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Matt Felton CUMBERLAND, Md. (April 4) - Nick Dickson outlasted the field to win the inaugural Three State Flyers series race on Saturday night at The Rock, Allegany County Speedway.
Dickson, of Lewistown, Pa., took over the lead on lap eight and showed the way to the finish in the 35-lap main event. Dickson earned $3,000 for the victory for the new series, which will tour through Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Circumstances played a role in the outcome with only 10 cars finishing the race and seven cautions slowing the pace. With substantial rain leading up to the opening night for 2009, the bottom of the track became choppy, contributing to the attrition.
Challengers came and went for Dickson. Dickson moved up the track enough to keep a steady line but nearly lost the lead on a restart at lap 24. Gregg Satterlee tried to take advantage of an opening in the bottom lane in turn two but slid sideways into the grass.
Jared Miley claimed the runner up spot but trailed Dickson by a dozen car lengths to the finish. Wayne Johnson was third. Devin Friese and Darryl Hills completed the top five.
Johnson gained nine spots in the final dozen laps, the final three spots by moving to the high side of the track. He picked off Randy Burkholder and Hills by lap 33 and got Friese out of turn four to take the white flag.
Jason Covert led the opening laps, jumping out to a commanding lead before signs of a mechanical problem grew into a cloud of smoke trailing his car. He pulled off under an unrelated caution on lap seven.
Greg Hainsey showed the way to the checkered flag in a tense 16-lap Street Stock feature. Hainsey finished with runner-up Mike Desch on his bumper.
Desch had led until lap seven, when Hainsey finally ended a three-lap, side-by-side battle for the lead by choosing the right spot when the leaders encountered a lapped car.
With 10 laps down, Desch slipped back three more spots with Daryl Whetstone and Dave Brown taking second and third behind Hainsey. Trouble in turn two ensued for both of those drivers with three laps to go. Whetstone slid sideways on a restart in turn two, collecting Brown, John Whitfield, Jerry Robinson and Ray Sheetz.
Desch reclaimed the second spot by missing the melee. Justin Bonnett, Bill Henney and Kevin Deremer completed the top five.
Ryan Peer kicked off the season with a win in the 12-lap Factory Stock 4-Cylinder race. Peer got the lead when Jason Riggleman began to slow with what turned out to be a flat tire three laps into the race.
After that, Peer never faced a challenge from runner-up Chris Booher and was comfortably ahead by a dozen car lengths at the finish line. Nick Iski edged Mike Lauffer in the final laps to get third. Behind Lauffer, Doug Lewis, who started 15th, worked his way through the field to get the fifth spot.
The Rock will continue racing next Saturday with the first of three Clash races with the Hagerstown Speedway for the Limited Late Model/Late Model Sportsman class. The Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and Factory Stock classes will also see action starting at 7 p.m. For more information, including a complete schedule of events, visit the speedway's web site at www.therockspeedway.com.
Race Results The Rock, Allegany County Speedway
Three State Flyers Saturday April 4, 2009 35-lap Feature: 1. Nick Dickson, 2. Jared Miley, 3. Wayne Johnson, 4. Devin Friese, 5. Darryl Hills, 6. Randy Burkholder, 7. Greg Fetters, 8. Darrell Dick, 9. Travis Stickley, 10. Tom Decker Jr., 11. Gregg Satterlee, 12. Scott LeBarron, 13. Gary Stuhler, 14. Chuck Clise, 15. D.J. Myers, 16. Keith Barbara, 17. Matt Quade, 18. Jason Covert, 19. Jeremy Miller, 20. Chuck Harper, 21. Alan Sagi, 22. Ronnie DeHaven Jr., 23. Matt Sponaugle, 24. D.J. Troutman; DNQ: Shaun Poling, Bob Gordon, Jack Pencil, Keith Jackson, Ted Gallaher, Bo Feathers, Chris Harr.
Street Stocks (16 laps): 1. Greg Hainsey, 2. Mike Desch, 3. Justin Bonnett, 4. Bill Henney, 5. Kevin Deremer, 6. Rich Swope, 7. John Swartzwelder, 8. Roy Whitfield, 9. John Whitfield, 10. Billy VanMeter, 11. Justin Michael, 12. Buddy Jones, 13. Daryl Whetstone, 14. Dave Brown, 15. Ray Sheetz, 16. Jerry Robinson, 17. Daniel Cornman, 18. Matt Kinnamon, 19. Alicia LeGros, DNS: Jimmy Iser Jr.
Factory Stock 4-Cylinder (12 laps): 1. Ryan Peer, 2. Chris Booher, 3. Nick Iski, 4. Mike Lauffer, 5. Doug Lewis, 6. Ed Vogel, 7. Josh VanMeter, 8. Brandon Inglish, 9. Dwain Rhodes, 10. Tim College, 11. Chris Shoemaker, 12. Billy Readd, 13. Jason Riggleman, 14. Maranda Peer, 15. Jimmy Lepley, 16. Steve Riggleman, 17. Ian Will, DNS: Tyler Alkire.
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