Rutherford and Vincent turn OOM Hilltop opener into a thrill ride
By Dave Mast
June 20, 2012
714
Jesse Rutherford turned Hilltop Speedway into his own personal playground and ran away from the field. Brian Vincent eked out a win at the wire. It was all part of the fun of Ohio Outlaw Motorsports (OOM) action, which roared into Millersburg on Friday, June 15.
Ohio Outlaw Motorsports kicked off the 2012 season Friday night, bringing flat track motorcycles, quads and dwarf cars to the high banks of Hilltop Speedway, south of Millersburg. The OOM opener was also round three of the 15-event Ohio Outlaw Flat Track State Championship Series, which travels to tracks varying from short tracks, TT scrambles, stock car tracks and fairgrounds half-miles.
Four divisions are awarded points, including Outlaw Pit Bike, Outlaw 450 Quad, Money Bike and Money Quad, with the top 10 in each division honored at a banquet at the conclusion of the racing season.
Two heats set the field for the Outlaw 450 Quad feature. Leading with two laps remaining in the first heat, an electrical malfunction forced Millersburgs Marvin Troyer to pull his Precision Poured Walls sponsored Honda to the infield, and Swantons Cory Detrich was there to capitalize and take the win on an FSR/Detrich Racing Honda. All six laps of the second heat were led by Mt. Vernons Jesse Rutherford, while Brandon Gregory of Swanton held off Woosters BJ Deem to finish second. The 10-lap 450 Quad feature had defending division champion Kelly Donaugh of Butler rocketing off the line, riding a Highline Racing Ministries Suzuki, but it was Rutherford out front at the exit of turn two.
Although he started from the second row, Troyer was quick to challenge Donaugh for second and took the position on lap three. Rutherford mastered the top side of the high banks, opening a nearly full straightaway lead on the All Outdoors Honda by the halfway point. Troyer broke free of a third-place battle, where Donaugh was passed by Detrich on lap eight, but there was no catching Rutherford, who took the win followed by Troyer, Detrich and Donaugh.
The Money Quad division also began the evening with two heats, where Marvin Troyer fared better, winning the first heat in front of Cory Detrich and Kelly Donaugh. Jesse Rutherford put the All Outdoors Honda back on the top side, winning the second heat in front of the TARRAT Motorsports Honda of Millersburgs Travis Raber and the Suzuki of Swantons Brandon Gregory. The 12-lap Money Quad feature was again another great start for Kelly Donaugh through the middle of the turns, but the blistering pace of Rutherford on the top side had his Honda out front by three quad lengths at the end of lap one. Troyer moved to second down the back stretch on lap two, but Rutherfords lead increased with every lap. Detrich was on the move, passing Donaugh on lap three and then Coshoctons Eugene Hosfelt was in the mix, riding an Exodus Cycles/Mac Oil Honda. Hosfelt began to pressure Detrich for third, and then Detrich passed Troyer for second on lap nine, but Hosfelt was unable to advance further. At the checkers, Rutherford led by nearly half the speedway, with Detrich finishing second, followed by Troyer and Hosfelt.
Mansfields Hunter Edwards put his Honda Powersports of Troy/UMD Automated Systems Honda in victory lane for the first heat race in the Money Bike division. Every lap of the second heat race was led by Dalton Winkler of Freeland, Md., on a Scott Powersports Honda. Crestons Joe Pittman led the pack into turn one at the start of the 12-lap Money Bike feature, followed by Brian Vincent, Winkler and Alex Kitts of Marion. As the field crowded into turn three, Hunter Edwards squeezed to the top side and grabbed the lead out of turn four. Edwards lead the field for the first five laps, with Winkler and Vincent giving chase until a rider down in turn three brought out the red flag. Winkler was charged with jumping the single file restart, and was sent to the tail as the field lined for a second attempt to finish the event.
His Honda working well on the high side, Edwards held the point in front of Vincent and Kitts, while Winkler was able to slice back up through the field, taking third from Kitts on lap eight. With scarce daylight between the front four as the laps wound down, the race reached boiling point just past the white flag as Windhams Brian Vincent squeaked past Edwards for the lead at the exit of turn two. Fans held their breath as the leaders blasted into turn three for the final time, where Edwards mounted a final bid for the win, but it was Vincent at the stripe, followed by Edwards, Winkler and Kitts.
Shelbys Dusty Vestal continued to increase his points lead, winning the Outlaw Pit Bike feature on a Redline Motorsports Honda, with defending champion AnnMarie Donaugh of Butler taking second on a Highline Racing Ministries Yamaha.
The Money Bike and Money Quad divisions will next race for points at the Circleville half-mile, during the Pickaway County Fair. The next Ohio Outlaw Motorsports race at Hilltop Speedway will be Friday night, July 6. Additional information is available on the website at ohiooutlawmotorsports.com.
Class winners include: Micro Sprint- Tim Smith, Clinton, Pa., Kasey Kahne Racing; Mods/Dwarf Car- Tim Hawkins, Millersburg; Small Bore Quad- Terry Medley, Clark; Outlaw Pit Bike- Dusty Vestal, Shelby, Redline Motorsports, Honda; Outlaw 450 Quad- Jesse Rutherford, Mt. Vernon, All Outdoors LLC, Honda; 250 Bike- Dylan Almony, Freeland, Md., Honda; 80 Bike- Ian Wolfe, Mansfield, Ashland Muffler House, Suzuki; Senior Bike- Brian Vincent, Windham, Wiseco, Honda; Money Bike- Brian Vincent, Windham, Wiseco, Honda; Money Quad- Jesse Rutherford, Mt. Vernon, All Outdoors LLC, Honda.
Information for the story was provided by Ohio Outlaw Motorsports.
