Elkins Raceway
McGill earns $3,008 for Chuck Gear Memorial
By Bob Reed
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Butch McGill enjoys victory lane. (Bob Reed)
KERENS, W.Va. (July 5) — Butch McGill of West Union, W.Va., led all the way at Elkins Speedway to pocket $3,008 in winning the eighth annual Chuck Gear Memorial. McGill fought off modest challenges from eighth-starting Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., in the 35-lapper plagued by several early cautions. Hawkins finished second followed by Tim Senic, Chuck Harper and Joe Loudin.
Notes: McGill's Rocket Chassis has a Leggett-built Ford engine and is sponsored by Jenkins Ford, KFC, EC Construction, Buckhannon Discount Tire, NAPA and Poske’s Performance Shop. ... Sixteen drivers started the feature with 10 running at the finish. ... Six cautions slowed the action. ... Four drivers were out before a lap was completed after several skirmishes on attempted starts. Polesitter Shawn Poling was among the victims. ... Steve Wilmoth, who would have inherited a front-row starting spot amid the carnage, pitted to change a rear tire after one of the incidents. ... McGill and Chuck Harper ended up on the front row when the race finally got under way. ... Dusty Hamrick restarted on the tail and rallied to finish sixth. ... Tim Senic slipped past Harper for third late. ... Gary Lyle of Hyde Park, Pa., was ninth in his first Elkins appearance of 2008. ... The event honors late track co-promoter Chuck Gear.
Chuck Gear Memorial @ Elkins: (1) Butch McGill, (2) Jacob Hawkins, (3) Tim Senic, (4) Chuck Harper, (5) Joe Loudin, (6) Dusty Hamrick, (7) Charlie George, (8) Steve Wilmoth, (9) Gary Lyle, (10) Josh Coffman, (11) Steve Booth, (12) Skip Hare, (13) Brad Hudson, (14) Tracey Sampson, (15) Kris Southern, (16) Shawn Poling. Heat race winners: Wilmoth, Poling.
