20th Annual Topless 50 This Saturday Night At Tyler County

(Middlebourne, WV) The Topless 50 at Tyler County Speedway is a unique event in which all roofs and window supports are removed from the racecar to provide the fans with a “birds eye” view of the drivers as they work their way around the quarter mile speedway. The Topless 50 has provided some of the best side by side racing action and last lap finishes that make this event a must see year after year! The second oldest Topless race in the country behind the Topless 100 in Batesville, Arkansas will celebrate its 20th edition in 2014 on Saturday Night, May 3rd.

What will the 20th edition have in store? Will the Brothers Hawkins make it 4 in a row or will one of the wiley veterans like Paul Wilmoth Jr., Butch McGill or Chuck Harper who have found success multiple times in the Topless 50 grab another one? Join us on Saturday Night, May 3rd in what promises to be a can’t miss event!

WHAT:20th Annual Topless 50, $3040 to win “Elite 8 Super Late Model Touring Series”

America’s 2nd Oldest Topless Late Model Race in America!

Plus Topless 25 FASTRAK Late Model $1,040 to win

And Topless Hotmod Working Man National Championship Qualifier #2

Plus Regular Racing in the Two Brothers Motorsports Modifieds, Modlites, 4 Cylinders and Mini Wedge division.

WHEN: Saturday Night, May 3rd.

WHERE: Tyler County Speedway, Home of the Bullring, Middlebourne, West Virginia

PRICE: General Admission $20, Pits $35, Children 10 and under are FREE!

TIME: Gates open at 4, Mini Wedges start at 6:15, Hotlaps/Qualifying begin at 6:45

PAST WINNERS: 14 ?????????????, 13 Jacob Hawkins, 12 Jacob Hawkins, 11 Jared Hawkins, 10 Paul Wilmoth, 09 Steve Shaver, 08 Paul Wilmoth, 07 Mark Banal, 06 Sonny Conley, 05 Robbie Scott, 04 Mike Benedum, 03 Chuck Harper, 02 Paul Wilmoth, 01 Paul Wilmoth, 00 Doug Horton, 99 Butch McGill, 98 Chuck Harper, 97 Kenny Johnson, 96 Butch McGill, 95 Steve Steele

HISTORY OF THE TOPLESS 50:

Starting in 1995, New Martinsville’s Steve Steele put his name first on the list. Steele passed race long leader Butch McGill exiting turn four coming to the checkered flag, setting the bar high for races to come.

After losing on the final circuit in the inaugural race, in 1996 ‘the Doddridge County Terror’ Butch McGill dominated and won the second annual event.

In 1997 Gary Dalton grabbed the lead early. Eighth starting Kenny Johnson, ‘the South Side Flyer’ worked his way to the front and began a duel with Dalton. Johnson secured the spot on lap 47 enroute to the victory. Johnson, Dalton, Bobby Hill, Chris Stotts and Bill Childers were the top five.

The 1998 race had Greg Mitchell holding the point until lap eight when ‘the Beverly Gearjammer’ Chuck Harper grabbed the spot and never looked back. Harper, Bobby Hill, Denny Chamberlain, Bill Childers, and D J Cline filled out the top five.

In 1999 Mike Balzano was the leader at the outset, but Chuck Harper stole the spot away on lap 10. He would relinquish it to Paul Wilmoth Jr. on lap 17. Harper would get it back on lap 24, only to have Butch McGill take it on lap 31. McGill became the first two time winner as he bested Harper, Gary Dalton, Mike Eaton and Steve Weigle.

What some call one of the best of the annual roofless races happened in 2000. Mike Benedum held off numerous attempts from Doug Horton to take the point. On the white flag lap, Horton, ‘the Bruceton Bandit’ got under Benedum at the flag stand to get the lead and collected his biggest career win. Charlie Maloney was third, Jimmy Cobb and Jeremy Peck were fourth and fifth.

The 2001 version had three different leaders as Chuck Harper held the spot until lap 38 when Mike Benedum took over. ‘The Gambler’ Paul Wilmoth Jr. then snagged the spot on lap 41 to capture his first Topless crown. Benedum, Doug Horton, Robbie Scott and Mike Eaton filled out the top five.

Paul Wilmoth Jr. dominated the 2002 race as he led wire to wire to take his second checkerboard. Mike Benedum would finish second for the third straight year. Bobby Hill, Robbie Scott and Chuck Harper were third through fifth.

The 2003 50 lapper had Steve Weigle in command for the first 17 go rounds. M T Hall then took over until lap 27 when ninth starting Chuck Harper secured it. Harper would become the third two time winner as he crossed the line ahead of Tim Dohm, Mike Benedum (from eleventh), Hall and Robbie Scott.

Tired of finishing second (three times) and third (’03) ‘The Bristol Bullet’ Mike Benedum snared the lead away from M T Hall on lap 39 to put his name on the Topless winners list. Hall held on for second, Robbie Blair was third. Butch McGill and Tim Dohm completed the top five.

In 2005 Jared Hawkins set sail and was the front car until Robbie Scott slipped by on lap 17. Scott would drive on for the win. Hawkins finished second. Chuck Harper (from thirteenth) was third. Bobby Hill was fourth and Sonny Conley was fifth.

It was New Martinsville, WV’s Sonny Conley aboard the familiar family operated 1×1 machine that stole the show and grabbed his first Topless 50 title in the 12th edition of the race. It was Conley’s biggest career win.

An ‘out of stater’ came to the Bullring in 2007 and stole the show. St. Clairsville Ohio’s Mark Banal led wire to wire and was never seriously challenged enroute to the victory. Ricky Williams, Paul Wilmoth Jr., Josh McGuire and Robbie Blair crossed behind.

For his third trip to victory lane, Paul Wilmoth Jr., would lead all 50 circuits in the 2008 edition. Mike Balzano gave chase but had to settle for second. Tim Dohm, Eddie Carrier Jr., and Doug Horton rounded out the top five.

Two oval track travelers put on a show in 2009 as Robbie Blair held off ‘Showtime’ Steve Shaver for the front spot until lap 20. Shaver took over and didn’t give it back. Blair crossed in second. Third through fifth were Jared Hawkins, Eddie Carrier Jr., and Tim Dohm.

In 2010 Gary Dalton returned to Tyler County and grabbed the lead at the drop of the green with the UFo series sanctioning the race. Doug Horton passed Dalton on lap 4, but Dalton regained the spot on lap 14. Paul Wilmoth Jr. then outdragged Dalton for the lead on the restart of lap 19. Wilmoth would add his fourth Topless trophy to the case. Robbie Scott (from eleventh), Jared Miley (from nineteenth), Doug Horton, and Eddie Carrier Jr. (from twelfth) were second through fifth.

In what would become the Hawkins brothers show, the 2011 edition had its share of excitement. Tim Dohm would grab the early lead and stay there for most of the event. Jared Hawkins started 13th and as the laps clicked off would hound Dohm until lap 48 when Dohm slowed exiting turn two allowing Hawkins to zip by and claim his 1st Topless crown. The elder brother Jared, was able to fend off his pesky younger brother Jacob Hawkins from 17th, for the win. Robbie Scott, Paul Wilmoth Jr., and Mike Benedum filled out the top five.

Jacob Hawkins driving the St. Henry Night Club / C & R Sanning #20, would grab his biggest career win in the 18th Annual Topless 50. The young Hawkins would hold off a hard charging Mike Marlar, Brandon Shepherd, Jared Hawkins and Corey Conley across the stripe.

A perfect evening for racing welcomed eager race fans to the 19th Annual Topless 50 where it was a familiar face sitting in victory lane as young Jacob Hawkins, Fairmont, WV would repeat his performance from a year ago in capturing consecutive Topless 50 wins.

Hawkins joins Paul Wilmoth, Butch McGill and Chuck Harper as multi win victors in the Topless 50. Mike Benedum, Jared Miley, Derek Doll and Corey Conley would round out the top five.

About the Tyler County Speedway: Located in the scenic WV hills, the Tyler County Speedway is located just 4 miles south of Middlebourne, on State Route 18 at the Fairgrounds approximately an hour from Wheeling, Clarksburg & Parkersburg. Tyler County Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the raciest tracks in the nation and has been dubbed the ‘Bullring’ with three and four wide racing action being the norm not the exception.

Tyler County Speedway annually hosts some of the largest and most popular events in the Ohio Valley region! National and regional touring series such as the World of Outlaw Late Model Series, NDRL King of Dirt, Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour, FASTRAK Racing Series and much more appear frequently. In addition to the incredible Special Event lineup, the Tyler County Speedway Weekly Racing Series consists of the Super Late Models, FASTRAK Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Hotmods, ModLites, FWD 4 Cylinders and MWRA Mini Wedges on Saturday Nights April thru September. For additional information regarding the 40th Anniversary Season at the Tyler County Speedway follow us online at www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com, phone the track office at 304-771-6874 or 304-771-5661 or on raceday at 304-758-2660.