Winchester Speedway
July 21, 2012
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Kenny Pettyjohn Scores Career-First Winchester Win in Mike Clore Memorial
Mike Grady Jr. Ninth Pure Stock Winner

by Doug Watson
Winchester, VA (July 21) - Current Winchester Speedway late model points leader and 10-time Delaware International Speedway track champion Kenny Pettyjohn, added his name to the Winchester late model winners list with his first-career win at the popular Virginia oval last Saturday night. Pettyjohn, the 11th different late model winner at the speedway this season, drove to the win in the Mike Clore memorial and the $3000 pay day that came with it.

Jamie Lathroum and Greg Satterlee, both winners at Winchester this season, brought the 24-car starting field to the initial green flag of the event. Satterlee out-dragged Lathroum into turn one to become the early leader of the event. Lathroum chased Satterlee for the first seven-laps, before a faulty fuel pump knocked him from contention on the eighth-lap. That put Pettyjohn, who started third, on Satterlee’s back bumper. Pettyjohn kept Satterlee in his sights for the next 21-circuits, but was unable to make a bid for the lead. Unfortunately Satterlee’s undoing came on lap-29 as a broken rear axle sidelined his effort, handing the lead to Pettyjohn. Over the final 10-laps Pettyjohn would first have to fend of the challenges of Jason Covert and then Nick Dickson, to score the breakthrough win.

“That was a long race, but we made it.” Were the words of a very happy Pettyjohn in Winchester’s victory lane. “The track was a little rough in the middle tonight and we were on soft tires so I kept the car as high as I could. I don’t think we would have had anything for Satterlee, but we’ll take what we can get.” Pettyjohn quickly acknowledged his team for the win. “It’s a tough deal racing here.” Pettyjohn stated. “I just want to thank Brian Donley and everyone who helps with this car, it feels great to finally win here.”

Nick Dickson settled for second, Seventeenth-starting Kenny Moreland was third, Stevie Long came from tenth for fourth and fourteenth-starting David Watt rounded out the top-five. Setting a new one-lap track record in time trials over the 32-cars entered went to Jamie Lathroum with a one-lap time of 14.102. Heats went to Satterlee, Pettyjohn and Lathroum with David Pettyjohn winning the consolation.

Mike Grady Jr. became the ninth different winner with his first-career win in the 15-lap pure stock feature. Grady, who lined-up fourth, took control of the event on the sixth-lap and then held-off a furious rush from current points leader Mike Corbin over the final eleven-laps to post the win. Buddy Wilson was third, Donnie Kenney Jr. fourth and Mike Bennett completed the top-five. Heats went to Mike Franklin and Donnie Kenney Jr.

Defending track champion and current points leader Tommy Whitt continued his winning ways as he scored his fifth feature win of the season in the 15-lap four-cylinder main. Whitt started fourth, but was the race leader by the completion of the events first lap. Whitt would go on to lead the distance to score the win over Hunter Crane. Randy Linaburg was third, Jeff Koller fourth and Ed Gageby filled the front five. Heats went to Linaburg and Gageby.

Kevin Pollard was victorious for the fourth time this season in the 15-lap u-car feature. Pollard came from his thirteenth-starting spot to snare the race lead from teammate Tom Paddock on the thirteenth-lap and would then control the final three laps to secure the win. Paddock held on for second, Travis Carroll was third, Brenda Alexander fourth and Josh Wilkins rounded out the top-five. Heats went to Wilkins, Carroll and Joey Strosnider.

“Krazy” Kenny Thomas also became a five-time winner on the season with his win in the nightcap 15-lap enduro stock feature. Thomas assumed control of the event on the seventh-lap and would then repel the advances of eventual runner-up Jamie Mills to score the win. Gary Proctor was third, Devon Riley fourth and Joe Rodgers completed the top-five. Bryan Neff was the heat race winner.

Late Model feature finish
1. Kenny Pettyjohn 2. Nick Dickson 3. Kenny Moreland 4. Stevie Long 5. David Watt 6. David Pettyjohn 7. Pancho Lawler 8. Jason Covert 9. Gregg Satterlee 10. Andy Anderson 11. Tom Decker 12. Gary Stuhler 13. Tim Burkholder 14. Andy Fries 15. Ronnie DeHaven Jr. 16. Duane Harbaugh 17. Keith Jackson 18. Jamie Lathroum 19. Jeremy Miller 20. Tommy Armel 21. Marvin Winters 22. Mitch Miller 23. Kyle Hardy 24. Rusty Sites DNQ- Bruce Kane, Brian Tavenner, DJ Myers, Jimmy Richards, Tony Crim, Brad Omps, Bubby Dillman, Matt Howsare

Pure stock feature finish
1. Mike Grady Jr. 2. Mike Corbin 3. Buddy Wilson 4. Donnie Kenney Jr. 5. Mike Bennett 6. Craig Parrill 7. Mike Franklin 8. Keith Koontz 9. David Kaiser 10. Terry Staton 11. Johnny Oliver 12. Brian Luttrell 13. Michael Carter

Four-cylinder feature finish
1. Tommy Whitt 2. Hunter Crane 3. Randy Linaburg 4. Jeff Koller 5. Ed Gageby 6. Bryan Neff 7. Sonny Hatzell 8. Robert Plaugher Jr. 9. Scott McCartney 10. Austin Stover 11. Gary Newell 12. Delmas Moreland 13. Lester Riley 14. Larry Fuchs (DNS) 15. Ryan Laye (DNS)

U-car feature finish
1. Kevin Pollard 2. Tom Paddock 3. Travis Carroll 4. Brenda Alexander 5. Josh Wilkins 6. Cody Sweeney 7. Theo Funk 8. Robert Wilson 9. Michael Pfaff 10. Jeff Wilkins 11. Reese Alley 12. Gene Wilson 13. Steve Fadeley 14. Alan Dice 15. Randy Wilkins 16. Joe Yablonski 17. Jason Wilkins 18. Austin Nichols 19. Kevin Oates 20. Justin Katz 21. Tony Dawson 22. Robert Perry 23. Kevin Welsh 24. Joey Strosnider 25. Steve Katz 26. David Funk Jr. 27. David Lock 28. Rusty Poston 29.Wesley Hepner

Enduro stock feature finish
1. “Krazy” Kenny Thomas 2. Jamie Mills 3. Gary Proctor 4. Devon Riley 5. Joe Rodgers 6. Bryan Neff 7. Gary Moreland 8. Jonsey Jones 9. Danny Holmes 10. Bryan Green 11. Lenny Weaver 12. Ray Priest (DNS)