Rod Conley Wins Feature & Championship At Atomic

By Scott Wolfe
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-Wheelersburg, Ohio driver Rod “Hot Rod” Conley was the only driver to claim a feature win and a track championship all in the same night, when he claimed an exciting $2,000 pay-day in the 25-lap 803Fire.com AMRA Late Model feature Saturday night during the “Night of Champions” at Atomic Speedway. The win sealed the 2015 points’ championship for the local hot shoe.
Kory Crabtree, West Jefferson, Ohio claimed his first-ever sprint car track championship, while Greggie Oliver, Jackson was crowned as the 2015 modified champion, and Jason Cottrill, Chillicothe, Ohio grabbed the C & M Racing Equipment Sport Mod Championship over father-in-law Bob Crace, Jr.
In the sprint car main, Vandalia, Ohio’s Jimmy Stinson claimed the win in the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association A-main over runner-up Crabtree. Stinson won the battle in the Eddie Slone 4x, but Crabtree won the season-long war. Andy Bond, Coolville, Ohio, subbing for Mark Lunning claimed an impressive win in the Precision Grading Modifieds, while Crace won the 15-lap Sport Mod main over runner-up Cottrill.
In the Pine Tree-Towing and Recovery Sprint Car main, Ronnie Blair burst out of the gate to lead the first eleven laps with Jimmy Stinson, Todd Kane, Kory Crabtree, and Ryan Broughton in tow.
All Crabtree had to do was finish 15 spots ahead of Broughton to claim the crown. When all was said and done, both drivers did what they had to do–land great finishes. Crabtree’s 3rd place finish however, propelled him to the overall championship despite what would prove a great fourth place run by Broughton.
Stinson dove low on the twelfth circuit past a rim-riding Blair. Once on the point no one came close until the finish. Stinson had built up a comfortable lead, mainly as a result of an on-going side-by-side battle between Crabtree and Blair.
The last five laps proved to be go-time for Crabtree as he finally shook Blair and charged toward Stinson, who was bogged down in lapped traffic. Perhaps saving the day for Stinson was a wild flip by Beau Stewart at the flagstand as leaders Stinson and Crabtree came to the checkered. Stewart was o.k., but a green-checkered restart saw Stinson sail to victory in a plateau of clean air.
Rounding out the top ten were Jimmy Stinson, Ronnie Blair, Kory Crabtree, Ryan Broughton, Todd Kane, Ryan Myers, Nathan Skaggs, Brian Nuckles, Lance Webb, and Sam Ashworth.
“I had a great car tonight,” said Stinson. “I give all the credit to these guys (crew/owners). The car would go anywhere I wanted. In closing I just want to dedicate this win to my two sons. They have been through a lot and this was for them.”
Hot Rod Conley blasted into the lead in the late models and led flag-to-flag for the win. The feat, however, did not come easily. Conley first had to fend off the hard-charges of Mark Frazier, then once Jason Montgomery garnered second, Montgomery came on strong at the finish.
Conley dove low through three back markers with three laps to go, threading the needle that may have saved him the feature win. Montgomery was coming strong, turning 15:55 laps compared to Conley’s 16-two’s amid the traffic. All is well that ends well ! Conley persevered and rolled on to the win.
“I knew Jason was back there somewhere,” noted Conley. “I just didn’t know how close. I just tried to stay smooth and keep up my momentum, but those lapped guys raced me hard.”
“If your going to win the championship, you might as well win the race!” Conley concluded as he celebrated his 2015 Championship crown.
Rounding out the top ten were Rod Conley, Jason Montgomery, Chris Garnes, Mark Frazier, Billy Gullion, John Whitney, Jeremy Berwanger, Jay Helton, Randy Armes, and Mike Wilson. The hard charger of the race was Randy Armes in an 18th to 9th place run.
Greggie Oliver led the first four laps of the modified main, before exiting with a flat tire. Jason Montgomery assumed the lead, then Kenny Johnson took over and led most of the duration, however, Andy Bond had other ideas for a Bond victory.
Bond chased down Johnson in his own line and lap after lap cut into the once-healthy Johnson lead. In the waning stages of the race Bond dove low and rode the rail past Johnson. Johnson made a couple late race bids, but Bond’s mount cornered well in pulling off the win.
Rounding out the top ten were Andy Bond, Kenny Johnson, Donnie Miller, Dave Pinkerton, Jess Hartman, Mark Dickson, Jason Montgomery, Travis Dickson, Kyle Bond, and Philip Bapst. Travis Dickson was the hard charger in a 16th to 8th place run.
Bob Crace, Jr. once again mastered the Atomic high banks for what was his fifth win of the year. Crace fended off Harley Martin, the 2014 champ– for much of the race, but once Martin smacked the wall had to deal with runner-up Jason Cottrill. Cottrill was coming on at the finish, but Crace had more bang for the buck to pull off the win.
Rounding out the top ten were Bob Crace, Jr., Jason Cottrill, Tony Seibert, Andy Trout, Harley Martin, Keith Shanks, Jeff Gillman, Ricky Roberts, Bill Young, and J.D. Broughton.
Upcoming Events: Racing every Saturday night through October 3 !
Saturday September 26th – All Star Sprints $5,000 to win, AMRA Modifieds $1,500 to win, Sport Mods $1,000 to win
Saturday October 3rd – SENECA ENERGY CORP “FREEDOM 40” – OVSCA Sprints $4,000 to win, AMRA Modifieds, Sport Mods and Race Saver 305 Sprints
For more information please call 740-703-9749 or visit the Atomic Speedway website at <<< www.atomicspeedway.net >>> Atomic is located 12 miles South of Chillicothe, Ohio off SR 23, two miles out Blain Highway between Chillicothe, Ohio and Waverly, Ohio at Alma.
THE SUMMARY:
410 Sprints (22)
Fast Time: Kirk Jeffries 13:859
Heat One-Jimmy Stinson, Sam Ashworth, Ryan Broughton, Jimmy Nier, Brian Nuckles, Mark Imler, R.J. Perkins, Kirk Jeffries
Heat Two-Todd Kane, Ryan Myers, Dave Dickson, Nathan Skaggs, Josh Davis, Brandon Conkle, Eric Martin
Heat Three-Ronnie Blair, Beau Stewart, Kory Crabtree, Lance Webb,Nate Reeser, Mark Coleman, Jesse McCreary
Feature: Jimmy Stinson, Ronnie Blair, Kory Crabtree, Ryan Broughton, Todd Kane, Ryan Myers, Nathan Skaggs, Brian Nuckles, Lance Webb, Sam Ashworth, Josh Davis, Dave Dickson, Nate Reeser, Mark Imler, Brandon Conkle, Jesse McCreary, Mark Coleman, Eric Martin, Kirk Jeffries, R.J. Perkins, Beau Stewart, Jimmy Nier
Late Models:(26)
Fast Time: Jason Montgomery 14:633
Heat One-Mike Wilson, Jason Montgomery, John Whitney, Greg Oliver, Chris Shannon, Jay Helton, Ralph Withem, Joe Buskirk, Dylan Stewart
Heat Two-Mark Frazier, Chris Garnes, Chad Smith, Jeremy Berwanger, Randy Armes,Derrick Chaney, Mason Combs, Darrall Brooks
Heat Three-Rod Conley, Billy Gullion, J.P. Roberts, John Melvin, Andy Bond, Jason Perry, Shannon Roese, Matt Melvin
B-Main: Jay Helton, Ralph Withem, Shannon Roese, Derrick Chaney, Jason Perry, Matt Melvin, Darrall Brooks, Joe Buskirk, Dylan Stewart, Mason Combs, Tommy Mossbarger DNS
Feature: Rod Conley, Jason Montgomery, Chris Garnes, Mark Frazier, Billy Gullion, John Whitney, Jeremy Berwanger, Jay Helton, Randy Armes, Mike Wilson, J.P. Roberts, Ralph Withem, Jason Perry, Andy Bond, John Melvin, Greggie Oliver, Chris Shannon, Derrick Chaney, Chad Smith, Shannon Roese
Precision Grading AMRA MODIFIEDS (24)
Fast Time: Jess Hartman 15:817
Heat One-Jess Hartman, Andy Bond, Seth Daniels, Dave Pinkerton, Mark Dickson, Mike Conkle, Zack Ackley, JEff Votaw
Heat Two-Greggie Oliver, Donnie Miller, Kyle Bond, Larry Bond, Jimmy Lennex, Bud Frazier, K.C. Burdette, Derek Austin
Heat Three-Kenny Johnson , Jason Montgomery, Brian Whiteman, Philip Bapst, Brad Goff, Eric Arledge, Tyler French,Travis Dickson
B-Main- K.C. Burdette, Travis Dickson, Zac Ackley,Mike Conkle, Derek Austin,Tyler French, Bud Frazier, Eric Arledge, Jeff Votaw
Feature: Andy Bond, Kenny Johnson, Donnie Miller, Dave Pinkerton, Jess Hartman, Mark Dickson, Jason Montgomery, Travis Dickson, Kyle Bond, Philip Bapst, Brian Whiteman, Jimmy Lennex, K.C. Burdette, Seth Daniels, Larry Bond, Brad Goff, Zac Ackley, Derek Austin, Mike Conkle, Greggie Oliver
Sport Mods (15)
Fast Time: Bob Crace, Jr.
Heat One-Bob Crace, Jr., Andy Trout, Keith Shanks, Jason Cottrill, J.D. Broughton, Jeff Gillman, Gary Park, Jack Harris
Heat Two-Harlet Martin, Tony Seibert, Ricky Roberts, Bill Young, Robert Lunsford, John Cuckler, Blake Sheets
Feature: Bob Crace, Jr., Jason Cottrill, Tony Seibert, Andy Trout, Harley Martin, Keith Shanks, Jeff Gillman, Ricky Roberts, Bill Young, J.D. Broughton, Gary Park, John Cuckler, Robert Lunsford, Blake Sheets, Jack Harris