Potomac Speedway
April 6, 2012
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Hills Masterful in Potomac’s Ed Canupp Memorial
Latham Repeats in Street Stocks for Career 24th”

by Doug Watson
Budds Creek, MD- Great Mills MD’s Daryl Hills ended a two-year win drought with a convincing victory in last Friday night’s 35-lap Ed Canupp memorial at Potomac speedway. The win, for the 2004 and 2006 Potomac late model champion, was his career 15th at the speedway.

DJ Myers and Hills shared the front row for the start of the event. When the green flag was displayed, Hills darted into the race lead, a spot he would hold for the entire distance. As Hills lead, the action behind him was furious. DJ Myers, Jamie Lathroum and David Williams had the Potomac fans on their feet as they as they would wage a battle that would last all 35-laps. As Hills would take the checkered flag, DJ Myers would eventually secure second with Jamie Lathroum placing third, defending Potomac champion David Williams fourth and 10th starting Stevie Long completing the top-five.

“I didn’t think I was ever going to win here again.” Hills stated in his post-race interview. “We took a gamble on tires tonight, and here lately we seem to go the wrong way, but the car was as good as anything I’ve ever driven down here.” Hills praised his family for the hard-fought win. “Without my Mom and Dad, we wouldn’t be here right now. They love to race and I’m just glad I could get the car back in victory lane for them.” Heats for the 16 care entered went to Cody Lear and David Williams.

Current street stock point leader Mike Latham became the first repeat winner of the season with his victory in the 16-lap street stock feature. Latham took the lead from Darren Alvey on lap-six and would then have to hold off a charging Kyle Nelson, who came from 12th, to secure his 24th career Potomac feature win. Barry Williams Sr. was third, Kurt Zimmerman took fourth and Darren Alvey settled for fifth. Heats for the 15 cars on hand went to Zimmerman and Latham.

In the 15-lap hobby stock feature, Don Breach became the fourth different winner of the season as he would start on the pole and lead every lap to post the win. Eighth-starting Shane Roloff collected second, Travis Hopkins posted his best-ever Potomac finish taking third, Will Nelson was fourth and John Burch filled the front five. Heats for the 16-car field went to Brian Adkins and Jonathon Raley.

Chris Arnold joined his father Dan as a Potomac modified winner this season as he was triumphant for the second time in his career in the divisions 20-lap main. Arnold grabbed the top-spot from Brian Dobie on lap-11, and would cruise home to a relatively easy win. Dobie hung on for second, Mike Reynolds was third, James Sparks fourth and Jimmy Duncan rounded out the top-five. Reynolds took the heat race win.

Ed Pope Sr. also became a repeat Potomac winner as he was the winner of the 50-lap strictly stock feature. Pope would lead every lap of the race to take the win over Ray Bucci, who came from 12th, Dave Mosley was third, Nabil Guffey took fourth and Buddy Dunagan was fifth.

Super Late Models: 1. Darryl Hills, 2. D.J. Myers, 3. Jamie Lathroum, 4. David Williams, 5. Steve Long, 6. Kenny Moreland, 7. Dale Hollidge, 8. Kenny Pettyjohn, 9. Matt Quade, 10. Jeff Pilkerton,11. Cody Lear, 12. Tyler Emory, 13. Al Shawyer, 14. Ryan Hackett, 15. Deane Guy ( DNS: Kevin Cooke)

Street Stocks: 1. Mike Latham, 2. Kyle Nelson, 3. Barry Williams, 4. Kurt Zimmerman, 5. Darren Alvey, 6. Troy Kassiris, 7. Mike Raleigh, 8. David McBrayer, 9. Billy F armer, 10. Scott Wilson, 11. Jonathan Oliver, 12. Teddy Dickson, 13. Rudy Denke, 14. Stephen Quade, (DQ: Dale Reamy)

Modifieds: 1. Chris Arnold, 2. Brian Dobie, 3. Mike Reynolds, 4. James Sparks, 5. Jimmy Duncan, 6. Dan Arnold, 7. Joe Bounds, 8. Aaron Harris, 9. Curtis Barricks

Hobbystocks: 1. Don Breach, 2. Shane Roloff, 3. Travis Hopkins, 4. Wil Nelson, 5. John Burch, 6. Roby Gass, 7. Jimmy Meek, 8. Thomas Pickeral Sr, 9. James Sutphin, 10. Thomas Pickeral, 11. Jonathan Raley, 12. Brian Adkins, 13. Matt Trabox, 14. Jerry Deason, (DNS: Brittany Wenk, Jimmy Randall)

Strictly Stocks: 1. Ed Pope Sr, 2. Ray Bucci, 3. Dave Moseley, 4. Nabil Guffey, 5. Buddy Dunagan, 6. JJ Silivious, 7. John Hardisty, 8. Josh Blocker, 9. Megan Emory, 10. Cage Perkins, 11. CJ Pannuty, 12. Greg Morgan