Elkins Raceway
May 3, 2013
_______________________________________

Thunder in the Mountains Returns

KERENS, WV (May 3) - A strong field of cars and a great crowd saw the 2013 season get under way on Fast ‘N Friendly Pharmacy Friday Night Thunder at the Elkins Raceway.

In heat race action in the Jenkins Ford Super Late Models, Paul Wilmoth Jr., and Butch McGill raged nothing short of a war, but incidental contact resulted in McGill suffering a flat tire giving Wilmoth the win. Young gun Cody Hardesty held off Shane Hitt to notch the second heat. It took three tries to get the feature under way as Hardesty out dragged Wilmoth the first time but not the next two. Wilmoth grabbed the point with Hardesty, Hitt, Shaun Poling and Billy Brown in tow. Billy Holbert started eleventh and began his rise to the front taking fourth on lap five, and third on the seventh go round. Meanwhile Wilmoth had built a comfortable lead as laps clicked away. Holbert reeled in Hardesty and applied pressure but the young former Kart Champion held him off. When the checkers fell Wilmoth driving the Adkins Timber Products / Hydrock Inc #B1 claimed the win. Holbert would slip by Hardesty on the final circuit for second. Bob Gordon and Hitt were fourth and fifth. 

The Budweiser FASTRAK Late Models will dream of yellow for many nights to come. It took six tries at green to get a lap counted. More cautions flew through the time expiring race. When the checkerboard finally fell, Kris Southern piloting the W V Fan Zone / #K2 would survive the carnage to collect the victory. Mike Thorne would chase Southern the entire distance only to settle for second. Corey Metheny, Duane Moreland and Garrett Shepherd would round out the top five. 

Phil Jeffries held off everything Brent Trimble could throw at him in the Fast “N Friendly Pharmacy Modifieds. The duo really put on a show dueling for the front spot. Jeffries continued to turn Trimble away until four circuits to go when he drifted a little high in turn two. It was just enough room for Trimble to dive underneath and secure the posistion. Trimble in the H & R Block / Estel Construction #1B would drive on for the win. Jeffries would finish second, Dave Defibaugh third, Robert Smith was fourth and Kevin Keene was fifth. Trimble would dedicate the win to his wife Missy’s Gma Dalton, who recently passed away.

The Miller’s Used Cars Street Stocks were not going to be out done as they had their war at the front. Jim Byers and Ronnie Tincher had their own battle raging in the finale. Tincher grabbed the lead at the outset but Byers took over on lap one. Byers would have to hold off Tincher, until a push would drop Tincher in the running order. J P Tallman would finish second. James Nelson, Tincher and Samatha Rogers would cross third through fifth.

In the new kids on the block, the Good Samaritan of Barbour County Mod Lites, veteran Tracy Fritter scored his heat then drove way from the field enroute to the victory. Beau Newlon gave chase but could not get close to Fritter and finished second. Jeff Fornash, Mitch Ward and Matt Ward filled out the top five.

In the Darren’s Pizza Shack Mini Wedges, Logan Hitt took up where he left off last year as he put his Hitt Enterprises / High Point Construction #2 in victory lane. Kaitlyn Frazier, Paige Bragg, Abby Watson, and Skylar Moats would complete the top five.

This week is the Good Samaritan of Barbour County  Friday Night Thunder with special Mother’s Day giveaways. Kids don’t forget to sign in at the Mountaineer Insurance Kids club as one lucky boy and one girl will be given bicycles each week. For all the latest information, point standings and more go to www.elkinsraceway.net

Super Late Models (16); Paul Wilmoth Jr., Billy Holbert, Cody Hardesty, Bob Gordon, Shane Hitt, Tim Senic, Butch McGill, Shaun Poling, Billy Brown, Tracie Sampson, Stanley Spooner, Daniel Hill, Shawn Jett, Jess Whiteman. DNS; Skip Hare. Heats; Wilmoth, Hardesty.

FASTRAK (17); Kris Southern, Mike Thorne, Corey Metheny, Duane Moreland, Garrett Shepherd, Louie Krushansky, Kyle Thomas, Dusty Swecker, Derrick Shaw, Michael Lake, Matt Lopez, Norm Weaver, Garrett Paugh, Derek Rogers, Ron Wiles, Dylan Lewis. DNS; Tyler Stutler. Heats; Southern, Thorne.

Modifieds (10); Brent Trimble, Phil Jeffries, Dave Defibaugh, Robert Smith, Kevin Keene, Bob Williams, Brandon Kerr, Bryson Sanders. DNS; Vic Vandergrift, Randy Bohan. Heats; Smith, Jeffries.

Street Stocks (14); Jim Byers, J P Tallman, James Nelson, Ronnie Tincher, Samatha Rogers, Ryan Watson, Jamie Keene, Rick Knicley, Ryan Youtzy, Ricky Vest, Kenny Vest, Robin Maxson, Kenny Rowback. DNS; Jemerald Phillips. Heats; Tincher, Byers.

Mod Lites (12); Tracy Fritter, Beau Newlon, Jeff Fornash, Mitch Ward, Matt Ward, Ryan Harris, Ron Harris, Tom Keplinger, Garry Harris, Zak Kimbrew, Braedon Dillinger, Elliot Newlon. Heats; Fornash, Fritter.

Mini Wedges (13); Logan Hitt, Kaitlyn Frazier, Paige Bragg, Abby Watson, Skylar, Cody Tate, Olivia Ferguson, Austin Simmons, Ryan Gum, Brett Coberly, Brayden Beachler, Jamie Tate. Heats; Ferguson, Hitt.