Conley and Wisecarver Pick Up Hilltop Season Opener Wins

After many late nights in the garage, one could not have asked for a better day for the season opener at Hilltop Speedway, Millersburg. With the grand stands packed and 100 cars filling the pits, racing action was underway for the first time of the 2016 season.

First to hit the track was the Holmes Tire late models with a field of 19. Fast qualifier for the division was Craig Wolford with a time of 14.601. Heat race winners were John Wyer and Ty Myers, while Shane McLoughlin picked up the dash win setting him on the pole for the night’s feature event.

With the field set, the first 25-lap feature of the season was underway. Jumping out to the lead off of turn two over McLoughlin was “The Flyin Ace” Corey Conley, while “The Kamikaze Kid” Tyler Carpenter and Greg Oakes battled it out for third. After taking the position from Oakes, Carpenter would also work his way past McLoughlin looking in at the top spot. However, Conley would not be easily overcome as he would retain his position, leading every lap green to checkered and picking up the first win of the season. Rounding out the top five was Greg Oakes, Shane McLoughlin and Mike Lonas.

Joining the list of sponsor’s for the 2016 season, the John’s Custom Embroidery & Screen Printing modifieds had a field of 19. Qualifying with a 15.450 was “The Outlaw” Jesse Wisecarver placing him in the night’s dash. Picking up wins in each of the two heat races were David Hittle and Rex Frohnapfel Jr with the dash win going to “Rockin” Robin Duston.

Rounding four to the green, Duston and Wisecarver front row, it was “The Outlaw” who would take the early lead. The two would pull away from the field as Denny Benjamin and Larry Moran battled side-by-side for third. Troubles for Moran as he would fall back in the field leaving the door open for David Hittle to set his sights on Benjamin. The two battled back and forth with Hittle ultimately passing Benjamin in turns three and four. Nevertheless, continuing the reign up front it was “The Outlaw” Jesse Wisecarver who would pick up his first win at the Hill this season. Finishing second, with a strong run all night, was Robin Duston followed by David Hittle, Denny Benjamin and Jesse Wardell.

The Holmes Pest Control street stocks had a field of 16. Setting fast time with a 16.183 was Mike Lonas, who would also pick up the night’s dash win while David Potts won the only heat race.

Setting the pace to the start was Lonas with Bob Daugherty outside. Taking the top spot as the green dropped was Lonas with Daugherty looking in. Not far behind a battle between David and Kevin Potts would ensue for third. After a caution filled event, troubles while under yellow would send, then second place, Daugherty to the pits. Once back under green, it was last year’s track champion Mike Lonas, starting just where he left off, in victory lane. Second went to David Potts, third Kevin Potts, fourth Kyle Michalo and fifth Timmy Glassburn.

With a new sponsor for the 2016 season, the Rigz Towing modlites had a field of 18. Heat race winners were Kacy Campbell and Doug Drown placing them on the front row for the night’s feature event. As the green dropped, Campbell would take the early lead with Drown working his bumper. However, Tracy Fritter, sitting third, had other plans as he took over second and ultimately the lead leaving Campbell and Drown to battle it out for second. After a caution with two to go, a green checkered finish would ensue with Tracy Fritter picking up the win followed by Campbell, Drown, Dillion Rittenhouse and Keith Smith.

Also picking up a new sponsor for the year, the Short Track Fire & Rescue mini stocks had the largest field of the night with 24 cars. Picking up wins in each of the three heat races were Greg Thompson, Colton St. John and Matt Miller while Cory Staley would claim the last chance race. With the field set, the green was out and it was Thompson to the lead. As the top three cars stretched their lead over the rest of the field, troubles would end the night early for Thompson. Continuing under green for a caution free feature, Colton St. John would take over the lead and go on to pick up his first win of the season. Finishing second was Matt Miller followed by Zach Chaffin, Michael Rose and Edwin Geary.
The Bugs-R-Gone trucks had field of four. Bringing the field to the green was Travis Winterringer. As the field went into turn one, 2015 track champion, Rolly Heyder, would have troubles causing him to spin collecting Winterringer ultimately sending him pit side early. Back under green, John Large would take the top spot over Heyder working his way to his first victory of the season. Rounding out the field was Jacob Neff.

Hilltop Speedway
March 26, 2016
Holmes Tire Late Models
Fast Qualifier- Craig Wolford 14.601
Heat 1- J. Wyer, M. Lonas, K. Smith, G. Beach, C. Hague, S. Smith
Heat 2- T. Myers, B. Mickley, V. Hottinger, D. Pryor, G. Short, D. Hubbard
Dash- S. McLoughlin, C. Conley, T. Carpenter, G. Oakes, C. Wolford, M. Oakes
Feature- Corey Conley, Tyler Carpenter, Greg Oakes, Shane McLoughlin, Mike Lonas, Kevin Smith, Craig Wolford, Michael Oakes, Vic Hottinger, Ty Myers, Greg Beach, Brad Mickley, Cameron Hague, Scott Smith, John Wyer, Darrick Hubbard, David Pryor, Graeme Short

John’s Custom Embroidery & Screen Printing Modifieds
Heat 1- D. Hittle, N. Aronhalt, R. Reed, R. Page, K. Brown, C. Barack, M. Lonas Jr.
Heat 2- R. Frohnapfel Jr., D. Hubbard Jr., R. Wisecarver, D. Wheeler, J. Leonard DNS-J. Smith
Dash- R. Duston, J. Wisecarver, D. Benjamin, L. Moran, C. Fritz, J. Wardell
Feature- Jesse Wisecarver, Robin Duston, David Hittle, Denny Benjamin, Jesse Wardell, Larry Moran, Ryan Wisecarver, Kyle Brown, Bob Page, Darrick Hubbard Jr., Rex Frohnapfel Jr., Cody Barack, Norm Aronhalt, Jeremy Leonard, Dustin Wheeler, Michael Lonas Jr., Casey Fritz DNS-Rory Reed, Jimmy Smith

Holmes Pest Control Street Stocks
Heat 1- D. Potts, C. Staley, T. Schonauer, M. Thorpe, J. St. John, D. Smith, T. Glassburn, J. Preston, J. Lanham, C. Hinds
Dash- M. Lonas, B. Daugherty, C. O’Dell, K. Potts, K. Michalo, D. Daugherty
Feature- Mike Lonas, David Potts, Kevin Potts, Kyle Michalo, Timmy Glassburn, Trae Schonauer, Jon Preston, Dustin Smith, Bob Daugherty, Cliff Staley, Dustin Daugherty, Jason St. John, Chuck Hinds, Jeff Lanham, Chaz O’Dell DNS-Mickey Thorpe

Rigz Towing Modlites
Heat 1- K. Campbell, K. Smith, C. Dye, T. McLoughlin, C. Snyder, C. Stillion, A. Heskett, T. Stillion, J. Dye
Heat 2- D. Drown, T. Fritter, J. Darocha, A. Meister, D. Rittenhouse, K. Rittenhouse, R. Leslie, DA Schneider, J. Crider
Feature- Tracy Fritter, Kacy Campbell, Doug Drown, Dillion Rittenhouse, Keith Smith, Kevin Rittenhouse, Cody Dye, Jason Darocha, Jason Dye, Tim Stillion, Cody Stillion, Andrew Heskett, Aaron Meister, Clint Snyder, Ray Leslie, DA Schneider, Tanner McLoughlin DNS-Josh Crider

Short Track Fire & Rescue Mini Stocks
Heat 1- G. Thompson, E. Geary, M. Rose, T. Mullinnex, J. Bateson, D. Blaker, R. Retton, D. Rufener
Heat 2- C. St. John, J. Adkins, B. Workman, Z. Chaffin, K. Markey, C. Staley, T. Tatro, R. Aronhalt
Heat 3- M. Miller, N. Martin, T. Workman, C. Shane, T. Cline, S. Mitchell, R. Durbin, J. Schneider
B-Main- C. Staley, R. Retton, D. Blaker, R. Durbin, R. Aronhalt, T. Tatro DNS- S. Mitchell, D. Rufener, J. Schneider
Feature- Colton St. John, Matt Miller, Zach Chaffin, Michael Rose, Edwin Geary, Brad Workman, Nova Martin, Tim Workman, Kevin Markey, Tony Mullinnex, Cory Staley, Joey Bateson, Jerry Adkins, Dan Blaker, Richard Retton, Greg Thompson, Cody Shane, Tony Cline

Bugs R Gone Trucks
Feature- John Large, Rolly Heyder, Jacob Neff, Travis Winterringer