Winchester Speedway
Francis rolls to $10,000 Winchester 200 victory
By Clifford Dove
Winchester Speedway
Francis picks up his $10,000. (Clifford Dove)
WINCHESTER, Va. (Oct. 26) — Polesitter Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., took the lead from multitime race winner Gary Stuhler of Greencastle, Pa., on the fifth lap at Winchester Speedway and cruised to a 100-lap victory in the Super Late Model portion of the Winchester 200. Francis earned $10,000 for the rain-postponed victory and gave car owner Dale Beitler of West Friendsville, Md., his second consecutive victory in the event. | Slideshow
No one could keep up with Francis at the 3/8-mile oval as he repeatedly pulled away over a series of restarts and raced to his first-ever Winchester 200 victory in making his first start in the event in 13 years. Stuhler finished second followed by Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who drove the Ernie Davis-owned No. 25. Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, Md., was fourth and Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa., rounded out the top five in Winchester's season-ender. Nathan Durboraw of Hagerstown, Md., ran as high as third early but eventually faded and dropped out, finishing 18th.
The event was slowed by seven caution periods, the most serious being the last one on the 84th lap when Jack Pencil lost a driveshaft, triggering a collision with Bo Feathers that left the Feathers No. 00 atop the engine compartment of Pencil's No. 14.
Notes: Francis drives a Beitler Enterprises-backed Rocket Chassis with a Custom Race Engine and sponsorship from Valvoline, Reliable Painting, VP Racing and Integra Shocks. ... Francis scored a sweep by setting fast time on Friday as well as winning a heat and the fast dash. ... Francis was making his third career start in the Winchester 200. ... Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind., drove the Dale Beitler-owned car to victory last year at Winchester. ... The event was postponed a month by rain, and then pushed back from Saturday to Sunday after more rain delayed the action. ... Former Winchester 200 winner Rick Eckert of York, Pa., was the first retiree. ... Provisional starter Bo Feathers of Winchester got up to fifth by the 66th lap but slowed with a flat left rear tire. His race was over after the lap-84 melee with Jack Pencil. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Rodney Combs, Kris Eaton, Tony Crim, J.T. Spence, Brian Booze, Matt Hardy, Walter Crouch, Alan Sagi, Denny Bonebrake, Mark Pettyjohn, Chuck Schutz, Brian Tavenner, Brad Omps, Devin Friese, Tommy Armel, Tom Decker, Jonathan DeHaven, Mike Hardy, Lewis Hudson, Chuck Clise, Jeremy Miller, Gerald Davis, Matt Lux, Matt Quade, Kirk Ryan, Roland Mann, Bubby Dillman, Kerry King.
Winchester 200: (1) Steve Francis, (2) Gary Stuhler, (3) Josh Richards, (4) Jamie Lathroum, (5) Jason Covert, (6) Booper Bare, (7) Jim Bernheisel, (8) Walker Arthur, (9) Kenny Pettyjohn, (10) Frankie Plessinger, (11) Marvin Winters, (12) Darryl Hills, (13) Keith Jackson, (14) Shane Coffey, (15) Jack Pencil, (16) Bo Feathers, (17) Mike Lupfer, (18) Nathan Durboraw, (19) Allen Brannon, (20) D.J. Myers, (21) Andy Anderson, (22) Dan Stone, (23) Ronnie DeHaven Jr., (24) Wes Bonebrake, (25) Rick Eckert. Fast qualifier (among 53 cars): Francis. Heat race winners: Anderson, Stuhler, Lathroum, Pencil, Durboraw, Francis. Dash winner: Francis. Consolation winners: Bernhiesel, DeHaven. Provisional starter: Feathers.
