Malcuit Takes FAST, Drown, Moore, Hensel Also Grab WCS Wins

ORRVILLE – Not often do the results match the hype in today’s sporting world. But perfect spring weather, coupled with an ultra-fast Wayne County Speedway, turned the opening night of its first Fast Five racing program of the 2023 season into “five fantastic finishes” on Saturday at the 3-8-mile oval near Orrville.

Defending Pine Tree Towing and Recovery Sprint Car champion Henry Malcuit wowed the large crowd with a late-race pass to pick up the victory in the first of four visits from Aaron Fry’s FAST Series $3,000-to-win headliner, while Wooster’s Doug Drown drove from deep in the field to an impressive victory in the Malcuit Tavern Super Late Model main event. Mansfield’s Kyle Moore picked up right where he left off in his 30-plus 2022 win campaign by winning both the McKenzie Concrete Super Stock and Modified features, while Doug Hensel scored a popular victory in the never-fails-to disappoint JoyRide Transport Mini Stock night capper.

Although Malcuit paced the 20-car A-main – from a stout 31-car FAST field – from his outside pole slot, it was anything but easy for the familiar Sugarcreek Cartage No. 70. Jordan Ryan, Danny Sams, and Brandon Spithaler kept within 10 car lengths early in the event before Ryan suffered from mechanical gremlins sending the former WCS winner to the Gentry Dumpster Rental Hot Pit work area.

Spithaler, however, grabbed the top spot nearing lap 20, with Malcuit, Sams, Tyler Street, Ricky Peterson, Trey Jacobs, Tyler Gunn and Danny Mumaw in tow. With just two laps remaining, though, Malcuit ducked under Spithaler in turn 2 and sped away with his second FAST series victory in as many years.

“I wasn’t sure how many laps were left, but I got a run under (Brandon) and tried to hit my marks the last few laps,” said Malcuit. “These guys are so fast and so good, but I’ve turned a lot of laps around this place. It feels good to get the first win of the season.”

Drown didn’t visit victory lane until mid-season a year ago but served notice on Saturday with an impressive drive from his 17^th starting spot. Todd Brennan looked to be on his way to victory lane early on, with Nate Kurtz and Nathan Loney in pursuit with a hard-charging JR Gentry, Larry Bellman, and a fast-closing Drown in tow.

Just past the midway point of the 25-lapper, Drown disposed of Brennan with Gentry stuck to his rear spoiler. Gentry pulled alongside Drown on a couple occasions but came up 10 car lengths short at the stripe followed by Brennan, Ryan Markham and Loney. “I wasn’t sure if l could make it through the field or not from that deep,” Drown said. “I felt confident though when l got into second, then did a little scoreboard watching and saw JR move into second. I could feel him back there, but hung on, as it feels great to get the first win. Our weekly field of cars here are so tough.”

Moore went back-to-back in the Modified and Super Stock mains for what seems to be a regular occurrence at WCS. Moore outlasted a fast Bud Watson early in the Mod main event before Nate Young applied heavy pressure to the Perrine No. 16 in the late stages. Defending track champ Colton Shaw rode home third from 16^th, with Casey Butler and Mitchell Lam rounding out the top five.

In the Super Stock main which hit the speedway next, Moore wasted little time from his front row starting spot with a fast Braden Tucke in tow. Tucke stayed within striking distance for all 15 laps, but settled for second at the wire with Brandon Craver, Rob Melzer, and Larry Kugel in fifth.

“I felt we had some left in the modified main, but the track was a little different tonight, especially in turns 3 and 4, which made it a little difficult to get up on the cushion,” said Moore. “(Braden) is really fast in the super stock class, and I try and help him when l can, but that might change if he’s going to be that fast,” joked Moore. Moore will now shift his focus to the Bob Daugherty No. 21D with an appearance at Eldora Speedway’s Flo Racing Night in America on Tuesday. “I’ve only raced there one time, so we’re pretty excited to get down there and see what we have.”

Hensel wasted little time in the Mini Stock main, vaulting from his fourth starting spot to grab the lead before the completion of lap 1. From there, Anthony Collins applied heavy pressure to the defending track champ, but settled for a well-earned runner-up finish. Justin Cranmore, Kyle Petit, and Cody Musselman completed the top five.

“With this class being so evenly matched, you got to get what you can at the start, and l just went where the others weren’t on the start,” said Hensel. “We’re not going to compete on Fridays at Hilltop this year, and just concentrate on Wayne County on Saturday’s. We’d love to visit victory lane a few more times, but this division is so tough. It’s about as competitive of a class as you can find.”

Wayne County Speedway will be back in action next Saturday night with another edition of its Fast Five program.

FAST OPEN 4-15-23 04-15-2023

Sprint Cars – Pine Tree Towing & Recovery

Qualifying
1.38W-Leyton Wagner, 14.820; 2.70-Henry Malcuit, 14.890; 3.25R-Jordan Ryan, 14.890; 4.24D-Danny Sams II, 14.920; 5.91-Tyler Gunn, 14.940; 6.9-Trey Jacobs, 14.960; 7.22-Brandon Spithaler, 15.020; 8.38K-Chris Myers, 15.060; 9.2P-Ricky Peterson, 15.210; 10.4*-Tyler Street, 15.220; 11.15-Mitch Harble, 15.220; 12.78-Justin Clark, 15.270; 13.19-Sean Rayhall, 15.320; 14.16-Danny Mumaw, 15.440; 15.23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr., 15.510; 16.81-Lee Jacobs, 15.530; 17.17-Reece Saldana, 15.540; 18.6-Bob Felmlee, 15.590; 19.7DK-Dylan Kingan, 15.610; 20.12-Kasey Jedrzejek, 15.680; 21.5-Jeremy Weaver, 15.790; 22.7-Troy Kingan, 15.960; 23.55+-McKenna Haase, 16.010; 24.2-Joe Adorjan, 16.340; 25.57N-Tyler Newhart, 16.400; 26.33$-Shane O’Banion, 16.420; 27.10-Justin Adams, 16.420; 28.98-Robert Robenalt, 17.020; 29.11J-James Moore, 17.170; 30.187-Tyler Wiles, 17.260; 31.22R-Ryan Fredericks, 17.260;

Heat 1, Group A –  (8 Laps)
1. 2P-Ricky Peterson[2] ; 2. 22-Brandon Spithaler[3] ; 3. 19-Sean Rayhall[1] ; 4. 5-Jeremy Weaver[6] ; 5. 38W-Leyton Wagner[4] ; 6. 17-Reece Saldana[5] ; 7. 98-Robert Robenalt[8] ; 8. 57N-Tyler Newhart[7]

Heat 2, Group A –  (8 Laps)
1. 4*-Tyler Street[2] ; 2. 81-Lee Jacobs[1] ; 3. 24D-Danny Sams II[4] ; 4. 38K-Chris Myers[3] ; 5. 7DK-Dylan Kingan[5] ; 6. 7-Troy Kingan[6] ; 7. 33$-Shane O’Banion[7] ; 8. 11J-James Moore[8]

Heat 3, Group B –  (8 Laps)
1. 91-Tyler Gunn[3] ; 2. 16-Danny Mumaw[1] ; 3. 70-Henry Malcuit[4] ; 4. 15-Mitch Harble[2] ; 5. 55+-McKenna Haase[6] ; 6. 6-Bob Felmlee[5] ; 7. 10-Justin Adams[7] ; 8. 22R-Ryan Fredericks[8]

Heat 4, Group B –  (8 Laps)
1. 9-Trey Jacobs[3] ; 2. 78-Justin Clark[2] ; 3. 25R-Jordan Ryan[4] ; 4. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr.[1] ; 5. 12-Kasey Jedrzejek[5] ; 6. 2-Joe Adorjan[6] ; 7. 187-Tyler Wiles[7]

B-Main –  (12 Laps)
1. 55+-McKenna Haase[3] ; 2. 7DK-Dylan Kingan[2] ; 3. 17-Reece Saldana[4] ; 4. 38W-Leyton Wagner[1] ; 5. 6-Bob Felmlee[6] ; 6. 7-Troy Kingan[5] ; 7. 2-Joe Adorjan[7] ; 8. 10-Justin Adams[10] ; 9. 33$-Shane O’Banion[9] ; 10. 22R-Ryan Fredericks[13] ; 11. 57N-Tyler Newhart[14] ; 12. 11J-James Moore[12] ; 13. 187-Tyler Wiles[11] ; 14. 98-Robert Robenalt[8] ; 15. 12-Kasey Jedrzejek[15]

A-Main –  (30 Laps)
1. 70-Henry Malcuit[2] ; 2. 22-Brandon Spithaler[5] ; 3. 24D-Danny Sams II[3] ; 4. 4*-Tyler Street[7] ; 5. 9-Trey Jacobs[4] ; 6. 91-Tyler Gunn[6] ; 7. 2P-Ricky Peterson[8] ; 8. 16-Danny Mumaw[10] ; 9. 81-Lee Jacobs[9] ; 10. 19-Sean Rayhall[12] ; 11. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr.[16] ; 12. 6-Bob Felmlee[21] ; 13. 5-Jeremy Weaver[13] ; 14. 17-Reece Saldana[19] ; 15. 15-Mitch Harble[15] ; 16. 7-Troy Kingan[22] ; 17. 38K-Chris Myers[14] ; 18. 55+-McKenna Haase[17] ; 19. 78-Justin Clark[11] ; 20. 38W-Leyton Wagner[20] ; 21. 7DK-Dylan Kingan[18] ; 22. 25R-Jordan Ryan[1]

Modifieds – Elite Ammunition

Heat 1 –  (8 Laps)
1. 16T-Kyle Moore[7] ; 2. 99-Casey Butler[2] ; 3. 2J-Troy Johnson[3] ; 4. 1-Vincent Depizzo[4] ; 5. 4J-Jim Plance[5] ; 6. 20-Alex Siekkinen[6] ; 7. 78-Richard Grogg[1]

Heat 2 –  (8 Laps)
1. 42-Nate Young[1] ; 2. 225-Bud Watson[4] ; 3. 187T-Took Wiles[5] ; 4. 3M-Brock Moskey[2] ; 5. 60-Jimmy Humphrey[3] ; 6. 69R-Ryan Robey[6] ; 7. 16C-Caden Alexander[7]

Heat 3 –  (8 Laps)
1. 33-Bob Moskey[2] ; 2. 12-Mitchell Lam[3] ; 3. 61-Tony Paynter[4] ; 4. 21-Dwayne Powell[6] ; 5. 185-Ron Miller[1] ; 6. O1-Colton Shaw[5]

A-Main –  (20 Laps)
1. 16T-Kyle Moore[3] ; 2. 42-Nate Young[6] ; 3. O1-Colton Shaw[16] ; 4. 99-Casey Butler[7] ; 5. 12-Mitchell Lam[9] ; 6. 2J-Troy Johnson[5] ; 7. 1-Vincent Depizzo[8] ; 8. 3M-Brock Moskey[11] ; 9. 60-Jimmy Humphrey[12] ; 10. 16C-Caden Alexander[18] ; 11. 21-Dwayne Powell[10] ; 12. 20-Alex Siekkinen[14] ; 13. 33-Bob Moskey[4] ; 14. 225-Bud Watson[2] ; 15. 185-Ron Miller[15] ; 16. 4J-Jim Plance[13] ; 17. 61-Tony Paynter[1] ; 18. 187T-Took Wiles[20] ; 19. 78-Richard Grogg[19] ; 20. 69R-Ryan Robey[17]

Super Stocks – McKenzie Concrete

Heat 1 –  (8 Laps)
1. 21D-Kyle Moore[1] ; 2. 0-Larry Kugel[2] ; 3. 771-Brandon Craver[5] ; 4. 44-Zach Hockensmith[4] ; 5. 51-Paul Holmes[3]

Heat 2 –  (8 Laps)
1. 18-Braden Tucke[4] ; 2. 77-Rob Melzer[1] ; 3. 14-Codee Schneider[3] ; 4. U4-Paul McVicker[2]

A-Main –  (15 Laps)
1. 21D-Kyle Moore[1] ; 2. 18-Braden Tucke[4] ; 3. 771-Brandon Craver[8] ; 4. 77-Rob Melzer[6] ; 5. 0-Larry Kugel[3] ; 6. U4-Paul McVicker[2] ; 7. 44-Zach Hockensmith[7] ; 8. 51-Paul Holmes[5] ; 9. 14-Codee Schneider[9]

Late Models – Malcuit’s Tavern

Heat 1 –  (8 Laps)
1. 111-Matt Lux[3] ; 2. 79K-Nick Kurtz[8] ; 3. 14JR-J.R. Gentry[7] ; 4. O-Steve Prince[5] ; 5. 17-Tyler Evans[4] ; 6. 11-Ryan Abel[6] ; 7. J28-Jason Henderson[9] ; 8. 69R-Doug Baird[2] ; 9. 12-Doug Drown[1]

Heat 2 –  (8 Laps)
1. 20-Todd Brennan[4] ; 2. 59-Larry Bellman Jr.[6] ; 3. 10-Nathan Loney[8] ; 4. 5M-Ryan Markham[7] ; 5. 57-Caiden Black[3] ; 6. 24-Jerry Aber[1] ; 7. 79-Brad Malcuit[5] ; 8. 21-Wes Morrison[2]

A-Main –  (25 Laps)
1. 12-Doug Drown[17] ; 2. 14JR-J.R. Gentry[4] ; 3. 20-Todd Brennan[2] ; 4. 5M-Ryan Markham[8] ; 5. 10-Nathan Loney[3] ; 6. 59-Larry Bellman Jr.[6] ; 7. O-Steve Prince[5] ; 8. 79-Brad Malcuit[14] ; 9. 79K-Nick Kurtz[1] ; 10. 24-Jerry Aber[12] ; 11. J28-Jason Henderson[13] ; 12. 111-Matt Lux[7] ; 13. 17-Tyler Evans[9] ; 14. 11-Ryan Abel[11] ; 15. 57-Caiden Black[10] ; 16. 69R-Doug Baird[15] ; 17. 21-Wes Morrison[16]

Mini Stocks – Joy Ride Transportation

Heat 1 –  (6 Laps)
1. 23P-Kyle Petit[4] ; 2. 66-Johnny Bruce SR[6] ; 3. 2-Justin Cranmore[3] ; 4. 98-David Dawson[2] ; 5. 420-Kevin Markey[7] ; 6. 11-trent Bishop[1] ; 7. 8-Cory Brown[5]

Heat 2 –  (6 Laps)
1. 71-Anthony Collins[4] ; 2. 18-Doug Hensel[3] ; 3. 7C-Cody Musselman[6] ; 4. 89-Travis Hutton[2] ; 5. 1*-Steven Lester[5] ; 6. 278-Zach Hershey[7] ; 7. 54c-Clayton Evans[1]

Heat 3 –  (6 Laps)
1. 100-David Potter[3] ; 2. 18X-Dustin Bedlion[5] ; 3. 99C-Chris Mullinnex[4] ; 4. 42-Carl Schachel[2] ; 5. 31-Valek Menough[6] ; 6. 33s-Justin Shreve[1]

Heat 4 –  (6 Laps)
1. 7D-Billy Dawson[3] ; 2. 97S-Brock Searls[1] ; 3. 5-Jordan Twinem[2] ; 4. 17-Wayne Newbury[4] ; 5. 46-Stephen Crowe[5] ; 6. 49B-Jimmy Burns[6]

B-Main –  (8 Laps)
1. 420-Kevin Markey[1] ; 2. 31-Valek Menough[3] ; 3. 54c-Clayton Evans[9] ; 4. 11-trent Bishop[5] ; 5. 8-Cory Brown[8] ; 6. 1*-Steven Lester[2] ; 7. 278-Zach Hershey[6] ; 8. 46-Stephen Crowe[4] ; 9. 49B-Jimmy Burns[7] ; 10. 33s-Justin Shreve[10]

A-Main –  (12 Laps)
1. 18-Doug Hensel[4] ; 2. 71-Anthony Collins[7] ; 3. 2-Justin Cranmore[9] ; 4. 23P-Kyle Petit[8] ; 5. 7C-Cody Musselman[10] ; 6. 89-Travis Hutton[14] ; 7. 420-Kevin Markey[17] ; 8. 5-Jordan Twinem[12] ; 9. 100-David Potter[3] ; 10. 31-Valek Menough[18] ; 11. 99C-Chris Mullinnex[11] ; 12. 97S-Brock Searls[2] ; 13. 98-David Dawson[13] ; 14. 11-trent Bishop[20] ; 15. 54c-Clayton Evans[19] ; 16. 66-Johnny Bruce SR[1] ; 17. 42-Carl Schachel[15] ; 18. 17-Wayne Newbury[16] ; 19. 18X-Dustin Bedlion[6] ; 20. 7D-Billy Dawson[5]