Greater Cumberland Raceway
Troutman wins Western Maryland Nat'ls, $2,000
By Matt Felten
Allegany County SpeedwayCUMBERLAND, Md. (Oct. 26) — Leading every lap seldom looked as tough for D.J. Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., at the sixth annual Western Maryland Nationals. Troutman outpaced Matt Sponaugle and the rest of the Limited Late Model field to capture the $2,000 prize in Sunday's 50-lap event at Allegany County Speedway.
Troutman's victory was delayed by one night after rain washed out racing for Friday, pushing preliminary races to Saturday for the final racing weekend of the season at The Rock.
Troutman took off from the pole while Sponaugle picked off the cars between them after a restart on the second lap. Troutman lost a one-second advantage through laps 13-19. As lapped traffic became a bigger factor, the leaders were even on the backstretch on lap 21. Troutman chose wisely to clear a slower car to retain the lead.
The second half of the race mirrored the first. Troutman led by nearly two seconds only to have Sponaugle catch up. With 11 laps to go, Sponaugle was on Troutman's bumper in traffic. The deciding moment came on the next lap when Troutman got away from another slower car. Just five lengths separated the leaders when the checkered came.
Derek Byler and Tyler Armstrong traded third with Byler recapturing the spot from Armstrong on lap 27. Rick Singleton ran as high as fourth but needed to get back around Mike Duck and Andy Fries to finish fifth in the second half of the race.
Western Maryland Nationals: (1) D.J. Troutman, (2) Matt Sponaugle, (3) Derek Byler, (4) Tyler Armstrong, (5) Rick Singleton, (6) Mike Duck, (7) Bruce Kane, (8) Tim Smith Jr., (9) Andy Fries, (10) Jerry Bard, (11) Matt Cosner, (12) Ralph Morgan Jr., (13) Daniel Cornman, (14) Scott Palmer, (15) Glenn Nininger, (16) Todd Lewis, (17) Travis Calhoun, (18) Lincoln Ritchey, (19) Ted Gallaher, (20) Shawn McGarvey, (21) Brian Lessley, (22) Travis Stickley, (23) Michael Dizmang. Scratched: Jimmy Iser. Fast qualifier (among 24 cars): Troutman, 20.647 seconds. Heat race winners: Troutman, Armstrong, Sponaugle. Dash winner: Troutman.
