Cool weather does not slow down the hot action at Hilltop
Another big crowd saw 105 race cars in the pits at Hilltop Speedway on a beautiful but cool night that was full of close racing Saturday, April 10.Bryan Casey led the pack of Super Late Models to the green flag and set the pace for the opening three circuits as fourth starting Lance Elson used the extreme high groove to move into second on lap three then blew by Casey on the next lap for the lead. From then on, only caution flags would slow down the Wellsburg, W.Va. driver and his Unique Walls & Ceiling, Competition Sportswear, and Mack’s Inc. No. 17e.
Behind him was a real battle for second as Casey, Dave Hornikel, fast-qualifier Charlie Duncan and second heat winner, Shane McLoughlin went bumper-to-bumper for second place. Following a caution for Cody Smith on lap 12, Casey and Hornikel tapped together in turn two, which allowed both McLoughlin and Duncan to take second and third. As Hornikel used the high side to get by Casey on the next lap, he closed in on Duncan and pulled alongside, and at the flagstand they squeezed together and sent Hornikel into the turn one guardrail, ending his night on the very next lap.
On the restart, McLoughlin tried the low groove to challenge Elson for the top spot but Elson was dialed in with high groove and won by a straightaway. Tenth starting Cody Parker came on strong late in the race to take third from Duncan with two laps to go as Casey hung on to fifth. JR Gentry won the first heat.
Jesse Wisecarver topped the score sheets for the first 17 laps of the Snyder Brothers Tri State Modified main and, like the Late Models, action was fast and furious behind him.
Dash winner, Gary Clark, Larry Kugel, George Lee and quick timer Kevin Morehouse were slicing and dicing for the top five. Morehouse would pass Lee on lap 12 for third and then take second from Kugel two circuits later. A caution flag for debris with four laps to go bunched the pack together.
On the drop of the green, Hanover’s Morehouse eased by Wisecarver to take the lead and then sprint away with his Rice Excavating, Big ‘O’ Refuse, and Sam’s Used Cars No. 28 for his third win of the year. Wisecarver held off Kugel for second with Clark and Lee rounding out the top five. Aaron Phillis and Larry Holbrook topped the heat races.
Shreve’s Justin Patterson won the first heat to set on the pole of the Street Stock feature and the Holmes Tire, Tom’s Salvage and Bob Eicholtz Engines No. 83 would go flag-to-flag to notch his second win of 2010. John Wilson kept the pressure on Patterson all race long but the second heat winner could never make a strong run for the lead. A three car battle for third between Jason Hinton, Kenny Daugherty Jr. and Jimmy Smith in the last half of the race ended with them finishing in that order.
Two-time winner Rolly Heyder was the leader for the first two laps of the Circle Track Mini Trucks, but after that it was all Jerry Gardner up front. The Sunbury driver and his Your Friendly Neighborhood Mechanic No. 58 would hold off Kyle Cline for his first win this year as Kevin Potts slipped past Heyder with two laps to go for third and Kenny Duncan collected fifth. John Large and Gardner won the heats.
Millersburg’s Dale Beckett looked unbeatable in the Holmes Tire Mini Stocks as the Fortune Signs, Beckett Auto Sales and Holmes Tire No. 4 went flag-to-flag for his third win of the season. Ernest Fortune passed Kyle Moore for second at the halfway mark. Kevin Markey took fourth as Brad Lawhorn moved from starting 10th to finish fifth. Moore, Beckett, and Robert Smith captured the heat wins with Brad Hensel claiming the last-chance victory.
Levi Bowen and Dillyn Wyer led at times in the Mini Wedge feature but it was Shelby Watson holding the checkered flag at the end. Wyer finished second with Cole Lillibridge, Bowen and Tanner Johnson filling out the top five. Watson and Tanner Johnson were the heat winners.
Saturday, April 17, will have the Sprint Cars in for the first time this year, with the Super Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and the Mini Wedges also on the racing card.
The Mini Trucks take the night off at Hilltop Speedway. Gates open at 4 p.m., Hot Laps at 6 p.m. and the green flag drops at 7:30 p.m.