Three-State Flyers Series
Potomac Speedway
May 25, 2014
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Pettyjohn Previals for Potomac First in Sunday Three-State Flyers Main
Ralph Morgan Jr. Tops in RUSH Crate Feature

by Doug Watson
BUDDS CREEK, MD (May 25) - Millsboro Delaware's Kenny Pettyjohn finally broke the ice as he was the winner of last Sunday nights 35-lap Three-State Flyers series sanctioned "Ernie Jones Memorial" at Potomac speedway. The win for Pettyjohn, worth $3522, was the 10-time Delaware International speedway track champions first-career feature win at the venerable Southern Maryland oval.

Kenny Pettyjohn and Stevie Long shared the front-row for the start of the event with Long flexing his muscle early as he darted in to the race lead as the field raced towards turn three. Pettyjohn fell back to third as Jason Covert settled into second and set his sights on Long. Pettyjohn then discovered the bottom of the speedway as he took second from Covert on lap-fourteen and went after Long. Pettyjohn's persistence on the bottom of the speedway paid dividends as he became the new race leader on the 20th-lap. Jason Covert re-took second from Stevie Long on lap-30 and chased Pettyjohn to the checkers, but would settle for runner-up money as Pettyjohn cruised to the break-through win. "On this Memorial Day weekend I'd like to dedicate this win to my grandfather who gave his life for our country back in WWII." Pettyjohn stated during his victory lane interview. "I never got to meet him, but it was people like him who gave his life for our country and allows us to do the things we do." Pettyjohn was quick to praise car-owner Brian Donley. "If it weren't for Brian and all the people who put the work in on this car, we wouldn't be here right now." Pettyjohn bottom-lined. "We had our car set-up to run the bottom tonight and it was just about perfect and to finally get one here at Potomac is pretty neat." Long settled for third, Kenny Moreland took fourth with Jamie Lathroum rounding out the top-five. Heats went to Moreland and JT Spence.

Ralph Morgan Jr. made his first-ever Potomac start a good one as he took top-honors in the 20-lap RUSH Crate Late Model feature. Morgan, who started third, took the race lead from Cody Dawson on lap-six and would lead the distance to post his career-first Potomac feature win. "I just want to thank my wife for letting us travel so much." Morgan said with a smile. "This is a pretty neat little place and to win the first time here, I couldn't be happier." Dawson held tough for second, Reese Masiello was third, Mike Wharton was fourth with Darren Henderson completing the top-five. Heats went to Masiello and Ben Bowie.

In the 16-lap Street Stock feature Chuck Bowie rolled to his first win of the season. Bowie lined-up third for the start and would take the lead on the second-lap and would eventually lead the final 15-circuits to post the win. Troy Kassiris took second, three-time winner Darren Alvey was third, Johnny Oliver fourth with Greg Morgan filling the front-five.

After winning his career-first All American Outlaw feature Saturday at Winchester, former Potomac Street Stock champion Kurt Zimmerman made it two wins on the weekend as he took top-honors in the divisions 20-lap main. Zimmerman snared the race lead from Randy Doty on lap-six and was never headed. Doty wound up second, Brad Shank was third, Bryan Green fourth with Dylan Kiem completing the top-five.

Mikey Latham became the first repeat winner of the season as he was triumphant in the 25-lap Potomac/Winchester U-Car challenge event. Latham grabbed the race lead from Kevin Oates on lap-eleven and despite the repeated challenges from Oates and Gene Wilson, would hold tough for the win. Travis Clark would take fourth with 14th-starting Steve Fadeley rounding out the top-five.

In the nightcap 15-lap Strictly Stock feature Ed Pope Sr. collected his second feature win of the season. Pope took the lead from Greg Mattingly on the fourth lap and held off a pesky Ray Bucci over the final four-laps to post the win. Mattingly was solid in third, JJ Silvious was fourth with John Hardesty rounding out the top-five.

Late Model feature finish
1. Kenny Pettyjohn 2. Jason Covert 3. Stevie Long 4. Kenny Moreland 5. Jamie Lathroum 6. Keith Jackson 7. JT Spence 8. Dale Hollidge 9. Amanda Whaley 10. Kerry King Jr. 11. Ross Robinson 12. Deane Guy 13. Jimmy Jesmer Jr. 14. Ben Bowie 15. Rick Hulson 16. Matt Tarbox 17. Derrick Quade

Crate Late Model feature finish
1. Ralph Morgan Jr. 2. Cody Dawson 3.Reese Masiello 4. Mike Wharton 5. Darren Henderson 6. John Imler 7. Timmy Booth 8. Tyler Bare 9. Sam Archer 10. Jeff Pilkerton 11. Transton Stoner 12. Dave Friederich 13. Ben Bowie 14. Kevin Palmer 15. Scott Tessman 16. Tracey Graves

Street Stock feature finish
1. Chuck Bowie 2. Troy Kassiris 3. Darren Alvey 4. Johnny Oliver 5. Greg Morgan 6. Dale Reamy 7. Mike Raleigh 8. Mike Latham 9. Craig Parrill (DQ) 10. Will Nelson (DNS)
All American Outlaw feature finish
1. Kurt Zimmerman 2. Randy Doty 3. Brad Shank 4. Bryan Green 5. Dylan Kiem 6. Carnie Fryfogle 7. Jim Minter 8. Al Daniels 9. Scott Jorda 10. Steve Jorda 11. David Egge 12. Tony Jorda 13. Justin Cullum 14. Todd Paul

U-Car feature finish
1. Mikey Latham 2. Kevin Oates 3. Gene Wilson 4. Travis Clark 5. Steve Fadeley 6. Billy Smith 7. Jeff Wilkins 8. Terry Leach 9. Alan Dice 10. Erica Bailey 11. Megan Mann 12. DJ Fadeley 13. Ricky Runion 14. John Molesberry 15. Cori French 16. DJ Powell 17. Jamie Marks 18. Michael Pfaff 19. Corey Swaim 20. Jason Wilkins 21. Randy Wilkins 22. Angel Mudd 23. Rob Wilson 24. Jeremy Pilkerton 25. Sam Raley

Strictly Stock feature finish
1. Ed Pope Sr. 2. Ray Bucci 3. Greg Mattingly 4. JJ Silvious 5. John Hardesty 6. Paul Jones 7. Jimmy Suite 8. Drew Payne 9. Johnny Hardesty 10. Nabil Guffey 11. Ben Pirner 12. Zack Smizer