Weekly Notebook presented by FK Rod Ends
Notes: Spence nabs sixth Winchester victory
J.T. Spence enjoys victory lane. (Travis Trussell)
Hometown driver J.T. Spence continued his winning ways at Winchester (Va.) Speedway on Aug. 31 with a 35-lap victory in the unsanctioned Red Nininger Memorial.
Spence and C.S. Fitzgerald shared the front row for the start of the event, with Spence gaining the race lead as the field raced into turn one. With Spence out front, sixth-starting Roy Deese Jr. was on the move as he raced his way to second by the eighth lap. | Weekly results
Spence and Deese went on to entertain the crowd with a duel the rest of the way, and Spence cam out on top for a $3,000 payday and his sixth victory of the season.
“It’s an honor to win this race.” Spence said. “This win was a team effort and I wouldn’t be standing here without my family, the crew and all the sponsors.”
Fitzgerald was third with D.J. Myers and Jeremy Miller rounded out the top five. — Doug Watson
Weekly highlights
• Earning his 33rd victory at Potomac Speedway, David Williams of Charlotte Hall, Md., picked up $2,000 Sept. 1 with a victory in the Ronnie McBee Memorial in Budds Creek, Md.
• In the Super Late Model finale of the Sam Pugh Extravaganza, Mark Mears of Decatur, Ala., captured $3,000 on Sept. 1 at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn. Todd Morrow of East Ridge, Tenn., swept both nights of Limited Late Model action.
• At Dubuque (Iowa) Speedway’s Tri-Track Challenge, Dan Shelliam of Hazel Green, Wis., overtook Andy Eckrich on the 43rd of 50 laps Sept. 1 and grabbed a $2,000 victory for IMCA Late Models.
• Winning the Ted Collins Memorial, Gary Christian of Broken Bow, Okla., picked up $2,000 on Sept. 1 at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, Ind., outrunning Zak Blackwood and track points leader Steve Barnett.
• In a thriller at Fairbury (Ill.) American Legion Speedway, Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., held off Bobby Pierce for a $3,000 victory on Aug. 31.
• Jason Deal of Copperhill, Tenn., earned $1,500 for a Labor Day victory at Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown, N.C.
• In Gillette (Wyo.) Thunder Speedway’s East-West Clash finale, David McDonald of Huron, S.D., topped Kent Arment for a $1,500 payday on Sept. 1.
• In a big weekend at 191 Speedway in Campton, Ky., Derek Fisher and Shannon Thornsberry earned $4,500 apiece for victories in the Swift Silver Mine 40 (Aug. 30) and the Wince Mayabb Memorial (Sept. 1).
• At Marion Center (Pa.) Speedway on Aug. 31, Matt Gaston of Rochester Mills, Pa., led all 25 laps of the caution-free feature to wrap up the track title.
• Charlie Sandercock of Belleville, Ontario, had a two-victory weekend in Crate Late Model action with an Aug. 30 triumph at Can-Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, N.Y., and a Sept. 1 victory at Brighton (Ontario) Speedway.
Weekly points chases
UMP DIRTcar (Super Late Models): Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., is trying to hang on in the title chase with Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., closing in. Sheppard has 2,464 points through Aug. 25 with Pierce at 2,383, just 81 points behind. Sheppard’s lead will get a boost from a pair of Labor Day weekend victories.
UMP DIRTcar (Crate Late Models): Aaron Heck of Mount Vernon, Ill., holds a 10-point margin on Nick Lyons of Centralia, Ill., (1,491-1,481) in races through Aug. 25.
IMCA: Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa, officially wrapped up the weekly crown last week. He finished with 16 weekly victories and 815 points, topping two-time champ Todd Cooney of Des Moines, Iowa (802 points), who was runner-up for the third consecutive season.
WISSOTA: In events through Aug. 25, Dustin Strand of Grand Forks, N.D., has a one-point edge on Zach Johnson of Kensington, Minn. (1,575-1,574). Kyle Peterlin of Hibbing, Minn., lingers 11 points behind Strand.
WDLMA: Tim Buhler of Glenbuelah, Wis., has a solid lead with 326 points with Russ Scheffler of Waukesha, Wis. (275) and Justin Schmidt of Cleveland, Wis. (271) his closest pursuers.
AMRA: Reigning champ Chris Garnes of Evans, W.Va., has a 19-point margin on Ronnie Mayle of Chesterhill, Ohio (1,180-1,161).
ULMA: With seven events remaining, Jason Russell of Henley, Mo., is closing in on his second straight crown with the Missouri-based organization. After an Aug. 30 victory at Callaway Raceway he’s got 1,802 points to lead Vance Wilson (1,726) and rookie Payton Looney (1,722).
NeSmith Chevrolet Series: With an Aug. 31 victory at St. Tammany Raceway in Lacombe, La., Noah Daspit of Kiln, Miss., clinched the Old Man’s Garage-sponsored weekly crown. He has a chance to become the first driver in organization history to have a perfect 700-point season.
RUSH: The battle continues between rivals Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., and Mike Pegher Jr., of Wexford, Pa. Blair has 1,668 points while Pegher stands at 1,658.
SECA: Just 23 points separate the top six with Trent Ivey of Union, S.C., holding a three-point lead on Furman Parton of Union Mills, S.C., 525-522.
Upcoming weekly specials
Among non-touring and independent special events at dirt tracks around the country for the upcoming weekend:
Potomac Speedway, Budds Creek, Md. (Sept. 6): The $2,000-to-win Gene Van Meter Memorial for Super Late Models highlights the six-division card on Deane Guy Masonry Night.
Gallatin Speedway, Belgrade, Mont. (Sept. 6): The opener of the two-night Supernationals is highlighted by Late Models. Sprint cars top Saturday's racing card.
Tri-City Motor Speedway, Auburn, Mich. (Sept. 6-7): The third annual Battle by the Bay includes two nights of racing with unsanctioned Late Models battling for a $1,513-to-win purse on Saturday.
Amsoil Speedway, Superior, Wis. (Sept. 6-7): The Northern Nationals pay $2,500-to-win for WISSOTA-sanctioned Late Models with complete programs each night.
Caney Valley Speedway, Caney, Kan. (Sept. 7): The fourth annual James House Memorial pays $2,566-to-win and $300-to-start for DIRTcar-sanctioned Late Models.
East Bay Raceway Park, Gibsonton, Fla. (Sept. 7): The Scott Thompson Memorial pays $3,800-to-win for the Late Model division.
