Gentry generates first Hilltop Speedway late model victory
June 28, 2012
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JR Gentry has been knocking on the door of victory lane at Hilltop Speedway the last couple of seasons and has two second-place finishes this year, but Saturday night he was finally able to knock the door down to victory lane as the popular Wooster driver went flag to flag for his first win at Hilltop in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Ryan Markham and Gentry won the heats to start on the front row of the Holmes Tire Late Model feature with Gentry popping into the lead at the drop of the green. The caution flew on lap two when fast qualifier George Lee tagged the turn one wall, ending his night. As the green flag reappeared, Markham and dash winner Mark Gardiner dueled for second behind Gentry and that would last until lap nine when Markham went high in turn three and banged the wall to end his night two laps later. Gentry and his El Campensino Restaurant, Pitt Stop Auto Clinic, and Quality Fiberglass #14 started to open a gap from Gardiner as Charlie Duncan started to pressure Gardiner for second as Eric Smitley had pulled into fourth from his ninth starting position as Brad Malcuit, Aaron Phillis and Wayne Maffett Jr. raced for fifth. With five laps to go, Gardiner made contact with a lapped car and was sent to the end of the line, putting Duncan in second. Using the high groove, Gentry held Duncan at bay the last five laps for the win.
It was deja vu for Nashports Jimmy Smith in the Raceday Photos Modified main as for the second week in a row he won a heat race to start on the front row with fellow heat winner Vic Hottinger and once again Smith powered into the lead and led all the way for his second win in a row aboard the Service Welding and B&G Painting #280. Hottinger would pester Smith for 18 laps but could never wrestle the lead away from Smith.
Heat winners Kyle Moore and Kenny Daughriety Jr. set the pace for the Street Stock feature with Moore taking the lead for the first two laps as Miamisburgs Brandon Gardner moved into second with Jeremy Dickerson testing Daughriety Jr. for third. Dickerson brought out the caution on lap four after spinning as Gardner had just claimed the lead. Daughriety Jr. moved back into second on the restart as Brandon Craver and Joe Spearman trailed. A caution with seven to go for Bob Fry bunched the field up and Dickerson, who had moved back into the top five, was charged with a jump start at the end of the race as it went non-stop from that point. For Gardner and the Schaeffer Oil, Rowtac, and GLR #g27, it was the fourth win of the year and his 36th career victory at Hilltop. Daughriety Jr. finished second, followed by Craver and Dickerson, after being penalized two places for the jump start, and Spearman.
Applecreeks Gary Hensel Jr. and his McKenzie Concrete, Albert Miller Garage Doors, and Lechevale Farms #28h led all the way to post his second win of the season in the Mini Stock Main. It was not an easy race to win for Hensel Jr. as Jerry Adkins applied early pressure and then Terry Adkins put the heat on late in the race but could never get by.
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