HAGERSTOWN, Md. (Aug. 9) — After months of struggles at Hagerstown Speedway, Frankie Plessinger of Big Cove Tannery, Pa., decided to get a new car. It didn't take him long to get his new Rocket Chassis up to speed as he captured the 28th Annual Shorty Bowers-Bull Durham Championship in the 2-day-old car. Plessinger's first Hagerstown victory since March 5, 2006, made him the 13th Late Model winner at the historic half-mile oval this season.

Plessinger took the lead from Mike Lupfer on the fifth lap and went on to hold off 12th-starting Andy Anderson in the 40-lap special event to earn $2,500. “This car is No. 1 now,” Plessinger said. “The car was flawless, it was fun to drive. I saw Andy got into second and knew he started back a ways, then (J.T.) Spence had a flat tire or something. They’re all tough guys to race with. It’s just good to run good here again.”

Lupfer and Plessinger began on the front row as Lupfer took command, but the start was recalled when Billy Wampler backed into the turn-one fence. Lupfer again took over with Plessinger and Brent Smith chasing him. Several cars got together on lap three as Lupfer led another lap on the restart until Plessinger stood on the gas around the top side of turns three and four to exit with the lead on lap five.

Plessinger began to stretch his lead while Lupfer fell into the clutches of J.T. Spence, who took the second position on lap 14 while Plessinger was 2.9 seconds ahead. Roy Deese Jr. followed into third the next lap while Kirk Ryan Jr. then took fourth on the 16th circuit. Plessinger was comfortable ahead of Spence at the halfway mark.

On the 28th circuit, Ryan’s car spewed water on the track to regroup the field. Spence had a tire going down, but he stayed on the track. On the restart, Anderson, who took over fourth for the restart, put his car on the edge and blasted past Deese and Spence to grab second. He stayed within a second of Plessinger but settled for second at the checkered flag.

“I have to thank Curt Hershey for building good motors, Robbie Allen and Rocket Chassis and dad,” Plessinger said. “I was actually loose getting in, but I could pick the throttle back up and the car would just take right off.”

28th annual Shorty Bowers-Bull Durham Championship: (1) Frankie Plessinger, (2) Andy Anderson, (3) Roy Deese Jr., (4) J.T. Spence, (5) Marvin Winters, (6) Scott LeBarron, (7) Nathan Durboraw, (8) Mike Lupfer, (9) Steve Axtell, (10) Brian Booze, (11) Brent Smith, (12) Larry Baer, (13) Kirk Ryan Jr., (14) Jim Yoder, (15) Ronnie DeHaven Jr., (16) D.J. Troutman, (17) Ray Kable Jr., (18) Paul Crowl, (19) Harold Dorsey, (20) Billy Wampler.