Winchester Speedway
August 11, 2012
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Myers Breaks the Ice, Becomes 13th Winner at Winchester
Spence Comes Up Big in Tony Armel Memorial

by Doug Watson
Winchester, VA- Defending Winchester speedway track champion DJ Myers became the 13th different winner of the season as he scored his first feature win of 2012 in last Saturday nights 30-lap late model event, and the $2000 top prize that came with it. The win, for Myers, was his third score of the season overall in his third state as he’s also taken victories at Bedford (PA) and Potomac (MD).

Point leader Kenny Pettyjohn and Myers shared the front-row for the start of the feature. Pettyjohn, on a late-season tear, darted into the race lead as the pack entered turn-one. As Pettyjohn lead, Myers settled into second, and the race was on. Pettyjohn and Myers would race side by side for the next 21-circuits before Myers opportunity came in lapped traffic on lap-23. As the duo was exiting turn-two, Myers swept to the top as Pettyjohn was negotiating a slower car to become the new race leader. Myers would lead the remainder of the race, but would have to survive a lap-29 caution, to post the win aboard his Greg Gunter owned, PPM chassis no.70J.

“I want to thank all the fans for coming out tonight, I hope we put on a good show.” Were the words from DJ Myers during his post-race interview. “It’s an honor to race with a guy like Kenny Pettyjohn.” Myers stated. “Kenny raced me clean and I knew my shot to get the lead would come in lapped traffic and we were able to get the job done.” Myers, a seven-time late model winner at the speedway in 2011, has found the going a little tougher this season. “It seemed like last season we could do no wrong.” Myers emphasized. “We’ve worked hard all season to get here, but the competition level has really stepped up, and I’m fortunate to have such a great team behind me.” Pettyjohn settled for second, Keith Jackson was third, Ronnie DeHaven Jr. came home fourth and Mark Pettyjohn rounded out the top-five. Heats for the 23-cars on hand went to Mark Pettyjohn, Myers and Kenny Pettyjohn.

Winchester Va.’s JT Spence scored the biggest win of his career as he took top-honors in the 40-lap “Tony Armel Memorial” limited late model event. The win, for Spence, was his third victory of the season and netted him a $2500 pay day plus lap money. Tyler Armstrong and points leader Brad Ritter paced the field to the initial green flag. Ritter shot into the race lead as the field powered down the backstretch with Justin Weaver in tow. As Ritter lead, third-starting JT Spence, reached second by the seventh-lap and set his sights on Ritter. By the ninth-lap Ritter was lapping cars and would unfortunately tangle with one on lap-ten, ending his chances for the victory. Spence made the most of his now good fortune as he would lead the final 29-laps to preserve the win over a hard-charging Justin Weaver. “That was a bad deal for Brad (Ritter) with that lapped car.” Spence stated. “ I would have loved to race him for the win, but I just missed all that wrecking myself. I guess we got lucky and got through.” Spence dedicated the win to his father, Jimmy, a life-long friend of the Armel’s. “Dougie Timmons gave us a great car again tonight and it means a lot to win this race not only for the Armel family, but my dad, our families have been close forever and it means the world to win this race for them.” Pete Weaver came home third, Armstrong settled for fourth and 12th-statring Kyle Lear completed the top-five. Setting fast-time in time trials over the 28-car field was Pete Weaver with a one-lap time of 17.542. Heats went to Armstrong, Ritter and Spence.

Defending track champion and current points leader Tommy Whitt continued his domination of the four-cylinder ranks as he drove to his seventh feature win of the season in the divisions 20-lap “Summer Sizzler” championship event. Whitt and teammate Scott McCartney battled the entire distance with Whitt taking the lead, and eventual win, for good on the 15th-lap. Rand Linaburg was second, Lester Riley third, Jeff Koller fourth and Gary Newell would fill the front-five. Heats went to McCartney and Whitt.

Scott Nalevanko became the sixth different winner of the season with his first-career feature win in the 15-lap u-car main. Nalevanko, who lined-up second for the start, took the lead on lap-one and drove the race of his career to fend-off former track champion Kevin Oates to score the breakthrough win. Justin Katz was third, Josh Wilkins fourth and points leader Tom Paddock rounding out the top-five. Heats for the 30-cars went to Oates, Nalevanko and Travis Carroll.

Late Model feature finish
1. DJ Myers 2. Kenny Pettyjohn 3. Keith Jackson 4. Ronnie DeHaven Jr. 5. Mark Pettyjohn 6. Tommy Armel 7. Trever Feathers 8. Allan Brannon 9. Brad Omps 10. Andrew Mullins 11. Tony Crim 12. Wesley Bonebrake 13. David Williams 14. Ross Robinson 15. Brian Tavenner 16. Kris Eaton 17. Rob Schirmer 18. Tyler Castle 19. David Pettyjohn 20. Dale Hollidge 21. Dave Graber 22. Bryan Driver 23. Don Woodruff

Limited late model feature finish
1. JT Spence 2. Justin Weaver 3. Pete Weaver 4. Tyler Armstrong 5. Kyle Lear 6. Tanner Kerr 7. Mike Walls 8. Joe Leavell 9. Rodney Walls 10. James Lichliter 11. Bruce Kane 12. Scott Palmer 13. Kris Eaton 14. Keith Walls 15. Walter Crouch 16. Kevin Deremer 17. Jimmy Richards 18. Butch Chapman Jr. 19. Brad Ritter 20. Jacob Burdette 21. Frankie Lathroum 22. Tom Chaffins 23. Ernie Shirley 24. Tyler Emory 25. Neil Alexander 26. Tyler Hershey 27. Herk Armel 28. Kris Holliday

Four-cylinder feature finish
1. Tommy Whitt 2. Randy Linaburg 3. Lester Riley 4. Jeff Koller 5. Gary Newell 6. Ed Gageby 7. Roger Whitlock 8. Austin Stover 9. Hunter Crane 10. Robert Plaugher Jr. 11. Billy Sonner 12. Scott McCartney (DQ)

U-car feature finish
1. Scott Nalevanko 2. Kevin Oates 3. Justin Katz 4. Josh Wilkins 5. Tom Paddock 6. Kevin Pollard 7. Josh Reedy 8. Steve Fadeley 9. Jeff Oster 10. Robert Perry 11. Randy Wilkins 12. Ronnie Bolstridge 13. Kevin Welsh 14. Michael Pfaff 15. Reese Alley 16. Joe Yablonski 17. Jason Wilkins 18. Brenda Alexander 19. David Funk Jr. 20. David Locke 21. Allen Jones 22. Travis Carroll 23. Robert Wilson 24. Todd “Rocket” Breeden 25. Austin Nichols 26. Sarah Poston 27. Billy Poston 28. Gene Wilson 29. Theo Funk 30. Steve Katz