Potomac Speedway report 2002-04-27

Jones becomes first Super Late Model repeat winner of the season at Potomac Speedway.

Budds Creek, Md., -- Mother Nature was kind to Potomac Speedway once again as they were able to squeeze in another night of racing, sponsored by Superior Tank and the Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown (ARCH), despite all of the rain this past weekend. Rick Jones of Westminster, Md. became the first Budweiser Super Late Model repeat winner of the 2002 season as he took the checkered flag in the 25-lap event.

Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, Md., remained the dominant force in the Bell Motor Company Limited Late Models as he picked up his third win of the season, his second consecutive win. On his first visit to the speedway in the 2002 racing season, former track champion Ronald Cusic of Mechanicsville, Md., returned to victory lane in the Coors Light Street Stocks.

Scotty Scott of White Plains, Md. gets the win after J.T. McLanigan was disqualified in the Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinder Division. Chuck Williams of Mechanicsville, Md. took the checkered flag in the Arby's Hobby Stock feature for his first career win.

As the Chesapeake Web Design Bomber division was set to take the track, the rain began to fall, making for too slick driving conditions. The Bomber feature was then canceled as the night of racing ended. Jerry Oliver of Mechanicsville, Md. won the heat race held earlier in the night.

Southern States of Charlotte Hall, Md., sponsored the children's bike giveaway. Nine-year-old Brandon Pickeral of Bryans Road, Md., was the lucky bike winner.

Jeff Leiphart led the 11-car field at the start of the 25-lap Budweiser Super Late Model feature with Tommy Wagner Jr. in tow. On lap three, Leiphart was loose in turn two. Wagner made a bid for the lead. The two ran side-by-side down the backstretch and into turns three and four. Leiphart edged Wagner back to the start-finish line to lead the lap.

The two continued to battle the next few laps with Leiphart holding onto the lead. On lap five, a caution came out for Robby Bealle who spun in turn four. The caution lights went out to indicate the field was gong back to green flag racing. Just before the cars got to the starting line, the yellow lights were turned back on. Wagner did not see the yellow lights and started to race, running into Leiphart. Both Wagner and Leiphart ended up with flat tires from the event. David Hoffman then assumed the lead.

On the restart, Hoffman led the way. On lap six, Hoffman bobbled in turn two opening the door for Rick Jones and Darryl Hills. Jones then showed the way to complete laps seven and eight. Hills made a bid for the lead as they exited turn four on lap nine. He edged Jones back to the start-finish line by inches.

Hills took over the top spot for the next few laps until lap 12 when he slowed going into turns one and two, bringing out the caution flag. Jones then reassumed the lead with Deane Guy in second.

Guy stayed glued to Jones rear bumper but was unable to make a move to take over the lead. Jones went on to take the checkered flag. "We were a little tight. The track was in excellent condition. Wagner, Hills, and Leiphart had tough luck. I heard Deane behind me. Deane's a great guy. He won't ram into you. He's one of the best in the area," said Jones. Guy finished second, followed by Ernie Jones in third, Hoffman in fourth, and Harold Dorsey Jr., in fifth. Rick Jones and Hills won the heats.

In the 20-lap Bell Motor Company Limited Late Model feature, Chet Gagnon led the way as the green flag waved. On lap three, second-place runner Johnny Smith looked to the inside of Gagnon in turns one and two but couldn't make a move. On lap five, Smith made his move as they entered turn three. The two made contact with Gagnon getting sideways but was able to save the car. Smith then assumed the lead followed by Jamie Lathroum in second.

Smith showed the way to complete lap five. On the next lap, Lathroum made his move. He was able to pass Smith on the outside as they exited turn four. Once Lathroum took over the top spot, he never looked back. He went on to take the checkered flag, finishing with about a straight-a-way advantage over Smith. Paul Cursey finished third, followed by Gagnon in fourth, and Ronnie Hollidge in fifth. Gagnon won the heat.

Mike Latham and Jeff Snavely made up the front starting row of the 15-lap Coors Light Street Stock feature with Latham leading the way as the green flag waved. A caution came out for Wayne Suite who spun in turn two after making contact with Chester Sellers. The field had a complete restart.

When the field went back to green, Latham again showed the way. On lap six, a caution came out for Barry Moore. Latham led the way on the restart with Ronald Cusic in second. Latham slowed in turns one and two with Cusic taking the lead. Latham then came to a full stop in turns three and four, bringing out the caution.

On the restart, Cusic easily led the way. He went on to take the checkered flag unchallenged for the lead. He finished with about a five-to-six car length lead over Bobby Tipton Jr. Jimmy Jesmer finished third, followed by Bill Tippett in fourth, and Sellers in fifth. Jesmer and Craig Tankersley won the heats.

In the 12-lap Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinder feature, Joe Blocker started from the outside pole and led the way as the green flag waved. Blocker held the top position the next three laps but then slid up the track in turns three and four on lap four. J.T. McLanigan dove to the inside and was able to make the pass for the lead. Once McLanigan took over the lead he never looked back. On the last lap, Blocker and Scotty Nelson got together in turns three and four with both cars spinning. Scotty Scott then finished second, followed by Billy Course in third, Jerry Dick in fourth, and Linda Wright in fifth. A post-race inspection turned up a steering quickener on McLanigan's car which placed Scotty Scott and the race winner. Nelson won the heat.

In the Arby's Hobby Stock feature race, Chuck Williams started on the outside pole and led the way as the green flag waved. On lap three, a caution came out when John Burch and Jerry Lee got together in turn four. On the restart, Williams led the way. Two laps later Barry Lear Jr. spun after making contact with Ray Weaver. Weaver was black-flagged for the incident.

On the restart, Williams led the then six-car field. As they entered turns three and four, Bowie made a bid for the lead. Williams edged Bowie at the start-finish line. Bowie continued to try and take over the top spot on lap six. Williams again held onto the lead.

He went on to take the checkered flag, leading all 15 laps. Bowie finished second followed by John Sellner in third, Burch in fourth, and Lear in fifth. Burch won the heat.

This coming Saturday night, Potomac Speedway will take the night off as the NASCAR series will be in our backyard at the Richmond International Raceway. The racing action will resume on Saturday May 11th with the 25-lap Mike Wathen Coors Light Pure-Street Stock feature along with the regular show. There will also be bicycle races for the kids to get out on the track - so kids, bring your bikes! Pit gates and grandstand admission start at 4:30 p.m., with racing starting at 6 p.m. For more information, contact the track office at 301-884-4624 or check out the web site at potomacspeedway.com.

Budweiser Super Late Models

1. Rick Jones-88, 2. Deane Guy-44, 3. Ernie Jones-22, 4. David Hoffman-15, 5. Harold Dorsey Jr.-92, 6. Tim Murphy-21M, 7. Frank Smith-17, 8. Tommy Wagner Jr.-50 9. Robby Beall-90B, 10. Darryl Hills-7, 11. Jeff Leiphart-8

Bell Motor Company Limited Late Models

1. Jamie Lathroum-6, 2. Johnny Smith-82, 3. Paul Cursey-37, 4. Chet Gagnon-30, 5. Ronnie Hollidge-0, 6. Bill Daniel-8, 7. Kevin Nelson-66X, 8. Sommey Lacey-45, 9. Melvin Muir-32, 10. Kirk Confair-18 (Pure-Street)

Coors Light Street Stocks

1. Ronald Cusic-23, 2. Bobby Tipton Jr.-12, 3. Jimmy Jesmer-47, 4. Bill Tippett-37, 5. Chester Sellers-10, 6. Deuce Wright-2, 7. Cory Hanson-21, 8. Craig Tankersley-18, 9. Wayne Suite-00, 10. Rick Jackson-8up, 11. Mike Latham-78, 12. Quentin Mise-8, 13. Billy Lackey-84, 14. Matt Valliquette-27, 15. Jeff Snavely-99, 16. Jeff Thomas-17 Hobby Stock, 17. Matt Tarbox-24X, 18. Barry Moore-75

DNS - Jerrett Collison-14, Stevie Long-44, Joe Knott-1

Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinders

1. Scotty Scott-42, 2. Billy Crouse-8, 3. Jerry Dick-44, 4. Linda Wright-1, 5. Scotty Nelson-33, 6. Joe Blocker-23, 7. Calvin Wright-94, 8. Chris Mclanigan-82, DQ- J.T. Mclanigan-13

Arby's Hobby Stocks

1. Chuck Williams-2, 2. Ben Bowie-17, 3. John Sellner-5, 4. John Burch-12, 5. Barry Lear-99, 6. Jeff Helsel-23, 7. Ray Weaver-11, 8. Jerry Lee-33, DNS - John Latham-78

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