Potomac Speedway
September 5, 2014
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Emory Takes Second Limited Late Model Main, Secures First-Career Track Title
Raley, Mann, Silvious and Kassiris all Earn Championship Honors

by Doug Watson
Budds Creek, MD (September 5) -- King George Virginia's Tyler Emory drove an inspired race to collect his second win of the season in last Friday nights 20-lap Limited Late Model feature at Potomac Speedway. Emory's win, the third of his Potomac career, earned the 21 year old speedster the 2014 division championship in the process.

Jeff King and Brandon Long shared the front-row for the start of the event with Long assuming the race lead as the field raced off turn-two. As Long lead, 12th-starting Tyler Emory was on the move as he reached the runner-up spot by the ninth-circuit, setting his sights on Long. Emory and Long waged another epic Potomac battle that saw Emory get a run on Long as the duo came off the fourth-turn for the checkered flag with Emory nipping Long at the line to collect the win. "I can't believe we were able to pull-off the win and championship here tonight." Emory stated during his post-race interview. " Being behind by 8-points coming in I knew we had to win the heat and finish in front Derrick (Quade) in the feature to get the championship, but to win the feature as well, this is amazing." A well prepared track surface was key in Emory's winning drive. "I knew we would be pretty good up top tonight and I just drove this thing as hard as I could and with the track as good as it was tonight we were able to move around when we needed to and beat Brandon to the finish line." Billy Tucker was third, Jeff King took fourth with Kurt Zimmerman completing the top-five. Heats went to Emory and Long.

Mike Latham scored his 7th win of 2014 in the 16-lap Street Stock feature. Latham, who started sixth, drove through the field to snare the race lead from Mike Franklin on lap-three and then drove off uncontested to collect his 37th career Potomac feature win. Franklin hung on for second, Troy Kassiris was third, Barry Williams Sr. took fourth with Kyle Nelson rounding out the top-five. By just starting the feature, Troy Kassiris was crowned track champion, his second-career in the class, with his first coming back in 2011. Heats went to Franklin and Latham.

Jamie Sutphin scored his second win in a row and fourth of the season in the 15-lap Hobby Stock main. Sutphin came for his 12th-starting spot to grab the race lead from Ed Pope Jr. and would then have to with stand a furious late-race rush from Pope to preserve the win. With his third place feature finish, Jonathan Raley was crowned track champion for the first-time in his career. Greg Morgan came home fourth with Ryan Clement filling the front-five. Heats went to Sutphin and Tommy Wagner Jr.

Megan Mann wired the field as she scored her fourth win of the season in the 15-lap U-Car feature and the 2014 track championship. Mann's title made her the youngest track champion in speedway history at just 15 years old and the first father/daughter combo to win titles at the track as her father, Roland, was a Limited Late Model champion back in 2005. Mann started on the pole and grabbed the race lead on lap-two and would then lead the distance to take the win by a half-track over Mikey Latham. Corey Swaim was third, Sam Raley fourth with Cori French completing the top-five.

Ed Pope Sr. drove to his fourth win of the season in the nightcap 15-lap Strictly Stock feature. Pope, who lined-up fourth for the start, took the lead on lap-one and would never look back as he would score the convincing win over Ray Bucci. John Hardesty was third, JJ Silvious took fourth with Paul Jones rounding out the top-five. With his fourth place finish, JJ Silvious was crowned the 2014 track champion, his first-career Potomac title.

Limited Late Model feature finish
1. Tyler Emory 2. Brandon Long 3. Billy Tucker 4. Jeff King 5. Kurt Zimmerman 6. Rich Marks 7. Marty Hanbury 8. Derrick Quade 9. Billy Hill 10. Billy Hubbard 11. Matt Tarbox 12. Frankie Latham 13. James Sparks

Street Stock feature finish
1. Mike Latham 2. Mike Franklin 3. Troy Kassiris 4. Barry Williams Sr. 5. Kyle Nelson 6. Mike Raleigh 7. Jerry Deason 8. Mike Hanbury 9. Brian Swigger 10. Scotty Nelson 11. Johnny Oliver 12. Walt Homberg

Hobby Stock feature finish
1. Jamie Sutphin 2. Ed Pope Jr. 3. Jonathan Raley 4. Greg Morgan 5. Ryan Clement 6. Billy Crouse 7. Will Nelson 8. John Burch 9. Matt Stewart 10. Buddy Dunagan 11. Tommy Wagner Jr. 12. Kenny Sutphin 13. Raymond Reed 14. Jordan Pilkerton 15. JT Linkous 16. John Weyrich 17. Travis Laroque 18. Jerry Deason 19. Robbie Kramer Jr. 20. Korey Downs

U-Car feature finish
1. Megan Mann 2. Mike Latham 3. Corey Swaim 4. Sam Raley 5. Cori French 6. Jeremy Pilkerton 7. John Molesberry 8. DJ Powell 9. Jamie Marks 10. Savannah Windsor

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