Oliver Outlasts Conley, Boggs Bags Reno Cash
9 min read
By Scott Wolfe
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-With nearly 100 cars in the pits and a great crowd on hand, the 7th Annual Dan Reno Memorial at Atomic Speedway went down in the history books as a huge, huge success. Claiming the 36-lap Modified win as veteran racer Jackie Boggs, Grayson, Kentucky; while Greggie Oliver, Jackson, Ohio grabbed the 22 lap Late Model main in dramatic fashion. Kory Crabtree claimed his first-ever Atomic feature in the 410 sprints, and Jason Cottrill claimed his second straight Sport Mod main.
Jackie Boggs, Dan Reno’s favorite driver, and Emily Jordan, carrying the #22 in lieu of her usual #13e carried the American flag for the National Anthem sung by 9-year-old Sophie Simonton.
Dan Reno drove the number 22 modified and street stock at tracks in southern Ohio from 2004 until his death in late 2009 at the age of 38. Reno left this world after injuries suffered in an ATV accident. The 22’s are in memory of Dan’s racing number 22.
Boggs jumped into the early lead over John Burdette and Kenny Johnson in what proved to be a thrilling start for the 36-lap event. Challenged early, Boggs fought off his foes with precision timing and a heavy right foot. Boggs was slowed only by a lap eight caution, then raced 28 –straight green flag laps to the $2,222 win.
While Burdette fended off Johnson, then Shawn Holliday, Boggs began to stretch out a half-straight away lead. Jess Hartman, Shawn Holliday, and Erick Berry were early challengers along with Greggie Oliver. Burdette ran a solid second, but with Boggs getting faster with each lap, Burdette fell to a full straight-away deficit at the finish.
Racin’ Jason Montgomery masterminded a late charge from 14th to 4th to earn hard charger honors. Johnson was shuffled back to 5th place while Dave Pinkerton, Brett Kennard, and Adam Colley had stellar runs. Boggs’ Swartz/Dargy Engines/Dave Jamison-owned D4J managed to run 17:78 laps on laps 25 and 26 but each lap charged on to faster times amid heavy lapped traffic. His last lap was a 17:10 which Boggs explained in victory lane as. “I don’t cheat on my tires. I don’t treat my tires and junk them. This is just proof your tires can come alive on their own late in the race when you need them.”
Boggs said, “We adjusted the car a little from the heat because we figured it would dry out some. The car worked pretty good, but still has some bugs we have to iron out. Never-the-less it’s good to come out and honor Dan Reno, to win this race in his memory. Thanks for all the support everyone puts into this race.”
Boggs also won the bonus bucks for winning the Dash and Feature from Waverly Tire and also received a new Hoosier Tire from C & M Racing Equipment for leading the 22nd lap.
Rounding out the top ten behind Boggs, were John Burdette, Shawn Holliday, Jason Montgomery, Kenny Johnson, Dave Fireball Pinkerton, Jess Hartman, Brett Kennard, Greggie Oliver, and Adam Colley.
While Boggs waltzed to the win in the Modifieds, Greggie Oliver had to work for the win in the Late Model division. Veteran Delmas Conley, winning two of the first four races in 2015 jumped into the early lead over son Rod “Hot Rod” Conley and Mark Frazier. At one point it was a Conley-Conley-Conley freight train roaring down the tracks in the first three positions, then disaster almost struck when Delmas Conley and a lapped car made contact spinning the veteran around and collecting Rod Conley, who ran over the nose of the Staker car and shot high into the air.
Both Conley’s kept going so on the reversion back to the last scored lap, Delmas resumed the lead. Moments early Greggie Oliver had taken over third from J.T. Conley after about a ten-lap door-to-door battle. Jeremy Berwanger, the Murray City Bandit, continued his blitz from the back into the top five, ousting Jason Montgomery and Chris Shannon for the position.
The caution flew on lap 15 making it a seven-lap dash to the finish. In a couple laps Oliver had overtaken Rod Conley, however, Rod fought back in what was nearly a three-wide battle among the leaders. Both Oliver and Delmas Conley began to pull away just as Berwanger moved into third.
For five hard-paced laps to the finish, Oliver and Conley went head-to-head with Oliver making a bid for the lead on lap 19. Conley fought back and everyone in attendance expected a race-winning slide job from the crafty veteran. Oliver’s 2006 Rocket with Doc Moss power was so hooked up on the bottom that Conley couldn’t pull off the set-up move allowing Oliver to storm on to victory.
Behind the winning Oliver, were Delmas Conley, Jeremy Berwanger, Rod Conley, Jason Montgomery, Chris Shannon, Mark Frazier, Brian Eaton, Joe Whitt, and Jay Helton.
“It all came down to tires,” said Oliver. “My brother and I talked about using a harder compound, but we went softer and made the right choice. Fortunately, I was able to find some moisture on the bottom and there the car really hooked up.”
“It was fun to go out there and race hard with Delmas. Once you get by, you know he’s still back there somewhere, so I just tried to find something extra to get the job done. I’d like to thank everyone who comes out here to support us and especially to support the Reno family for this race.”
The sprint race was a bit of a sleeper for the top spot as second generation driver Kory Crabtree waltzed into the sunset for his first-ever Atomic Speedway win. Crabtree and Jimmy Nier battled early, but Crabtree turned on the after-burners and streaked to a healthy lead.
Kane bagged Nier then began the chase for Crabtree’s Maxim/Charlie Fisher Engines #60. Kane closed the gap considerably, but Crabtree found what he needed way down low on the racing surface.
“I told dad after the heat that the car wouldn’t go high, and we’d probably have to go to the bottom. He and Tony (Rawlins) set it up for the low groove and it really hooked up down there.”
The most excitement came back in the pack for position. Several two or three-wide battles developed. Dave Dickson was strong all night long, blitzing past Nier and Ryan Myers late in the race. Mike Terry, who had spun early in the race was charging off the tail to a top ten finish. Even more impressive was the 11th to 3rd place run from Jimmy Stinson.
Stinson stormed toward the front and nearly ran down Kane for second, earning hard charger honors along the way. Ryan Broughton, Wes McGlumphy, and Brandon Conkle had good runs picking up three, four, and five positions respectively on the night.
Behind Crabtree and rounding out the top ten were Todd Kane, Jimmy Stinson, Dave Dickson, Jimmy Nier, Ryan Broughton, Ryan Myers, Ronnie Blair, Mike Terry, Jr., and Wes McGlumphy.
“It’s great to be here in victory lane! We’ve worked hard to get here and wow, it’s a great feeling,” said Crabtree. “My contacts were falling out, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. Thanks to everyone for their support of this event and for staying around to watch the sprints.”
Jason Cottrill claimed his second win in a row, but it wasn’t easy. Father-in-law Bob Crace, Jr., the new track record holder, challenged Cottrill several times in the middle portions of the event, but out of nowhere came a high-flying Mitchell Fields. Fields made Crace his prey, then sought the leader Cottrill.
Fields ran into the turns hard under Cottrill’s Lightning/Crace-powered Chevy and actually edged ahead on several occasions, especially coming out of four. Cottrill had been smooth and fast all-night, but as the young victor put it, “My tires started going away, and maybe I had a little bit of the nerves.”
Cottrill concluded, “I saw him run in beside me and thought, I’m not going to lose this one now. Thanks to all the fans at stayed and thanks to Brad (owner Brad McCown) for sticking with this sport mod class. It’s an affordable form of racing for the working guy and it has been good for us.”
Next week remember the Bob Crace, Sr. Memorial, one of many big races in the month of May….the Month of Money at Atomic Speedway.
Coming Saturday May 9th is the Bob Crace, Sr. Memorial featuring AMRA Late Models $3,023 to win, AMRA Modifieds $1,023 to win and Sport Mods $523 to win plus Enduro’s.
For more Atomic Speedway information, please call 740-703-9749 or visit << www.atomicspeedway.net >> or www.facebook.com/AtomicSpeedway
Atomic is located 12 miles South of Chillicothe, Ohio off SR 23, two miles out Blain Highway between Chillicothe, Ohio and Waverly, Ohio at Alma.
7th Annual Dan Reno Memorial
The Summary: Atomic Speedway, May 2, 2015
Pine Tree Towing and Recovery 410 Sprint Cars (20)
Fast Time: Ryan Myers 12:364
Heat One: Kory Crabtree, Mike Terry, Jr., Ryan Myers, Taylor Ferns, Randy Fink, Mark Imler, Eric Martin
Heat Two: Jimmy Nier, Ron Blair, Dave Dickson, Jimmy Stinson, Wes McGlumphy, Brandon Conkle
Heat Three: Todd Kane, Brandy Bower, Ryan Broughton, Bryan Nuckles, Nate Reeser, John Shewbrooks
Feature: Kory Crabtree, Todd Kane, Jimmy Stinson, Dave Dickson, Jimmy Nier, Ryan Broughton, Ryan Myers, Ronnie Blair, Mike Terry, Jr., Wes McGlumphy, Brandy Bower, Brandon Conkle, Bryan Nuckles, Randy Fink, Mark Imler, John Shewbrooks, Taylor Ferns, Eric Martin, Nate Reeser, Mark Coleman DNS
Hard Charger: Jimmy Stinson 11th to 3rd
Precision Grading AMRA Modifieds (32)
Thomas Gas Services Fast Time: Shawn Holliday 15:261
Tommy Brewster Auctioneer and Real Estate Dash: Jackie Boggs, John Burdette, Kenny Johnson, Shawn Holliday, Erick Berry , Jess Hartman
Heat One: Donnie Miller, Dave Pinkerton, Brett Kennard, Mike Conkle, Dave Warnock, Luke Jordan
Heat Two: Brian Whiteman, Jeff Votaw, Jason Montgomery, Tim Tribby, Seth Daniels, Gary Park, Rick Shutts, Mike McPherson, Trevor Chaney.
Heat Three: Dave Jamison, Greggie Oliver, Brian Skaggs, Adam Colley, Jimmy Lennex, Aaron Pendleton, Cody Faulk.
B-Main: Mike Conkle, Tim Tribby, Dave Warnock Adam Colley, Jimmy Lennex, Seth Daniels, Mike McPherson, Gary Park, R.J. Otto, Cody Faulk, Rick Shutts, Aaron Pendleton
Feature: Jackie Boggs, John Burdette, Shawn Holliday, Jason Montgomery, Kenny Johnson, Dave Fireball Pinkerton, Jess Hartman, Brett Kennard, Greggie Oliver, Adam Colley, Brian Skaggs, Erick Berry, Dave Warnock, Donnie Miller, Brian Whiteman, Jimmy Lennex, Mike Conkle, Dave Jamison, Tim Tribby, Jeff Votaw
Swartz Race Cars Hard Charger: Jason Montgomery 14th to 4th
22nd Fast Qualifier Award by Affordable Overhead Doors: Davey Warnock
22nd car through the gate by Yeley Builders: Seth Daniels
803Fire.com Late Models (21)
Thomas Gas Services Fast Time: Jason Montgomery 14:078
McDowell Farm Dash: Delmas Conley, J.T. Conley, Mark Frazier, Rod Conley, Kevin Wagner, Jason Montgomery
Heat One: Greggie Oliver, Chris Shannon, Brian Eaton, Ronnie Whitt, Dennis Little, Joe Buskirk, Tommy Mossbarger, Darren Kattine
Heat Two: Jay Helton, Jeremy Berwanger, Mick Sansom, Joe Whitt, Matt Melvin, David Liles, Billy Staker
Feature: Greggie Oliver, Delmas Conley, Jeremy Berwanger, Rod Conley, Jason Montgomery, Chris Shannon, Mark Frazier, Brian Eaton, Joe Whitt, Jay Helton, Mick Sansom, Joe Buskirk, Matt Melvin, Dennis Little, Ronnie Whitt, J.T.Conley, Daniel Kattine, David Liles, Billy Staker, Tommy Mossbarger, Kevin Wagner.
Jordan Heating and Cooling Hard Charger: Jeremy Berwanger 10th to 3rd
C & M Racing Equipment Sport Mods (23)
Fast Time: Bob Crace, Jr. 16:635 New Track Record
Heat One: Bob Crace, Jr., Harrison Hall, Mitchell Fields, Derek Davidson Rob Stambaugh, Glenn Keaton, Randy Taylor, John Cuckler
Heat Two: Jason Cottrill, Brian Moore, Mike Brust, Rick Neace, Tony Seibert, Harold Meadows, Allen Gully
Heat Three: Emily Jordan, Steve Noble, A.J. Ganimo, Jeff Gillman, Jay Dunaway, Keith Shanks, Dwayne Hurley
Feature: Jason Cottrill, Mitchell Fields, Bob Crace, Jr., Emily Jordan, Jeff Gillman, Steve Noble, A.J. Ganimo, Mike Brust, Derek Davidson, Harold Meadows, Tony Seibert, Keith Shanks, Jay Dunaway, Glenn Keaton , Harrison Hall, Brian Moore, Randy Taylor, Dwayne Hurley, Rick Neace, Rob Stambaugh, Allen Gully, John Cuckler
Reno and Sons Lawn Care Hard Charger : Jeff Gillman
Longest Tow by Bradley Racing Apparel : A.J. Ganimo,
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