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Ken Cunningham
ORRVILLE, Ohio (July 19) - After a long wait fans were finally treated to a fantastic night of racing at the Federated Auto Parts / Wayne County Speedway this past Saturday night. First on the agenda were group qualifications in which Chet Alexander set Late Model fast time with a lap of 18.496 seconds while Tim Hunter was fastest in the Sprints with a lap of 18.075 seconds around the expertly prepared 3/8ths mile clay oval. Heat races soon followed and Justin Chance was the class of the field to record the first caution free Late Model win, Mark Gardiner claimed the second heat and Ryan Markham was best in the dash. Josh Robison gave the competition a taste of what's to come as he dominated the Mini Stock heat. Tim Hunter stole the lead on the last lap from Aaron Middaugh to win the Sprint heat and Travis Mensching held off Frank Oriti and Chad Craver for the Pure Stock heat. Making the transfer from the Late Model consolation race were Mike Bores, Kristen Flory, Mark Bellamy, Benny Lester, and Ryan Eddleblute.
After a short intermission the Santmyer Oil sponsored Late Model main event rolled onto the track in a four abreast salute to the many fans who returned to witness the first complete night of dirt track racing this season at Wayne County. Starting pole position, three time track champion Ryan Markham of Ashland quickly disposed of outside pole sitter Dave Hornikel and took full command of a lead he would not relinquish. In only the second circuit Wayne Maffett moved ahead of Hornikel for second while Alexander and Chance mixed it up in a scramble for fourth. As the fifth lap was recorded Clint Coffman was turned sideways at full speed on the front stretch sending the tight field of cars in all directions but one unfortunate racer clipped Coffman causing enough damage to send him pit side. Back to green and Jason Flory begins a charge from mid pack, nearly running off the track on the backstretch in a skirmish with Dave Liles, then passing Gardiner and Alexander to claim fourth before half way. Further back, Benny Lester picks up steam and works his way from last and into the top ten by lap sixteen when Liles slows on the race track with a shredded tire but manages to stay out of traffic and no caution flag. Twenty laps in the books Markham finds himself in heavy lapped traffic with Maffett gaining fast, trapped for only a second Maffett pulls alongside but "Flyin Ryan" Markham was not to be denied the win. Maffett settled for second while Jason Flory worked into third. Hornikel and Alexander filled the top five.
The Federated Auto Parts Mini Stocks were up next and Josh Robinson picked up right where he left off and dominated the main event from green to the checkered flag. However, this race was far from a sleeper as Dale Beckett ruffed up Dustin Cyrus in a battle for fourth and Jordan James made every attempt to steal second from Chase Alexander. Robinson easily scored the win followed by Alexander, James, Beckett, and Cyrus the top five. Another dominating performance was turned in by Tim Hunter of Millersburg Ohio with his own flag to flag Spurgeon Chevrolet Sprint victory. The number 2h machine of Hunter enjoyed the comfort of a full straight lead over closest competitor Aaron Middaugh with only caution flags keeping the field within sight. Still no shortage of action as race fans enjoyed watching rising star Cody Jacobs battle with Nick Mulheim and long time WCS competitor Duffy Smith work his way from tail into the top five. It was Tim Hunter at the checkers followed by Broc Martin, Mulheim, Smith and Jacobs the top five.
The Thrifty Muffler Pure Stocks brought down the curtain with a very exciting race between Chad Craver and Travis Mensching as the two fought race long for the lead with Don Baney trailing and searching high and low for an opening. Frank Oriti worked from last starting spot into the top five when Jeremy Lynch spun out and collected Oriti in the process, both went to the tail. Mensching gets a good run on Craver during the following restart but manages to hold his lead while Paul Holmes unsuccessfully challenges Baney for third. On the tenth circuit Oriti claims sixth from Todd Werntz and by half way once again moves into the top five over Scott Bush. At the checkers, Craver, Mensching, Baney, Holmes, and Oriti. Next Saturday, July 26 bring the kids for an autograph as we present more top quality Winged Sprint, Late Model, Pure Stock, and Mini Stock dirt track racing. Pit gates open at 3, qualifying promptly at 5, and racing begins at 7:00 p.m. We hope to see you here !
RESULTS
Santmyer Oil Late Models
Fast Time - Chet Alexander / 18.496
Heat 1 - Justin Chance, Clint Coffman, Rocky Owens
Heat 2 - Mark Gardiner, Jason Flory, Allan Baker
Dash - Ryan Markham, Dave Hornikel, Wayne Maffett Jr.,
Dave Liles, Chet Alexander, dns. Al Farris
Feature - Markham, Maffett, Flory, Hornikel, Alexander, Gardiner, Baker, Benny Lester, Mike Bores, Jeff Esbenshade, Chance, Trevor Phillips, Mark Bellamy, Kristen Flory, Ryan Eddleblute, Liles, Farris, Coffman
Federated Auto Parts Mini Stocks
Heat 1 - Josh Robinson, Dustin Cyrus, Chase Alexander
Feature - Robinson, Alexander, Jordan James, Dale Beckett Jr., Dustin Cyrus, Mitch Reichard, Joe Slys, Anthony Collins, Wayne Newberry
Spurgeon Chevrolet Sprints
Fast Time - Tim Hunter / 18.075
Heat 1 - Hunter, Aaron Middaugh, Duffy Smith
Feature - Hunter, Broc Martin, Nick Mulheim, Smith, Cody Jacobs, Bill Underwood, Nick Patterson, Will Ault, Bill Ault, Middaugh
Thrifty Muffler Pure Stocks
Heat 1 - Travis Mensching, Frank Oriti, Chad Craver
Feature - Craver, Mensching, Don Baney, Paul Holmes, Oriti, Scott Bush, Todd Wentz, Murray Anderson, James Armes, Jeremy Lynch, Paul Whitten
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