Berwanger 2 For 2 At Skyline

By Scott Wolfe
STEWART, OHIO-The Frankland Racing Kids Autograph Night and Poske’s Performance Parts Bicycle Racing night proved to be a huge, huge success at Skyline Speedway Friday night August 16. In the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association 410 sprints young gun Kory Crabtree won his fifth feature in four weeks, including a string of two back-to-back feature wins. As an added bonus Kory got to race with his dad Keith Crabtree who came out of retirement to drive Greg Mitchell’s 002 car.
In the Kryptonite AMRA Late Model main K.C. Burdette claimed the win by inches over Ronnie Mayle, while Jeremy Berwanger, the Murray City Bandit, stole the show and the top prize in the AMRA Octane Race Products Modified A-main.
It was great to see all the kids in attendance and 17 youngsters participate in the bicycle racing. Winners earned $20, $10, and $5 respectively in each of the three divisions. Additionally, Frankland Racing Autograph night was a huge success as well as the Dave Poske-Billy Jarrell Bicycle racing challenge, won by Dave Poske of Poske’s Performance Parts. Brian Willard picked Poske to win and as a result the proceeds of a cash drawing went to Alexander High School in the name of Willard, who also won a free Pit Pass to the Sarah Bond Big Three, next weekend August 23.
Fifteen kids won Walmart Gift cards Totalling $300 and two children won bicycles provided by Andre Layfield Racing and John Church Racing. Additionally, every child in attendance received a bag full of school supplies, much of which was provided by the race teams. Special thanks was extended to the drivers, Tom and Pam Lemon, Billy Jarrell, and Skyline Speedway.
In the Late Model A-main Racin’ Jason Montgomery was looking for the clean sweep after a hard-earned heat win over K.C. Burdette. Montgomery led from the onset as the battle touted between he and outside pole-sitter Chris Garnes never materialized. Burdette jumped into second with Ronnie Mayle in tow.
Montgomery was dogged every inch of the way by Burdette. While Burdette never quite overtook Montgomery, he was along side the veteran much of the way. Mayle then nearly passed Burdette with the race developing into a 3-way battle.
On the 13th circuit, Montgomery’s suspension gave out and his car limped to a stop, giving Burdette the lead. Burdette survived several early challenges from Mayle, who at one point was overtaken by Garnes. Then Burdette started to stretch out his lead.
Meanwhile, Tyler Carpenter had zoomed from 15th to fifth and at one point it was a Carpenter Clan family reunion for 4th, 5th, and 6th among Chris, Tyler, and Freddie Carpenter. Both Tyler and Freddie faded in the last five laps giving way to hard charging Mike Smith and Andy Bond.
As the race wound down it appeared Burdette would coast to victory, but during the last three laps Mayle reeled Burdette in and nearly pulled off the comeback win, narrowly missing the win by inches at the finish. Behind Burdette’s McDonald Race Engines/Graham Excavating/Burdette Construction Rayburn rounding out the top ten were Mayle, Chris Garnes, Chris Carpenter, Mike Smith, Andy Bond, Tyler Carpenter, Freddie Carpenter, Travis Brookover, and Ralph Withem.
In the Kryptonite AMRA Late Models, Tyler Carpenter and Ralph Withem were the Hard Chargers each moving up eight positions. Carpenter went from 15th to 7th and Withem went from 18th to 10th.
The Octane AMRA Modifieds took the same script from Late Model A-main. On the initial start polesitter Jarrod Willis was called for jumping and sent to the tail. Mike McPherson inherited the pole and zoomed to an immediate lead over Jeremy Berwanger and Andy Bond. Moments later Berwanger and Bond made contact and spun, collecting four other cars in the process. Bond was whistled for the caution.
McPherson started to distance himself from the field as the gaggle of cars approached lapped traffic. Berwanger lurked in second with Jeremy Blake duking it out with youngster Kyle Bond. Bond was impressive in his heat and when all was said and done, he withstood Blake’s pressure for position in the feature.
A lapped car spun in front of McPherson who had no place to go and plowed into the spinning comrad, where he emerged with a flat tire and lost hopes of victory on lap seven. For the latter portion of the race it was the Killer B’s of Berwanger, Bond, and Blake putting on a show.
Other noteworthy performances came from Gary Gould, who continued his string of strong Skyline runs, a bid that earned him hard-charger. In the AMRA Octane Modifieds Gould was the hard charger in an impressive 16th to 5th place run. Jarrod Willis, who had early gone to the tail fought back to eighth spot. Brad Willis and Nick Carr climbed into the top ten with credible runs.
Berwanger went on to the big victory ahead of Bond, Blake, Ronnie Mayle, Gary Gould, Robert Garnes, Rick Venham, Jr., Jerrod Willis, Brad Willis, and Nick Carr.
In the OVSCA 410 Sprint Cars, Jim Neir, Dave Dickson, and Brian Benson were the Hard Chargers each moving up three positions. Neir went from 5th to 2nd, Dickson went from 11th to 8th, and Benson went from 14th to 11th.
Aaron Higgins took the initial lead, but an early bobble gave Kory Crabtree the room he needed for the pass and number one spot. Crabtree was chased frantically by Jimmy Nier and Jimmy Stinson, who each fought past Higgins for a run at the top three.
As Crabtree got into traffic, Nier quickly closed the gap and at one point came within a car length of the leader before scrubbing off some speed. Nier came back for another bid at first, but Crabtree withstood the pressure.
After a late race caution, Crabtree had free reign of the track and blitzed on to the uncontested win aboard his B & P Miller/Milhone Motorsports Maxim powered by Oaks Machine Racing Engines. Behind second place Nier were Aaron Higgins, Nathan Skaggs, Jimmy Stinson, Ryan Broughton, Mark Imler, Dave Dickson, Eddy Slone, and Josh Davis.
Said Crabtree, “I just tried to be cool, really cool. The throttle was stuck and I just had to stay composed and hang on. It got a little hectic in traffic, but in the open track the car was super fast.”
Skyline will host the Sarah Bond Big Three Friday, August 23 paying $2,000 to win and $200 to start in all Three Classes ! Sprints, Late Models, Modifieds! Come enjoy the fun and help us honor one of racing’s all time great ladies — Sarah Bond ! Bring a friend or two and help Skyline make this a big night for Ronnie Bond and the Bond Family !
Admission is $20 General Admission, $15 Sr. Citizens, 12 and Under Free, and $40 for the pits. There is no entry fee for drivers, however, new drivers to the track must have their registration fee in all divisions. Non AMRA drivers in the Lates and Modifieds must get a temporary license; or if having a previous temp, must purchase an AMRA license. Temps are $20 and full license $75.
For more information, please contact << www.skylinespeedway.net >> or call 304-539-4410 or the track phone at 740-662-4111; or visit Skyline Speedway on facebook.

The summary: August 16, 2013

Bike Races
5 and under
1st Lane Wasson age 5
2nd Jase Kapple age 5
3rd Kayleigh Grimm age 4

6 to 9
1st Braxton Brown age 8
2nd Dylan Erwin age 9
3rd Kalista Barnes age 9

10 to 12
1st Austin Washburn age 12
2nd Tiara Waugh age 12
3rd Dalton Roush

Dave vs. Billy
1st Dave Poske, Poske’s Performance Parts
2nd Billy Jarrell, Skyline Speedway

410 Sprint Cars (18)
Fast Time: Aaron Higgins 10:84 (Kory Crabtree, 10:84) Higgins posted 1st and was credited with Fast Time
Alky Heat One: Aaron Higgins, Ryan Broughton, Eddy Slone, Keith Baxter, Eric Martin, Keith Crabtree
Racegear by Impact Heat Two: Kory Crabtree, Jim Nier, Josh Davis, Dave Dickson, Brian Benson, Greg Mitchell
Octane Race Products Heat Three: Jimmy Stinson, Nathan Skaggs, Mark Imler, Wes McGlumphy, Bob Tucker, Jesse McCreary
Feature: Kory Crabtree, Jim Nier, Aaron Higgins, Nathan Skaggs, Jimmy Stinson, Ryan Broughton, Mark Imler, Dave Dickson, Eddy Slone, Josh Davis, Brian Benson, Wes McGlumphy, Bob Tucker, Eric Martin, Greg Mitchell, Jesse McCreary, Keith Baxter, Keith Crabtree

KRYPTONITE AMRA Late Models (24)
Fast Time: Jason Montgomery 12:35
Heat One: Jason Montgomery, KC Burdette, Mike Foggin, Jason Gillian, Tom Hendrix, Randy Armes, Tanner Hendrix, Kevin Wagner
Heat Two: Chris Garnes, Chris Carpenter, Andy Bond, Mike Smith, Freddie Carpenter, Darrin Roush, Robbie Jewell, Bub Crum
Heat Three: Ronnie Mayle, Steve Bigley, Dan Morrison, Travis Brookover, Tyler Carpenter, Pete Crum, Ralph Withem, Sara Fiest
B-Main: Randy Armes, Darrin Roush, Ralph Withem, Pete Crum, Bub Crum, Robbie Jewell, Tanner Hendrix, Sara Fiest
Feature: KC Burdette, Ronnie Mayle, Chris Garnes, Chris Carpenter, Mike Smith, Andy Bond, Tyler Carpenter, Freddie Carpenter, Travis Brookover, Ralph Withem, Dan Morrison, Randy Armes, Tyler Hendrix, Jason Montgomery, Steve Bigley, Darrin Roush, Mike Foggin, Jason Gillian

OCTANE AMRA MODIFIEDS (19)
Heat One: Jerrod Willis, Jeremy Berwanger, Kyle Bond, Robert Garnes, Vince Conrad, Gary Gould, Joe Hibbard
Heat Two: Andy Bond, Brad Willis, Ryan McCarley, Charlie Martin, Michael Conley, Rick Venham, Jr. (DNS)
Heat Three: Mike McPherson, Jeremy Blake, Ronnie Mayle, Pat Gillian, Nick Carr, Derrik Smith
Feature: Jeremy Berwanger, Kyle Bond, Jeremy Blake, Ronnie Mayle, Gary Gould, Robert Garnes, Rick Venham, Jr., Jerrod Willis, Brad Willis, Nick Carr, Ryan McCarley, Joe Hibbard, Charlie Martin, Mike McPherson, Michael Conley, Pat Gillian, Vince Conrad, Andy Bond (DQ)

Mike’s Auto Body Mini-Wedges (9)
Feature: Zach Carr, Austin Washburn, Ryan Bigley, Kasey Rankin, Aiden Powell, Tanner Martin, Hunter Krivesti, Kalista Barnes, Evan McPherson