hughes, Austin Hubbard, Shane Hitt. DNS; Nathan Parker, Chuck Harper. Dash; Wilmoth. Heats; Jared Hawkins, Senic, Johnson. 

[Friday]

FASTRAK (23); Kyle Thomas, Billy Beachler, Greg Hicks, Chad Green, Kris Southern, Tracie Sampson, Mike Thorne, Ron Wiles, Dusty Swecker, Joe Cox, Duane Moreland, Danny Thomas, Louie Krushansky, Josh Jenkins, Tyler Stutler, Brian Rankin, Derrick Shaw,  Cody Rogers, Michael Lake, Richard Frazier, Corey Metheny, Aldon Butcher. DNS; Eddie Starkey. Heats; K. Thomas, Moreland, Frazier.  

[Saturday]

FASTRAK (19); Michael Lake, Billy Beachler, Kyle Thomas, Mike Thorne, Brandon McGrady, Ron Wiles, Mike Lewis, Kris Southern, Joe Cox, Dusty Swecker, Duane Moreland, Derrick Shaw, Joey Jenkins, Derek Rogers, Greg Hicks, Corey Metheny, Chad Green. DNS; Mike Sturms, Tyler Stutler. Heats; Thorne, Lake, McGrady.

[Friday]

Modifieds (11); Brent Trimble, Shawn Davis, Dave Defibaugh, Phil Jeffries, Randy Bohan, Robert Smith, Nick Wilson, Bob Williams, Larry Atha, Bill Vandevender, Keith Miller. Heats; Davis, Trimble.

[Saturday]

Modifieds (11); Brent Trimble, Shawn Davis, Phil Jeffries, Dave Defibaugh, Robert Smith, Larry Atha, Nick Wilson, Bill Vandevender, Bryson Sanders, Randy Bohan, Kenny Harris. Heats; Jeffries, Trimble. 

[Friday]

Street Stocks; (21); Dickie Tharpe, James Nelson, Brian Mitchell, Jim Byers, Ryan Watson, Steve Wilmoth, Dustin Isner, Robin Maxson, J P Tallman, Brian Youtzy, Bill Deem, Josh Mullenax, Scott Bittinger, Rick Knicley, Jamie Keene, Kenny Rowback, Teresa Vaughn. DNS; Jermerald Phillips, Ricky Vest, Ronnie Tincher, Allen Fortney. Heats; Bittinger, Tallman, Nelson.

[Saturday]

Street Stocks (18); Brian Mitchell, J P Tallman, Dickie Tharpe, James Nelson, Josh Mullenax, Robin Maxson, Jamie Keene, Rick Knicley, Brian Youtzy, Rick Isner, Teresa Vaughn, Dustin Isner, Ryan Watson, Jemerald Phillips, Ricky Vest, Ronnie Tincher, Samantha Rogers, Scott Bittinger. Heats; Vest, Tharpe.

[Friday]

Mod Lites (13); Ryan Harris, Beau Newlon, Jeff Fornash, Matt Ward, Matt Cain, Don Cain, Mark Cottrel, Ron Harris, Mitch Ward, Elliot Newlon, Trey Watson, Randy Kerns, Garry Harris. Heats; B.Newlon, Ry.Harris. 

[Saturday]

Mod Lites (14); Alan Knepper, Lynn Knepper, Mitch Ward, Matt Ward, Randy Kerns, Ryan Harris, Beau Newlon, Trey Watson, Don Cain, Ron Harris, Mark Cottrel, Jeff Fornash, Matt Cain, Kevin Keene. Heats; A. Knepper, Mi. Ward. 

[Friday]

Mini Wedges (13); Shane Hitt, Jackson Jacobs, Kaitlyn Frazier, Hayden Jacobs, Skylar Moats, Brett Coberly, Abby Watson, Braydon Beachler, Austin Simmons, Ryan Gum, Brody Hess. Olivia Ferguson. DNS; 4. Heats; Frazier, Hitt.

[Saturday]
 
Mini Wedges (10);Jackson Jacobs, Hayden Jacobs, Logan Hitt, Braydon Beachler, Abby Watson, Brett Coberly, Skylar Moats, Austin Simmons. DNS; Ryan Gum, Olivia Ferguson. Heats; H. Jacobs, Hitt. 

Weekend totals; Super Late Models 29
  FASTRAK  27
  Modifieds  13
  Street Stocks  22