“Dylan Rutherford Wins Sam Crouch Memorial”
“Kyle Hardy Wins Crate Late Model Feature”
By Brent Hottle
Winchester(VA)-Rain, rain, and more rain would plague most of the Shenandoah Valley this past week.
With rain canceling the previous weekend's racing events, it was beginning to look as if the rain
would once again win and cause our final race of the season to be canceled. However, the clouds
closed up and the sun would shine allowing us to get one last race in for the season. On this night
we would see the pure stocks compete during the Sam Crouch Memorial event.
The crate late models, legend, and SCDRA divisions would also compete on this night.
Timed hot laps for all divisions would determine the heat race lineups. Prior to the start of hot
laps we would see Bryan Kerns pull onto the speedway in his pure stock with a fresh wrap in honor
of his late fiance Kathy Edmonds, who left us on July 15th of this year. This day also marked what
would’ve been her 50th birthday. Balloons were released in honor of a great fiance, mother,
grandmother, sister, friend, race fan, and much more!
During the heat races we would see plenty of side by side racing action that would leave
anticipation for what the features may bring. We would pause for our weekly invocation and playing
of our National Anthem. Next it would be time for the start of the first of four final features for
the 2024 racing season.
The legend cars would be the first division onto the speedway. Prior to the start of the event,
Mike Mohelski’s engine would have an issue that would cause it to drop oil all the way around the
speedway. Once the track surface was cleaned up, it would be time to start the event. Pole sitter
Logan Carbaugh would lead lap one ahead of Scott Houdeshell, with Stephen Wurtzer and Colton Friese
side by side across the line for the third position. Carbaugh would continue to lead over
Houdeshell as the pair completed the second lap. Friese would also move ahead of Wurtzer and take
the third position on lap two. Carbaugh would now begin to pull away from the field as Friese would
move into the second position by lap seven. Tyler Kaylor would spin in turn two and bring out the
caution on lap eleven. Carbaugh would continue to lead after the restart as Houdeshell and Friese
battled side by side for the second position. Houdeshell would retain the second position by the
completion of the thirteenth lap. Heartbreak would ensue for Friese on lap fifteen as he would spin
in turn two while running in the third position. After the restart we would see Carbaugh continue
to lead over Houdeshell as Dalton Friese and Justin Cunningham battled for third. Houdeshell would
battle Carbaugh for the lead and take it away by the end of lap seventeen, just as Friese would
move into third. As the leaders raced into turn one Friese would slide high allowing Justin
Cunningham to move into the third position. Houdeshell would now begin to pull away from the field
during the remainder of the event. In the closing laps Jeremy Ott would first move around
Cunningham for third on the twenty-third lap. He would then set his sights on second place running
Carbaugh. He would make a challenge for the position
on the twenty-fifth lap and take the position away by the end of the twenty-sixth lap. Scott
Houdeshell would go on to win the thirty lap main event with Jeremy Ott and Logan Carbaugh rounding
out the top three.
Kyle Hardy would lead the field to turn one of the forty lap feature event. Hardy would lead lap
one over Braeson Fulton and Tyler Hoy. Jim McBee would slow on the front straight away and bring
out the caution on the fifth lap. Hardy would continue to lead after the restart as Hoy would now
move into the second position as Fulton would attempt to hold off a charge from Gunnar Walls for
the third position. Walls would take the position away and move solidly into the third position by
the end of lap seven. Just as Hardy would complete lap ten, with a half of a straightaway lead,
Preston Alleman and Chandi Currence would spin in turn four and bring out a caution. During the
restart Currence and Dylan High would spin in turn three resulting in another caution. After the
next restart Hardy would continue to lead and pull away from the field as Hoy and Walls attempted
to keep pace. Hardy would once again have a half of a straight away lead by the end of lap fifteen.
Just as Hardy would find himself in lap traffic by lap twenty, Michael Carter would slow to a stop
at the entrance of turn one and bring out the caution. Hardy would continue to show his strength
and once again begin to stretch out a lead after the restart. By lap thirty-five, Hardy would have
a full straight away lead over second place running Tyler Hoy.
Chase Hardy would spin on the thirty-seventh lap in turn two, bringing out a late race caution.
Hardy would once again lead the field as now Devin Brannon, who started thirteenth would make a
challenge for the third position with Gunnar Walls. Kyle Hardy would go on to win the feature
event. Tyler Hoy and Devin Brannon would round out the top three.
It would now be time for the Sam Crouch Memorial. We would first see the field maneuver into a four
wide salute to the fans. Dylan Rutherford would lead lap one over Walter Crouch and Jason Wilkins.
Jerry Jenkins Jr would slow at the top of turn one and bring out the caution. Rutherford would
continue to lead after the restart, however Allan Brannon and Trent Holmes would now hold the
second and third positions. Ricky Edmonds would slow to a stop at the top of turn two and bring out
the caution on the eighth lap. Rutherford would once again lead over Brannon as Holmes would now
begin to hold off challenges from Buddy Wilson for the third position. Jenkins would bring out
another caution on lap eleven as his machine would slip up into the outside front straight away
wall. After the restart there would be no change in the top two, however, Walter Crouch would move
into the third position. The leaders would find themselves in lap traffic on the twentieth lap. On
lap twenty-three heartbreak would ensue for Brannon as he would slow and pull into the pit area
ending his night. Gary Fry would spin in turn four bringing out the final caution of the event on
lap twenty-six. Dylan Rutherford would go on to take the win. With Buddy Wilson and Walter Crouch
rounding out the top three. A notable shoutout to Kyle Nelson who would earn himself the hard
charger award. He would start in the twenty-seventh position and cross the finish line in the
fourteenth position.
The final feature of the night would be for the SCDRA division. Chris Anderson would get a great
start and lead the field into turn one. Anderson would lead lap one over Allen Griffith and Robbie
Carroll. Adam Dunham would have a tire leave his right front wheel in turn four and bring out the
first caution. Anderson would lead the field after the restart. Carroll would make a challenge for
the lead and take it away from Anderson by the end of the fourth lap. Carroll would
begin to pull out to a four car lead by the end of the tenth lap. Heartbreak would then come for
Carroll as his car would begin to slow on the fourteenth lap, giving the lead back to Anderson.
Anderson and Griffith would find themselves in lap traffic on the fifteenth lap. Griffith would use
the lap traffic to his advantage and take the lead away from Anderson by the sixteenth lap.
Griffith would now pace the field for several laps and begin to stretch his lead. Anderson would
find a new line and pull up to the rear of Griffith by the end of the twenty-second lap. As the
pair raced through lap traffic, Anderson would now use the lap traffic to his advantage and retake
the lead on lap twenty-four. Griffith would slow to a stop at the top of turn two on the
twenty-ninth lap. Chris Anderson would go on to take the win. Lonnie Hobday and Brody Tolstyka
would round out the top three. One notable mention for the night would be the spark show Anderson’s
brakes would give the fans. As he raced lap after lap around the speedway. His front rotors would
glow cherry red and sparks would fly as he entered the corners. It was a true sight to see!
We want to thank everyone who attended this weekend's events. Along with a big thank you to all of
our hard working staff. A big thank you to Walter Crouch for making this year's Sam Crouch Memorial
a huge success.
I would like to also personally thank Greg Gunter for allowing me to be a part of the speedway and
hold the weekly invocations. I also have enjoyed working with all of my friends and coworkers at
the speedway. Another thank you to everyone who has come to me with kind words for my work
throughout the season. I look forward to seeing everyone back next season. I also pray everyone has
a great and safe winter.
Legend Results
Scott Houdeshell, Jeremy Ott, Logan Carbaugh, Justin Cunningham, Dalton Friese, Bob Stough, Steven
Wurtzer, Colton Friese, Scott Musselman, Zac Smith, Jeremy Hahn, Tyler Rampmeyer, Bobby Lafollette
Jr, Tyler Kaylor (DNF Mike Mohelski)
Crate Late Model Results
Kyle Hardy, Tyler Hoy, Devin Brannon, Gunnar Walls, Mike Franklin, Davin Kaiser, Gregory Carrico,
Craig Parrill, Braeson Fulton, Jeremiah Marshall, Tyler Horst, Steven Payne, Scott Sweeney, Dylan
High, Treyton Lee, Chase Hardy, Steven Powell, Jim Pownall, Chandi Currence, (DNF Preston Alleman,
Michael Carter, Bubby Tharp Jr, Jim McBee)(DNS Levi Crowl)
Sam Crouch Memorial Pure Stock Results
Dylan Rutherford, Buddy Wilson, Walter Crouch, Trent Holmes, Rob Nichols, Adam Breedan, Brandon
Lowery, Bryan Kerns, Scotty Nelson, Cody Sumption, Jason Wilkins, Billy Sonner Jr, Bailey Tolson,
Kyle Nelson, Bradley Benton, Dylan Beavers, Codey Breeden, Gary Fry, (DNF Tony Breeden, Allan
Brannon, Chad Perry, Tony Catlett, Jerry Jenkins Jr, Ricky Edmonds, Kristopher Hutton)(DNS Bubba
Sealock, Randy Linaburg, Robert Wilson)
SCDRA Results
Chris Anderson, Lonnie Hobday, Brody Tolstyka, Matthew Duvall, Jason Jarvis, Samuel Regitz, (DNF
Allen Griffith), Allen Robson, Brian Skelly, Brandon Tessitore, Jeff Marlett, Jimmy Delozier,
(DNF Robbie Carroll, Zach Frentz, Dale Kirby, Adam Dunham)(DNS Zach Baxter)
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