Hagerstown Speedway
Kenny Pettyjohn grabs first Hagerstown victory
Kenny Pettyjohn celebrates his first Hagerstown victory. (wrtspeedwerx.com)
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (May 24) — Kenny Pettyjohn of Millsboro, Del., led all 35 laps Friday for a Three State Flyers victory, his first feature triumph at Hagerstown Speedway. He earned $3,500.
“I can’t believe this,” Pettyjohn said after exiting his car on a chilly and blustery evening. “I’ve been trying to win here for so many years and been so close so many times. Tonight we really didn’t have a very good car, it didn’t feel like, but it all worked out.” | Slideshow
Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., was second followed by pole-starting Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa. Winchester, Va., drivers J.T. Spence and Trever Feathers rounded out the top five.
Miller and Pettyjohn led the field to green with Pettyjohn lunging into the lead while the fourth-starting Stone tucked into second ahead of Miller and Spence. Pettyjohn and Stone edged ahead of Miller as Stone was in Pettyjohn’s tire tracks as they approached rear traffic on the ninth lap just as the caution waved for a slowing Vic Coffey.
Pettyjohn had a clear track ahead of him for the restart as he pulled ahead, but Stone was on his bumper again until the caution waved as reigning track champion Nick Dickson slowed to a stop on the 16th lap.
Stone held tight to Pettyjohn another time as they again pulled ahead of Miller and Spence while Feathers, Covert and Mark Pettyjohn were battling for position.
With fewer than 10 laps remaining, Miller began closing on the front pair and with five to go, Spence was also closing while the frontrunners faced traffic.
Miller threw two challenges at Stone in the final three laps, but Stone battled back to hold the position as he trailed Pettyjohn across the finish by .388 seconds.
“My guys were telling me someone was on me, but I never saw him (Stone),” Pettyjohn said. “I’m just glad we made it to the end, glad to get this one in, believe me. All these guys worked their butts off, we needed this.”
Notes: Pettyjohn’s No. 38 Rocket Chassis is sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Race Foundation. ... Buchanan Auto Stores sponsored the track’s Late Model division. ... D.J. Myers of Greencastle, Pa., made a 21st-to-ninth charge to earn the Round Hill Auto Hard Charger award. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Keith Jackson, Mike Lupfer, Brian Tavenner, Jason Miller, Matt Sponaugle, Frankie Plessinger, Chuck Clise and Jamie Lathroum, who scratched early in the night. ... Hagerstown is in action Saturday (no Super Late Models) and then has the June 1 Appalachian Mountain Speedweek event paying $5,000-to-win.
Three State Flyers @ Hagerstown: (1) Kenny Pettyjohn, (2) Dan Stone, (3) Jeremy Miller, (4) J.T. Spence, (5) Trever Feathers, (6) Jason Covert, (7) Mark Pettyjohn, (8) Jim Bernheisel, (9) D.J. Myers� (10) Jerry Bard, (11) Jim Yoder, (12) Tyler Hershey, (13) Marvin Winters, (14) Gary Stuhler, (15) Roy Deese Jr., (16) Jeff Rine, (17) David Williams, (18) Scott LeBarron, (19) Devin Friese, (20) Austin Hubbard, (21) Rusty Sites, (22) Dylan Yoder, (23) Nick Dickson, (24) Vic Coffey. Fast qualifier (among 32 cars): Covert, 20.397 seconds. Heat race winners: Miller, Stone, Feathers, Spence. Consolation winner: Myers.
