Elkins Raceway
McGill tops Scott for first UFO victory at Elkins
Butch McGill (1mc) holds off Robbie Scott (18) at Elkins Raceway. (Tommy Michaels)
KERENS, W.Va. (June 17) — Polesitter Butch McGill of West Union, W.Va., earned $3,000 Friday at Elkins Raceway in capturing a flag-to-flag, 41-lap victory in the UFO Race Championship-sanctioned Chuck Gear Trophy.
Robbie Scott of Shinnston, W.Va., finished second followed by outside front-row starter Chuck Harper of Beverly, W.Va. Keith Barbara of South Park, Pa., and UFO points leader Devin Friese of Chambersburg, Pa., rounded out the top five finishers in the 18-car field at the 3/8-mile oval.
The only caution appeared on the fourth lap when Shawn Poling stopped after getting into the frontstretch fence.
McGill was in command all the way with Scott making challenges, especially when the frontrunners entered heavy lapped traffic with 10 laps remaining. McGill and Scott were side by side down the backstretch on lap 32, sandwiching a lapped car as McGill kept control and led the rest of the way for his first career series victory.
Notes: McGill's Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Jenkins Ford, KFC, NAPA Auto Parts and Slick's Car Wash. ... McGill is the second straight first-time UFO winner; Michael Davis notched his first victory a week earlier at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. ... Reigning series champ Chad McCellan and teammate Quintin Wyandt were late arrivals after suffering a hauler breakdown en route. They tagged the tail of the feature, finishing 15th and 16th. ... The series is averaging 35 cars per event. ... UFO competitors take a week off before five races in July beginning with the July 2 Earl Hill Memorial at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. The event pays $4,000-to-win and $400-to-start. The next night, UFO competitors clash with the Three State Flyers for a $5,000-to-win event at Hesston (Pa.) Speedway.
Chuck Gear Trophy: (1) Butch McGill, (2) Robbie Scott, (3) Chuck Harper, (4) Keith Barbara, (5) Devin Friese, (6) Jared Miley, (7) Chris Meadows, (8) Jared Hawkins, (9) Tim Senic, (10) Shane Hitt, (11) Bob Gordon, (12) Danny Mitchell, (13) Cody Hardesty, (14) Billy Holbert, (15) Chad McClellan, (16) Quintin Wyandt, (17) Josh Coffman, (18) Ron Clevenger, (19) Steve Booth, (20) Shawn Poling, (21) Matt Dobnak. Heat race winners (among 21 cars): Gordon, Senic, Friese.
Correction: Fixes names of race.
