Potomac Speedway race summary 2002-09-21

Hills dominates Ronnie McBee Super Late Model feature at Potomac Speedway.

Budds Creek, Md., -- After having a month off from the regular racing action, Potomac Speedway finished up the regular points season with a double points night and the running of the last I.T.S.I. Budweiser Super Late Model feature, the 44-lap Ronnie McBee Memorial.

Darryl Hills of Great Mills, Md., proved that he would not be denied the $2500 purse. He started on the pole and led all 44 laps unchallenged for the lead except for the drop of the initial green flag.

"I don't know what to say. My luck this year has been bad. I'm glad to have something good happen at the end. I would like to thank my mom and dad. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be able to do this. I would also like to thank my soon-to-be wife Jenny. She puts up with a lot," said Hills.

The win was Hills' third of the year and his first in the I.T.S.I. series. Three-time feature winner Rick Jones of Westminister, Md. clinched his first Budweiser Super Late Model points championship by taking the green flag in the event.

"I feel proud. I would like to thank the fans and everyone who has supported me. I would like to thank the crew and everyone who has worked so hard. There is great competition out there," said Jones.

One-time feature winner Allen Brannon of Winchester, Va., has dominated the I.T.S.I. series as his second-place run propelled him to his third straight I.T.S.I. points championship. Scott Richwine was the M.A.R.F. Hard Charger of the Race award winner. Richwine came from a 20th place starting position to finish fifth.

Ronnie Hollidge of Mechanicsville, Md., picked up his second win of the season in the Bell Motor Company Limited Late Models. Paul Cursey of Baltimore, Md., picked up his third Limited Late Model points championship title.

Barry Williams of Pasadena, Md. picked up his second win of the season in the Coors Light Street Stocks while one-time feature winner Jimmy Jesmer of Pasadena, Md. took the points championship title.

Calvin Wright of Nanjemoy, Md., notched his second victory of the season in the Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinders while Scotty Scott of White Plains, Md., picked up his first points championship in the division.

Barry Williams of Pasadena, Md. made it to victory lane twice in one night driving his "other #6" car in the Arby's Hobby Stock feature while Ben Bowie of Brandywine, Md., notched his first points championship title.

Kyle Nelson of Mechanicsville, Md., continued to dominate the Chesapeake Web Design Bombers as he picked up his seventh win in the division. Although he remained winless, Jimmy Suite of Charlotte Hall, Md. was consistent enough to take home the points championship title.

Johnson Air Systems and driver of the number 51 Bell Motor Company Limited Late Model, Jimmy Johnson, sponsored the children's prize giveaway. Seven-year-old Cody Scott of White Plains, Md., son of four-cylinder driver Scotty Scott, was the lucky bike winner.

Darryl Hills and Deane Guy battled for the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 44-lap Ronnie McBee Memorial Budweiser Super Late Model event. Before the lap was completed the caution flag waved for Kirk Confair. The field had a complete restart.

As the green flag waved, Hills easily took the lead. By lap two, he had about a four-car length advantage.

A good battle for second developed between Rick Jones and Allen Brannon. Brannon was able to take the position and keep it on lap 18. Hills continued to show the way. He went on to lead all 44 laps unchallenged for the lead. The race was slowed eight times for cautions.

Hills finished with a six-car length lead over Brannon. It was another half straight-a-way advantage back to third place finisher Rick Jones. Tommy Wagner Jr. finished fourth followed by Scott Richwine in fifth. Hills, Guy, and Wagner won the heats.

In the 20-lap Bell Motor Company Limited Late Model feature, Ronnie Hollidge, who was third in points going into the feature event, gave it all he had to try and take over the top spot. Hollidge started from the outside pole and immediately took over the lead. By lap five, he had about a five-car length advantage over Kevin Nelson.

On lap 11, Jamie Lathroum passed Nelson for second and then set his sights on Hollidge. The third of four caution flags waved on lap 15 for Ronald Cusic who spun in turns three and four. On the restart, Lathroum was glued to Hollidge's rear bumper. He made a bid for the lead in the outside groove of turn two. Hollidge held him off. As Lathroum challenged again in turns three and four, Nelson also joined in the battle making it three-wide.

Hollidge and Lathroum exited turn four side-by-side. Lathroum beat Hollidge to the line by inches. Hollidge came battling back hard as he passed Lathroum in turns one and two to retake the lead.

Lathroum, in his rookie season, didn't give up on adding another win to his string of eight victories. He went to the inside of Hollidge in turn three. The two ran side-by-side. Hollidge's car got loose in turn four, allowing Lathroum to take the lead.

The caution flag waved on lap 17 for Sommey Lacey who spun on the backstretch. On the restart, Hollidge proved that he would not be denied of picking up his second win of the season. He took the outside groove in turn turns one and two. The two ran side-by-side down the backstretch and into turns three and four. Hollidge was able to power his way past Lathroum as they exited turn four.

With the checkered flag in sight, Lathroum made one last effort to get the win. He went to the inside of Hollidge as they exited turn four but Hollidge beat him back to the start-finish line by inches to get the win.

Lathroum finished second, followed by Paul Cursey in third, Kevin Nelson in fourth, and Jimmy Johnson in fifth. Hollidge and Lathroum won the heats.

Joe Blocker started on the pole and led the way as the green flag waved in the 15-lap Coors Light Street Stock feature. Blocker spun in turn four as Mike Latham then took over the lead. By lap four, Latham had a four-car length advantage.

Tommy Hitt and Barry Williams began to close in on Latham by lap six. The yellow flag then waved on lap seven for Quentin Mise. While the field was under caution, points leader Jimmy Jesmer began to smoke heavily, leaving for a possible change in the points lead if Deuce Wright were to finish in the top five.

Wright, who was currently running in the eighth position, then experienced his own bad luck on lap eight when he got a flat tire and ended up going a lap down.

On lap 11, Latham's car drifted up the track in turn two. Hitt looked to the inside of him and then made his move in turns three and four. He was able to make the pass for the lead.

On lap 14, Latham looked to the inside of Hitt to retake the lead in turns three and four. The two made contact causing Latham to spin and bring out the caution.

On the restart, Hitt's car drifted up the track in turn two opening the door for Williams. Williams took the inside groove, making the pass for the lead on the backstretch. Hitt came battling back but Williams held him off to get the win. Hitt finished second, followed by Billy Lackey in third, Billy Tippett in fourth, and Craig Tankersley in fifth. Tankersley and Matt Valliquette won the heats.

Chris Mclanigan took the early lead in the 12-lap Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinder feature but was then put to the rear of the field for jumping the start. The field then had a complete restart. Scotty Scott then took the early lead. Billy Crouse challenged Scott for the lead in turns three and four but Scott held him off.

On lap five, Crouse and Jerry Dick got together in turn two causing Crouse to spin. On the restart, Calvin Wright challenged Scott for the lead. He was able to make the pass as they exited turn two. Once Wright took over the top position, he never looked back. He went on to lead the rest of the feature unchallenged for the lead to take the checkered flag.

Scott finished second, followed by J.T. Mclanigan in third, Linda Wright in fourth, and Chris Mclanigan in fifth. Butch Mclanigan won the heat.

Jeff Helsel took the early lead in the 15 lap Arby's Hobby Stock feature. By lap three, Helsel had a five-car length advantage. Helsel's lead was cut down on lap seven when Chuck Williams and Bob Kolbe got together on the frontstretch.

Helsel led the way on the restart and put one more lap in the books. On lap eight, John Burch went to the inside of Helsel in turns three and four. He was able to take over the lead in turns three and four. Helsel battled back on lap nine. They ran side-by-side into turns three and four. Helsel was able to retake the lead.

On lap 13, Burch went to the inside of Helsel as they exited turn two. He took over the lead once again. Barry Williams passed Helsel for second on lap 14 and then set his sights on Burch. He looked to the inside of Burch as they exited turn two and made his move in turn four. Burch was able to hold him off to take the checkered flag. A post-race protest was denied by Burch who was then disqualified, giving Williams the win.

Helsel finished second followed by Jerry Lee in third, Ben Bowie in fourth, Joe Adams in fifth. Bob Kolbe and Joe Adams won the heats.

In the 15-lap Chesapeake Web Design Bomber feature, Kyle Nelson and Brian Thompson battled for the lead at the drop of the green flag. Nelson got the position as they exited turn four.

Nelson then began to pull away from the rest of the field. By lap five, he had a straight-a-way advantage. Nelson had a close call in turn two on lap seven when the slower car of Ben Oliver made contact with Nelson. Nelson was able to continue.

The race was slowed on lap 13 for debris on the track. Nelson easily led the way on the restart and went on to take the checkered flag. Cory Hanson finished second followed by David Cooper in third, Jimmy Suite in fourth, and Thomas Pickeral in fifth. Brian Thompson won the heat.

On the schedule for this coming weekend, September 28th, Potomac Speedway will have the annual 100 Lap Enduro-Hobby/Bomber Championship feature.  Rules are open to all tracks and all cars will have an unmodified 350 CMF Carburetor Max.  Also, on the agenda are Spectator Drag races and a Roll Over Contest. For more information, contact the track office at 301-884-4624 or check us out on the world wide web at potomacspeedway.com.

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