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Hagerstown Speedway
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (September 4) - J. T. Spence of Winchester, Va became Hagerstown Speedway's 11th different late model Saturday evening, capturing his first late model win since August 23, 2008, the prestigious 25th Annual McBee/Hays Championship. Spence started seventh in the 44-lap event and later held off four time event winner, Gary Stuhler by a mere 1.041 seconds while at the same time, Big Cove Tannery, Pa's Frankie Plessinger, who finished seventh, earned the 2010 late model championship by 94 points over Alan Sagi.
In the Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic Sportsman, Justin Weaver of nearby Williamsport, the young rookie son of Pete Weaver, the new division champion, scored his career first in the division with a 3.181 second triumph over Richard Walls. Dave Stouffer Jr. of Hagerstown, who got married earlier in the day, celebrated with his second season victory in the Ernie D's pure stocks as Hagerstown's Mike Warrenfeltz recorded his fifth title in the division. "Krazy" Kenny Thomas of Keedysville, Md. won his fifth of the seven Enduro Dash events held this season.
Spence took the lead following a third lap restart to later have a more than seven second lead wiped out just as Stuhler took over the runner up spot on lap 16. Following an 18th lap restart, the race went to the 39th before the first of three yellows closed the field for the finish.
"We had a good car and we had a good car last week but just started too far back," Spence said. "I was watching the board and once I got the lead I saw Gary getting into second. Whenever that guy is behind you, one thing you don't want to do is make a mistake. That's what he lives for. That's the best in the business behind you. The only thing I tried to do was keep it straight."
Tyler Armstrong pulled out to lead Brian Booze while Spence advanced to third by the third lap and went past Armstrong following a third lap restart. Once out front, Spence kept pulling away into another time zone as Mike Lupfer took over second on the sixth circuit. Stuhler closed the gap on Lupfer to take the runner up spot on lap 16 while Spence was into the rear of the field.
Following the 18th lap restart, Stuhler wasn't giving Spence any slack as they pulled out to a half straightaway over Roy Deese Jr. who was being challenged by previous week's winner Sagi. Sagi cleared Deese on the 32nd and stretched his lead until sixth running Andy Anderson developed problems on the front stretch of lap 39. With yellows on laps 40 and 42, Spence sped to the finish with the just over a second lead for his long overdue win.
"We kept on having those restarts with four to go. I came off four with two to go and the caution lights came on and I thought, 'Man, this is getting too hard,' Spence said. "I was waiting to see that red nose pull up alongside me. I just kept on trying to get into to the turns as hard as I could and keep my momentum up. I figured it'd be hard for him to pass me."
Sagi ended third while Dylan Yoder came from 11th to pick off Deese following the final restart as Deese ended fifth. Tyler Hershey came from 17th for the sixth spot over Plessinger with Lupfer, Marvin Winters (14th) and Jim Yoder (18th) completing the top ten.
Spence, Armstrong and Deese won the heats with David Williams winning the consolation.
'This really feels good,' said Plessinger on his championship."There last year, I'd rather have lost by 100 points than the one point. Everything went through last year and it fit right in by losing. Last week after Roy had the problem, it sort of lets you breathe a little bit, but I've been racing for 27 years and never got one of these."
Justin Weaver began from the point flanked by Richard Walls as Weaver pulled out and easily looked to be the one to beat with a nearly two second lead wiped out for a lap six yellow. He easily pulled away from Walls on the restart as Glenn Elliott and his dad moved into the next spots by lap eight. Another more than three second lead was erased on lap 15 and following a 16th lap restart, Weaver was pulling away by a half second each lap to score the triumph over Walls as his dad Pete got past Elliott on the final circuit.
"This feel great, we hit it just right tonight," said Weaver, a quarter midget graduate. "The car was a lot better once we got going. I knew Richard was back there, but the car was so good, I thought we had him covered."
Elliott and Paul Cursey completed the top five. Richard, Wayne Jr. and Rodney Walls won the heats.
"This means a lot, him winning this feature in the first season he's raced," said a proud Pete Weaver. "He's very composed, unlike his father. I'm not championship material by any means. We talked earlier this week how we'd like to see it go down and this is exactly how I wanted it."
Danny Beavers led the first two laps of the pure stock feature over Brian Miller as sixth starting Stouffer Jr. was on the scene by the third lap and took the top spot the next circuit. Miller got past Beavers on the eighth circuit but Stouffer held him off through three cautions beginning on lap nine to win by 1.115 seconds. Beavers held to third with Steve Lowery and Mike Warrenfeltz completing the top five. Heat wins went to Darrin Younker, Warrenfeltz and Stouffer.
Brian Green led the Enduro event for four laps before Matt Smith went by while Thomas had came from the 22nd position and took control on lap 14. Once out front, Thomas pulled way to close to nine seconds over Joe Rodgers who took second with seven to go.
The Three State Flyers Late Models final event of the season will be held next Saturday, September 11th. The 35-lap event is also the series fourth appearance of the season. Along with the late models, the Silver Spring Super Sportsman are also included on the program. Check the speedway website for any changes in the weather at: www.hagerstownspeedway.com or contact the speedway office at 301-582-0640.
Hagerstown Speedway Results
25th Annual McBee/Hays Championship: Late Models, 44 Laps, 28 entries (Lap Leaders- Tyler Armstrong 1-3, J. T. Spence 4-44 ): 1.J. T. Spence; 2.Gary Stuhler; 3.Alan Sagi; 4.Dylan Yoder; 5.Roy Deese Jr.: 6.Tyler Hershey; 7.Frankie Plessinger; 8.Mike Lupfer; 9.Marvin Winters; 10.Jim Yoder; 11.Jerry Bard; 12.Tyler Armstrong; 13.Al Shawver Jr.14.Doug Timmons, 15.Brian Booze; 16 Barry Miller; 17.JimMcBee Jr.;18.Kirk Baker; 19.Andy Anderson; 20.Lary Baker II; 21.Bryan Bernheisel; 22.Tim Murphy; 23.David Williams; 24.Ronnie DeHaven Jr., DNQ - Chad Davis; Matt Murphy, Steve Gibney, Rusty Sites
Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic Late Model Sportsman, 20 Laps, 22 entries, (Lap Leaders - Justin Weaver 1 20) 1.Justin Weaver; 2.Richard Walls; 3.Pete Weaver; 4.Glenn Elliott; 5.Paul Cursey; 6.Scott Palmer; 7.Rodney Walls; 8.Terry Flaherty (St. Thomas Towing/Checkered Flag Lube Center Hard Charger) 9.Chad Myers; 10.Wayne Walls Jr.; 11.Chaz Walls; 12.Charlie Schaffer; 13.Courtney Shreiner; 14.Ryan Walls; 15.Donnie Farlling; 16.Ronnie Dennis; 17.Mark Jones; 18.Nick Pappas; 19.Matt Howsare; 20.Robbie Beall; 21.Jason Smith, DNS - Elwood Sord
Ernie D's Pure Stocks, 15 laps, 21 entries (Lap Leaders - Danny Beavers 1-3, Dave Stouffer Jr. 4-15): 1.Dave Stouffer Jr: 2.Brian Miller; 3.Danny Beavers; 4.Steve Lowery; 5.Mike Warrenfeltz; 6.Kenny Dillon; 7.Frank Dibella; 8.Kevin Koontz; 9.Randy Kline (Turner Bowling Centers Hard Charger); 10.Wayne Hawbaker; 11.Billy Ecton Jr.; 12.Bil Reitober; 13.Eddie Catrell; 14.Mike Kratovil; 15.Mike Sanders; 16.Charlie Pensinger; 17.Darrin Younker; 18.Drew Fitzsimmons; 19.Eddie McClellan; 20.Keith Koontz; DNS - Bill Ecton
Enduro Dash, 30 laps, 24 entries (Lap Leaders - Brian Green 1-5-Matt Smith 5-13, Krazy Kenny Thomas 14-30) -- 1.Krazy Kenny Thomas; 2.Joe Rodgers; 3.Danny Holmes; 4.J. C. Butts; 5.Brian Green; 6.Larry Hurley; 7.William Crook; 8.Eric Myers; 9.Kenny Thomas; 10.Jim Speelman; 11.Dave Shatto; 12.Robin Koogler;13.Kyle Ripka; 14.John Poole; 15.Teresa Koogler; 16.Jerrery Spaulding; 17.Charles Stambaugh; 18.Matt Smith; 19.Bryan Neff; 20.Mark Vegh; 21.Josh Johnson; 22.Chris Ebersole; 23.Rodney Miner, DSQ - Roy Steven III
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