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Elkins Speedway
KERENS, W.V. (May 20) - Great weather, great crowds and great racing combined for an action-packed, memorable evening at Elkins Speedway's "Thursday Night Thunder" featuring NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace.
During pre-race activities, Wallace spent several hours shaking hands, signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans. Never short on words, Kenny managed to pull all of this off as well as interviews for radio, TV and even stopped by to talk to the kids racing division. Later on in the evening, the NASCAR driver enjoyed getting back to his roots of dirt racing, competing not only in his own Federated Auto Parts modified, but also found time to pilot a Tim Senic-owned, Roy's RV Supercenter sponsored Rocket Chassis in the 30-lap, $1500 to win headlining event.
Two lucky fans won two tickets each to Lowe's Motor Speedway's Coca-Cola 600 courtesy of Roy's RV Supercenter of Elkins, WV for the Memorial Day weekend.
Also, two brave fans won five laps around Elkins Speedway with Kenny Wallace behind the wheel of the West Virginia Motor Speedway two-seater dirt late model.
Veteran racer and one of the crowd favorites Chuck Harper of Beverly, WV surprised one of his biggest fans by renting the WV Motor Speedway two-seater and making a few laps at intermission. "Charlie", as he is simply known by race fans couldn't seem to stop smiling after the thrill ride and will surely be a life-long memory for both Chuck and Charlie.
Second generation racer Jake Hawkins, who's older brother Jared won the season opener at Elkins two weeks ago, took advantage of his front row starting spot for the 30-lap, $1500 to win main event. It was apparent very early in the race that Hawkins was going to be the driver to beat as he quickly took command of the race. And in commanding fashion, Jake found his rythmn, darting through lapped traffic and a few times getting slowed down, allowing 2009 World of Outlaws Late Model points champion Josh Richards the opportunity to shorten the distance to Hawkins' rear bumper.
Hawkins bobbled slightly coming out of turn two with about ten laps to go giving Richards a little more incentive to push the pace. But once Hawkins navigated the lapped cars, Richards could advance no more in the caution-free event, nabbing his first-ever Super Late feature win. Richards crossed the stripe in second ahead of Tim Senic, Ravenswood, WV's Chris Garnes and Jared Hawkins of Fairmont, WV.
Oakland, Md.'s Cody Hardesty proved opening night was no fluke as he cruised to a straightaway advantage win in the 20-lap FASTRAK Late Model main event. Hardesty pretty much ran away with things, leaving Kyle Thomas and Daniel Hill of Greenwood, WV to battle out for the second position. Thomas eventually won out over Hill, Dusty Hamrick for fourth and Derek Doll for fifth.
Vic Vandergrift of Fairmont, WV behind the wheel of his Hassey Chassis #v16 led from flag to flag in the 25-lap McDonald's AMRA Modified feature. Vandergrift, using his classic middle to high groove jumped out front but later caught glimpses of challenger Dave Defibaugh's front nose piece. Taking advantage of Elkins Speedway's multi-groove race surface, Defibaugh inched lower and lower, changed angles and threw anything else he could to pressure Vandergrift but came up short at the finish line to finish second.
Kenny Johnson made the long tow from Parkersburg, WV payoff to take third, with NASCAR's Kenny Wallace, piloting his own Federated Auto Parts #36 taking fourth with 2009 Elkins Speedway track champion Shawn Davis taking fifth.
Johnny Singleton started on the front row and held back serious efforts by 2-time Elkins Speedway track champion Dusty Swecker to capture his first speedway victory in quite some time. Singleton seemed to have things well under control in his #j15 camaro leading flag to flag. Swecker ended the night in second, followed by a smoking Teresa Vaughn with Samantha Rogers and Ricky Vest completing the top five.
Holding off late race challenges by season opener winner Randy Bohan, Elkins, WV's Dustin Isner drove a near flawless race to pick up his first ever feature win. Isner, being interviewed in victory lane by announcer Pete Secret, quickly credited his father for helping him reach his goal. Bohan, also showing great sportsmanship pulled beside the winner and gave him a congratulatory wave. Kenny Vest made a late race charge to lock into an impressive top three finish ahead of Jeff Fornash and Justin Sinnett.
It was all Alan Sisler, from flag to flag to pick up his first main event win of the year in the 4 Cylinder class. Sisler's black #7 racer left little doubt at the drop of the green flag as to who would be in contention for the win. Zack Williams finished second ahead of car#17, opening night feature winner Brady Stutler and Allen Ice.
The Junkyard Warriors really put on a show for the fans with alot of door to door racing and rubbing for their positions. Race leader Donnie Wamsley looked to have things wrapped up for a win, when contact was made between the leader and a lapped car, slowing Wamsley down and fading to fourth with one lap to go. This allowed Billy Bunnell the opportunity he was looking for to sneakpast and go on for his first win. Jason Frazier slipped by to pick up second over David Bunnell, Wamsley and Anthony Lopez.
Young Ryan Watson has been nothing short of dominant this year in the MWRA Mini Wedge class and Thursday night was no exception. Watson easily took control of the event, stretching his lead out to well beyond where other racers posed no threat. While Watson was set on cruise control, the battle for second place was shaping up and became a race-long struggle between Elliott Newlon, 2009 champion James Nelson and Trey Watson, who all eventually finished in that order. Last year's runner up in points, Cody Carpenter completed the top five.
SUMMARY FOR May 20, 2010
Super Lates - 30 Laps - $1500
Feature - JAKE HAWKINS, Josh Richards, Tim Senic, Chris Garnes, Jared Hawkins, Billy Holbert, Butch McGill, Chris Carpenter, Zach Dohm, Bob Gordon, Paul Wilmoth, Jr., Kenny Wallace, Skip Hare, LC Powers, Stanley Spooner, Shawn Poling, Steve Booth, KC Burdette, DNS-Tracie Sampson.
FASTRAK Late Models - 20 Laps
Feature - CODY HARDESTY, Kyle Thomas, Daniel Hill, Dusty Hamrick, Derek Doll, Joe Loudin, Kevin Keene, Shane Hitt, Shawn Jett, Kris Southern, Derek Rogers, Mike Lewis, Norman Weaver, David Watts, Bill Shaffer, Matt Lopez, Chad Green, Jacob Lash.
McDonald's AMRA Modifieds - 25 Laps
Feature - VIC VANDERGRIFT, Dave Defibaugh, Kenny Johnson, Kenny Wallace, Shawn Davis, Phil Jeffries, Mike Murphy, Booger Garnes, Tom Sigler, Vince Conrad, John Maxwell, Gary Conner, Matt Chenoweth, Deanna Groves, Rob Smith, Brandon Kerr.
Street Stocks
Feature - JOHNNY SINGLETON, Dusty Swecker, Teresa Vaughn, Samantha Rogers, Ricky Vest, Bill Vandevender, Josh Bendishaw.
Miller's Used Cars Pure Stocks
Feature - DUSTIN ISNER, Randy Bohan, Kenny Vest, Jeff Fornash, Justin Sinnett, Robin Maxson, Todd Bunnell, Marty Lamar, Alan Wagner, Zack Travis, Chad McClean, Jimbo Owens, DNS - Jason Keyes.
4 Cylinders
Feature - ALAN SISLER, Zack Williams, John Sinnett, Brady Stutler, Allen Ice.
Junkyard Warriors
Feature - BILLY BUNNELL, Jason Frazier, David Bunnell, Donnie Wamsley, Anthony Lopez, Billy Martin, Josh Hornick.
MWRA Mini Wedges
Feature - RYAN WATSON, Elliott Newlon, James Nelson, Trey Watson, Cody Carpenter, Paige Bragg, (Tie for 7th)--Kaitlyn Frazier / Wyatt McKee, Brianna Wade, Austin Simmons, Olivia Ferguson, Skyler Moats, Hunter Drake.
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