LMR
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Skyline Speedway
May 11, 2012
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Garnes and Dohm score Late Model main event wins at Skyline Speedway
by Scott Wolfe
STEWART, OHIO - Oh what a Night! Seven features on a fast Friday at Skyline Speedway. Former American Motor Racing Association champion Jeremy Berwanger, the Murray City Bandit, outlasted the constant challenges of veterans Andy Bond and Kenny Johnson to claim the hefty $2,000 to win Malta Windows AMRA Road Warrior Challenge event at Billy Jarrell's Skyline Speedway Friday night.
Danny Smith, Chillicothe, Ohio was the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association make-up feature winner and Chris Garnes, Evans, WV claimed the Tru-Tech AMRA late Model victory. Smith doubled in the sprints after a gallant battle with Ryan Broughton in the nightcap, while young Nick Dohm, Cross Lanes, WV brought home his first-ever Super Late Model win in the AMRA LM division, Chris Stotts, Athens, Ohio claimed the Malta Modified feature, and K.C. Burdette bested the field of Steel Block semi-lates.
Perhaps one of the closest races of the night was the flag to flag 30-lap, Malta Windows AMRA Road Warrior Challenge feature. Defending two-time National Champion Kenny Johnson, Mineral Wells, WV led the first two laps, then Jeremy Berwanger edged by on the next circuit. For the next fifteen laps Berwanger and Johnson went side-by-side, tooth-and-nail in what proved to be an exciting race for the full house of fiery fans.
Johnson scrubbed off some speed in an effort to cleanly pass a lapped car on lap 18, leaving the fight for second between the defending champ and Skyline champion Andy Bond, Coolville, Ohio.
That race was a barnburner until Johnson’s tires faded and Bond started to hook up on the thread of moisture on the bottom. Bond closed the gap somewhat, but Berwanger’s masterful work in traffic made it an eight car length lead at the finish ahead of Bond and Johnson.
Much action took place throughout the field. Although passing was at a premium, up-and-coming Nick Carr was the hard charger in a 17th to 11th run. The field was dotted with a who’s who of modified racers as nine of the top ten drivers have been track champions over the past several years.
A four way tango of Doug Henry, the defending RWT champ, Matt Holcomb the 2010 champ, Robbie Evans, and Mike “Bird” Wilson was just as impressive as the run for the lead. At the point Berwanger’s Lightning/Lloyd Racing Engines #44 began to stretch it out for the win.
Rounding out the top ten were Berwanger, Andy Bond, Kenny Johnson, Doug Henry, Matt Holcomb, Robbie Evans, Mike Wilson, Roy Roush, Jeremy Blake, and Rick Venham, Jr..
Said Berwanger in victory lane, “Wow, this car has just been awesome. This was a big win for us, one of my biggest career wins. The AMRA went all out tonight. $2,000 is a lot of money (laughing). I had a pretty good car under me tonight and that Billy Lloyd engine really got me off the turns.”
“Thanks to Charles (Faires), my Dad, my family and my crew for putting a great car under me.”
Second place Andy Bond noted, “We didn’t have enough gear and that caused the tire to glaze over. I just couldn’t keep it spinning enough to keep heat in it.”
“Kenny and I had a good race going and I made a little run on Jeremy, but I really had to romp on it to keep that right rear to fire,” Bond added. “Second place isn’t bad though.”
“We got a good start and once Jeremy was able to get under me I had to move up the track to keep my momentum going,” said an enthusiastic yet disappointed Johnson.
“I worked the right rear just a little too hard a little too early, and just didn’t have enough at the end,” said the multi-time AMRA Champion.
In the make-up twenty-five lap OVSCA sprint car feature, Danny Smith led flag to flag in a run-away over Andre Layfield. The veteran was again masterful as the original outlaw blasted around all parts of the challenging 3/8mile oval. Once in the lead, Smith totally dominated for the win.
Rounding out the top ten were Smith, Layfield, Jimmy Stinson, Wayne McPeek, Ryan Broughton, Dave Dickson, Josh Davis, Kory Crabtree, Greg Mitchell, and Eric Martin. The hard charger of the race was “Fine Wine”—‘getting better with age’-- Dave Dickson who shot from ninth to sixth.
Chris Garnes, Evans, WV had the field covered in the 25-lap AMRA Tru-Tech Customs late model main, but following a caution on the 22nd lap, veteran Andy Bond gave Garnes a little scare. The excitement was short-lived as Garnes once again found his groove and throttled on to an easy win.
K-C Burdette came on strong as did LM Rookie Mike McPherson, who seems well at home in the Curtis C53 . Burdette passed Ralph Withem on the next-to-last lap for third, while McPherson nailed down fifth.
The hard charger was youngster Nick Dohm who powered from 14th to 6th on what was a tricky track to pass on. Behind winning Garnes was Andy Bond, KC Burdette, Ralph Withem, Mike McPherson, Nick Dohm, Dan Morrison, Ronnie Mayle, Freddie Carpenter, and Anthony Huber.
Highlights of the heat racing included Rookie Ryan Broughton claiming his first- ever 410 sprint win. Up from the mini-wedges a year ago, youngster Jason Gillian claimed a heat win in the Steel Block Late Model/Semi Late heat.
In the regularly scheduled OVSCA sprint main Ryan Broughton showed the poise of a veteran as the pole sitter rambled side by side with Andre Layfield for the first five laps. Broughton held a slight edge until Jimmy Stinson dropped off the back-chute and averted the end of the pit chute wall.
On the restart Broughton shot into the lead by a wide margin. As the field came around for lap eight, Layfield slowed to bring out the race’s second caution, putting Danny Smith on young Broughton’s rear nerf. Broughton pulled away, but as the pair approached lapped traffic, Smith's expertise kicked into gear.
Smith took the lead on lap 18 and zoomed on to his second win of the night in his Maxim/JD Engines/Coors Light Gang #4.
The crafty Smith credited the night's second win to "patience", saying "The kid in the 22 did a great job. I think traffic started getting to him just a little, and I had the advantage of being in second and seeing what I needed to do. I just waited for the right moment. The car was good and thanks to everyone for coming out tonight."
Adam Strausser was the hard charger in a 14th to ninth place run into the top ten. Behind second place Broughton were Dave Dickson, Kory Crabtree, Josh Davis, Wayne McPeek, Jimmy Nier, Jimmy Stinson, and Adam Strausser.
Youngster Nick Dohm in his 525 GM Crate Engine/Rocket Chassis and Ralph Withem paced the field of the night's second AMRA LM feature. Dohm had the slight advantage when the caution flew on lap two, stringing out the field in single file.
Following another caution, Dohm, who had built up a big lead, had to restart the field once again. Dohm led comfortably by three car length’s until lap nineteen when Garnes and Withem engaged in a torrid battle.
As Garnes pressed Withem, the duo both picked up the pace, catching the young Dohm and passing him on the 23rd lap. With Dohm in third now, another caution flew. Dohm was relegated to the lead after scorers reverted back to the last completed lap. Under intense pressure from both Withem and Garnes, Dohm surged on for the win.
“The key to the win was the caution,” said Dohm as he breathed a sigh of relief. “Another key was all the help I get from my dad. We changed the car after the first feature then didn't touch it the rest of the night and it worked perfectly.”
Anthony Huber was the hard charger in a 16th to 10th run. Behind Dohm was Chris Garnes, Ralph Withem, Chris Carpenter, Andy Bond, Colten Burdette, Freddie Carpenter, Ronnie Mayle, Brian Eaton, and Anthony Huber.
In the Malta Windows AMRA Modified main, Chris Stotts raced into another galaxy far ahead of his nearest competitors. With Stotts at the helm of the high speed freight train, the race ran green-to-checkered in less than six minutes.
While Jeremy Blake, Kenny Johnson, Andy Bond, Jeremy Berwanger, and Roy Roush trundled for position, Stott's Swartz/ Roush-Yates/Carthage Auto Parts S-8 rolled on to the easy win. The hard charger of the race was Robbie Evans in a 15th to 11th run.
Behind Stotts, was Jeremy Blake, Kenny Johnson, Andy Bond, Jeremy Berwanger, Roy Roush, Jason Brooks, Brian Whiteman, Doug Henry, and Matt Holcomb.
KC Burdette jumped into the early lead in the Steel Block Late Model main and brought home the victory over Bub Crum, Jeff Burdette, Jason Gillian, Frankie Hall, T.J. Roush, Matt Kussmaul, Roy Dodson, James Joy, Rodney Gibson, Pete Crum, and Nelson Freshour.
The summary: Skyline May 11, 2012
Make-ups from 5/4/2012
Tru-Tech AMRA Late Models
B-Main: Anthony Huber, Nick Dohm, Darrin Roush, Eric Francis, Tony Roush, Justin Powell, Matt Kussmaul, Jason Gillian, Mike Martin, JR Weekly, TJ Roush
Feature: Chris Garnes, Andy Bond, KC Burdette, Ralph Withem, Mike McPherson, Nick Dohm, Dan Morrison, Ronnie Mayle, Freddie Carpenter, Anthony Huber, Nelson Freshour, Darrin Roush, Brian Eaton, Bobby Adams, Jr., Randy Armes, Justin Powell, Eric Francis, Tony Roush
OVSCA 410 Sprint Cars
Feature: Danny Smith, Andre Layfield, Jimmy Stinson, Wayne McPeek, Ryan Broughton, Dave Dickson, Josh Davis, Kory Crabtree, Greg Mitchell, Eric Martin, Randy Fink, Bob Tucker, Jesse McCreary, Brian Benson (DNS)
Malta Windows AMRA Modifieds
Road Warrior Challenge
Feature: Jeremy Berwanger, Andy Bond, Kenny Johnson, Doug Henry, Matt Holcomb, Robbie Evans, Mike Wilson, Roy Roush, Jeremy Blake, Rick Venham, Jr., Nick Carr, Frankie Roush, Jason Brooks, Mike McPherson, Shawn Donahue, Brandon Barnhart, Kurt Stacy, Kyle Bond
May 11, Regular Program
Tru-Tech AMRA Late Models (25)
Heat One: Ralph Withem, Andy Bond, Zach Dohm, Freddie Carpenter, Ronnie Mayle, Anthony Huber, Dan Morrison, Justin Powell, Randy Armes
Heat Two: Nick Dohm, Chris Carpenter, Darrin Roush, Mike Martin, Bobby Adams, Jr., Brandon Conkel, Mike McPherson, Kevin Layne, Tony Roush
Heat Three: Chris Garnes, Colten Burdette, Eric Francis, Brian Eaton, George Klintworth, Bryan Wright, Doug Wriston
B-Main: Anthony Huber, Dan Morrison, Mike McPherson, Kevin Layne, Justin Powell, Tony Roush, Randy Armes, Brandon Conkel, Bryan Wright, Doug Wriston
Feature: Nick Dohm, Chris Garnes, Ralph Withem, Chris Carpenter, Andy Bond, Colten Burdette, Freddie Carpenter, Ronnie Mayle, Brian Eaton, Anthony Huber, Darrin Roush, Dan Morrison, Mike Martin, Zach Dohm, George Klintworth, Mike McPherson, Bobby Adams, Jr., Eric Francis
OVSCA 410 Sprint Cars (18)
Heat One: Ryan Broughton, Dave Dickson, Kory Crabtree, Jimmy Nier, Greg Mitchell, Randy Fink, Jeff Conrad, Jesse McCreary Brian Benson (DNS)
Heat Two: Andre Layfield, Danny Smith, Josh Davis, Wayne McPeek, Jimmy Stinson, Lance Webb, Adam Strausser, Eric Martin, Bob Tucker
Feature: Danny Smith, Ryan Broughton, Dave Dickson, Kory Crabtree, Josh Davis, Wayne McPeek, Jimmy Nier, Jimmy Stinson, Adam Strausser, Lance Webb, Greg Mitchell, Eric Martin, Randy Fink, Jeff Conrad, Bob Tucker, Jesse McCreary, Andre Layfield
Malta Windows AMRA Modifieds (28)
Heat One: Jeremy Blake, Roy Roush, Jason Brooks, Mike Wilson, Brandon Barnhart, Frankie Roush, Shawn Donahue, Gary Gould, Chris Butler, Tyler Hendrix
Heat Two: Chris Stotts, Kenny Johnson, Brian Whiteman, Rick Venham, Jr., Shane Roush, Mike McPherson, Vince Conrad, Jerrad Willis, Kyle Bond
Heat Three: Andy Bond, Jeremy Berwanger, Doug Henry, Matt Holcomb, Robbie Evans, Dusty Boley, Nick Carr, Kurt Stacy, Jeremy Roush
B-Main: Frankie Roush, Mike McPherson, Dusty Boley, Nick Carr, Vince Conrad, Gary Gould, Kurt Stacy, Tyler Hendrix, Jerrad Willis, Shawn Donahue, Jeremy Roush, Kyle Bond (DNS)
Feature: Chris Stotts, Jeremy Blake, Kenny Johnson, Andy Bond, Jeremy Berwanger, Roy Roush, Jason Brooks, Brian Whiteman, Doug Henry, Matt Holcomb, Robbie Evans, Mike Wilson, Brandon Barnhart, Frankie Roush, Dusty Boley, Mike McPherson, Shane Roush, Rick Venham, Jr.
Semi-Late Models (13)
Heat One: Jason Gillian, T.J. Roush, Pete Crum, Jeff Burdette, Rodney Gibson, Roy Dodson
Heat Two: KC Burdette, Bub Crum, Matt Kussmaul, James Joy, Nelson Freshour, Frankie Hall
Feature: KC Burdette, Bub Crum, Jeff Burdette, Jason Gillian, Frankie Hall, T.J. Roush, Matt Kussmaul, Roy Dodson, James Joy, Rodney Gibson, Pete Crum, Nelson Freshour
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