5/21/2011
Hagerstown Speedway
NO LATE MODEL SECOND FOR BARD THIS TIME, WEAVER WINS BOWMAN CLASSIC
Leading the late models previously, Jerry Bard just hasn’t sealed the deal and second wasn’t an option Saturday night at Hagerstown Speedway. A former four cylinder champion and late model sportsman racer, Bard, of Shippensburg, PA added his name to the late model winners for the very first time by grabbing the checkered over seven time champion Roy Deese Jr., by .72 second.
“I’ll tell you what, this is unbelievable, “Bard said. “My guys work hard, my wife, I just don’t know what to say. Last year, a couple lapped cars got me in trouble and held me up. Roy got by me. I wasn’t letting up for nothing tonight.”
Patiently running second, defending late model sportsman champion Pete Weaver of nearby Williamsport got past Chaz Walls and led the final ten laps to win the 3rd Annual Bill Bowman Classic.
“Bill worked with my father. I was very honored to win the first annual and really wanted to win the second, but we didn’t quite make it,” Weaver said. “Any time I can win one in Bill’s name, he was a good racer, and he was all about racing. It was really cool to win this one this year for him.”
Dave Stouffer Jr. took over on the second lap to score his fourth career win in the Ernie D’s pure stocks. Jim Harshman of Boonsboro, Md outlasted the four cylinders to win the 1st Annual Blue-Gray Towing and Recovery 4 Cylinder Demo Derby.
Bard lined up on the pole position and won the battle off the second turn over Ashley Barrett with sixth starter, defending champion Frankie Plessinger passing Brent Smith into third on lap two.
Plessinger slowed on the fifth lap to bring out the caution as Bard continued to lead while tenth starter Deese took third from Smith on lap six. Barrett then had radiator fan problems and retired to the pits as Deese moved into second for the restart.
Deese threw his best punch at Bard on lap 12 as Kyle Lear took third the same circuit and Keith Jackson followed into fourth.
Bard still continued to hold a slight edge on Deese after another restart on lap 16 and then on lap 21 when Jackson drifted to a stop. Plessinger leaked water on the track the subsequent lap to set up a three lap dash but Bard was up to the task while Deese also was being challenged by Lear. After his car erupted into a fireball in his heat, Gary Stuhler came from 17th to finish fourth over Ken Dickson. Smith ended sixth with Alan Sagi, Brian Booze, Duane Harbaugh, from 23rd, and Wes Bonebake completed the top ten. Smith, Barrett and Jackson were the heat winners.
From the pole, Chaz Walls pulled ahead in the Bowman event with third starter Cody Lear grabbing second over Paul Cursey with Cursey taking second on the fourth circuit while sixth starter Weaver moved him back a spot then next round.
Walls was out front 1.25 seconds when a caution came on lap eight and he continued to hold a one plus second advantage as Bruce Kane and Steve Axtell Jr. moved into the third and fourth positions.
On the 20th lap, Walls slipped slightly in the second turn as Weaver was already there to take advantage. Weaver then set sail after two restarts to beat Walls to the line by .75 second as Kane came up light at the scales to advance Axtell, Cursey and Trevor Feathers who restarted on the rear during a lap two caution. Lear, Donnie Farlling and Andy Fries won the heats.
“Chaz was having the same problem I was down in three and four, the car was tight right in the middle,” Weaver said. “Every time I thought I could capitalize on his mistake, we made a mistake and Doug had me slow down. That was the key to getting past him. I was calm and collective enough when he made the next mistake and without that, we might not have won.”
Wayne Hawbaker sped off the outside pole to take the pure stock lead over Stouffer who pulled to the front on the next lap with Bill Ecton Jr. taking the runner up spot on lap three.
From a sixth lap restart, Ecton continued to keep the pressure on Stouffer to the end who collected his career fourth triumph by only .25 second at the finish. Hawbaker, Steve Lowery and Charlie Pensinger were next. Kenny Dillon and Ecton were the heat winners.
On Saturday’s Memorial Day weekend program, Hagerstown will present the 16th Annual Richard “Boney” Bonebrake Tribute which is a Three State Flyers Shootout 35-lap open event for the late models. The Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic late model sportsman and Ernie D’s pure stocks are also included on the program. Warm ups begin at 7:00 p.m.
The latest news, results, photos, schedule or rule changes can be on the speedway’s website: www.hagerstownspeedway.com. Also check the website for any changes in weather conditions that may delay or cancel the program or contact the speedway office at 301-582-0640.
Hagerstown Speedway Results
Late Models, 25 laps, 24 entries, (Lap Leaders – Jerry Bard 1-25) 1.Jerry Bard, 2.Roy Deese Jr., 3.Kyle Lear, 4.Gary Stuhler, 5.Nick Dickson, 6.Brent Smith, 7.Alan Sagi, 8.Brian Booze, 9.Duane Harbaugh, 10.Wesley Bonebrake, 11.Rick Hulson, 12.Frankie Plessinger, 13.Keith Jackson, 14.Tyler Hershey, 15.Larry Baker II, 16.Lindsay Barton, 17.Jim Bernheisel, 18.Matt Murphy, 19.Ashley Barrett, 20.Chuck Lewis, 21.Mike Steck, 22.Charlie Hageage, 23.Marvin Winters, DNS – Al Cheney
Bill Bowman Classic Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Late Model Sportsman, 31 Laps, 24 entries (Lap Leaders – Chaz Walls 1-20, Pete Weaver 21-31): 1.Pete Weaver, 2.Chaz Walls, 3.Steve Axtell Jr. (St. Thomas Towing/Checkered Flag Lube Hard Charger), 4.Paul Cursey, 5.Treavor Feathers, 6.Terry Flaherty, 7.Wayne Walls Jr., 8.Rodney Walls, 9.Donnie Farlling, 10.Robby Beall, 11.Cody Lear, 12.John Baker, 13.Fred Harden, 14.Todd Bowersox, 15.Chad Myers, 16.Mike Walls, 17.Tyler Horst, 18.Courtney Shreiner, 19.Elwood Sord, 20.Andy Fries, DSQ- Bruce Kane (Light), DNS - Marvin Winters, Justin Weaver, Scott Palmer
Ernie D’s Pure Stocks, 15 laps, 17 entries (Lap Leaders – Wayne Hawbaker -1, Dave Stouffer Jr. 2-15):1.Dave Stouffer Jr., 2.Bill Ecton Jr., 3.Wayne Hawbaker, 4.Charlie Pensinger, 5.Drew Fitzsimmons, 6.Frank Dibella, 7.Dave Boring (Turner Bowling Centers Hard Charger) 8.Kenny Day, 9.Steve Lowery, 10.Kevin Koontz, 11.Mike Kratovil, 12.Kenny Dillon, 13.Eddie McClellan, DNS – Jimmie Moser, Tony Catlett, Charlie Shearer, Darrin Younker
1st Annual Blue-Gray Towing and Recovery 4 Cylinder Demo Derby – 1.Jim Harshman, 2.John Smith, 3.Travis Kling, 4.Mike Reid, 5.Zach Reid
Article Credit: Bob Vores
Submitted By: Josh Fries