“Gerald Davis Wins Limited Late Model Feature”
By Brent Hottle
Winchester(VA)-This next to last Saturday in September would mark the first of two weekends for our yearly Nationals Races for our weekly race divisions. This weekend we would see the limited late model, hobby stock, and SCDRA divisions on hand.
Timed hotlaps would determine heat race line up orders for all divisions. Once the heat races were completed and the feature lineups set. We would pause for our weekly Invocation and playing of our National Anthem.
The first feature event of the night would be for the hobby stock division. Front row starters Jason Wilkins and Randy Linaburg would race side by side into turn one. Wilkins would pull ahead and lead lap one over Linaburg and Brandon Churchey. Wilkins would begin to pull away from Linaburg as he did the same to Churchey over the next few laps. Churchey would find himself fending off a challenge from Billy Sonner Jr for the third position on lap six. Sonner would complete the pass and move into the third position by the end of lap seven. Sonner would now begin to close in on Linaburg who was still running in the second position. By lap sixteen Wilkins would hold a full straightaway lead over the field. It would be quickly erased as contact would send Linaburg spinning in turn four. We would see two more cautions during restart attempts before we would see Wilkins lead lap seventeen over Brandon Chruchey and Justin Hottle. The caution flag would quickly fly once again as James Stephens would spin at the exit of turn two. There would be no change in the top three after the next restart as we completed lap eighteen. Linaburg would once again go for a spin, only this time on the back straightaway and bring out a caution. Jason Wilkins would go on to win the twenty lap feature event. Brandon Churchey and Justin Hottle would round out the top three.
The next division to pull on to the speedway would be the limited late model division. Veteran driver Gerald Davis would get a great start from his outside pole position and lead the field into turn one. Davis would lead lap one over Davin Kaiser and James Lichliter. Calvin Michael would spin in turn three to bring out the caution on lap three. Davis would continue to lead the field after the restart as Kaiser and Lichliter battled side by side for the second position. Lichliter would pull ahead on lap six to take over the second position. The caution would come out again on lap nine as Chuckie Johnson would slow to a stop at the top of turn four. Davis would continue to lead Lichliter and Kaiser after the restart. Davis and Lichliter would begin to pull away from Kaiser during the next few laps. As the leaders completed lap seventeen we would see Lichliter go to the high side in turn one. He would use this momentum to move around Davis to take the lead as they raced down the back straightaway. Lichliter would now lead lap eighteen over Davis and Kaiser. Lichliter would now begin to pull away from Davis. He would hold a full straightaway lead over the field when heartbreak would ensue on lap thirty-one for Lichliter. Just as Lichliter completed the lap he would turn hard to the right and begin to slow. He would eventually come to a stop on the back straightaway to bring out the final caution of the event. We would find out later Lichliter had a right rear axle break causing his night to end early. Gerald
Davis would now get the lead back and go on to lead the remainder of the thirty-five lap event to take the feature win. Davin Kaiser and Kieth Koontz would round out the top three. Davis would say in victory lane that he won the last race of the year last season also. Hopefully we can see the Mountaineer Man break this streak and win a few more next season!
The final feature of the night would be for the SCDRA division. Allen Griffith would lead lap one over Jeff Erb and John Hammett. Hammett would quickly find himself being challenged for the third position by Derek Iser on lap two. Iser would take over the third position by the end of lap three. Griffith would continue to lead the field as Iser began challenging Erb for the second position. Iser would move into second position by the thirteenth lap. Griffith would continue to show his strength and speed as he had led every lap so far. We would see Iser have mechanical troubles during the sixteenth lap as his car began to lose speed. Erb would move back around Iser and take over the second position on lap seventeen. Allen Griffith would go on to win the twenty lap feature event. Jeff Erb and Brian Skelly would round out the top three.
Limited Late Model Results
Gerald Davis, Davin Kaiser, Keith Koontz, Levi Crowl, Brad Omps, Codey Breeden, Michael Carter, Sam Archer, Austin Stover, Wesley Bonebrake, Chuckie Johnson, Calvin Michael, (DNF James Lichliter, Jonathan Raley)
Hobby Stock Results
Jason Wilkins, Brandon Churchey, Justin Hottle, Andrew Saffelle, Nathaniel Younker, Billy Sonner Jr, Dylan Beavers, Tony Catlett, Blake Reed, Larry Smith Jr, James Stephens, (DNF Randy Linaburg, Richie Gibson III, Brad Strawderman, Dave Rutherford)
SCDRA Results
Allen Griffith, Jeff Erb, Brian Skelly, Derek Iser, (DNF John Hammett)(Calvin Michael -8 laps)(DNF Jeff Foster)(DNS Justin Boarman, Trevor Hammett) |
