Atomic Speedway
Demise of frontrunners helps Conley win at K-C
By Scott Wolfe
K-C Raceway
Delmas Conley picked up the May 21 victory at K-C Raceway. (rasmithphoto.com)
ALMA, Ohio (May 21) — Over his long career, Hall of Fame driver Delmas Conley of Wheelersburg, Ohio, has been plenty good, and plenty luck. The reigning K-C Raceway Late Model champion had a little of both working for him Saturday at the 3/8-mile oval as he grabbed a victory in the track's AMRA-sanctioned division.
Taking advantage of the demise of front-row starters Ben Adkins and Jason Montgomery, Conley took the lead from Audie Swartz and led the rest of the way for his 541st career feature victory.
"Most of the night I thought I had a third-place car, then Ben and Jason dropped out, and there I was in the lead," Conley said. "I might have made a good race out of it anyway, who knows. ... The car was pretty darn good."
Adkins and Montgomery pulled away from the field at the outset with Swartz giving chase in the third spot. Both frontrunners were caught up in a seven-car melee that knocked them out of the race along with two other competitors.
Swartz inherited the lead, but a lap later Conley leaned on Swartz in turn one to craftily take command. Mike Wilson followed suit to take second while Swartz settled for third. The winner's son, Rod Conley, was fourth and Mark Frazier of nearby Chillicothe rounded out the top five. Shannon Roese was on his way to hard-charger honors before his car overheated, and Brian Eaton slammed the turn-three wall to force his retirement from the event.
The night started out better than it ended for Adkins. The West Portsmouth, Ohio, driver blazed to a 13.377-second lap in qualifying, bettering the 9-year-old track record held by Jackie Boggs.
Notes: Hoot Gibson of the Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club presented a free DARF membership and T-shirt to Saturday's feature winners. ... Before Saturday's racing, K-C Raceway Hall of Fame inductees were honored. The 2011 class: the versatile Bobby Morgan; sprint ace George Harbour; the multitalented father-son team of Bob Crace Sr. and Bob Crace Jr.; stock car ace George Branscom; notable car owner Bob Lemaster; and extraordinary photographer Stan Jeffrey. ... On May 28, K-C hosts Miller High Life Veteran’s Appreciation Night with AMRA Late Models, 410 sprints, modifieds and hobby stocks.
K-C Raceway: (1) Delmas Conley, (2) Mike Wilson,� (3) Audie Swartz, (4) Rod Conley, (5) Mark Frazier, (6) Rod Evans, (7) Tony Roush, (8) Paul Davis, (9) Randy Wynett, (10) Russ Frohnapfel, (11) Shannon Roese, (12) Brian Eaton, (13) Chris Maynard, (14) Ben Adkins, (15) Jason Montgomery, (16) Billy Gullion, (17) Clint Keenan, (18) Kenny Spencer, (19) Ken Howell. Fast qualifier (among 21 cars): Adkins, 13.377 seconds. Heat race winners: Adkins, Montgomery.
