“Kyle Hardy Uses The High Side To Win Limited Late Model Feature”
“Justin Cullum Wins Rain Shortened UMP Modified Feature”
By Brent Hottle
Winchester(VA)-As the saying goes “April showers bring May flowers”and the first Saturday in April was predicted to bring rain showers. With various tracks in the regional area deciding to cancel due to the wet forecast, owner Greg Gunter would decide to roll the dice and stay open. Various forecasts were showing different percentages, so hopes were to get an entire show in before the rain would come. Five divisions would be on hand for this event. The limited late model and UMP modified divisions would use timed hotlaps to determine heat race starting lineups. With the pure stock, hobby stock, and SCDRA divisions using the traditional pill draw method to determine heat race starting positions.
Once the heat races were all complete for the five divisions. We would pause shortly for our weekly Invocation and playing of our National Anthem. Early into the first feature a few raindrops would start to fall and then stop. It would become a race inside of a race to get all of the features completed before the main storm showed up.
First to the speedway would be the limited late model division. Kyle Hardy would charge into turn one from his pole starting position and slide in front of outside pole sitter James Lichilter. Lichliter would pull under Hardy as the pair raced side by side down the back straight away. Lichliter would pull ahead slightly out of turn four and lead lap one. Hardy would spend the next five laps all over the rear bumper of Lichliter as at the same time pulling away from third place running Austin Stover. On the seventh lap Hardy would go to the high side in turn three, utilizing the extra momentum to pull along the outside of Lichliter as the pair drag raced out of turn four. Hardy would pull ahead and take the lead. Hardy would then begin to pull away from the field. Lap traffic couldn’t stall his momentum as Hardy would go on to win the twenty lap event with a full straight away lead over second place running James Lichliter. Austin Stover would round out the top three.
Next, it would be the UMP modified divisions' turn to take center stage. Front row starters Mitch Thomas and Justin Cullum would charge side by side into turn one and stay side by side down the back straight away. Cullum would pull ahead out of turn four and lead lap one over Thomas and third place running Mike Corbin. The caution would fly early as Cole Tasker would go for a spin in turn four on lap two. Joey Clower would spin in turn four as the field went back green, resulting in another caution and restart. As the field would get back green there would be no change in the top three. Benjamin Seals would spin in turn two, collecting Brian Buckler on the fourth lap. The field would now go back green for a few laps as Cullum would start to pull out to a two car lead over Thomas, who had also pulled six car lengths ahead of Corbin. Gary Warhime would spin in turn two at the halfway mark, bringing out the caution. Joe Clower would spin once again in turn three as the field tried to go back green. Just as the field began to line back up for the restart rain would begin to fall. A quick decision would be made to pull the cars
off the surface before it would get too slick. As the rain would begin to fall harder the decision would be made to call the event final. Justin Cullum would receive the win, with Thomas and Corbin rounding out the top three.
Once officials took a look at the weather radar to see what storms were in the area, the decision would be made to cancel the remaining nights' events. Teams can stay tuned as we will make an announcement on make up dates for the pure stock, hobby stock, and SCDRA feature events. This wasn’t a decision anyone wanted to make, however Mother Nature will always win the battle when it comes to outdoor events. A big thank you to owner Greg Gunter for attempting this week's events. Fans, one thing that has been proven to me in the last four years that I have been a part of the speedway is the fact that when it comes to gambling with the weather, Greg Gunter will take chances that other tracks are unwilling to take. It doesn’t always work out, but then again sometimes it does. And, we as fans, team owners, drivers, and crews should be thankful for having a track owner that tries his best to give us a place to race weekly.
Parents make plans to bring the kids to the speedway early this coming Saturday. As the easter bunny will be dropping eggs for the kids to find. More information about our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be posted very soon to our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing everyone back this coming week!
Limited Late Model Results
Kyle Hardy, James Lichliter, Austin Stover, Davin Kaiser, Bubby Tharp Jr, Michael Carter, DJ Myers, Gregory Carrico, Keith Walls, Wesley Bonebrake, Gunnar Walls, Mike Franklin, Brad Omps, Tommy Whitt, Mike Blazer, Tom Chaffins, Chase Hardy, Bradley Benton, Andrew Fertig, Gerald Davis
UMP Modified Results
Justin Cullum, Mitch Thomas, Mike Corbin, Vance Willaims Jr, Rick Hulson, Haley Kaiser, Blake Tasker, Scooter Tippett, Robert Kramer, Benjamin Seals, Cole Tasker, Gary Warehime, Joey Clower (DNF Stuart Weaver, Brian Buckler)