Crabtree Claims First at Wayne County
April 25, 2009

Orrville OH - A sure sign dirt track racing is not only alive and well, but thriving in Ohio is the wealth of young talent that has recently taken center stage at Wayne County Speedway. Racing alongside some of the most well known names in the business, rising stars such as Ryan Eddleblute, Sheldon Haudenschild, Broc Martin, and Bryce Dickson are making their highly competitive presence well known. At only fifteen years old Kory Crabtree of London Ohio has broken into the next level by scoring his first feature win at WCS over veterans Troy Vaccaro, Tim Hunter, and Aaron Middaugh. Hunter timed in fastest while Danny Mumaw won the heat, but it was Cory Crabtree who led flag to flag in both the fast dash and main event. Although passing was at a premium on the slicked over racetrack, the AMSOIL sponsored 410 Sprinter found enough traction during the race to carry both front wheels off the ground at high speeds down the stretch.

In the Late Models, Corey Conley made it two in row at Wayne County; the Wellsburg WV driver passed David Liles early in the running and was never seriously challenged on his way to victory lane. Highlights of the race include an exciting high and low battle between Ryan Markham and Mark Gardiner battling for sixth, Jason Flory and Jeff Esbenshade battling into the top ten, and the relentless pressure Doug Drown applied to Rick Bond to fill the top five. Flory and Gardiner were both heat winners while Liles scored an impressive fast dash. As always, no shortage of action during the Pure Stock feature. Opening laps saw Brandon Gardner and Chad Craver side by side when a rare slip in turn four allowed Brad Channell to assume a short lived lead as Gardner kept momentum and retakes the lead by turn two. Several cautions kept the field close but Gardner held on for the win. Gardner also claimed fast time and the dash win while Travis Menshing won the heat.

A greatly improved field of Cruisers turned out for the races Saturday night and Mason Radcliff came prepared to take home the money. Radcliff outran Charlie Dawson to score the heat win but found the main event much more of a challenge. Starting pole alongside last weeks feature winner, Radcliff and Bob Fry battled side by side for several laps when a caution brought the field back together, when the green flag waved Mike Amstutz jumped into the mix to make a three way battle for the lead. At half way Steve Hinton picks up the pace and passes Dawson for fourth. With one to go Fry held a slight lead but Radcliff applied just enough bumper to loosen him up, take the point and the win. A stronger field of Mini Stocks made Chase Alexander work a little harder but still managed both his heat and the main event wins. Dale Beckett Jr. earned outside pole by winning his heat and took the main event green flag side by side until an early crash collected several cars. Further back, Brad Hensel and Jordan James exchanged blows and soon caught the front runners. James secured third position and began work on Beckett, side by side at the white flag it was James on the inside to make the pass for second down the backstretch. Alexander the win, James, Beckett, Hensel and Brian Dawson the top five. A large crowd stayed to the end proving Wayne County Speedway race fans are the best anywhere, all racing was complete by 10:30. Next Saturday “The Chase” continues!


BEAVER PETROLEUM LATE MODELS
Top Qualifier: Wayne Maffett Jr.19.985
1st Heat: Jason Flory, Clint Coffman, Chester Elliott
2nd Heat: Mark Gardiner, Todd Werntz, Jeff Esbenshade
Dash: David Liles, Corey Conley, Wayne Maffett Jr.,
Rick Bond, Ryan Markham, Doug Drown
B Main: Mike Bores, Thomas Baker, Dave Wirt, Kristen Flory,
JR Gentry, Jeremy Canada, Chad Hamilton
Feature: Conley, Liles, Maffett, Bond, Drown, Gardiner, Markham,
Coffman, Jason Flory, Esbenshade, Ryan Eddleblute, DJ Cline,
Todd Werntz, Elliott, Kristen Flory, Wirt, Baker

FISHER PERFORMANCE SPRINTS
Top Qualifier: Tim Hunter 18.279
1st Heat: Danny Mumaw, Aaron Middaugh, Aaron Higgins
Dash: Kory Crabtree, Troy Vaccaro, Broc Martin,
Tim Hunter, Bryce Dickson Josh Davis
Feature: Crabtree, Vaccaro, Hunter, Middaugh, Higgins, Mumaw,
Fred Staats, Mike Burkin, Sheldon Haudenschild, Jason Dollick,
Dickson, Gary Feller, Zach Ames, Martin, Davis, Jim Nicely

HOOSIER TIRE MID ATLANTIC PURE STOCKS
Top Qualifier: Brandon Gardner 22.217
1st Heat: Travis Menshing, Jeremy Lynch, Paul Whitten
Dash: Brandon Gardner, Chad Craver, Brad Channell,
Rich Frame, Troy Anderson, Justin Patterson
Feature: Gardner, Channell, Craver, Anderson, Menshing,
Jeremy Dickerson, Lynch, Chris Albright, Whitten, Frame

FEDERATED AUTO PARTS MINI STOCKS
1st Heat: Chase Alexander, Jordan James, JR Carpenter
2nd Heat: Dale Beckett Jr., Brad Hensel, Brian Dawson
Feature: Alexander, James, Beckett, Hensel, Dawson, Cody Duncan,
Robin House, Steve Foley, Brad Lawton, Mitchell Ling

YOUR NAME HERE CRUISERS
1st Heat: Mason Radcliff, Bob Fry, Charlie Dawson
Feature: Radcliff, Dawson, Fry, Mike Amstutz, Steve Hinton Jr., Dawson,
George Gaskins, Robby Myers, Bryan Baker Jr.

Good run David Liles.