Wisecarver Is King At Hilltop

(Middlebourne, WV) A brutally cold April continued to show its might when the gates opened on last night’s season opener for the 2013 Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour. Although it didn’t bother a die-hard capacity crowd at the Hilltop Speedway in Millersburg, OH who turned out to watch some of the nation’s best modifieds battle it out to be crowned the 2013 “King of the Hill”. Participant’s from six states including; Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were among another super talented Renegade of Dirt Modified Tour field of forty-two official entries to help get the highly anticipated “Back For More Tour” underway. Race fans were also greeted to an autograph session by NASCAR legend Kenny Schrader who would also participate in his first ever Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour racing action later on in the evening.

When track activity got underway with 2Brothers Motorsports Group Qualifying it was Zanesville, OH’s “Terror” Tanner Wilson who would lay down a blistering lap of 15.627 to claim the overall top spot for the evenings events as well as the extra $100 cash bonus on behalf of 2Brothers Motorsports of St. Clairsville, OH. A joyful Wilson would then draw a zero for the evenings heat race invert procedure. “Wow, I didn’t expect this” stated an excited Wilson. “This is a new car for us, first night out, and being fastest tonight right out of the gate is tremendous,” concluded Wilson.

As the evening moved on, it was four ten lap preliminary heat races that would transfer three cars directly into thirty lap Arizona Sport Shirts A-Main. When Lincoln Electric heat race number one rolled on to the speedway it was “The Outlaw” Jesse Wisecarver piloting the 2Brothers Motorsports car #62 entry who would grab the point and cruise a decisive victory trailed by Tanner Wilson, Travis Dickson, Gary Clark and Rick Aukland. Dirtcast.com heat race number two saw excellent side by side battle for nearly all ten laps between Anthony Kinkade, Deana Groves, and Dave McWilliams. When the checkered waved it would be North Carolina ace Kyle Strickler who would grab the win followed by Kinkade, Groves, McWilliams, and Hilton Eppley. “The Logger” Kevin Morehouse would take the early top spot of ModFury.com heat race number three and never let up, the 28 machine would take a convincing two second win over Rich Michael, NASCAR legend Ken Schrader, Kyle Brown, and Amanda Stiffler. Zanesville, OH’s Jess Hartman would pilot his Bob Pierce #5 race car into the top spot of Integra Shocks heat race number four and go on to lead all ten laps where he was followed to the stripe by Mark Dickson, and the youngster Taylor Cook.

Furthermore it was dirt track hall of famer Rick Aukland who would claim the Bullring Bonanza sponsored B-Main #1 and local favorite the “Stalker” Jonathon Sluka would pilot his 21J to an impressive B-Main #2 win. Union, KY’s Dave McWilliams who was the victim of a front stretch wreck in B-Main #1 would earn the fast time provisional for his 14th overall quick, the 17e of Lance Elson would take the Renegades of Dirt high point provisional to start 20th, and Nathon Loney would receive the 21st starting Hilltop Speedway track provisional to round out the stellar A-Main field.

A beautiful four wide salute displayed to Hilltop Speedway fans the ever so impressive field of open wheel competitors who converged on the 3/8 facility to get the 2013 season started for the Renegades of Dirt. Bad luck continued to plaque the third starting Strickler who lost a spring prior to the green flag and was forced pit-side, before returning to the speedway one lap down. When the $2000 to win, Arizona Sport Shirts A-Main got underway it was Wisecarver and Hartman who would lead them to the green. Three veteran Buckeye State racers would set the early pace for an exciting main event with Wisecarver taking the lead, Hartman and Morehouse in tow. The only caution of the event on lap nine would bunch up the field as a Ken Schrader would get underneath the 2grs of Deana Groves in the close quarters racing action causing Groves to loop it in turn one and two. Groves would have to pit and change a rear flat with Schrader falling to the tail as the responsible party for the caution. Midway through the event is was Jesse Wisecarver who would continue to lead beautifully maneuvering around heavy lap traffic while keeping now second running Morehouse at bay. Meanwhile racing action through the entire field was two and three wide with Conneaut, Ohio’s #92 of Joel Watson quickly advancing through the field where he would go on to finish 9th from his 18th starting position to earn the evenings “Hard Charger”. When the checkered flag fell it was “The Outlaw” Jesse Wisecarver in the #62 2Brothers Motorsports owned machine that would top the field and be crowned “King” followed by Morehouse, Hartman, M. Dickson, and Kinkade your top five.

The dominating win would mark Jesse Wisecarver’s third straight trip to Hilltop Speedway victory lane in 2013 and his second ever Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour win, both at the Hilltop Speedway. However this was just the first time ever the veteran open wheel racer sat in the seat of the 2Brothers Motorsports ‘Outlaw by Shaw’ ride that he will call home at all 2013 Renegade of Dirt Modified Tour races in hopes to challenge for the $5000 tour champions prize. The Genesis Shocks, New Vision Graphics, Lucas Oil, Fast Shaft, American Racer, 2Brothers Motorsports, Mullins Race Engines, and Bert Transmission sponsored Wisecarver would earn the $2000 top prize, as well as the newly sponsored Genesis Racing Shocks “Great Performer of the Night” award, the Wasserbeck Speed Shop $500 certificate award, and perhaps the most important an early “Back For More Tour” points lead.

“First and foremost I can’t thank Junior and Tom Nolan, the 2Brothers team enough for giving me the opportunity to drive this race car for them this year” stated Wisecarver. “The car was really good and we just seem to have this place figured out. It is definitely one of my most favorite tracks and I want to thank everyone at Hilltop Speedway for providing a nice track to race on every week” added Wisecarver. “We will see everyone again tomorrow at West Virginia Motor Speedway, and hopefully at all the Renegade races in 2013” concluded Wisecarver.

Results: April 20th , Hilltop Speedway
Car Count: 42
Fast Qualifier: Tanner Wilson – 15.627

Heat 1: Jesse Wisecarver, Tanner Wilson, Travis Dickson, Gary Clark, Rick Aukland, Scott Stiffler, Kyle Warner, Tim Arnold, Bud Watson, Robin Duston

Heat 2: Kyle Strickler, Anthony Kinkade, Deana Groves, Dave McWilliams, Hilton Eppley, Kevin Miller, Beau Bradley, Vic Hottinger, Justin Hart

Heat 3: Kevin Morehouse, Rich Michael Jr., Ken Schrader, Kyle Brown, Amanda Stiffler, Mark Enos, Lance Elson, Nathon Loney, Nick Cox

“King of the Hill”: Jesse Wisecarver, Kevin Morehouse, Jess Hartman, Mark Dickson, Anthony Kinkade, Tanner Wilson, Travis Dickson, Taylor Cook, Joel Watson, Rick Aukland, Rich Michael, Scott Stiffler, Gary Clark, Nathon Loney, Deana Groves, Kyle Strickler, Ken Schrader, Lance Elson, Kyle Brown, Dave McWilliams