Winchester Speedway Update

With the Lee Stultz Memorial on tap for the night, 31 Late Models signed in for the $3000 to win event. The sixth Late Model event of the night would produce the sixth different winner as Greencastle, PA driver Gary Stuhler picked up the win. Jeff Sweeney picked up his first win of the season in the Semi-Lates, Tony Stoneberger ended his winless streak with a win in the Pure Stocks, and Greg Keister, defending 4-cylinder Champ, opened his win account in ’08 with a win in the 4-Cylinder class.

LATE MODELS:

The Lee Stultz Memorial is one of the most prestigious events on Winchester’s schedule, and once again it brought the cars out as 31 Late Models signed into the pits to contest for the trophy and the 3,000 dollar paycheck. Kirk Ryan, making his first start this season at Winchester, started from the pole but wouldn’t lead for long as Jamie Lathroum jumped to the early lead, but Gary Stuhler, who has been sometime without a victory at Winchester Speedway had the hotshoe for the night, he would use the high lane to get by Lathroum, it was at this point that Stuhler began to pull away from the field, lapped traffic though was imminent and Stuhler had to work through it as Lathroum was being challenged by Delray, WV driver Gerald Davis, and Winchester, VA driver Bo Feathers. Eventually Bo Feathers would work past Davis and then get by Lathroum. Stuhler though seemed unreachable as the two drivers never closed in distance. Gerald Davis meanwhile was able to work past Lathroum to move into third, and also seemed unable to advance farther. Meanwhile it was Stuhler who would pull off the big win, taking the Lee Stultz Memorial by a straightaway over Bo Feathers, Gerald Davis, Jamie Lathroum, and polesitter Kirk Ryan rounded out the top five. This was a special win for Stuhler, as it was the first race back for owner Glen Nininger who had had heart surgery recently. Heats for the 31 cars went to Bo Feathers, Allen Brannon, and Gerald Davis, Wes Bonebrake would take the consolation.

Heat 1: Bo Feathers, Gary Stuhler, Kirk Ryan, Walter Crouch, Brian Tavenner, Andy Anderson, Wesley Bonebrake, Tyler Armstrong, Bubby Dillman, Herk Armel, Lewis Hudson Heat 2: Allen Brannon, Roland Mann, JT Spence, Jared Powell, Denny Bonebrake, Kris Eaton, Rusty Sites, Tony Crim, DJ Myers, Mitch Miller Heat 3: Gerald Davis, Jamie Lathroum, Brad Omps, Tommy Armel, Mike Hardy, Matt Hardy, Johnathan DeHaven, Greg Elrod, Moe Harden, Shane Coffey Consilation: Wesley Bonebrake, Rusty Sites, Tyler Armstrong, Johnathan DeHaven, Moe Harden, Bubby Dillman, Greg Elrod, Tony Crim, Mitch Miller, Lewis Hudson, DJ Myers(DNS), Herk Armel(DNS), Shane Coffey(DNS)

LATE MODEL RESULTS(40 laps) 1 90 Gary Stuhler 2 D1 Bo Feathers 3 28 Gerald Davis 4 6 Jamie Lathroum 5 5K Kirk Ryan 6 30 Allen Brannon 7 91 J.T. Spence 8 15 Tommy Armel 9 25 Andy Anderson 10 55 Roland Mann 11 2* Jared Powell 12 92 Walter Crouch 13 5B Wesley Bonebrake 14 99 Mike Hardy 15 84 Tyler Armstrong 16 5 Brad Omps 17 13D Johnathan DeHaven 18 3S Rusty Sites 19 01H Matt Hardy 20 37 Brian Tavenner 21 01 Moe Harden 22 11N Bubby Dillman 23 52 Kris Eaton 24 37F Denny Bonebrake(DNF)

SEMI-LATES

With early season dominator Allen Brannon setting out the Semi-Late race this weekend, the field was wide open and as one can expect wild racing for the lead was the norm. The action started at the green as Brian Buckler jumped into the lead before second place running Sam Crouch got together with Buckler entering turn three, it was Leon Lloyd who wound up the leader after everything settled down, but Sam Crouch then worked to the inside of Lloyd and the two would race side by side before Lloyd looped his car in turn two. Sam Crouch then took the lead and asserted his lead, but Jeff Sweeney was on the move, and using the same high side line that Stuhler used in the Late Model main, was able to work past Crouch for the lead, and after battling for a few laps Sweeney settled into his lead and began to pull away, Crouch meanwhile would have his hands full with a resurgent Buckler who would then assume the second slot. Buckler would attempt to chase down the the Sweeney machine, but it was not to be as Sweeney grabbed his first checkers of the year and a very excited Sweeney would celebrate his win in victory lane, Crouch held on to a third finish, Kris Holliday and Jimmy Richards rounded out the top five. Heats for the 14 cars were won by Kris Holliday and Leon Lloyd.

Heat 1: Kris Holliday, Bubby Tharp Jr., Sam Crouch, Robbie Holmes, James Harrison, CJ Brown, Bryan Wright Heat 2: Leon Lloyd, Brian Buckler, Jeff Sweeney, Jimmy Richards, Scott Sweeney, Sean Dawson, Don Woodruff

SEMI-LATE RESULTS(15 laps) 1 17S Jeff Sweeney 2 2 Brian Buckler 3 92 Sam Crouch 4 88 Kris Holliday 5 13F Jimmy Richards 6 97 Robbie Holmes 7 1 Bubby Tharp, Jr. 8 06 Sean Dawson 9 44S Scott Sweeney 10 14W Bryan Wright 11 66 Don Woodruff 12 01 Leon Lloyd 13 11B C. J. Brown 14 37 James Harrison

PURE STOCKS:

Tony Stoneberger is a familiar face to Winchester Speedway fans, one of the more successful drivers in the past in the Pure Stock division, it has been some time since he has been able to enjoy the spoils of victory lane, Saturday night though he looked to finally get himself back to victory lane, and at the start he was able to get past polesitter and take the lead early, and having to hold off Kaiser early on. But this wouldn’t be easy as opening night winner Donnie Kenney moved into second and began to knock on the door as well. Getting fully alongside Stonebergers orange Chevrolet several times. But this story had a happy ending for the Maryland racer as he survived caution after caution in the accident filled event and scored his first win of the season, Kenney held onto second, Kaiser parlayed his pole sitting run for a third place finish, Mike Corbin and Mike Carter rounded out the top five. Heats for the 26 cars went to Donnie Kenney, Ray Priest, and David Kaiser.

Heat 1: Donnie Kenney, Tony Stoneberger, Bryan Kerns, Randy Carter, Eddie McClellan, Tom Chaffins, Chris Rose, Mike Bennett(DSQ), Kevin Deremer(DSQ) Heat 2: Ray Priest, Matt Kerns, Mike Corbin, James Gray Jr, Andy Atkins, Paul Quappro, Pete Gems, Buddy Wilson(DNS), Brian Luttrell(DNS) Heat 3: David Kaiser, Mike Rose, Michael Carter, Ricky Henry, Greg Willingham, Jimmy Parrill, Zack Reid, Scott Gray

PURE STOCK RESULTS(15 laps) 1 12 Tony Stoneberger 2 33 Donnie Kenney 3 0 David Kaiser 4 42* Mike Corbin 5 15 Michael Carter 6 64 Mike Rose 7 83 Bryan Kerns 8 170 Eddie McClellan 9 23W Greg Willingham 10 4 Zack Reid 11 88 Ray Priest 12 31A Andy Atkins 13 07S Scott Gray 14 35 Paul Quappro 15 39 Tom Chaffins 16 28 Pete Gems(DNF) 17 29 James Gray, Jr(DNF) 18 27 Buddy Wilson(DNF) 19 9 Ricky Henry(DNF) 20 37 Jimmy Parrill(DNF) 21 55 Randy Carter(DNF) 22 1* Matt Kerns(DNF) 23 16 Chris Rose(DNF) 24 34 Brian Luttrell(DNF)

4-CYLINDERS:

Chuck Johnson once again took the lead at the drop of the green, but his lead was short lived as Greg Keister took the lead on the high side and began to pull away, meanwhile Delmas Moreland worked himself into second and began to chase down the leader, Moreland who has won twice this year, looked to the inside several times and seemed to have this quickest car, finally he would take the lead but immediately James Lichliter spun in three negating the past and allowing Keister to retain the lead position, Moreland meanwhile would subsequently have to fight to keep Mark Digges from passing and taking the second spot, Greg Keister meanwhile found himself taking his first win of the season and would celebrate Alex Zanardi style with a series of donuts on the frontstretch, Delmas Moreland held on for second, Roger Whitlock, Chuck Johnson, and Scott Russell would round out the top five. Heats for the 24 cars went to Delmas Moreland, Chuck Johnson, and Mark Digges.

Heat 1: Delmas Moreland, Greg Keister, Scott Russell, Stacy Crider, Butch Mayo, James Lichliter, Lester Riley, Graham Smith Heat 2: Chuck Johnson, Rodney Hoffman, Roger Whitlock, Allen Whitt Jr, Shawn Sturtz, Paul Thornley, Ricahrd Hawkins, Randy Linaburg(DNS) Heat 3: Mark Digges, Tommy Whitt, Billy Sonner, Jeff Koller, Matt Harshman, Dickie Tharp, Scott McCartney, Bobby Burton(DNS)

4-CYLINDER RESULTS(15 laps) 1 1 Greg Keister 2 12C Delmas Moreland 3 2C Roger Whitlock 4 82S Chuck Johnson 5 57 Scott Russell 6 33 Allen Whitt 7 74 Tommy Whitt 8 51 Rodney Hoffman 9 38 Mark Digges 10 91X Stacy Crider 11 21C Jeff Koller 12 15M Butch Mayo 13 47 Matt Harshman 14 00 Billy Sonner 15 20 Richard Hawkins 16 5 Lester Riley 17 46 Graham Smith 18 8 James Lichliter 19 17 Randy Linaburg 20 79 Paul Thornley(DNF) 21 88 Shawn Sturtz(DNF) 22 3 Dickie Tharp(DNF) 23 14 Scott McCartney(DNF) 24 23 Bobby Burton(DNS)