Darland, Hannagan And Daughrtey Take Waynesfield’s Harvest Of Sprints

Dave Darland in Waynesfield victory lane (Kenny Photo)

The month of October in the state of Ohio marks harvest time for many area farmers and the transition into cooler weather. Waynesfield Raceway Park in Waynesfield, Ohio sits deep in Ohio’s farming country and held its final event of the 2014 season Friday night. In honor of the harvest season, the 1/3rd mile dirt oval held a sprint car fans dream with the 2nd Annual Harvest Sprints. Despite the chilly temperatures, fans flocked to see full fields of nothing but the best sprint cars drivers in the Midwest. The rain received during the course of the week watered down the racing surface creating a wicked fast track with drivers running just under the Waynesfield track record.

The K&L Ready Mix Non Wing sprint cars started the night of racing off on a rough note. With just two laps in the books of heat number one, Jarret Andretti, son of NASCAR driver John Andretti, took a wicked tumble up and over the turn three catch fence. The car came to a stop upside down in the pit area. Andretti climbed out from behind the wheel under his own power. Dave Darland, Cooper Clouse, Mike Miller, Dustin Ingle, and Thomas Meserawll toke home the five heat race victories. With 44 cars signing in to compete, two B-mains followed with three transferring out of each of the two B-mains. With such a strong field of cars on hand, several of the big name drivers had to race their way into the 25 lap A-main. Justin Grant started shotgun in B-main number one and took the victory. Travis Berryhill and Scotty Weir, an always-challenging driver, took the final two transfer spots. In B-main number two, Logan Jarret surged from his third starting spot to take the victory. Steve Irwin and Toby Alfrey also claimed spots in the Harvest of Sprints A-main.

With the field set, cars began to push off for the 25 lap A-main. Waynesfield regular Luke Hall and Indiana native Chris Gurley led the field to the opening green flag. Half the field would cross the line until a nerf bar slid down the front stretch and the 0 of Steve Irwin coming to a stop entering turn one. Justin Grant in the 40 also received some damage on the start and went pit side for repairs to be made to his machine. After the debris was removed, the field was restacked for trial number two. Hall and Gurley led the field in with Hall taking the early lead into turn two. Gurley would settle for second with Westfall and Meserawll, two fierce competitors, directly behind him. Mike Miller began to shuffle his way to the front from his outside row three starting spot when the field came to a halt with three laps in the books. Cooper Clouse and Justin Grant got together entering turn one resulting in both of them taking a tumble up the banking into turn two. Both climbed out uninjured. After cars were pushed back off, Hall led the field to the restart. Mike Miller, who was on a move before the red flag flew, got a great restart as he began to challenge the lead pack. Miller rode the cushion into turn three overtaking Gurley and ready to challenge Hall with twenty laps to go. Meserawll did the same making it Hall and Meserawll holding down second and third. Miller gained some more momentum and made a run on Hall. Miller would take the lead out of turn four and finish the deal sliding up the banking into turn two. Hall began to fade back allowing Meserawll to take over the runner-up spot. What Meserawll did not see coming was a fast Matt Westfall coming from the fourth spot. Westfall took over third from Hall and second from Meserawll in a short four-lap period placing him in the second spot. As the field crossed the line with ten laps to go, Miller held the top spot. Westfall was second, Meserawll third, and Hall shuffled back to forth. A final caution flag flew for the 21 of Travis Hery when he went up and over the banking in turn two. Hery remained on all four wheels during his off-road adventure toward the cornfield. On the restart, Dave Darland, who was highly talked about upon rolling into the pit area, turned on the jets. Darland took Hall into turn one and began to set his sights on the top spot. With just five laps to go, Darland worked his 11D on the topside passing both Meserawll and Westfall in a three-way battle down the backstretch. Coming to the line for the final time, Darland managed to get around Miller and take the win. Mike Miller finished in a very close runner-up spot. Matt Westfall finished in third. Lap times during the A-main were clocking in the high eleven-second bracket, some cracking into the ten-second time frame. In victory lane, Dave Darland was very passionate about the win thanking the fans for coming out on such a cold night. Travis Berryhill in the 401K finished just outside the top five picking up the hard charger award.

Twenty-five K&K Ready Mix 360 sprint cars signed in to compete in the 25 lap A-main. Mitch Brown, the sole Canadian in the field, and Nick Roberts, local Ohio driver, led the field to the opening green flag. The first attempt was not successful as the cars broke away before the starting line on the turn four wall. Trial number two was a success with Brown jumping out to the early lead. One lap ticked off the board when the first red flag flew for the 55F of Taylor Ferns. Ferns’ car flipped over the turn two banking as she made a run for the eighth spot. Ferns climbed out uninjured posting a twenty-fifth place finish. Former World of Outlaw, Randy Hannagan, used the restart to his advantage as he worked the cushion claiming the second spot from Roberts. The 4 of John Agan rode Hannagan’s coattail gaining another spot around the 6S of Greg Wilson. With Hannagan fully in second, he began to turn his attention to leader Mitch Brown. A three-car collision would halt the move for the second time. Devon Dobie, Dustin Daggett, and Tim Allison connected in turn one sending Dobie upside down. Dobie and Allison would retire for the night. Another caution followed two laps later for the 22R of Kevin Roberts and the 4K of Kris Davis. Both drivers spun on the bottom side of turn number one. On the restart, Randy Hannagan moved himself into the top spot as Nick Roberts began to drop back in the field. Roberts dropped all the way back to twelfth where he was scored in the finishing order. Hannagan enjoyed the top spot for just under a lap when the yellow flew for Beau Stewart making contact with the outside wall. Stewart went high on the cushion exiting three and finally came to a stop just past the pit exit. Another yellow flag flew with just eleven laps to go for the 11R of Chase Ridenhour. Tyler Moore and Shawn Dancer were also collected in the incident between turns one and two. Nick Roberts came to a stop on the front stretch as laps ticked down bringing out the final caution. Greg Wilson managed to make his way up into the second spot ready to challenge Hannagan for the lead. The 22H was just too fast for Wilson to catch giving the Harvest of Sprints victory to Randy Hannagan. Greg Wilson finished in second with Mitch Brown finishing in third. Hannagan, just as Darland did, sincerely thanked the fans for coming to the races. Hannagan also commented on how much he enjoys coming to Waynesfield Raceway Park and the great program the track puts together each season. Derek Hager finished sixth picking up the hard charger award for advancing sixteen spots during the A-main.

The Performance Powder Coating AMSA Mini Sprints were next on the program for their 20 lap A-main. Twenty-one of the weekly Waynesfield competitors were on hand running for an increased payout. Nick Daughrtey and Gunnar Lucius led the field to the green flag to get the A-main underway. The infamous caution flag flew on the start when a parking lot of cars connecting blocking off the racing surface. Jake Hesson, Ty Tilton, Cole Roberson, and Gary Campbell were all involved in the turn one incident. Once the race got back underway, Daughrtey led the opening lap until the field was brought to a crawl for the 44 of Ron Coleman. Coleman’s car went upside down and walked away from the scene. Racing resumed after the cleanup with the starting front row battling for the top spot. Daughrtey and Lucius went at it for the first half of the race until Lucius’ car lost power forcing him to pull off the racing surface. Daughrtey now found himself in the lead with minimal laps left in the A-main. With the five to go signal being displayed to the field, the IVO of Andrew Heitkamp went over on his side in turn four. He ended up ninth in the finishing order. On the final restart, Michael Helterbran made his way to second pushing “Hot Rod” Henning, track champion, back to the third spot. Helterbran had nothing for Daughrtey giving him the win in his family owner and operated 14G. Helterbran scored a second place finish. Rod Henning took home third. The Daughrtey pit cleared at the sight of his victory as friends and family filled victory lane. Bradley Ashford, in his Waynesfield Raceway Park debut, took home the hard charger award coming home in eighth.

With the 2014 racing season coming to a close, the staff and management want to thank all crews, drivers, and fans for supporting Waynesfield Raceway Park this season. The 2015 racing season is already in the works. Everyone is invited to the end of year banquet on Saturday, November 1 at the Wapakoneta Grand Plaza. Tickets are $25 per plate and open to the public. Reservations must be made by October 27 and mailed to 15595 Waynesfield Road, Waynesfield, Ohio 45896. No tickets will be available the day of the event. Social hour begins at 5:30PM with dinner being served at 6:30PM.

Get all the latest Waynesfield Raceway Park offseason news and notes online at www.waynesfieldracewaypark.net, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

K+L Ready Mix 360 Sprint Cars (25 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – Kears Speed Shop (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 6M-Max Stambaugh[1]
2. B20-Butch Schroeder[2]
3. 22H-Randy Hannagan[5]
4. 10-Mitch Brown[4]
5. 4S-Danny Smith[8]
6. 2M-Dustin Daggett[7]
7. 35-Ron Blair[6]
8. 9W-Derek Hagar[3]

Heat 2 – Biggies Coast 2 Coast (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 11-Tim Allison[1]
2. 6S-Greg Willson[4]
3. 83-Kyle Sauder[2]
4. 12J-Tyler Moore[3]
5. 23-Devon Dobie[8]
6. 28H-Hud Horton[5]
7. 5W-Jeff Williams[7]
8. 4K-Kris Davis[6]

Heat 3 – Texas Roadhouse (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 55F-Taylor Ferns[1]
2. 4-John Agan[4]
3. 12-Nick Roberts[2]
4. 33M-Beau Stewart[5]
5. 49-Shawn Dancer[6]
6. 11R-Chase Ridenhour[8]
7. 17-Jared Horstman[7]
8. 38-Dennis Wagner[9]
9. 22R-Kevin Roberts[3]

A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 22H-Randy Hannagan[4]
2. 6S-Greg Willson[6]
3. 10-Mitch Brown[1]
4. 4-John Agan[5]
5. 83-Kyle Sauder[3]
6. 9W-Derek Hagar[22]
7. B20-Butch Schroeder[7]
8. 28H-Hud Horton[17]
9. 17-Jared Horstman[21]
10. 35-Ron Blair[19]
11. 6M-Max Stambaugh[10]
12. 12-Nick Roberts[2]
13. 12J-Tyler Moore[11]
14. 49-Shawn Dancer[15]
15. 4S-Danny Smith[13]
16. 11R-Chase Ridenhour[18]
17. 33M-Beau Stewart[12]
18. 2M-Dustin Daggett[16]
19. 22R-Kevin Roberts[25]
20. 4K-Kris Davis[23]
21. 11-Tim Allison[9]
22. 23-Devon Dobie[14]
23. 5W-Jeff Williams[20]
24. 38-Dennis Wagner[24]
25. 55F-Taylor Ferns[8]
Hard Charger: 9W-Derek Hagar[+16]

K+L Ready Mix Non Wing Sprint Cars (44 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – Thirsty’s Beaverdam + Kalida (8 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 11D-Dave Darland[2]
2. 54-Matt Westfall[3]
3. 2B-Mike Dunlap[4]
4. 4P-Scotty Weir[6]
5. 29-Logan Jarret[9]
6. 14W-Chad Wilson[8]
7. 77-Austin Prock[5]
8. 96-Riley VanHise[1]
9. 18A-Jarret Andretti[7]

Heat 2 – Eagle Chassis (8 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 14-Cooper Clouse[4]
2. 12G-Chris Gurley[8]
3. 5S-Mark Silva[2]
4. 69R-Brian Gross[9]
5. 12-Kent Wolters[1]
6. 24P-Tyler Hewitt[3]
7. 68-Tyler Gunn[5]
8. 53-Steve Little[6]

Heat 3 – Maxim Chassis (8 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 82-Mike Miller[1]
2. 9N-Luke Hall[2]
3. 24-Landon Simon[3]
4. 40-Justin Grant[6]
5. 5A-Toby Alfrey[7]
6. 31-Chuck Wilson[4]
7. 63-Huston Hewitt[9]
8. 7M-Brandon Moore[8]
9. O1-Derrek Hammond[5]

Heat 4 – Kears Speed Shop (8 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2I-Dustin Ingle[1]
2. 30-CJ Leary[5]
3. 21-Travis Hery[4]
4. O-Steve Irwin[7]
5. 401K-Travis Berryhill[8]
6. 87-Paul Dues[2]
7. 32M-Derek Hastings[9]
8. 25B-Mark Blausey[6]
9. 17-Kevin Myers[3]

Heat 5 – Lima Powder Coating (8 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 18X-Thomas Meserawll[3]
2. 2M-Max McGhee[2]
3. 18TK-Todd Keen[5]
4. 24L-Lee Underwood[8]
5. 14C-Andy Conley[6]
6. 23S-Kyle Simon[7]
7. 1M-Mike Moore[1]
8. 42-Conner Donelson[4]

B-Main #1 – (10 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40-Justin Grant[2]
2. 401K-Travis Berryhill[5]
3. 4P-Scotty Weir[1]
4. 24L-Lee Underwood[3]
5. 14W-Chad Wilson[6]
6. 23S-Kyle Simon[8]
7. 68-Tyler Gunn[9]
8. 42-Conner Donelson[13]
9. 32M-Derek Hastings[10]
10. 22S-Dallas Hewitt[15]
11. 31-Chuck Wilson[7]
12. 7M-Brandon Moore[12]
13. O1-Derrek Hammond[14]
14. 96-Riley VanHise[11]
15. 12-Kent Wolters[4]

B-Main #2 – (10 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 29-Logan Jarret[3]
2. O-Steve Irwin[2]
3. 5A-Toby Alfrey[4]
4. 24P-Tyler Hewitt[6]
5. 87-Paul Dues[7]
6. 77-Austin Prock[8]
7. 1M-Mike Moore[10]
8. 25B-Mark Blausey[12]
9. 63-Huston Hewitt[9]
10. 69R-Brian Gross[1]
11. 14C-Andy Conley[5]
12. 53-Steve Little[11]

A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 11D-Dave Darland[8]
2. 82-Mike Miller[6]
3. 54-Matt Westfall[3]
4. 18X-Thomas Meserawll[4]
5. 2B-Mike Dunlap[11]
6. 401K-Travis Berryhill[18]
7. 9N-Luke Hall[1]
8. 12G-Chris Gurley[2]
9. 30-CJ Leary[9]
10. 2M-Max McGhee[10]
11. 2I-Dustin Ingle[5]
12. 24-Landon Simon[13]
13. 4P-Scotty Weir[20]
14. O-Steve Irwin[19]
15. 29-Logan Jarret[17]
16. 5S-Mark Silva[12]
17. 21-Travis Hery[14]
18. 5A-Toby Alfrey[21]
19. 18TK-Todd Keen[15]
20. 14-Cooper Clouse[7]
21. 40-Justin Grant[16]
Hard Charger: 401K-Travis Berryhill[+12]

Performance Powder Coating AMSA Mini Sprints (21 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – Dales Concrete (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. OO-Michael Helterbran[2]
2. 5J-Jake Hesson[3]
3. 17-Darin Collin[1]
4. 28K-Ron Kimmel[4]
5. 39-Cole Roberson[6]
6. 65-Chris Bounds[7]
7. 28J-Jody Martin[5]

Heat 2 – Valvoline Inst Oil Change (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 44-Ron Coleman[4]
2. 81H-Anthony Haas[2]
3. 22-Gunnar Lucius[3]
4. 55-Rob Winks[5]
5. 42-Ty Tilton[7]
6. 50-Craig Stower[1]
7. 63-Rick Irwin[6]

Heat 3 – Hoosier tires (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 28H-Rod Henning[2]
2. 66-Chase Dunham[1]
3. 14G-Nick Daughrtey[4]
4. 14-Gary Campbell[3]
5. IVO-Andrew Heitkamp[6]
6. 11-Corey Bedwell[5]
7. 4X-Bradley Ashford[7]

A-Main – (20 Laps)
1. 14G-Nick Daughrtey[1]
2. OO-Michael Helterbran[9]
3. 28H-Rod Henning[7]
4. 81H-Anthony Haas[5]
5. 28K-Ron Kimmel[10]
6. 11-Corey Bedwell[18]
7. 28J-Jody Martin[19]
8. 4X-Bradley Ashford[21]
9. IVO-Andrew Heitkamp[15]
10. 66-Chase Dunham[4]
11. 63-Rick Irwin[20]
12. 22-Gunnar Lucius[2]
13. 17-Darin Collin[3]
14. 44-Ron Coleman[8]
15. 5J-Jake Hesson[6]
16. 14-Gary Campbell[12]
17. 39-Cole Roberson[13]
18. 42-Ty Tilton[14]
DNS. 55-Rob Winks
DNS. 65-Chris Bounds
DNS. 50-Craig Stower
Hard Charger: 4X-Bradley Ashford[+13]