Scott Wolfe is my new hero. He faithfully sends results from K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio, and even crafts a nice story to tell you all about what happened on the track.
So, here is this week's installment of the action at K-C along with results from all classes.
Thanks, Scott!
Grant Great at K-C Boss Sprints
Hot Rod Conley Hottest in AMRA Lates
Mather Masters Hobbies/Ervin Earns 4-Cyl Cash
July 16, 2011 Results
By Scott Wolfe
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-The first appearance of non-winged sprint cars since 1994 was a huge success as the new breed of California Kid, 19-year old Justin Grant garnered the 2nd Annual Gene Comstock Memorial for BOSS sprint cars on the high banks of Jeff and Vicki Schrader's K-C Raceway. Hot Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, Ohio bested the potent AMRA Late Model field, Brandon Mather broke Jamey Adams' win streak in the Hobby Stocks, and Todd Ervin won the first appearance of the Rear-wheel Drive Four Cylinders. The sprint feature was the first-ever BOSS event. (K-C's non-winged United States Auto Club event was rained out last year, making Saturday's non-wing show the first in nearly two decades)
Formerly of Lone, California, the 2010 National USAC Rookie of the Year, who now calls Piqua, Ohio home, Justin Grant put on one heck of a show in making a clean sweep and dusting the field in the 25-lap Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series"Gene Comstock Memorial". The race was held in honor of the late Gene Comstock, Huntington, WV one of just a few Tri-State racers who were the early pioneers of the current NASCAR series. Prior to national success, Comstock was on open wheel ace with several hundred feature wins to his credit.
Grant won his heat, then blitzed off into the sunset with a colorful barnstorming effort high against the K-C concrete wall. Grant lapped all, but the top four cars in the masterful flex of power. Although Grant was spectacular far ahead of his competitors, it was the action back in the pack that also thrilled the crowd.
Joss Moffett anchored second most of the way as the point man of a torrid dual with Dustin Smith. For 25 laps the duo raced side by side, nose to tail, swapping slide jobs at regular intervals. Moffett got loose in turn one on the 14th circuit and was barely clipped by Smith, sending Moffett--a former Lawrenceburg, IN champion--into a 360.
Moffett kept the car in motion and within a lap was right back battling with Smith for second. Former K-C regular Adam Strausser was fast all night long, winning his heat and anchoring a solid fourth. Meanwhile, a gaggle of cars fought for fifth, swapping position at regular intervals in tight confines of the dangerous open wheel realm. Todd Keen finally zoomed from 9th to fifth ahead of high flyer Aaron Middaugh.
Jason Soudrette earned hard charger honors with a 15th to 7th charge. Keen and Middaugh battled hard for a top five then was joined by Soudrette for a three-way battle. In the same gaggle Landon Simon Michael Fischesser and Josh Slone in Eddie Slone's 4x fought for a top ten.
As Grant's Claxton Engines/DRC Chassis roared to the win, the rest of the top ten filed across the line in this order: Dustin Smith, Joss Moffett, Adam Strausser, Todd Keen, Aaron Middaugh, Jason Soudrette, Landon Simon, Michael Fischesser, and Josh Slone. Other credible efforts were given to Travis Welpott, Mike Weber, Jeb Lowder, Duane Spille, and Ernie Christian, who was an accident victim after running second in his heat.
After a trio of victory 360's, Grant reeled a great deal of enthusiasm from the K-C crowd. Grant, the Ohio transplant said excitedly after a cage stand and salute to the crowd, "I'd like to thank Mark Hery my car owner for this opportunity and thank all of my sponsors. This car was on a rail both tonight and last night. K-C is a nice facility and it's nice to win the first time out here."
The Late Model feature was the typical action-packed, highly competitive bout that K-C fans have come to expect. Athens, OH driver Ralph Withem led the first four laps before hot Rod Conley reeled him in. Next, former champ Jason Montgomery blasted by Withem along with Mike Wilson, allowing Montgomery to challenge Conley for the lead. Montgomery took the lead on lap seven, but a caution for Paul Davis reverted the lead back to Conley. Davis collected fellow Kentucky hot-shoe Ken Howell in the process.
Although it appeared their chances had narrowed, both fought back up through the pack for top ten finishes in some of the best passing laps of the night. First heat winner K-C Burdette suffered a flat tire, ending his night.
A couple laps later, a hard-charging Delmas Conley climbed the wall in turn four. With the right front wheel still up on the wall, Conley backed the car down onto the track, shook it down, said "it's a go" and went to the tail, setting up an exciting charge back to fourth place.
A pile-up that left nowhere to go eliminated top runner Kevin Wagner, who has had a great deal of success at K-C over the last few weeks. Collected in the incident were hard-challengers Dean Boyd, Brian Eaton, Kenny Spencer, and Tony Roush. Only Roush and Spencer were able to continue.
Meanwhile, 10th place starter Audie Swartz, Mark Frazier, and Racin' Jason Perry were on the move and in a battle with second heat winner Billy Gullion. Frazier had a top five all night long, but around the 19th circuit his car began to smoke and he dropped out along with Montgomery.
As Delmas Conley and Paul Davis blasted back toward the front, Rod Conley pulled away from the field with Wilson now in second. Swartz made a late race charge, as he and Wilson swapped positions and slide jobs over the last two laps. It appeared Wilson locked wheels with Swartz coming down to the checkered scattering both cars in different directions a Wilson backward toward the finish line. Withem had a rocket-ship all night and finished strong at third.
Conley crossed for the win followed by Swartz, Ralph Withem, Delmas Conley, Paul Davis, Ken Howell. Tony Roush, Brett Foster, Kenny Spencer, Mike Wilson, and Mark Frazier. Swartz and Tony Roush shared hard charger honors passing eight cars each.
Said Conley, "This racing business is tough. It's tough every night out and everyone is fast anymore. I am glad to bring home the win. Thanks to Conley Trucking and all the guys back at the shop. Sometimes it seems we have to work more on our trucks (Conley Trucking) than the race cars, but that's what makes the racing possible. Thanks to all the fans who came out tonight."
In the Hobby Stock Main, the field fought the law, and...."the law won!" Yes, literally. Brandon Mather, a Chillicothe Police officer, who has been getting smoother and faster every week was the wheel-man that broke a 10 race win streak of Jamey Adams.
Saturday, Mather was also Bounty Hunter as he collected a four-week old Bounty on Adams of $168 in addition to his prize money. The bounty was the idea of the crowd, who proposed upping the bounty $42 each week until someone defeated Adams. The four-week total was $168.
Said an emotional Mather in victory lane, "Wow! I don't know what to say," Then laughing, Mather said, "I'm glad the track staff told me where to go, I've never been here before."
Mather added, "Thanks to my crew, engine builder Rick Shoemaker at Central Auto Parts and everyone else who helped me get here. This is a Jamey Adams Chassis. I have him to thank, because he's the one that makes us all go fast."
Good racing again took place back in the pack. Brandon Thompson tried Mather a couple of times, but didn't have the zap he needed to pull off the win. Thompson did, however, hold off Adams for second with Tommy Mossbarger in fourth. Bruce Gray, Jr. held down second early in the race, but despite being fast slipped back to a torrid battle with Mossbarger for fourth.
On the sixth circuit, young Blake Sheets caught the wall and flipped wildly into turn number four, scattering parts and his rear-end housing onto the track. The bad accident scene turned good, when Sheets emerged from the badly damaged car only shaken.
Racing heated back up with Mather up front and Thompson, Adams, and Mossbarger in tow. Tracey Ross continued his string of solid runs with another good showing, while Butch Eblin staged one of his best finishes of the year with K-C hard-chargers Jack Martin and Tim Cutler close behind.
The finish trickled down in this order: Brandon Mather, Brandon Thompson, Jamey Adams, Tommy Mossbarger, Bruce Gray, Jr., Tracey Ross, Butch Eblin, Jack Martin, Tim Cutler, and Blake Sheets. Keith Dubois (2nd) and Evan Seitz had good heat runs, but suffered mechanical problems.
Todd Ervin took the early lead and never looked back in claiming the first Four Cylinder event of the year at K-C. Derek Davis ran strong all night, but was unable to make the run he needed on the flying Ervin. Ervin said in victory lane, "Thanks to all my friends, my family, and sponsors for helping me out. It really feels good to be able to win here at K-C."
Ervin topped first heat winner James Ball and a stout field of four cylinders to get the win. Rounding out the top ten were Derek Davis, Tom McVey, Kyle Purdy, James Ball, John Smith, Chip Truitt, Adam Haynes, Dustin Hartley, Steve Cruse, Scott Henry, and Zach Ackley.
Next week, July 23 is Vendors Night which features all of K-C's fine sponsors. On the race card are 410 Winged Sprints, Advanced Services Modifieds and Hobby Stocks. In addition to the hefty pay-off the top nine cars in the sprints will win a free Goodyear Racing Tire.
For More Information visitwww.kc-raceway.com or call 740-663-4141.
BOSS Non-Winged Sprints (15)
Heat One: Adam Strausser, Aaron Middaugh, Mike Weber, Duane Spille, Ernie Christian
Heat Two: Dustin Smith, Travis Welpott, Landon Simon, Josh Slone, Jeb Lowder
Heat Three: Justin Grant, Joss Moffett, Todd Keen, Michael Fischesser, Jason Soudrette
Gene Comstock Memorial: Justin Grant, Dustin Smith, Joss Moffett, Adam Strausser, Todd Keen, Aaron Middaugh, Jason Soudrette, Landon Simon, Michael Fischesser, Josh Slone, Travis Welpott, Mike Weber, Jeb Lowder, Duane Spille, Ernie Christian
AMRA Late Models (25)
Fast Time: Jason Montgomery 13:763
Heat One: K-C Burdette, Delmas Conley, Jason Montgomery, Audie Swartz, Kevin Wagner, Dean Boyd, Kenny Spencer, Matthew Jobe
Heat Two: Billy Gullion, Rod Conley, Jason Perry, Mark Frazier, Brian Eaton, Dylan Huron, Tony Roush, Robbie Ratliff
Heat Three: Mike Wilson, Ralph Withem, Paul Davis, Brett Foster, Ken Howell, Josh Bivens, Tommy Bigham, Russ Fronapfel
B-Main: Dean Boyd, Dylan Huron, Tony Roush, Russ Fronapfel, Kenny Spencer, Matthew Jobe, Robbie Ratliff, Tommy Bigham, Josh Bivens, Boyd Adkins (DNS)
Feature: Rod Conley, Audie Swartz, Ralph Withem, Delmas Conley, Paul Davis, Ken Howell. Tony Roush, Brett Foster, Kenny Spencer, Mike Wilson, Mark Frazier, Billy Gullion, Jason Montgomery, Jason Perry, Kevin Wagner, Brian Eaton, Dean Boyd, Russ Fronapfel, K-C Burdette, Dylan Huron
Hobby Stocks: (12)
Heat One: Brandon Thompson, Keith Dubois, Bruce Gray, Jr., Tim Cutler, Jack Martin, Blake Sheets
Heat Two: Brandon Mather, Jamey Adams, Tommy Mossbarger, Tracey Ross, Evan Seitz, Butch Eblin
Feature; Brandon Mather, Brandon Thompson, Jamey Adams, Tommy Mossbarger, Bruce Gray, Jr., Tracey Ross, Butch Eblin, Jack Martin, Tim Cutler, Blake Sheets, Keith Dubois, Evan Seitz
Four Cylinders: (14)
Heat One: James Ball, Steve Cruse, John Smith, Derek Davis, Scott Henry, Zach Ackley
Heat Two: Todd Ervin, Tom McVey, Kyle Purdy, Chip Turitt, Adam Haynes, Dustin Hartley
Feature: Todd Ervin, Derek Davis, Tom McVey, Kyle Purdy, James Ball, John Smith, Chip Truitt, Adam Haynes, Dustin Hartley, Steve Cruse, Scott Henry, Zach Ackley
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