Tyler County Speedway
Hawkins captures second straight Topless 50
MIDDLEBOURNE, W.Va. (May 4) — Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., captured his second straight Topless 50 at Tyler County Speedway, earning $3,000 in the 19th version of the event sponsored by Midcap Land & Timber.
Seventh-starting Mike Benedum of Bristol, W.Va., finished second in the unsanctioned Super Late Model event while 13th-starting Jared Miley of South Park, Pa., was third. Derek Doll of Greenwood, W.Va., and Corey Conley of Wellsburg, W.Va., rounded out the top five finishers.
Polesitter Keith Barbara of South Park, Pa., led early while Hawkins worked his way forward from his fifth starting spot. Barbara and Hawkins battled amid traffic with Hawkins taking control just past the halfway point.
He pulled away for the victory to become the race’s fourth multitime winning, joining Paul Wilmoth Jr., Butch McGill and Chuck Harper.
Wilmoth retired with a 16th-place finish on the 21st lap, one of six cautions in the event. Barbara ended up tangling with Steve Weigle with nine laps remaining, falling out of the second spot.
Notes: Jacob Hawkins drives a Rocket Chassis is sponsored by St. Henry Nightclub, Melvin’s Transmission and Creekside. ... The track’s Super Late Model division is sponsored by J&R Excavating. ... Kyle Thomas of Pennsboro, W.Va., earned his third straight Fastrak-sanctioned Crate Late Model feature at Tyler County, outrunning Michael Griffin. ... After a week off, Tyler County returns to action May 18 with qualifying races for Memorial Day weekend’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series Jackpot 100 and the Let It Ride 55 for Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour. ... That Bullring Bonanza holiday weekend features racing and a country music concert, but a raffle by the Tyler County Firefighters Association was canceled because of modest ticket sales.
Midcap Land & Timber Topless 50: (1) Jacob Hawkins, (2) Mike Benedum, (3) Jared Miley, (4) Derek Doll, (5) Corey Conley, (6) Sonny Conley, (7) John Garvin Jr., (8) Keith Barbara, (9) Steve Weigle, (10) Dusty Hamrick, (11) L.C. Powers, (12) Scott Irvin, (13) Butch McGill, (14) Donnie Dotson, (15) Mike Basich, (16) Paul Wilmoth Jr., (17) John Mollick, (18) Shane Hitt, (19) Kyle Bates. Heat race winners (among 19 cars): Barbara, Wilmoth, Hitt.
