Elkins Raceway Finishes 2016 Season Strong

Elkins Raceway management capped a strong 2016 season with its 17th program of the year, Season Championship Night, with double points being awarded to determine the summer’s champions.

The two point leaders in the Jenkins Ford Super Late Models were separated by a scant 10 markers heading into the evening. Billy Holbert, one of the two contenders, led qualifying and won his heat; Shane Hitt, coming off his win last week, took the other heat for a front-row starting spot alongside veteran Gary Dalton. Dalton would take his second win of the season at ER, with Bob Gordon, Corey Conley, Hitt, and Holbert following. Holbert’s effort would enable him to get past point-leader Cody Hardesty to earn the LM season championship.

A ‘tradition’ established this season continued, as the 12th different division winner emerged after the Budweiser Fastrak feature, as Delaware resident Cody Dawson earned the win in his first-ever Elkins visit. Dawson led Chad Green, Dylan Lewis, Garrett Paugh, and Billy Beachler at the finish. Green led qualifying, with Paugh and Dawson taking the prelims. Paugh’s finish clinched the division championship, where his dad Neal won numerous features and championships.

Another tradition continued, as Brent Trimble, from his 4th-starting spot, got to the front and claimed his 8th win of the season-and 19th in the last two seasons–in the Performance Chevrolet AMRA Modified class, earning his third straight championship. Trimble led Mike Baldwin, Randy Bohan, Dustin Isner, and James Nelson (from 12th). Trimble was fast qualifier; he and Del Cunningham won the heats.

The final WV Pools Street Stock feature was claimed by Josh Rovello. Rovello started on the pole by virtue of the ‘invert 4’ pill draw, and held off 2015 champ Jamie Keene, Ricky Vest, Jason Ammons, and Anthony Arbogast in claiming his first ever main event. J. P. Tallman was quick qualifier; he and Arbogast won the heats. Tallman, who led the division with 7 feature wins, earned the championship.
Mini-Mod feature winners on this final evening of the regular season were Brett Coberly in Group “A”, and Chandi Currence in Group “B”. Season champions: Group “A” Luke Hyre; Group “B” George Casto III.