“Stormin” Norman Aronhalt Picks Up First Win Of The Season At Hilltop

June 1, 2014/ By Jessica Mardis

One could not ask for a better day, as the sun was shining on the Hill, as both fans filled the stands and 120 cars filled the pits.

Debuting this week in the mini wedge division, Hilltop Speedway introduced the small track, giving the option to run either the small or the big tracks. The JPR Auto & Tire, Winning Edge and A & B Roofing and Construction Mini Wedges had a field of 19 with 10 running the large track and nine on the small.

Winning the heats on the large track was “The Throttle Monster” Destinie Bates and Chase Settles. Coming to the green, Bates got out front and remained as she would go on to pick up back-to-back feature wins. Second went to Karyssa Beagle, third to Landon Anderson, fourth to Taylor Huggins, and fifth to Savanna Uhl.

Picking up the heat race wins on the small track was Braxton Wilson and Corbin Adkins. With Wilson bringing the field to the start, Adkins would take over the lead early. Battling their way through lap traffic, Zoey Stafford would pass Adkins for the lead coming out of two. With some troubles, Adkins would lose positions, allowing Wilson to battle back up to the leader. However, Stafford was able to hold on to the lead and pick up her first feature win. Rounding out the top five was Kyla Dillon, Nick Large, and Corbin Adkins.

The Novice Mini Stocks had a 7-car field with Blake Morris and Samantha St. John on the pole for the night’s feature. Coming up from third to pick up the win, it was John Maki, followed by Samantha St. John, Dustin Camp, Colten Priebe, Blake Morris, Colten St. John, and Katie Thomas.

With the bounty on Brad Moore still in place and increasing to $200 for the night, 14 other Holmes Pest Control Street Stocks looked to dethrone Moore and take home the win. Picking up each of the two-heat race wins were Bob Chilcote and Brad Moore.

With the lineup set for the feature, Chilcote brought the field to the green. Jumping out to the lead was Brad Moore followed by Kyle Moore. After multiple hard charges from Kyle, as the two worked their way through lap traffic, Brad was able to maintain his top spot, continuing his reign. Third went to Dave Potts, fourth to Bob Chilcote, and fifth to Todd Swim.

The Holmes Tire Late Models were next to roll out onto the track with a 20-car field. Setting fast time for the night was “General” George Lee with a 14.773. Heat race winners were Dave Hornikel and Mike Lonas with the dash win going to Jimmy Smith.

As Smith led the field down the backstretch to the green, it was Lee from outside pole taking over top spot, where he would remain, picking up the win. Rounding out the top five was Todd Brennen, Jimmy Smith, Ty Myers, and Vic Hottinger.

The modlites had a field of 11 with Nick Crider and Tim Hawkins picking up the heat race wins and setting the front row for the night’s feature event. Bringing the field to the green, it was Nick Crider on point. As the green dropped, Crider would take the lead and never look back, picking up his second career win this season. Second place went to Brian Stuhldreher, third to Tim Hawkins, fourth to Joe Burkhead, and fifth to Andy Hart.

The Bugs-R-Gone trucks had a field of 14 for the night, with Cole Lillibridge wining heat race one and Travis Winterringer picking up the win in heat two. Lillibridge led the field to the green, jumping out front early. However, Roly Heyder was making his way through the field and found himself battling Lillibridge for the top spot. Coming out of two Heyder was able to make his move and pass Lillibridge and go on to take the win. Kevin Potts picked up third, Jerry Gardner picked up fourth, and Joey Heyder picked up fifth.

With a field of 17, the Barnes Performance Unlimited Modifieds were the next division to roll onto the track. Setting fast time was Aaron Scott with a 15.930. Heat race winners were Denny Benjamin and Hilton Eppley, while “Stormin” Norman Aronhalt went on to pick up the dash win, placing him on the pole for the night’s feature.

When the green dropped with the field coming off four, it was “Stormin” Norman out front. After a few hard charges from last week’s feature winner Chris Basich, Aronhalt was able to maintain his top spot and go on to pick up his first feature win of the year, and twenty-seventh career win. Rounding out the top five was Chris Basich, Nathon Loney, Robin Duston, and Rory Reed.

Finishing out the night was the Barnes Performance Unlimited Mini Stocks with a 17-car field. Fast qualifier for the night was Gary Hensel Jr. with a time of 19.276. Heat race one winner was Jason St. John, with Michael Rose picking up heat race two. On point and leading the field to the start was St. John, who would also jump out to the lead and go on to pick up the win, his third for this season. Second place went to Gary Hensel Jr., Billy Parsons picked up third, fourth to Blaine Markey, and fifth to Dustin Daugherty.

Hilltop Speedway Results

May 31, 2014

JPR Auto & Tire, Winning Edge and A & B Roofing and Construction Mini Wedges

Small Track

Heat B. Wilson (28), B. Dawson, N. Large, A. Hensel, E. Large

Heat C. Adkins, Z. Stafford, K. Dillon, B. Wilson (28B)

Feature Zoey Stafford, Braxton Wilson, Kyla Dillon, Nick Large, Corbin Adkins, Andrea Hensel, Evan Large, Billy Dawson, Brooklyn Wilson

Big Track

Heat D. Bates, K. Beagle, B. Renfrew, L. Anderson, J. Jessop

Heat C. Settles, C. Black, T. Huggins, S. Uhl, L. Duncan

Feature Destinie Bates, Karyssa Beagle, Landon Anderson, Taylor Huggins, Savanna Uhl, Chase Settles, J. Jessop, Logan Duncan, Caiden Black, Brayden Renfrew

Novice Mini Stocks

Feature John Maki, Samantha St. John, Dustin Camp, Colten Preibe, Blake Morris, Colten St. John, Katie Thomas

Holmes Pest Control Street Stocks

Heat B. Chilcote, S. Wolford, D. Potts, Q. Lewis, T. Schonauer, J. Wilson, J. Patterson DNS-AJ Cannon

Heat B. Moore, K. Moore, T. Swim, J. Preston, S. Barnhart, M. Amick, A. Hixon

Feature Brad Moore, Kyle Moore, Dave Potts, Bob Chilcote, Todd Swim, Justin Patterson, Jon Preston, Steve Barnhart, Allen Hixon, Quinton Lewis, Trae Schonauer, Steve Wolford, DNS-Michael Amick, AJ Cannon

Holmes Tire Late Models

Fast Qualifier George Lee 14.773

Heat D. Hornikel, T. Myers, V. Hottinger, D. Snyder, V. Mardis, J. Vandale, J. Wages

Heat M. Lonas, R. Bond, D. Smith, K. Tish, D. Kenworthy, R. Mardis, DNS-J. Morey

Dash J. Smith, G. Lee, JR Gentry, D. Mayer, T. Brennen, S. Prince

Feature George Lee, Todd Brennen, Jimmy Smith, Ty Myers, Vic Hottinger, Steve Prince, Mike Lonas, Rick Mardis, Dan Snyder, Keith Tish, Johnny Vandale, JR Gentry, Dave Hornikel, Vernon Mardis, Doug Kenworthy, Doug Smith, Darrel Mayer, Rick Bond, DNS- Jeff Wages, Jimmy Morey

Mod Lites

Heat N. Crider, B. Stuhldreher, B. Shaw, J. Sisk, A. Hart, B. Morey

Heat T. Hawkins, J. Crider, J. Burkhead, T. Frankenberry, W. Kintz

Feature Nick Crider, Brain Stuhldreher, Tim Hawkins, Joe Burkhead, Andy Hart, Joe Sisk, Tyler Frankenberry, Brandon Shaw, Braden Morey, Josh Crider, DNS-Wayne Kintz

Bugs-R-Gone Trucks

Heat C. Lillibridge, J. Gardner, T. Morris. J. Large, L. Large, R. Holmes, J. Lillibridge

Heat T. Winterringer, R. Heyder, K. Potts, J. Heyder, D. Powell, T. Garlic, T. Workman

Feature Roly Heyder, Cole Lillibridge, Kevin Potts, Jerry Gardner, Joey Heyder, Tom Garlic, Rich Holmes, Josey Lillibridge, Dwayne Powell, Livia Large, Tim Workman, Travis Winterringer, Tim Morris

Barnes Performance Unlimited Modifieds

Fast Qualifier Aaron Scott 15.930

Heat D. Benjamin, R. Reed, J. Scott, M. Enos, V. Eaches, D. Sampsel

Heat H. Eppley, T. Evans, P. Hess, R. Harris, B. Page

Dash N. Aronhalt, N. Loney, C. Basich, R. Duston, A. Scott, B. Miller

Feature Norman Aronhalt, Chris Basich, Nathon Loney, Robin Duston, Rory Reed, Pauly Hess, Virgil Eaches, Denny Benjamin, Randy Harris, Bruce Miller, Mark Enos, Dave Sampsel, Tyler Evans, Jeremy Scott, Hilton Eppley, Bob Page, DNS-Aaron Scott

Barnes Performance Unlimited Mini Stocks

Fast Qualifier Gary Hensel Jr. 19.276

Heat J. St. John, G. Hensel Jr., C. Priebe, J. Priebe, C. Butler, W. Rinehart, N. Martin, D. Blaker, J. Moore

Heat M. Rose, B. Parsons, B. Markey, D. Daugherty, K. Markey, M. Workman, T. Mullinnex, J. Chaney

Feature Jason St. John, Gary Hensel Jr., Billy Parsons, Blaine Markey, Dustin Daughtery, Kevin Markey, Cacey Butler, Michael Workman, Nova Martin, William Rinehart, Tony Mullinnex, Jerrod Chaney, Dan Blaker, Josh Moore, James Priebe, Chris Priebe, Michael Rose