AMRA Fields Burst At Seams, Hilltop Boasts Record Field, Ohio Valley Packed

RACINE, OHIO-Two AMRA tracks saw record fields and large crowds, providing area American Motor Racing fans with some high-speed, high-quality racing action. Tyler Carpenter won his third straight AMRA A-main at Ohio Valley to break Chris Garnes string of five wins in the Late Models, and Lake Shore, Minnesota driver Dan Ebert claimed the Octane AMRA Modifieds. At Legendary Hilltop, K-C Burdette won the Topless AMRA Octane Mod feature, and Derek Doll won his second straight AMRA Late Model main.

Action continues at Legendary Hilltop this weekend, while the Valley takes the week off for the Parkersburg Homecoming. Both tracks will be in action the weekend of August 22 and 23rd with Hilltop running a Late Model Special. See LHS Facebook and website for details of this high-paying event.

BURDETT TAKE TOPLESS 30; RECORD-SETTING FIELD HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY HILLTOP ACTION

MARIETTA, OHIO-The 2nd Annual Topless 30 for the AMRA Modifieds was the signature event for race #14 of the season for the Legendary Hilltop Speedway, with both grandstands and pits bulging with fans and race teams. A total of 98 entrants were on hand for the night’s events.

Aiden Powell and Coleman Evans paced the Mike’s Auto Body WRA Mini-wedge feature, the first of the evening. Powell led the first lap, but spun off turn 4 the next time. Evans’ lead was short-lived, as ten-time winner Zach Carr got by on lap 3 and distanced himself from the rest of the field to take yet another win. Nathan Drake got by Evans for second, but also spun; Evans would hold on for the runner-up finish ahead of Grace Misel, Alyssa Nething, and Samantha Roush. The evening’s trophies were presented by Adrenaline Performance Products.

KC Burdette had a nearly flawless performance in the AMRA-sanctioned Topless 30. He was fast qualifier, won the first heat, and led nearly the entire main in the Jim Fordcye-owned 4D. Roy Roush led early, but lost the lead to Burdette on lap 3. Roush’s hopes expired on lap 10 when his transmission failed. Travis Dickson, Tyler Evans, Robbie Evans, and Kenny Johnson chased Burdette through halfway, with Tanner Wilson joining in as the set-ups in both the Evans cars slowly went away–he was third by lap 15. Dickson nearly took the lead from Burdette following a late restart, then Wilson got under Dickson with 2 to go but could not muster a serious challenge for the win. Wilson, Dickson, Johnson, and Andy Bond (from 17th) filled the top five following the winner; defending race winner Jesse Wisecarver wound up 6th. Burdette, Roush, T. Evans, and Dickson won the heats; Bond won the consi for the 26 drivers entered.

A record number of 33 Super Late Models somehow jammed into the “Top’s pit area this Friday. Steve Lucas was fast qualifier and won Heat 1 to earn the pole position. He took the initial lead followed by Butch McGill, Chris Garnes, and Derek Doll. The top five exchanged positions nearly every lap behind Lucas until Doll used his high-side momentum to take second on lap 8 and the lead on lap 10. McGill dueled with Lucas for several laps until a late caution enabled Colten Burdette to get around McGill and Garnes for third at the finish. It was Doll, Lucas, Burdette, Garnes, and McGill at the checkered; point leader Andy Bond finished 8th. Lucas, Doll, Garnes, and McGill won the heats, with D. J. Cline and Donnie Dotson taking the consis.

The FWD 4-cylinders provided their share of excitement, going caution-free for both heats and feature. Dennis Adkins claimed his second ‘Top win of the year, slowly pulling away from cousin Tom Adkins and Sam Dickel. T. Adkins, Dickel, John Rankin, and Derek Hamrick (in his first-ever race) finished in the top five; Martin Gibson, who turrned 14 the next day, wound up 7th. T. Adkins was fast qualifier, and he and Dennis won the heats.

Even with only nine entrants, the EDGE Hot Mod main was as competitive as any of the other classes. Dariin Clark, point leader, led early, but a lap 5 challenge from John Powell resulted in Powell taking the lead. Two laps later, Lou Ennis joined the fray, taking second from Clark and taking after Powell. Powell was up to the challenge–barely, holding off Ennis by leas then a car-length at the finish line.

A regular 5-division program is scheduled for Friday, August 15.

SUMMARY

OCTANE RACE PRODUCTS AMRA MODIFIEDS (26) (Top 4 from heats, 2 from consi)

Fast Qualifier: KC Burdette

Heat 1: Burdette, Robbie Evans, Nathan Loney, Booger Garnes, Joe Hamon, Curt Reck, Mark Dickson

Heat 2: Roy Roush, Kenny Johnson, Jesse Wisecarver, Jeremy Blake, Chane Roush, Tom Arnott, Mike Conkle

Heat 3: Tyler Evans, Nick Corbitt, Robin Ours, Jon Sluka, Andy Bond, Cody Faulk, Bill Fordyce

Heat 4: Travis Dickson, Tanner Wilson, Terry Martin, Marc Martin, Jason Brookover, Chad Roush

Consi: Bond, Hamon, M. Dickson, S. Roush, C. Roush, Fordyce, Arnott, Faulk, Reck

Feature (30 Laps) Burdette, Wilson, T. Dickson, Johnson, Bond, Wisecarver, Loney, T. Evans, R. Evans, Sluka, Blake, Ours, M. Martin, T. Martin, R. Roush, Hamon, Corbitt, Garnes

KRYPTONITE RACE CARS AMRA LATE MODELS (33, 3 from each heat and consi)

Fast Qualifier: Steve Lucas

Heat 1: Lucas, Andy Bond, Bob Adams Jr., Ed Shuman, Vince Toler, Dylan Bledsoe, Doug Parks, Scott Robinson, DNS Randy Gibson

Heat 2: Derek Doll, Colten Burdette, Jeromy Misel, D. J. Cline, Zach Hall, John Brown, William Robinson, Gary Wells

Heat 3: Chris Garnes, Zach Dohm, Harold Redman Jr., Donnie Dotson, Austin Eddy, Eric Monk, George Klintworth, Woody Lucas

Heat 4: Butch McGill, Kenny Newhouse, Mike Foggin, Jeremy Blake, Dan Morrison, Brett Benedum, Jordan Taylor, DNS Randy Arms

Consi 1: Cline, Shuman, Hall, Brown, Toler, S. Robinson, Bledsoe, Wells, W. Robinson, Parks, DNS Gibson

Consi 2: Dotson, Morrison, Blake, Eddy, Klintworth, Lucas, Monk, DNS Benedum, Taylor, Arms

Feature: Doll, Lucas, C. Burdette, Garnes, McGill, Dohm, Newhouse, Bond, Misel, Dotson, Redman, Foggin, Hall, Adams, Cline, Shuman, Morrison, Blake

EDGE HOT MODS (9)

Fast Qualifier: Darin Clark

Heat 1: Clark, Lou Ennis, Brad Dickson, Mike Martin, Larry Higgins

Heat 2: John Powell, Dan Mullen, Mike Lauer, Johnathan Arnold

Feature: Powell, Ennis, Clark, Dickson, Martin, Mullen, Arnold, Lauer, Higgins

FWD 4-CYLINDERS

Fast qualifier: Tom Adkins

Heat 1: Adkins, Sam Dickel, Steve Brown, Derek Hamrick, John Rankin, Martin Gibson, DNS Randy Wise

Heat 2: Dennis Adkins, Lewis Smarr, Zack Barr, Jarrod Heiss, Bob Moore, Zack Heasley

Feature: D. Adkins, T. Adkins, Dickel, Rankin, Hamrick, Barr, Gibson, Heiss, Smarr, Brown, DNS Moore, Heasley, Wise

MIKE’S AUTO BODY WRA MINI-WEDGES

Heat 1: Aiden Powell, Nathan Drake, Samantha Roush, Karly Starcher, Toby Wilson, Alyssa Baker, Roo Roo Dotson, Drake Meeks

Heat 2: Coleman Evans, Zach Carr, Grace Misel, Alyssa Nething, Easton Wilson, Ryan Yates, Makiya Powell

Feature: Carr, Evans, Misel, Nething, Roush, A. Powell, T. Wilson, Starcher, Drake, E. Wilson, Dotson, Baker, Meeks, M. Powell, Yates

It was announced last Friday night that The Legendary Hilltop Speedway would host a $1500 to win late model race on August 15. Upon further consideration, Hilltop has pushed this race back one week to August 22 so that purse details can be set, and get the race properly promoted and advertised properly. Keep an eye here for more information on the upcoming event.

This Friday, we will have regular racing in all divisions. The staff and management want to thank all the racers and fans for their continued support. See you all at The Top!

Future Hilltop Events

August 15 – Regular Show

August 22 – Late Models, $1,500 to win! Edge Hot Mod “Working Man Championship Qualifier”, plus regular racing all other classes

August 29 – No racing

September 5 – No racing

September 12 – Food Drive Night – Regular racing all classes

SKAGGS TAKES SPRINT WIN; LAUER, DRAKE REPEAT AGAIN; T. CARPENTER & EBERT NEW WINNERS @ OVS

LUBECK, WV-Yet another overflow crowd both in both the General Admission and Pit areas was on hand for Ohio Valley Speedway’s 13th show of the season. After three weeks of rain–including a monsoon-like storm the previous week, both fans and teams were ready for a big night of action that also included the annual Picture/Autograph Night.

The Mineral Wells Tire WRA Mini-wedge feature was run immediately before the autograph session. For Nathan Drake, it was “business as usual”, leading the entire distance virtually without challenge for his 11th feature win of the year. Cale Stinson ran second early, but was sidelined after two laps. Drake finished a half-lap ahead of Roo Roo Dotson, Grace Misel, Toby Wilson, and Coleman Evans. Drake and Stinson won the heats; trophies were presented by Jack Vaughn Livestock Trucking.

The third appearance of the OVSCA Sprints was marred by a first-lap flip by pole-sitter Chris Myers in turn 2 of lap 1. The incident also eliminated Nick Ley, bob Tucker, and Wes McGlumphy. Nathan Skaggs, the defending series champion, took charge on the ensuing restart, lapping up to the 6th-place driver for his first OVS win of the year. Wayne McPeek, in his first action of the year, finished second followed by Dave Dickson, Greg Mitchell, and Ryan Broughton. C. Myers and Skaggs won the heats; McPeek was fast qualifier.

Ron Mayle led the 30-car field in qualifying, and won Heat 1 earning the pole for the feature. He led the first two laps but his run ended early when he jumped the turn-two cushion and getting into the guard rail. Derek Doll inherited the lead upon Mayle’s exit, with Colten Burdette, Mike Smith, Steve Lucas, Butch McGill, and Tyler Carpenter all in the mix, exchanging positions nearly every lap. Carpenter was able to use the high groove to get around Lucas and McGill to take the lead on lap 11. One late caution would not deter Carpenter, but it created a last-lap mixup that juggled the finishers, as Lucas, McGill, Mark Sturgill, and Burdette crossed behind the winner, and cost Doll, Bob Adams, and Dan Morrison top 5s. Mayle, Doll, Lucas, and McGill won the heats; Adams and Zack Dohm won the consis. Chris Garnes’ 5-race winning streak ended with his contact with the turn-1 guard rail during heat 2; he had qualified 2nd.

Thirty-two modified teams turned out; six preliminaries were run to trim the field to 18. Robbie Evans and newcomer Tate Hughes led the field to the green, but contact when the green dropped eliminated Brandon Patton and Nick Corbitt, and caused damage to Kyle Bond’s car which would sideline him early. One lap after the restart, Hughes spun in front of the entire field in turn 4…everyone missed him…Hughes would recover for a 6th place finish. Evans would duel with Dan Ebert, Andy Bond, Tyler Evans, and Kenny Johnson for the first half of the race before a broken ignition wire would eliminate him. Ebert would inherit the lead, and duel feverishly with T. Evans and Bond for the rest of the way, taking the win in his first-ever appearance at OVS. Bond, T. Evans, Johnson, and Vince Conrad (from 13th) filled the top five. R. Evans, Hughes, Bond, and Ebert won the heats; Conrad and Patton won the consis; R. Evans was fast qualifier.

It was another dominating night for Chris Lauer, as he again was fast qualifier, won his heat, and went virtually unchallenged for his 11th win of the season. Tom and Dennis Adkins were close early, but both suffered mechanical ills and were unable to finish. Don Rufener III, Joel Nichols, John Sinnett, and Rusty Blosser claimed top 5 finishes. Rufener and D. Adkins won the other heats for the field of 19.

Scott Rooks extended his point lead by winning the heat and feature for the Pure Stocks. Glen Underwood and Aaron Ellis didn’t let Rooks run away, finishing behind the winner, followed by fast qualifier Duane Stiers and Brandon McGrady.

The Valley is closed August 16, and returns to action the next weekend with its annual Pure Stock special…it was noted that a minimum of 12 entries would be required to pay the special-event purse. Three events are scheduled for September…fans and teams are reminded that the starting time will be moved one hour earlier beginning Sept. 6.

SUMMARY

OVSCA SPRINTS (14)

Fast Qualifier: Wayne McPeek

Heat 1: Chris Myers, McPeek, Greg Mitchell, Dave Dickson, Bob Tucker, Adam Strausser, Jeff Conrad

Heat 2: Nathan Skaggs, Jimmy Stinson, Jamie Myers, Wes McGlumphy, Ryan Broughton, Nick Ley, Brian Benson

Feature: Skaggs, McPeek, Dickson, Mitchell, Broughton, Strausser, J. Myers, Benson, Conrad, Stinson, McGlumphy, Tucker, Ley, C Myers

KRYPTONITE RACE CARS AMRA LATE MODELS (30, 3 from each heat and consi)

Fast Qualifier: Ron Mayle

Heat 1: Mayle, Tyler Carpenter, Ryan Casto, Bob Adams, Shawn Jett, Jeromy Misel, Cody Walker, Josh Hall

Heat 2: Derek Doll, Mike Smith, Ed Shuman, Rod Evans, Robbie Bostic, Jay Summers, Chris Garnes

Heat 3: Steve Lucas, Mark Sturgill, Dan Morrison, Zack Dohm, Colten Burdette, Mick Sansom, Mike Foggin, Terry Martin

Heat 4: Butch McGill, KC Burdette, Andy Bond, Brock Morris, Vince Toler, George Klintworth, Lynn Chapman

Consi 1: Adams, Jett, Hall, Evans, Bostick Walker, Misel, Summers, DNS Garnes

Consi 2: Dohm, Morris, C. Burdette, Foggin, Sansom, Toler, T. Martin, Klintworth, Chapman

Feature: Carpenter, Lucas, McGill, Sturgill, C. Burdette, Doll, Morrison, Adams, Hall, K. Burdette, Shuman, Casto, Dohm, Smith, Bond, Jett, Morris, Mayle

OCTANE RACE PRODUCTS AMRA MODIFIEDS (32)

Fast Qualifier: Robbie Evans

Heat 1: Evans, Casey Fritz, Steve Stover, Terry Hinkle, Robin Lashley, Nathan Perkins, Mike Conkle, Chris Fordyce

Heat 2: Tate Hughes, Kenny Johnson, Kyle Bond, Travis Dickson, Mark Dickson, Steven Dotson, Ronnie Pickens, Vince Conrad

Heat 3: Andy Bond, Levi Woods, Jeremy Blake, Brandon Patton, Shawn Rhodes, Tyler French, Aaron Patton, Tommy Powell

Heat 4: Dan Ebert, Tyler Evans, Nick Corbitt, Aaron Pendleton, Marc Martin, Blake Eddy, Matt Edminston, Jesse Rupe

Consi 1: Conrad, M. Dickson, T. Dickson, Fordyce, Pickens, Perkins, Scott Rooks (for Dotson), Conkle, DNS Hinkle, Lashley

Consi 2: B. Patton, Martin, Rupe, Pendleton, French, Eddy, Edminston, A. Patton, Rhodes, Powell

Feature: Ebert, Bond, T. Evans, Johnson, Vince Conrad (from 13th)

PURE STOCKS (8)

Fast Qualifier: Duane Stiers

Heat: Scott Rooks, Aaron Ellis, Stiers, Glen Underwood, Mike Mason, Brandon McGrady, Brad Stoner, Sarah Klintworth

Feature: Rooks, Underwood, Ellis, Stiers, McGrady, Mason, Stoner, Klintworth

FWD 4-CYLINDERS (19)

Fast Qualifier: Chris Lauer

Heat 1: Lauer, Tom Adkins, Joel Nichols, John Sinnett, John Rankin, Lewis Smarr, Paul Midcap

Heat 2: Don Rufener III, Seth Thaxton, Don Rufener Jr., Zack Barr, Tammy Rufener, Jarrod Heiss

Heat 3: Dennis Adkins, Sam Dickel, Denzil Barker Jr., Rusty Blosser, Steve Brown, Josh Ayers

Feature: Lauer, Rufener III, Nichols, Sinnett, Blosser, Rankin, T. Rufener, Heiss, Rufener Jr., Smarr, Midcap, Dickel, Barker, D. Adkins, T. Adkins, Barr, Brown, Thaxton, DNS Ayers

MINERAL WELLS TIRE WRA MINI-WEDGES (15)

Heat 1: Nathan Drake, Roo Roo Dotson, Lucas Crooks, Easton Wilson, Shyan Morris, Karly Starcher, Ashley Simonton, Joey Lattea

Heat 2: Cale Stinson, Kasey Rankin, Coleman Evans, Grace Misel, Toby Wilson, Dawson Meeks, Garrett Mitchell

Feature: Drake, Dotson, Misel, T. Wilson, Evans, Rankin, E. Wilson, Morris, Starcher, Simonton, Mitchell, Lattea, Crooks, Stinson, Meeks

FUTURE EVENTS AT THE VALLEY

8/16 No Racing – Parkersburg Homecoming Festival

8/23 “Pure Stock Special – $800 to win”

Racing ALL Classes:

AMRA Late Model – AMRA Modified – Pure Stock – 4 Cylinder FWD – Mini-Wedges

8/30 No Racing – Hillbilly 100

SEPTEMBER

NOTE: SCHEDULE CHANGE – Gates open 3PM – Racing at 6:30PM

9/6 “4 Cylinder FWD Special – $500 to win” PLUS Hot Mods

Racing ALL Classes:

AMRA Late Model – AMRA Modified – Pure Stock – 4 Cylinder FWD – Mini-Wedges

9/13 Racing ALL Classes:

AMRA Late Model – AMRA Modified – Pure Stock – 4 Cylinder FWD – Mini-Wedges

Special Thanks to Gerry Loudin for providing race reports. Jerry has been a great friend of the AMRA and of racing.

Octane Race Products is the AMRA Modified sponsor. Other fine sponsors of the AMRA Modified series are Dave Poske’s Performance Parts, Wrisco Industries, Hoosier Racing Tire/Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley, Carthage Auto Parts, AERO Racing Wheels, Rocket Chassis, Two-Brothers Racing, Lincoln Welders & Lincoln Electric, Hypercoils, Bazell Race Fuels, Alky Racing Alcohol and Sunoco Race Fuels, Impact Racing, RCI, OTR Filters, MSD Ignition, Wilwood Brakes, Kluhsman Racing Components (KRC), Evans Vinyl Signs, Winters Performance Products, Bilstein Shocks, AFCO, PST Drive Shafts, Schoenfeld, Killer Bee Race Bodies, and Bell Racing Helmets. Look for details of the MSD Ignition Ironman Award coming soon!

MSD Ignition is the official Ignition of the AMRA. Carthage Auto Parts is the official sponsor of the AMRA Rookie of the Year! Join the AMRA now!-America’s Open Wheeled Modified’s Most Competitive Series!

Drivers and Fans can seek updates on www.amramodified.com or the AMRA Facebook page. The AMRA wishes to thank to all of the racers and promoters who have supported and participated in the past and to those continuing to support and participate in the AMRA. For more information about the AMRA, Visit amramodified.com or visit their facebook page. For further information please call: 740-350-4678.