Potomac Speedway report 2001-08-18

Budds Creek, Md. - Potomac Speedway was back in business this Saturday as the rain held off until Sunday allowing all the great racing action to get underway in the Budweiser and Metropolitan Auto Racing Fans (M.A.R.F.) sponsored night.

Rookie Budweiser Super Late Model driver Darryl Hills of Great Mills, Md., the 2000 Bell Motor Company Semi-Late points champion, picked up his fourth win of the season. It was Hills second week out in his new rocket chassis. Hills started off the event with a big lead over the rest of the field to end it with Ray Kable glued to his rear bumper. "We didn't have it right on the money but I slowed up a little towards the end," said Hills. "They said I had a pretty good lead and I didn't want to get into the lapped cars added Hills. "It was good the first 10 laps then the track slicked over," said Hills.

The current Bell Motor Company Late Model points leader Sommey Lacey of Clements, Md., worked his way back into victory lane for his eighth win of the year. Lacey and Paul Cursey pulled away from the rest of the field, but Cursey was unable to challenge Lacey for the lead. "I wasn't too concerned about Cursey," said Lacey. "I thought I pretty much had him covered as long as I kept my cool." "We have three points races left. That's my main concern, trying to finish good in them," Lacey added. Johnny Smith of Severn, Md., was the M.A.R.F. hard charger of the race award winner. Smith came from an eighth place starting position to finish third.

Ronald Cusic of Mechanicsville, Md., was the unofficial winner of the Coors Light Pure-Street Stock event. It was Cusic's 47th career win and his fourth this year. "All these guys are really tough, said Cusic. "The car's running really good," he added. "All we think about when we go to the track is that we want to win," Cusic said.

Other feature winners included Bob Tester Jr. of Pasadena, Md., making his way to victory lane for the third time this year in the Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinders, Ben Bowie of Welcome, Md., picking up his sixth win this year in the Cliff's Heating and Air Conditioning Enduro/Hobby Stock event, and current points leader Jerry Oliver of Mechanicsville, Md., taking the checkered flag for the fifth time this year in the Chesapeake Web Design Bomber feature.

Also on hand, was the 15-car Legends car feature. Bill Schaffer of Reading, Pa., led the way at the start of the event. On lap four, Harold Warrington of Delaware passed Schaffer for the lead as they exited turn two. Warrington went on to take the checkered flag followed by Schaffer in second, Larry Felty in third, Stew Weinwreck in fourth, and John Greedy in fifth.

M.A.R.F. sponsored the children's bike giveaway. Four-year-old Kaitlyn Thomas of Drayden, Md. was the lucky bike winner.

In the 25-lap Budweiser Super Late Model feature event, Darryl Hills and Chris Hiser made up the front starting row. As the green flag waved, Hills easily showed the way to complete lap one. As they exited turn four to complete lap two, the caution flag waved for the first of three cautions. Pat Wood spun in turns three and four, collecting Tommy Wagner Jr., Rick Jones, and Tim Murphy. Damage was minimal, as they were all able to continue. On the restart, Hills again showed the way jumping out with almost a straight-a-way advantage. By lap 22 of the event, Hills had began to slow a little bit as second-place runner Ray Kable had reeled him in. Kable ran out of laps as Hills went on to take the checkered flag, unchallenged for the top spot. Kable finished second, followed by Mike Christopher in third, Deane Guy in fourth, and Harold Dorsey Jr., in fifth. Kable and Christopher won the heats.

In the 20-lap Bell Motor Company Late Model event, Sommey Lacey and Ronnie Hollidge battled for the lead at the drop of the green flag. Hollidge got the lead on the backstretch, but Lacey battled back in turns three and four. They crossed the start-finish line to complete lap one side-by-side with Lacey leading the lap by a nose. Lacey was able to complete the pass in turns one and two followed by Paul Cursey. Lacey and Cursey then began to pull away from the rest of the field. The two then seemed to play a game, as Cursey would reel in Lacey to only have Lacey pull ahead of him again. Lacey went on to take the checkered flag, leading all 20 laps of the caution free event. Cursey finished second followed by Johnny Smith in third, Ronnie Hollidge in fourth, and Kevin Nelson in fifth. Smith won the heat.

During Coors Light Pure Street heat action, the steering broke on the number 8 UP car of Rick Jackson, driving him into the 25T of Tom Turner. Turners rear axle broke, causing him to flip numerous times down the backstretch. Luckily, neither driver was injured. Bill Tippett led the way at the start of the 15-lap feature. By lap five, sixth place starter Ronald Cusic had moved into second place. On lap six, Cusic made a bid for the lead in turn two. Mike Latham joined in the battle, making it almost three-wide in turn two. Tippett was able to hold both of them off to keep the top spot. On lap 13, a caution came out for Larry Fuchs and Tommy Hitt for an incident on the backstretch. While the field was under caution, Latham pulled his car in the pits. Tippett was a little slower on the restart as he had a tire going flat. Cusic was able to make the pass for the lead. Jamie Lathroum then took over second place. Cusic went on to take the checkered flag with Lathroum in second. Tippett came back to finish third followed by Billy Lackey in fourth, and Matt Valliquette in fifth. Mike Latham and Craig Tankersley won the heats. Due to a post-race protest, feature results are unofficial awaiting a tech decision.

In the 12-lap Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinder event, Bob Tester Jr. started from the outside pole and took the lead as the green flag waved. Outside pole sitter, Scotty Nelson, stayed glued to Tester's rear bumper, making a bid for the lead in turns three and four on lap three. Tester was able to hold him off. The first of two cautions came out on lap four when Billy Crouse lost a tire. On the restart, Nelson challenged for the lead in turn two, making the pass on the backstretch. Tester tried to retake the lead on lap four, but Nelson held him off. He challenged for the lead again on lap eight, going to the inside of Nelson in turn four. He was able to make the pass and went on to take the checkered flag. Nelson finished second followed Sam Woods in third, Jerry Dick in fourth, and Linda Wright in fourth. Nelson won the heat.

Wayne Suite and John Sellner battled for the lead as the green flag waved in the 20-lap Cliff's Heating and Air Conditioning Enduro/Hobby Stock feature. Sellner won the battle and showed the way to complete lap one. A caution came out on lap two when Chuck Williams slowed. On the restart, Sellner led the way but then spun in turn two, collecting Suite. No caution flag waved, as both were able to continue. Ben Bowie then took over the lead. He went on to lead the rest of the feature event, unchallenged for the lead. Joe Adams finished second, followed by Suite in third, John Burch in fourth, and Ray Weaver in fifth. Sellner and Suite won the heats.

In the 15-lap Chesapeake Web Design Bomber feature, Kyle Nelson and Earl Whitehouse duked it out for the top position on lap one. As they exited the backstretch, Rob Hitt joined in the battle, making it three wide as they entered turn three. Whitehouse powered his way out front to lead lap one. On lap two, Whitehouse's car drifted up the track in turns three and four. Hitt was able to get by Whitehouse along with Jerry Oliver who took over the lead. Oliver continued to show the way. On the final lap, second place runner Brian Thompson spun, bringing out the caution flag. Oliver showed the way on the restart with Rick Jackson glued to his bumper in second place. As they entered turn four with the checkered flag in sight, Jackson looked to the inside of Oliver but couldn't make a move. Oliver got the win followed by Jackson in second, Dale Moore in third, Whitehouse in fourth, and Nelson in fifth. Jimmy Suite won the heat.

This coming Saturday night, the regular show will be on hand along with the Classic Cars and the 25-lap Chesapeake Web Design Bomber feature. Double points will be on the land for all divisions. All racing action is sponsored by Chesapeake Web Design. Pit gates open at 5:30 p.m., with racing starting at 7:00 p.m. For more information, contact the Potomac Speedway track office at (301) 884-4624 or check out the web at www.potomacspeedway.com..

Budweiser Super Late Models

1. Darryl Hills-7H, 2. Ray Kable-9, 3. Mike Christopher-85, 4. Deane Guy-44, 5. Harold Dorsey Jr. - 92, 6. Mike Warshaur-7, 7. Tommy Wagner Jr. - 50, 8. Ernie Jones-22, 9. Rick Jones-88, 10. Chris Hiser-24H, 11. David Hoffman-15, 12. Pat Wood-3, 13. George Moreland-24, 14. Frank Smith-17, 15. Jackie Booth-33, 16. Tim Murphy-21M, 17. Barry Lear-99, DNS - Rick Hulson-5

Bell Motor Company Late Models

1. Sommey Lacey-45, 2. Paul Cursey-37, 3. Johnny Smith-82, 4. Ronnie Hollidge-0, 5. Kevin Nelson-66X, 6. Chet Gagnon-30, 7. Craig Bowling-75, 8. David Puckett-30D, DNS - Bobby Harrington-10

Coors Light Pure-Street Stocks (Unofficial)

1. Ronald Cusic-23, 2. Jamie Lathroum-6, 3. Bill Tippett-37, 4. Billy Lackey-11, 5. Matt Valliquette-27, 6. Troy Kassiris-17K, 7. P.J. Hatcher-77, 8. Tom Turner-2D, 9. Kirk Confair-81, 10. Craig Tankersley-18, 11. Cory Hanson-21, 12. Tommy Hitt-7T, 13. Rusty Alton-3, 14. Larry Fuchs-2, 15. Chris Nelson-66X, 16. Mike Latham-78, 17. Jeff Snavely-99, 18. Joe Scaggs-72, 19. Jimmy Jesmer-47, DNS - Rick Jackson-8up,

Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinders

1. Bob Tester Jr. -22, 2. Scotty Nelson-33, 3. Sam Woods-00, 4. Jerry Dick-44, 5. Linda Wright-1, 6. Calvin Wright-94, 7. Billy Crouse

Cliff's Heating and Air Conditioning Enduro/Hobby Stocks

1. Ben Bowie-17, 2. Joe Adms-69, 3. Wayne Suite-00, 4. John Burch-12, 5. Ray Weaver-11, 6. John Latham-78, 7. Ray Meador-41, 8. John Sellner-5, 9. Glenn Evans-72, 10. Frank Helsel-23, 11. Robert Bruce-7, 12. Marty Page-29, 13. William Lewis-1/2, 14. Chuck Williams-2, 15. Bill Kessler-44, 16. Joseph Edwards-56

Chesapeake Web Design Bombers

1. Jerry Oliver-3, 2. Rick Jackson-8up, 3. Dale Moore-5, 4. Earl Whitehouse-18, 5. Kyle Nelson-66X, 6. Brian Thompson-28, 7. Jimmy Suite-1, 8.Ronnie Doss-21, 9. Rob Hitt-47, DNS - Eric Hanson-11

Vintage Cars

1. Harold Warrington-00, 2. Bill Schaffer-16, 3. Larry Felty-4A, 4. Stew Weinwreck-1, 5. John Greedy-45X, 6. Tom Swanger-45, 7. Mack Tatum-7X, 8. Dennis Harris-3, 9. Gret Emmlett-00X, 10. Charlie Weaver-4, 11. Pete Cobb-65, 12. Tony Steele-31, 13. Oscer Fields-5

-PS