Carpenter Defends Home Turf, Scores Buckeye Dirt Week Opener

Matt Chalfant

STARS – PR

(Marietta, Ohio) While the temperature would climb into the mid 90s during the afternoon hours on Thursday night, a hearty crowd of racers would pack the pits for the series opening STARS Buckeye Late Model Dirt Week event on Thursday night at the Legendary Hilltop Speedway in Marietta Ohio. 29 Late Models would sign in to do battle in the series opening race for the popular Buckeye Late Model Dirt Week series, which will complete 8 events throughout the state of Ohio over the period of the next 10 days starting with the rare Thursday night event at the 1/4th mile oval along the Ohio River.

An extremely diverse field of Late Models would take to the track for the evenings hot lap sessions, which would then be followed by the evenings qualifying session, which would see Late Model veteran Hammer Down Doug Drown post the evenings fastest time with a 13.593. The evening would then move onto the series of 4 heat races which would see Richmond Indianas Duane Chamberlain pilot his #20 Miller Lite machine to the heat race win in heat race #1 over second place Chris Carpenter and Anthony Kinkade rounding out the top 3. In heat race #2, Doug Drown who was making his first appearance at Hilltop, would put the Hammer Down and race his way to the heat race win over the #87 of Derek Doll and Greggie Oliver to round out the stout top 3. Moving into heat race #3, Jason Montgomery would fend off a close battle with Devin Moran to score the heat win, as Moran would wind up 2nd and Zack Dohm finishing out the trio of top finishers. The 4th and final heat race would see regional standout Tyler Carpenter claim the heat win over veteran Rod Conley and young Michael Lake. Following the consi event which would be won by Kenny Howell, the field would be set after a redraw of the top 8 heat finishers, which would set up for a front row of Jason Montgomery and Tyler Carpenter for the evenings feature race.

With music playing and the strong crowd of race fans on their feet waving on their favorite drivers, 24 high powered Late Models took to the small bullring for the 30 lap A-Main race. When the green flag flew, the race would soon be on as the #28 of Tyler Carpenter would take the early jump and Jason Montgomery would hang tight with the Parkersburg native until the first caution would fly for the #27 of Michael Lake who would find himself parked just inside of the racing surface. Once back under green, it would be clear that Carpenter would be the car to beat as he would stretch his lead until the second and last caution flag would fly early into the race. Once back under green, the race would stay that way for the duration and Carpenter would set the pace as his Kryptonite Chassis would set sail on the field but the racing would wage on behind, as Devin Moran would charge to the 3rd position and Zack Dohm would race his way past traffic and into top 5. As the race would near its final laps, Carpenter would show no sign of weakness and race his way to capture the checkered flag and the cool $3,000 top prize as well. Rounding out the stout top 5 would be Jason Montgomery, Devin Moran, Zack Dohm and Insane Duane Chamberlain.

The STARS Buckeye Late Model Dirt Week will continue the action on FRIDAY night with a $3,000 to win appearance at the popular Moler Raceway Park in Williamsburg Ohio.

Official Feature Results:

Tyler Carpenter 2. Jason Montgomery 3. Devin Moran 4. Zack Dohm 5. Duane Chamberlain 6. Rod Conley 7. Doug Drown 8. Michael Lake 9. Walker Arthur 10. Anthony Kinkade 11. Jeff Babcock 12. Jeromy Misel 13. Kenneth Howell 14. Craig Wolford 15. Ryan Markham 16. JP Roberts 17. Chris Shannon 18. Pete Crum 19. Paul Stubber 20. Freddie Carpenter 21. Greggie Oliver 22. Dan Corrin 23. Chris Carpenter 24. Derek Doll
Buckeye Late Model Dirt Week Sponsor Recognition Include:

Kryptonite Race Cars, Dickson Racing Shocks, Diamond Cut Lawn Care, Graphics Creations, DirtonDirt.com, RockAuto.com, Phantom Racing Gear, OVDTR.com, Octane Race Products, Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley, Reno & Sons Lawncare LLC, Carpet Outlet, Eichinger Trailer Sales, Millhone Motorsports.