21st Starting Erick Rudolph Nabs BRP Mod Tour Season Opener
6 min read
While Mother Nature has certainly been a thorn in the ‘Bullrings’ side in getting the 2018 season underway, she finally smiled down upon race fans and allowed for the Tyler County Speedway to kick off the new season. A packed house and jammed pit area to the tune of 143 race cars would converge on America’s Baddest Bullring as the BRP Mod Tour would travel down from the Northeast to be apart of the speedway’s 44th consecutive Opening Night. A very smooth, racey and fast ‘Bullring’ surface would greet the regions best racers with the theme of the night being first time winners, as five first timers would park it in the coveted Tyler County Speedway victory circle.
A stacked BRP Modified Tour field of 28 cars would venture to the Tyler County Speedway from all parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and even Canada as the Modified Tour would kick off their 2018 season. Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, NY would pick up where he left in 2017 as the defending BRP Mod Tour champion has now stretched his current tour winning streak to nine events. Number nine would not come easy at the ‘Bullring’ as the NY driver would have to charge from his 21st starting spot and withstand a caution marred main event to secure the win. Following Rudolph across the line was Phil Vigneri, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Dave Murdick and Rex King Jr.
A very talented group of J&R Excavating Super Lates presented by Midcap Land and Timber would look to shake the rust off a long winter looking to snatch the seasons first victory. Rising late model star Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, WV fresh off a 30 plus feature win season in 2017 at various tracks throughout the region but with a ‘Bullring’ victory always alluding the talented racer. Fast forward to 2018 and the young Carpenter would leave no doubt he would be a force at the Tyler County Speedway this season by picking up his first career win at the Middlebourne oval. Carpenter would roll off his front row starting spot to roll around the speedway at a blistering pace while a hotly contested battle would rage behind. Kyle Thomas would hold off New Yorker Mike Maresca who was putting on a charge on the speedway top shelf to round out a podium finish. Derek Doll would rally from an early race mishap to snare the fourth position ahead of impressive 2017 FASTRAK National Champion Henry Hornsby III in his maiden super late voyage to round out the top five.
Another first timer would park it in the Appalachian Mineral Title Company FASTRAK Late Model victory lane as ‘Mad Dog’ Michael Duritsky Jr. of Masontown, PA would garner the feature win. A smooth and steady Duritsky aboard the Mikes Auto Repair/NAPA/ PALO Auto Body/ BLM/ Economy Furnace/ Garry’s Auto/ Rt. 21 games/ Ingram Engines/ Slavic Decals/ Rocket Chassis would hold off a hard charging and defending track champion Kyle Lukon who was rocketing the cushion of the ‘Bullring’ for runner up accolades. Rounding out the top five were Ryan Payne, Troy Frazier and Brandon Weigle.
A very strong field of 21 2 Brothers Motorsports AMRA Modifieds would arrive looking for their first win of the season. A top-notch feature battle was anticipated as thrilling heat races would set up a stacked feature lineup with the likes of Chad Smith, Rich Michael, Jake Hawkins, Shawn Jett and Gerald Deitch at the front of the field. When the green flag dropped Michaels would blast into the lead and while the field was exiting turn two Hawkins would jump the cushion sending the racer hard into the wall and careening off collecting both Jett and Deitch in a devasting crash that would end all threes night and leave a lot of twisted metal. Back to green it would be Ischua, NY’s Rich Michael nabbing his first career Tyler County feature win aboard the Gear 2/ Previty’s/ L&R Roll Off/ Arizona Sport Shirts/ PCD Chassis. A stellar run for Kyle Bond would garner him the bridesmaid with Chris Basich following in third with a torrid Nick Corbitt posting a valiant fourth place run with Chad Smith rounding out the top five.
Danny Thomas of Friendly, WV would right the ship, after Test n’ Tune gremlins would slow down the 7JR on practice night but it was all Thomas on opening night in the Sigler Fabrication EDGE Hotmods presented by Poske Performance Parts. The talented second-generation racer would vault off his front row starting spot and put it on cruise control aboard the sharp looking Wable Ford/ J&T Construction/ Slicks Detail Hotmod over 22 strong cars. Finishing with a career best 2nd place was Michael Thomas, Steve Magyar, Daniel Muldrew and Tom Sigler.
Sam Richards of West Union, WV aboard the Steve Fox owned #80 Fox Trucking/ Bulldog Chassis would snare his first ever feature win in the Jenkins Auto Parts Modlite division. The silky smooth Richards would hold off teammates Ryan Saffell and Josh Baldwin to secure the popular victory. Rounding out the top five were Mitch Ward and Daniel Eddy.
Continuing to follow the theme of the night Kevin Criswell of Wellsburg, WV would make his long weekly tow to the ‘Bullring’ finally worth it as the likeable racer would outduel perennial winner Bill Tennant to earn his first ever Tyler County Speedway win. Criswell aboard the Headhunter Motorsports/ Maloney’s Service/ KD Repair/ Frohnapfel Motorsports/ Wildcat Race Cars Honda Civic would best Tennant, Philip Bubeck, Ethan Drain and Wesley Tennant to round out the top five.
A strong field of 19 eager youngsters would kick off the 2018 season in the Gear 2 Graphics MWRA Mini Wedge division at the Tyler County Speedway. In the Junior division it was Keith Powell besting Logan Clark and Jake Casto. In the Senior division it was Gage Stalder holding off Ryan Hare and 2017 champion Ethan McCune to grab the first win of the season.
The Hometown Racing Association would like to thank all fans, racers and staff on making our 44th Season Opener a success. Be sure to join us next Saturday Night, April 21st as we present ‘Bridgeport Equipment’ Night featuring the first EDGE Hotmod Workin’ Man World Championship Qualifier and a giant Kids Gold Rush at intermission plus racing in all other classes. General admission is $12, kids 10 and under free and pit admission is $30, gates open at 4pm with racing at 6pm.
Saturday Night, April 14th, 2018 Tyler County Speedway Feature Results
BRP Big Block Mod Tour Top Five: Erick Rudolph, Phil Vigneri, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Dave Murdick, Rex King Jr.
J&R Excavating Super Late Models presented by Midcap Land and Timber Feature Finish: Tyler Carpenter, Kyle Thomas, Mike Maresca, Derek Doll, Henry Hornsby, Michael Lake, Brian Baumberger, Logan Hitt, Tyler Stutler, Steve Weigle, Jeromy Misel, Jim Cochran, Travis Brown, Scott Irvin, Kurt Burge, Robbie Scott, Gabe Sigler, DNS Shane Hitt
2 Brothers Motorsports AMRA Modified Feature Finish: Rich Michael, Kyle Bond, Chris Basich, Nick Corbitt, Chad Smith, Joel Prosser, Cody Brightwell, Doug Carson, Kevin Miller, Justin Hart, Matt Yost, Carl Williamson, Larry Yanero, Bill Shaffer, Gerald Deitch, Shawn Jett, Jacob Hawkins, DNS LP Roy, Cody Henthorn, Kurt Rogers, Daniel Hill
Appalachian Mineral Title Company FASTRAK Late Model Feature Finish: Michael Duritsky, Kyle Lukon, Ryan Payne, Troy Frazier, Brandon Weigle, Trey Watson, Wylie Ford, AJ Spagnuola, Garrett Jones, Lucas McDonald, Sparky Davidson, Mike Mason, Katelyn Frazier, Donnie Dotson, Tiffany Jackson, Derek Rogers
Sigler Fabrication EDGE Hotmods presented by Poske Performance Parts: Danny Thomas, Michael Thomas, Steve Magyar, Daniel Muldrew, Tom Sigler, Steven Dotson, Paul Baker, Mick Baker, Casey Ash, Travis Thomas, Jeff Gorrell, Larry Higgins, Mackenzie Dotson, Ron Craddock, Zack Robinson, Roland Bell, Kevin Dotson, CJ Dotson, Chad Smith, James Swenskie, DNS Rocky Mayle
Jenkins Auto Parts Modlite Feature Finish: Sam Richards, Ryan Saffell, Josh Baldwin, Mitch Ward, Daniel Eddy, Chris Robinson, Alex Robinson, Scott Sole, Matt Ward, Ryan Jones, Kenny Harris, Kolbe Kimbrew, Brandon Shaw, DNS Mason Pyles
Sport Compact Feature Finish: Kevin Criswell, Bill Tennant, Philip Bubeck, Ethan Drain, Wesley Tennant, Cody Durig
Gear 2 Graphics MWRA Mini Wedge Senior Feature Finish: Gage Stalder, Ryan Hare, Ethan McCune, Josalyn Hibbard, Isaac Ezell, George Casto III, Luke Hyre, Zoey Rennicker, Dalton Goode, Trent Baker, Shelby Cochran, Donnie Dotson IV, Allen Clark
Gear 2 Graphics MWRA Mini Wedge Junior Feature Finish: Keith Powell, Logan Clark, Jake Casto, Wyatt Demoss, Carson Thomas, Hunter Dotson
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