Potomac Speedway race report 3/31/01

GUY WINS BOBBY ALLEN MEMORIAL AT POTOMAC SPEEDWAY
March 31, 2000
Budds Creek, MD

by Lisa Mann

The 2001 Bobby Allen Memorial, ITSI sponsored, Budweiser Super Late Model event proved a fitting tribute to the racing legend. A full 27 car field was on hand to battle it out for the checkered and the $2,000 payday. Deane Guy of Clements MD, took home the victory, leading the last 14 laps of the 55 lap event. In other racing action, the Bell Motor Company Late Model feature win went to Paul Cursey of Baltimore, MD. Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, MD, came from eighth to take the Coors Light Street Stock feature victory. The 4 Cylinder feature win went to Bob Tester of Pasadena, MD in his first 2001 outing. Last year's Enduro Stock Champion, Joe Adams of Clements, MD, took the Clifff's Heating and Air Enduro/Hobby Stock feature event. Jerry Oliver of Mechanicsville, MD prevailed on the last lap to take the Chesapeake Web Design Bomber victory. Michael Ballew was the Universal Metal Products sponsored bike winner.

A remarkable group of Budweiser Super Late Models were on hand to strut their horsepower. The heat races went to the Potomac Speedway veterans, Scott Cross and Deane Guy. The first twelve cars were inverted at the starting grid putting Bo Feathers and Rick Jones on the first row. Jones and Jim Bernheisel quickly took the top spots until lap 6 when Bernheisel and Feathers were victims of a heated battle. On lap 12 Les Hare took over the lead. Hare continued to show the way through lap 33 when second through fourth place cars of Jones, Scott Cross, Ray Cable and Rodney Franklin were involved in a spectacular pileup which also collected Steve Raddich. This moved Guy into the second position and provided him the opportunity to make his move for the lead. Guy made the pass stick on lap 37 and never relinquished the lead. Following Guy to the checkered were Hare, Allen Brannon, George Moreland and Darryl Hills..

Bell Motor Late Model action was intense. Ronnie Hollidge took the heat race over last week's feature winner Sommey Lacey. Fireball Lathroum took the early lead until lap two when Paul Cursey made his move to the front. Cursey led the remainder of the event which never slowed for caution. Lacey worked his way through the field from his twelfth starting spot to battle Johnny Smith for second. On lap 14 Smith retired to the pit area with an apparent mechanical failure forfeiting the position to Lacey. Following Cursey and Lacey to the stripe were Hollidge, Billy Hubbard, and Chet Gagnon.

Potomac hosted another full field of Coors Light Street Stocks on Saturday night. Heat races went to Jamie Lathroum and Stevie Long. Craig Tankersley and Tom Turner showed the way at the drop of the green flag. The duo battled for the top spot until Rusty Alton joined the fight and took second from Turner. Lathroum then moved into third position setting the stage for a fender to fender battle. Lathroum took second from Alton on lap seven and moved into the top spot on the next lap. Alton, Tankersley, Mike Latham and Kirk Confair all battled behind him. Latham's machine failed on lap 12 relinquishing him to the pit area. Lathroum held on to take the 15 lap feature event. Following Lathroum to the checkered were Tankersley, Alton, Confair and Joe Scaggs.

Potomac Speedway's 4 Cylinder action saw Sam Woods taking the heat race win. Butch McLanigan and Calvin Wright showed the way at the drop of the green flag for the 12 lap feature event. Wright jumped out to the early lead surrendering to McLanigan on lap 3 when he brought out the caution. With Bob Tester on his bumper McLanigan restarted the event. Tester took the lead on lap 4 never to surrender. Tester brought the duo of Scotty Nelson and Chappy Knaack with him to the front of the pack. The three battled for position but would finish in that order. Following Tester, Nelson and Knaack to the stripe were Wright and Woods. A post race inspection found a technical infraction which disqualified Scotty Nelson and allowed McLanigan to join the top five.

The 15 lap Cliff's Heating and Air Enduro/Hobby Stock feature event pole sitter Joe Adams at the helm from green to checkered. John Burch, Ray Weaver, and Ben Bowie battled for the second position. On lap 12 Bowie got by Weaver for third. The front runners were followed by Wayne Suite rounding out the top five. The heat race also went to Adams who blew a motor during the previous week's event.

The Chesapeake Web Design Bomber feature proved that the last lap at Potomac Speedway is always the most exciting. Brian Maxey took the heat race. Eric Hanson and Joann Jackson lead the way at the drop of the green flag. Hanson took the early lead with Jackson, Maxey and Jerry Oliver close behind. The four battled for 12 of the 15 lap feature event not changing position. On lap 13 Jackson made her move. She took the top spot on lap 14 enroute to the feature victory. On the last lap, however, Jerry Oliver spoiled her celebration. Oliver powered past both Hansen and Jackson to take the feature event. Oliver was followed by Maxey, Jackson, Dale Moore, and Hansen.

Next week, April 7th, Potomac Speedway hosts the Classic Cars with a regular show for all other racing divisions. The event will be sponsored by Minor Buckler Electric. The Metropolitan Auto Racing Fans Club (MARF) will be on hand for their first MARF Night of the 2001 racing season. Gates open at 4:30pm racing action starts at 6:00pm. For more information call the Track Office at (301) 884-4624 or visit our Web Site at www.PotomacSpeedway.com.