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Hagerstown Speedway
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (May 29) - Jack Pencil has done a lot in his racing career but on Saturday evening, he accomplished what he's always wanted to do and that was to win a race at Hagerstown Speedway. Not only did "the Flying School Teacher" from Bedford, Pa get his career first, it was the 15th Annual Bonebrake Tribute, a Three State Flyer Late Model Series event by beating Jason Covert, the defending winner of the race and who also has won the last and only four Flyer events held at Hagerstown.
Scott Palmer of Greencastle, Pa ended a drought and led flag to flag to score his first Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic late model sportsman event since September 9, 2006. Hagerstown's Mike Warrenfeltz put his Ernie D's pure stock career win #78 in the record books after taking the lead on a restart to lead the final eight circuits.
Pulling into victory lane, Pencil was overjoyed on his accomplishment.
"I hope this isn't a dream when I wake up," he said. "I've come here ever since I was three years old back in 1966 and watched all the sprint cars, Elmer Ruby, Irvin King and all those guys. I've come down here religiously and before my career ended, I wanted to win a race here especially after last year's fire that devastated our whole team, my dad getting burned, and coming back. We fought hard all last year."
Pencil started outside Covert on the front row and led lap 18 before Covert reassumed the lead. Pencil kept his composure as Covert edged away slightly but with ten laps remaining, Pencil crept closer and retook the position on lap 30 only for Covert to lead at the flag two laps later. At this point, Pencil wasn't about to leave this one get away while they worked at the rear of the field. He secured the lead and took the checkered by .749 seconds with the lapped car of Nathan Durboraw between them.
"I'd like especially to say thanks to Denny Bonebrake. When I broke my wrist 10 to15 years ago, Denny drove my car down here and he showed me how to get around this place," Pencil said. "The Bonebrake family is a class act. If there was one race I could win at Hagerstown, I'm glad it was this one."
Following qualifications, the top two from each heat drew for the dash line up as Covert drew the pole and Pencil, third spot. While most thought it would be a Covert benefit, Pencil had other thoughts and used the track as if he raced there regularly.
Until the single caution on lap 12, Covert controlled the race with a comfortable lead over Pencil and Frankie Plessinger who took third on lap four.
Pencil battled with Covert following the restart and took the lead for the 18th lap before Covert pulled ahead again as Gary Stuhler and Marvin Winters battled for fourth after passing Matt Parks.
With ten to go, Pencil closed on Covert to get under him and led two laps while Covert wasn't ready to give up and led with three to go. Pencil again continued to hit his marks and reassumed the point with three to go while several cars were directly ahead and he worked past three of them to head from the final turn with Nathan Durboraw between himself and Covert and a .749 second victory.
"When you beat Jason Covert, you're beating one of the best in the country, that's how much I respect Jason so this is one of my best wins ever," Pencil said.
Plessinger remained a solid third with 12th starting Stuhler and 19th starter, D. J. Myers taking fifth with four laps to go. Winters ended sixth followed by Parks, Nick Dickson from 15th, J. T. Spence and Roy Deese to complete the top ten.
Devin Friese, Covert, Plessinger and Parks win the heats for the 36 entries while Jeremy Miller was the B -Main winner.
In the late model sportsman feature, following a first lap several car incident, incident Palmer began again on the outside pole and pulled ahead off the second turn with Ashley Barrett in hot pursuit and Kyle Lear all the way from 14th into third by the second circuit.
Palmer didn't waver as he rounded the track being hounded by two of the best in the division while Lear was working on Barrett for the runner up spot and got it just prior to a 13th lap yellow.
On the restart, Palmer held onto the point and won his career sixth sportsman victory by .556 seconds.
"It's been a long time," Palmer said. "The most incredible story about this win tonight, I bought a brand new car to start this year. I had five races and went to Hesston to race because we were off. I trashed that car two weeks ago. I had this old car and had a lot of help to get it ready in a week, and it was on rail. It was exciting to win tonight."
Lear was second followed by Barrett and Terry Flaherty with Steve Axtell Jr. coming all the way from 18th to fifth and be the Checkered Flag Lube Center/ St. Thomas Towing Hard Charger. Richard Walls, Barry Miller, from 21st, Donnie Farlling (17th), Pete Weaver and Courtney Shreiner were next. Palmer, Barrett and R. Walls won the heats with Axtell taking the consolation.
Eddie McClellan led the Ernie D's pure stocks from the pole with Kenny Dillon into second while Warrenfeltz charged forward and took the runner up spot on the fourth lap. He then overpowered McClellan following a lap seven restart to lead the rest of the way and win by 2.109 seconds over McClellan to also be the Turner Bowling Center Hard Charger. Dillon, Kevin Boyer and Dave Stouffer Jr. completed the front five. Brian Miller and Warrenfeltz were the heat winners.
The next Saturday program will be the opening event of the 2nd Annual Appalachian Mountain Dirt Late Model Speedweek Series which will be accompanied by an Ernie D's pure stock special. Check the speedway website for information or any changes in the weather at: www.hagerstownspeedway.com or contact the speedway office at 301-582-0640.
Hagerstown Speedway Results
Three State Flyers Late Models, 15th Annual Richard "Boney" Bonebrake Tribute, 35 laps, 36 entries, (Lap Leaders - Jason Covert 1-17, 19-29, 32; Jack Pencil 18, 30-31, 33-35) 1.Jack Pencil; 2.Jason Covert; 3.Frankie Plessinger; 4.Gary Stuhler; 5.D. J. Myers; 6.Marvin Winters; 7.Matt Parks; 8.Nick Dickson; 9.J. T. Spence; 10.Roy Deese Jr.; 11.Scott LeBarron; 12.Keith Jackson; 13.Jamie Lathroum; 14.Greg Fetters; 15.Mike Lupfer; 16.Chuck Clise; 17.Brian Booze; 18.Nathan Durboraw; 19.Al Shawver Jr.; 20.Brian Bernheisel; 21.Jeremy Miller; 22.Randy Burkholder; 23.Andy Anderson; 24.Devin Friese; DNQ - Tyler Hershey, Alan Sagi, Ron Delano, Jim Yoder, Jerry Bard, Dylan Yoder, Kirk Baker, Jeff Miller, Tom Decker Jr., Tim Burkholder, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Doug Legum
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Late Model Sportsman, 20 laps, 26 entries, (Lap Leaders - Scott Palmer 1-20) 1.Scott Palmer; 2.Kyle Lear; 3.Ashley Barrett; 4.Terry Flaherty; 5.Steve Axtell Jr. (Checkered Flag Lube Center/St. Thomas Towing Hard Charger) 6.Richard Walls; 7.Barry Miller; 8.Donnie Farlling Jr.; 9.Pete Weaver; 10.Courtney Shreiner; 11.JustinWeaver; 12.Wayne Walls Jr.; 13.Glenn Elliott; 14.Michael Collins; 15.Ryan Walls; 16.Doug Timmons Jr.; 17.Chad Myers; 18.Justin Hart; 19.Anthony Lupini; 20.Rodney Walls; 21.Steve Kent; 22.Nick Pappas; 23.Steve Bailor; 24.Robby Beall; DNS - A.J. Triplett, Mike Walls
Ernie D's Pure Stocks, 15 laps, 19 entries (Lap Leaders - Eddie McClellan 1-7, Mike Warrenfeltz 8-15) 1.Mike Warrenfeltz; 2.Eddie McClellan; 3.Kenny Dillon; 4.Kevin Boyer; 5.Dave Stouffer Jr.; 6.Steve Lowery; 7.Kevin Koontz; 8.Drew Fitzsimmons; 9.Wayne Hawbaker; 10.Kenny Day; 11.Keith Koontz; 12.Rick Durbin; 13.Mike Kratovil; 14.Bill Ecton; 15.Brian Miller; 16.Darrin Younker; 17.Danny Beavers; 18.Charlie Pensinger, DNS - Tony Catlett
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