Tyler County Speedway Opens 40th Season In Grand Fashion
7 min read
A packed house welcomed the over 100 car field back to the ‘bullring’ for night one of the historic 40th Anniversary season at the Tyler County Speedway. Garnering the 2014 season’s first checkered flags included Derek Doll, Kyle Thomas, Travis Dickson, Chad Smith, Ron Parrish, Donnie Wamsley and Brady Reed. A smooth running show including seven features and two crack the whip events took the final checkered flag at 10:45.
It was only fitting that 40 years after the first checkered flag at Tyler County Speedway was presented to a man named Pat Herrick that the ‘bullring’ kicked off the season with the 4th running of the Pat Herrick Memorial for STARS Modlites. Adding his name to an impressive resume of past champions of the popular event was Fairmont, WV’s Ron Parrish piloting the Randy Kerns RPM Motors, John Buelock, Extreme Motorsports black #21. Parrish would survive a race long battle with Mitch Ward, Brandon Fluharty, Jeff Fornash and Tracy Fritter to claim the coveted event. Following Parrish across the stripe were veteran Tracy Fritter, Jeff Fornash, newcomer Tyler Frankenberry and Brandon Fluharty.
A stellar J&R Excavating Super Late Model event presented by Midcap Land & Timber would see young lion Derek Doll vault from his sixth starting position and overtaking race long leader and last seasons track champion Butch McGill with just two circuits remaining to claim his 1st win of the season. Doll of Greenwood, WV driving the Marshall Doll owned blue and yellow 87 sponsored by BSI Well Service, Perkins Supply, ASC, Rocket Chassis would lead McGill, Mike Benedum, Corey Conley and Sonny Conley across the line.
It was all Gallipolis, Ohio’s Travis Dickson in the Two Brothers Motorsports Modified division as the young hard charger Renegade regular would earn the victory in preparation of Friday’s big Renegade of Dirt Modified tour event. Dickson pilots the family owned AM Commodities, Fannin Farms, Lias Tire, Outlaw by Shaw #16. Dickson would lead perennial track champion Bird Wilson, Lance Elson, New Yorker Rich Michael and Chris Basich across the stripe.
2014 started out much like 2013 for Pennsboro, WV’s Kyle Thomas as the young ace parked his Peoples Bank FASTRAK Late Model in victory lane once again. Thomas back in his family owned #57 would methodically work his way from his 7th starting spot to secure the popular win in the ultra-competitive division that seen 22 cars take the green. A race long tussle between leader Derek Rogers and former late model ace Robbie Scott would thrill fans before Scott got high out of turn 4 down the frontstretch making contact with the wall and bringing out the caution. A workmanlike drive to the front for the patient Thomas would eventually see last years track champion take the lead from Rogers and besting Beckley’s Aaron Barley, Rogers, Danny Thomas and Brandon McGrady. Thomas is sponsored by Powells and Son Farm, Thomas and AJ Logging, Dodd’s Sporting Goods, Slicks Auto Detailing, Maka Energy Solutions, Highlines, The Window Outlet, and Small Town Realty.
Sardis, Ohio’s Chad Smith would continue his red hot performance of 2013 by picking up his first victory of the season in the EDGE Hotmod division. The defending track champion aboard the sharp looking black 10s sponsored by Quinet’s Restaurant, Litman Excavating, Blakes Auto Glass, Fast Eddy’s Tire and Paint would hold off a determined Travis Thomas, Darren Glover, Lou Ennis and Kenny Isner to pick up the win.
After a year absence the mighty Front Wheel Drive 4 cylinders returned and perennial winner and champion Donnie Wamsley didn’t need a map to find the ‘bullring’ victory once again. Wamsley would park his familiar 00 Ford Escort sponsored by Barbie’s Day Care, East Gate Used Cars, Frosty’s Preowned into the winners circle ahead of Robert Frohnapel, Scott Critchfield, Mark Critchfield and Mike Frazier.
In the JJK Mineral MWRA Mini Wedge division it was Brady Reed besting Kylie Cross, Philip Bubeck, Garrett Jones, and Caleb Nolan.
Be sure to join us April 18th for a Friday Night Lights special event this week as the ‘bullring’ goes green on a rare Friday Night. See the East’s top modified pilots head to the Tyler County Speedway as the Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour will converge for a $2,000 to win top prize bringing in the best modified drivers on the planet. Current point leader Kyle Strickler from NC will lead the strong contingent to the ‘bullring’ in hopes of picking up night one of Monster Modified weekend. Also on the stellar card will be the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Tour featuring a stout $1,500 payday. All other divisions are on the card as well. Gates open at 4, mini wedges get underway at 6:30 racing at 7. General admission for the stacked card is just $15 while pit pricing is $35. Don’t miss the Tyler County Speedway’s first stand -alone Friday night show in history!
Late Models:
Car Count: 13
Fast Qualifier: #14 Corey Conley, 13.526
Dash: Butch McGill, Donnie Dotson, Mike Benedum, Sonny Conley, Corey Conley & Derek Doll
Heat: Scott Irvin, Billy Brown, Bryan Casey, Mark Banal, Jim Quaigg, Mike Martin, & Steve Weigle
Feature:
1. #87 Derek Doll
2. #1MC Butch McGill
3. #25 Mike Benedum
4. #14 Corey Conley
5. #1×1 Sonny Conley
6. #15 Donnie Dotson
7. #25 Bryan Casey
8. #3 Scott Irvin
9. #75 Steve Weigle
10. #T8 Mark Banal
11. #J1M Jim Quaigg
12. #55 Mike Martin
13. #54 Billy Brown
FASTRAK Late Models:
Car Count: 22
Fast Qualifier: #8 Daniel Hill, 13.485
Dash: Aaron Barley, Derek Rogers, Daniel Hill, Robbie Scott, Brandon Francis & Shawn Jett
Heat #1: Kyle Thomas, Danny Thomas, Mike Griffin, Todd Chicklo, Travis Brown, Chuck Kimball, Gary May & Andy Brown
Heat #2: Brandon McGrady, Jamie America, Joel Prosser, Brian Baumberger, Tyler Stutler, Eddie Starkey, Cody Rogers, Ryan Payne
Feature:
1. #57 Kyle Thomas
2. #28 Aaron Barley
3. #23 Derek Rogers
4. #7JR Danny Thomas
5. #13 Brandon McGrady
6. #32B Brian Baumberger
7. #113 Brandon Francis
8. #11 Mike Griffin
9. #77 Joel Prosser
10. #22 Cody Rogers
11. #12R Ryan Payne
12. #C4 Chuck Kimball
13. #58 Eddie Starkey
14. #431 Andy Brown
15. #14T Tyler Stutler
16. #31 Travis Brown
17. #18 Robbie Scott
18. #8 Daniel Hill
19. #3 Jamie America
20. #1J Shawn Jett
21. #44 Todd Chicklo
22. #44M Gary May
Modifieds:
Car Count: 13
Fast Qualifier: #17x Rich Michael Jr., 14.468
Dash: Mike Wilson, Travis Dickson, Chris Basich, Lance Elson, Mark Dickson, & Rich Michael Jr.
Heat: Mike Conkle, John Sluka, Kurt Burge, DJ Cline, Del Cunningham, Tate Hughes & Cody Henthorn
Feature:
1. #16 Travis Dickson
2. #20 Mike Wilson
3. #17E Lance Elson
4. #17x Rich Michael Jr.
5. #71c Chris Basich
6. #0 Mark Dickson
7. #14 Mike Conkle
8. #21J Jon Sluka
9. #4DJ DJ Cline
10. #22c Tate Hughes
11. #K7 Kurt Burge
12. #73c Del Cunningham
13. #18 Cody Henthorn
Pat Herrick Memorial for Mod Lites:
Car Count: 19
Fast Qualifier: #99 Jeff Fornash, 14.584
Dash: Mitch Ward, Brandon Fluharty, Josh Baldwin, AJ Spagnuolo, Jeff Fornash & Tracy Fritter
Heat #1: Ron Parrish, Ryan Baker, Glenn Teter, Matt Hall, Jim Ruckman & Kenny Harris
Heat #2: Tyler Frankenberry, Braden Dillenger, Matt Ward, Troy Collins, Terry Williams & Daniel Eddy
Feature:
1. #21R Ron Parrish, 2014 Pat Herrick Memorial Champion
2. #59 Tracy Fritter
3. #99 Jeff Fornash
4. #38 Tyler Frankenberry
5. #25 Brandon Fluharty
6. #14 Braden Dillenger
7. #22 Matt Ward
8. #18 Ryan Baker
9. #40 AJ Spagnuolo
10. #40 Glenn Teter
11. #97 Jim Ruckman
12. #99E Daniel Eddy
13. #4T Terry Williams
14 #3 Troy Collins
15. #5K Kenny Harris
16. #17 Ryan Saffell
17. #34N Josh Baldwin
18. #862 Mitch Ward
19. #9H Matt Hall
Crack the Whip Champion – #22 Matt Ward
EDGE Hot Mods:
Car Count: 18
Fast Qualifier: #x85 Lou Ennis, 15.993
Dash: Chad Smith, Travis Thomas, Kenny Isner, Lou Ennis, Cody Brightwell & Darren Glover
Heat #1: Steve Magyar, Stevi Magyar, Tim Pennell, Lindsey Smarr & Brian Clegg
Heat #2: Levi Flesher, Mick Baker, Allen Moore, Larry Higgins, Daniel Muldrew, Brandon Weigle & Josh Gump
Feature:
1. #10s Chad Smith
2. #18 Travis Thomas
3. #00 Darren Glover
4. #x85 Lou Ennis
5. #7 Kenny Isner
6. #72 Levi Flesher
7. #47 Mick Baker
8. #151 Stevi Magyar
9. #150 Steve Magyar
10. #t50 Tim Pennell
11. #82 Larry Higgins
12. #J7 Josh Gump
13. #75 Brandon Weigle
14. #79 Cody Brightwell
15. #21m Daniel Muldrew
16. #40m Allen Moore
Crack the Whip Champion – #18 Travis Thomas
4 Cylinders:
Car Count: 7
Fast Qualifier: #00 Donnie Wamsley, 17.592
Heat: Donnie Wamsley, Jason Frazier, Robert Frohnapfel, Bill Tennant, Scott Critchfield, Mike Frazier & Mark Critchfield
Feature:
1. #00 Donnie Wamsley
2. #45 Robert Frohnapfel
3. #13 Scott Critchfield
4. #310 Mark Critchfield
5. #11 Mike Frazier
6. #2 Bill Tennant
7. #2 Jason Frazier
MWRA Mini Wedges:
Car Count: 17
Feature Finish:
1. #15 Brady Reed
2. #33 Kylie Cross
3. #1J Phillip Bubeck
4. #23 Garrett Jones
5. #3 Caleb Nolan
6. #38 Levi Nolan
7. #13 Dalton Anderson
8. #3x Dalton America
9. #2 Tyler Tennant
10. #24T Tripp Perine
11. #0 Steven Frazier
12. #7 Noah Bubeck
13. #10x Harli Rush
14. #27 Jacob Ice
15. #22 Gage Stalder
16. #8M Mackenzie Perine
17. #44 Cameron Baker
About the Tyler County Speedway: Located in the scenic WV hills, the Tyler County Speedway is located just 4 miles south of Middlebourne, on State Route 18 at the Fairgrounds approximately an hour from Wheeling, Clarksburg & Parkersburg. Tyler County Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the raciest tracks in the nation and has been dubbed the ‘Bullring’ with three and four wide racing action being the norm not the exception.
Tyler County Speedway annually hosts some of the largest and most popular events in the Ohio Valley region! National and regional touring series such as the World of Outlaw Late Model Series, NDRL King of Dirt, Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour, FASTRAK Racing Series and much more appear frequently. In addition to the incredible Special Event lineup, the Tyler County Speedway Weekly Racing Series consists of the Super Late Models, FASTRAK Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Hotmods, ModLites, FWD 4 Cylinders and MWRA Mini Wedges on Saturday Nights April thru September. For additional information regarding the 40th Anniversary Season at the Tyler County Speedway follow us online at www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com, phone the track office at 304-771-6874 or 304-771-5661 or on raceday at 304-758-2660.
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