Hagerstown Speedway
Stuhler edges T-Mac for fifth Octoberfest victory
By Bob Vores
Hagerstown Speedway
Gary Stuhler celebrates after leading the final five laps. (pbase.com/cyberslash)
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (Oct. 30-31) — Inaugural race winner Gary Stuhler of Greencastle, Pa., led the final five laps Sunday at Hagerstown Speedway to capture the Late Model portion of Hagerstown Speedway's 23rd annual Octoberfest 350.
The 18th-starting Stuhler, who also previously won the season-ending event in '96, '99, and '03, overtook Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., on the 96th lap for his fifth Octoberfest victory. | Video | Slideshow
McCreadie, who went on to win the day's small-block modified feature, settled for second with Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., in third. Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa., and 12th-starting Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., rounded out the top five. Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., started outside the front row and led most of the race, but he slowed with engine problems after the halfway fuel stop in the 100-lapper, handing the point to McCreadie.
“Everything worked our way,” Stuhler said. “I think if Josh had stayed in there, he definitely would have won the race. Timmy is a class act to race with and it was a lot of fun. I don’t think either one of us would have had anything for Josh if he would have stayed in there. Whatever happened to him, we’ll take it. Sometimes you get those things. It’s a good way to end the year.”
Richards jumped into the lead over polesitter Dylan Yoder at the outset with McCreadie quickly dropping Yoder to the third spot. Richards set a torrid pace in the afternoon affair, reaching lapped traffic after just 12 circuits while McCreadie, Covert and a charging Stuhler tried to keep up. McCreadie was right with Richards before the fuel stop while Covert and the others were further back.
But the halfway stop changed the race's complexion when Richards suddenly slowed and dropped to the pits. McCreadie took over as he and Stuhler began pulling away from Covert and Stone.
A lap-81 caution bunched the field and the McCreadie-Stuhler battle heated up while Decker — who started fourth but fell back as far as 12th — closed in on the frontrunning duo.
Stuhler went around the outside of McCreadie on the 96th lap, then pulled away to win by 1.38 seconds at the checkered flag.
Notes: Stuhler's Rocket Chassis has a Leggett Engine Research powerplant and sponsorship from Priority Construction and Monumental Paving & Excavating. ... Stuhler owns 128 career feature victories at the half-mile oval. ... Other repeat Octoberfest winners were Brett Hearn (big-block modifieds) and Tim McCreadie (small-block modifieds). ... Sprint car driver Cody Darrah took his first Octoberfest victory. Darrah was making his first competitive appearance since being seriously injured in a traffic accident in Daytona Beach, Fla., in February. ... Hagerstown's postseason banquet is scheduled for Dec. 4. Frankie Plessinger will be honored for his first Super Late Model championship.
Octoberfest: (1) Gary Stuhler, (2) Tim McCreadie, (3) Billy Decker, (4) Jason Covert, (5) Dan Stone, (6) Vic Coffey, (7) Marvin Winters, (8) Russ King, (9) Dylan Yoder, (10) Franke Plessinger, (11) Tim Wilson, (12) Wesley Bonebrake, (13) Jonathan DeHaven, (14) Chad Hollenback, (15) Danny Kienitz, (16) Keith Jackson, 17) Kenny Pettyjohn, (18) Tom Decker, (19) Larry Wight, (20) Rick Eckert, (21) Josh Richards, (22) Jim Yoder, (23) Scott LeBarron, (24) Doug Eck, (25) Alan Sagi, 26) Jeremy Miller. Heat race winners (among 32 cars): Yoder, Richards, McCreadie, Decker. Consolation winner: Wight.
