Potomac Speedway report 2002-08-10

Nelson continues to dominate Bombers at Potomac Speedway.

Budds Creek, Md., - Kyle Nelson of Mechanicsville, Md., has had a phenomenal season in the Chesapeake Web Design Bombers at Potomac Speedway. Nelson has six wins to his credit after taking the checkered flag in a special 25-lap feature event on Saturday at Potomac Speedway. Chesapeake Web Design sponsored all of the racing action with Arby's of Leonardtown providing dinner for two to all of the feature winners.

Defending Budweiser Super Late Model points champion Deane Guy of Clements, Md., picked up his second win of the season. "I've got to thank my crew. My guys have been working their tails off. They'll give me a good car sometimes and I'll goof up. They'll ask me what happened and I'll say I just went in too hard or something. They'll just keep working on it," said Guy. Darryl Hills was named the M.A.R.F. Hard Charger of the race award winner. Hills came from an 11th place starting position to finish fourth.

Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, Md., continued his dominant performance in his rookie season in the Bell Motor Company Limited Late Models. Lathroum picked up his eighth win of the season. Mike Latham of Mechanicsville, Md., visited victory lane for the third time this year in the Coors Light Street Stocks.

Calvin Wright of Nanjemoy, Md., got his first win of the season in the Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinder division after a controversial feature event. John Sellner of Huntingtown, Md. padded his points lead a little more after taking the checkered flag for the sixth time this year in the Arby's Hobby Stock division.

Jack Coburn, formerly of Jay-Dee Supply, sponsored the children's prize giveaway. Two-year-old Dakota Scott of White Plains, Md., was the winner of a new scooter.

David Hoffman showed the way at the start of the 25-lap Budweiser Super Late Model feature event. On lap two, Kirk Confair was able to get by Hoffman for the top spot.

Confair showed the way for the next four circuits. On lap six, Deane Guy, who had moved into second on lap two, made a bid for the lead. Guy went to the inside of Confair as they exited turn four. The two crossed the start-finish line side-by-side with Guy leading the lap by a nose. Guy then moved out front before they entered turns one and two.

Guy continued to lead the way through several caution flags. The most exciting and scary caution of the feature occurred on lap 12 when Frank Smith hit the inside frontstretch retaining wall after having contact with Tom Turner. Smith's car climbed up on the wall knocking out a piece of the concrete barrier. Luckily, Smith was uninjured in the incident. Hoffman also spun from the event.

After a brief red flag, the field went back to green flag racing. Guy easily showed the way. He went on to take the checkered flag, finishing with about a five-car length advantage over Rick Jones.

The best battle on the track was between Ernie Jones and Darryl Hills who exchanged third a couple of times. Ernie Jones ended up with the position while Hills finished fourth, followed by Tim Murphy in fifth. Hills and Tommy Wagner Jr. won the heats.

The 20-lap Bell Motor Company Limited Late Model feature got off to a slow start as the yellow flag waved for an incident in turn two collecting Paul Cursey before the first lap was completed. The field had a complete restart.

As the green flag waved, Paul Barham took the early lead but Jamie Lathroum challenged for the top position on the inside groove of turn two, making the pass for the lead. By lap three, Lathroum had a three-car length advantage. He stretched that lead out another two car lengths by lap four.

The field was brought back together on lap five as the caution flag waved for Barham who slowed in turn four. Lathroum easily led the way on the restart.

A series of yellow flags occurred on lap seven, bringing the field back together again. On the last restart, Ronnie Hollidge went to the outside of Lathroum in turns one and two. Lathroum held onto the lead and began pulling away from the field again.

The field was brought back together again on lap 15 for an incident involving Fireball Latham and Barham in turn two. Hollidge challenged for the lead again at the drop of the green flag. The two ran side-by-side into turns one and two. Lathroum powered his way out front once again. Lathroum wasn't able to pull away immediately as Hollidge stayed glued to his rear bumper. In the last few laps, Lathroum put about three car lengths distance between him and Hollidge as he went on to take the checkered flag.

Hollidge finished second, followed by Sommey Lacey in third, Chet Gagnon in fourth, and Kevin Nelson in fifth. Hollidge and Gagnon won the heats.

In the 15-lap Coors Light Pure-Street Stock feature, Jeff Thomas started on the pole and led the way as the green flag waved. Thomas put lap one in the books but then got loose in turn four on lap two, opening the door for Mike Latham. Latham made the pass for the lead.

Latham began to pull away from the rest of the field. By lap eight, he had about a five-car length advantage over Jimmy Jesmer. His lead was cut down on lap nine when the yellow flag waved when Barry Williams and Chester Sellers made contact off turn four. Craig Tankersley was pinched off in the incident, causing Williams to spin.

On the restart, Jesmer challenged Latham for the lead. Latham was able to hold him off. Jesmer challenged Latham for the lead again on lap 14. The two battled side-by-side with Latham edging Jesmer off turn four. Latham went on to take the checkered flag. "I want to thank the 47. I think he had a better car and he raced me clean," said Latham.

Jesmer finished second followed by Chester Sellers in third, Billy Lackey in fourth, and Thomas in fifth. Billy Tippet and Jack Osborne won the heats.

Wayne Graves led the way at the start of the 12-lap Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinder feature event. Before the first lap was completed, the yellow flag waved when J.T. Mclanigan hit Scotty Scott causing Scott to spin. Mclanigan was black-flagged for the incident. The field had a complete restart.

As the green flag waved, Graves led the way opening up a four-car length advantage. On lap seven, Graves bobbled in turn four. Calvin Wright made a bid for the lead but Graves held him off. On lap eight, Graves got loose in turn two. Calvin Wright made contact with Graves causing him to spin.

Scotty Scott then took over the lead. On the restart, Butch Mclanigan challenged Scott for the lead. The two ran side-by-side with Mclanigan getting the position as they exited turn four. On lap 10, Scott made contact with Mclanigan in turns three and four causing Mclanigan to spin. Scott was blackflagged for the incident.

Linda Wright then assumed the lead. On the restart, Graves challenged Wright for the lead. Before the lap was completed, the yellow flag waved for Calvin Wright who spun in turn two. On the restart, Graves challenged Wright for the lead as they exited turn two. The two ran side-by-side with Graves edging Wright as they exited turn four.

Linda Wright came battling back in turns one and two but Graves held her off. As they entered turns three and four, Graves spun. Wright was able to get by unscathed and led the lap.

As Linda Wright seemed to be on her way to picking up her third win of the season, Butch Mclanigan hit her as they exited turn four causing both cars to spin with the checkered flag in sight. Calvin Wright made it by both of them to get the win. Jerry Dick ended up second followed by Graves in third, in fourth, and Linda Wright in fifth. Graves won the heat.

Chuck Williams started from the pole and took the early lead in the 15-lap Arby's Hobby Stock feature. On lap three, Williams got loose in turn two as John Burch and John Sellner were able to get by him.

On lap four, a caution came out when Ben Bowie and Ray Weaver got together in turn three. On the restart, Burch got loose in turn two. John Sellner went to the inside of him. Before the lap was completed, a caution came out for Bowie who came to a stop in turn four. On the restart, Burch got loose in turn two again. Sellner dove to the inside of him making the pass for the lead.

Sellner went on to lead the rest of the feature unchallenged for the lead. Burch finished second. A good battle for third developed between Jeff Helsel and Chuck Williams. Helsel edged Williams to the start-finish line to finish third. Williams took fourth followed by Jerry Lee in fifth. Weaver won the heat.

In the special 25-lap Chesapeake Web Design Bomber feature event, Greg Mattingly started on the pole and led the way as the green flag waved. On lap five, Donald Doss made a bid for the lead on the backstretch. The two made contact in turn four with Mattingly holding onto the top position.

The next circuit around, Kyle Nelson got around Doss for second and set his sights on Mattingly. As Nelson went to the outside of Mattingly in turns three and four, the two made contact. Mattingly held him off to retain the lead.

Nelson tried the outside groove in turns three and four once again on lap eight. Again, the two cars touched as Mattingly kept the lead again. As they entered the backstretch, Nelson went to the outside of Mattingly. They ran side-by-side with Nelson edging Mattingly this time as they exited turn four.

Once Nelson got out front, he began pulling away from the rest of the field. He went on to take the checkered flag, finishing with a half-track lead over Mattingly. Rick Jackson finished third, followed by Thomas Pickeral in fourth, and Jeff Callahan in fifth. Callahan won the heat.

This coming Saturday it will be Budweiser Night and M.A.R.F. Night at Potomac Speedway. The regular show along with the Vintage Cars will be on hand. Pit gates open at 5:30 p.m., with racing starting at 7 p.m. For more information, contact the track office at 301-884-4624 or check us out on the web at potomacspeedway.com.

-ps-