Staley Picks Up $500 Payday At Hilltop’s Opening Night

After many late nights in the garage, one could not have asked for a better day for the season opener at Hilltop Speedway, Millersburg, who will be running on Friday night’s throughout the 2018 season. With fans filling the stands and 97 cars in the pits, racing action, including the $500 to win Short Track Fire and Rescue mini stocks, was underway for the first time of the season.

First to see action were the Holmes Tire late models with a field of sixteen. Fast qualifier for the division was Shane McLoughlin with a time of 14.220. A single heat race win went to “The General” George Lee with the dash win going to John Wyer.

With the field set, the first 25-lap feature of the season was underway. Taking the early lead from the outside was Craig Wolford. However, a caution with a mere one lap in would bunch the field back up for a single file restart. Back under green, Wolford would again take the top spot. Although, “The Flying Ace” Corey Conley would make his pressence known, challenging the bumper of Wolford for the lead. As the top two contenders battled it out for the top spot, caution would fly with seven laps down. Single filed, racing action was back under way and front runner, Conley, would take to the low line, working his way under Wolford and ultimately taking the lead coming off of turn two. As the laps dwindled, the top five would single themselves out and Conley would advance his straightaway lead over the field. Thus, as the checkerd dropped, “The Flying Ace” would start his 2018 season at the Hill right where he left off, in victory lane. Rounding out the top five was Craig Wolford, JR Gentry, DJ Cline and Shane McLoughlin.

Next up was the modified division with a field of fifteen. Qualifying with a 15.423 and claiming fast time was “The Toboso Bullet” Jimmy Smith. Picking up the heat race win was “The General” George Lee with fast qualifier Smith picking up the dash win.

Rounding four to the green, Smith and Jess Hartman front row, it was Smith who would take the early lead over the field. Meanwhile, looking to the inside of Hartman challenging for second was Nathon Loney. However, caution would come out forcing a restart. Once again under green, Smith would maintain the lead as Chris Basich would work his way around Loney to claim third. As the race neared the end, Hartman would continue to pressure Smith for the lead. White flag in the air, Hartman would look to the inside of Smith. However, contact between the two front runners in the middle of turns three and four would bring out the caution, resulting in Hartman taking his car pitside. Single file, the field lined up for a green, checker finish. Under green, Smith would again retain the top spot as Loney would make one last attempt at the lead. However, he would be unable to surpass, as it was “The Toboso Bullet” picking up the feature win followed by Nathon Loney, Chris Basich, Casey Fritz and Bruce Takach.

The Short Track Fire and Resuce mini stock division had the largest field of the night with twenty-six ready to do battle for their 15-lap, $500 to win feature event. Heat race winners were Jeff Tatro, Tim Workman and Wes Staley with the b-main win going to Tony Mullinnex. After a redraw for position, setting the pace to the start was Tatro with Dale Beckett on the outside. Taking an early lead was Tatro, as Beckett and Wes Staley would battle for second. Coming off of turn four, Staley would surpass Beckett claiming second and would set his sights on Tatro. As the battle for the lead ensued, the two would go door to door off turn two and down the backstretch with Staley overtaking the lead off turn four with a mere two laps in the books. Once in the lead, Staley would fend off competitors on restarts to remain out front, going on to pick the win and a $500 payday. Finishing second was Jeff Tatro followed by Dale Beckett, Edwin Geary and Tim Workman.

With a field of eleven, Kevin Potts and Bob Daugherty each picked up a heat race win in the Holmes Pest Control street stock division, placing them on the front row for the night’s feature event. With the field set, the green was out and it was Kevin Potts to the lead as David Potts worked his way around Daugherty for second with two laps down. Looking in on the leader, David would take to the inside of Kevin down the backstretch trying to obtain the lead. However, caution would come out with seven laps down, bunching the field up single file. With the green back out, Daniel Sanchez would make a move around David to take second. Meanwhile, Daugherty would work his way back up to the bumper of David to claim third. However, David Potts, unrattled, would work the low line, in effort to reclaim third , ultimatley setting his sights on Sanchez sitting second. As the leaders came up to lap traffic, David would use the lap car to his advantage to reclaim second. Nevertheless, maintaining his position from the start, it was Kevin Potts who would be victorious. Finishing second was David Potts followed by Daniel Sanchez, Bob Daugherty and Trae Schonauer.

The Rigz Towing modlites had a field of twenty with heat race wins going to Teddy Williams, Chris Robinson and Joe Burkhead. As the green dropped, Robinson would claim the top spot as Jason Darocha would take second. Unfortuately, caution would come out, forcing a restart and ultimately sending race leader Robinson back two spots for a called jump start. Setting the pace back to the green was Darocha, who would take the top spot as Robinson would work his way back up to second with four laps down. Meanwhile, Jimmy Smith, would go to work on the bumper of Williams to ultimately take third with seven laps in the books. Ten laps in, the battle for the top spot would continue as Robinson would manage to get around Darocha to claim the lead. Back and fourth, the top two contenders would go for the lead until unfortunate contact off of turn two would end Darocha’s night and send Robinson to the tail with a mere two laps to go. Single file, Smith would lead the field back to the start for a green, white, checker finish. Smith would maintain his position out front and go on to pick up his second feature win of the night. Second would go to Tanner McLoughlin, third to Joe Burkhead, fourth to Chris Robinson and fifth to John Large.

Rounding out the night were the Bugs R Gone trucks with a field of nine. The lone heat race winner was Blake Heyder placing him on the pole for the night’s final feature event. Jumping out front early was pole sitter, Blake Heyder while Rolly Heyder would work his way to second. On the bumper of Blake, Rolly would work the leader, as the two would go side by side down the back stretch with Rolly taking the lead with five laps down. After taking a familiar position out front, Rolly Heyder would maintain his lead and go on to pick up his first feature win of the season. Second went to Blake Heyder, third Jerry Gardner, fourth Dwayne Powell and fifth Zoe Stafford.

Hilltop Speedway Results

April 13, 2018

Holmes Tire Late Models

Fast Qualifier Shane McLoughlin 14.220

Heat 1 G. Lee, DJ Cline, B. Bee, B. Wilson, D. Hubbard, B. Daugherty, J. Skelly, J. Wages, M. Amick, A. Goon

Dash J. Wyer, C. Wolford, C. Conley, K. Moore, JR Gentry, S. McLoughlin

Feature Corey Conley, Craig Wolford, JR Gentry, DJ Cline, Shane McLoughlin, Kyle Moore, John Wyer, Darrick Hubbard, Brett Bee, Braxton Wilson, Jason Skelly, George Lee, Bob Daugherty, Michael Amick DNS-Jeff Wages, Austin Goon

Modifieds

Fast Qualifier Jimmy Smith 15.423

Heat 1 G. Lee, B. Page, P. Caplinder, R. Mardis, J. Disbennett, R. Ledger, R. Leckrone, J. Miller, M. Enos, R. Grogg

Dash J. Smith, J. Hartman, N. Loney, C. Basich, B. Takach, C. Fritz

Feature Jimmy Smith, Nathon Loney, Chris Basich, Casey Fritz, Bruce Takach, George Lee, Rick Mardis, Bob Page, Josh Miller, John Disbennett, Mark Enos, Richard Grogg, Jess Hartman, Robbie Ledger, Pete Caplinder, Ryan Leckrone

Short Track Fire and Rescue Mini Stocks

Heat 1 J. Tatro, D. Beckett, M. Stewart, K. Markey, R. Carder, A. Brannon, J. Gentury, J. Warner, J. Mercer

Heat 2 T. Workman, E. Geary, L. Martin, C. Mills, D. Thornsley, T. Mullinnex, J. Rust, J. James, T. Gambill

Heat 3 W. Staley, J. James, W. Newbury, L. Perry, K. St. John, Lewis Walters, M. Rose, N. Rhoads

B-Main T. Mullinnex, N. Rhoads, J. James, M. Rose, J. Gentury, J. Rust, A. Brannon, T. Gambill

Feature Wes Staley, Jeff Tatro, Dale Beckett, Edwin Geary, Tim Workman, Wayne Newbury, Kevin Markey, Tony Mullinnex, Michael Stewart, Corey Mills, Jessica James, Nathon Rhoads, Kendra St. John, Logan Martin, Ryan Carder, Jordan James, Logan Perry DNS-Darrin Thornsley

Holmes Pest Control Street Stocks

Heat 1 K. Potts, D. Potts, D. Sanchez, J. James, T. Schonauer

Heat 2 B. Daugherty, D. Daugherty, K. Michalo, D. Ganson, M. McElravy, S. Hursey

Feature Kevin Potts, David Potts, Daniel Sanchez, Bob Daugherty, Trae Schonauer, Jordan James, Kyle Michalo, Mike McElravy, Derrick Ganson, Steve Hursey, Dustin Daugherty

Rigz Towing Modlites

Heat 1 T. Williams, J. Darocha, J. Large, J. Preston, C. Grubbs, T. Myers, D. Hubbard Jr

Heat 2 C. Robinson, J. Smith, C. Stillion, L. Lewis, C. Dye, C. Snyder, T. McLoughlin

Heat 3 J. Burkhead, B. Shaw, J. Jacobs, J. Sisk, N. Grubbs, C. Myers

Feature Jimmy Smith, Tanner McLoughlin, Joe Burkhead, Chris Robinson, John Large, Cody Stillion, Jon Preston, Nick Grubbs, Joey Sisk, Logan Lewis, Teddy Williams, Jason Darocha, Chris Grubbs, Brandon Shaw, Clint Snyder, Jesse Jacobs DNS-Cody Dye, Tim Myers, Cole Myers, Darrick Hubbard Jr.

Bugs R Gone Trucks

Heat 1 B. Heyder, J. Gardner, R. Heyder, Z. Stafford, D. Powell, L. Duncan, J. Williamson, N. Large

Feature Rolly Heyder, Blake Heyder, Jerry Gardner, Dwayne Powell, Zoe Stafford, Logan Duncan, David Reed, Nick Large, Jeremy Williamson