7/30/2011
Hagerstown Speedway
BLANKENSHIP SCORES BREAK THROUGH WIN AT HAGERSTOWN
Lacking a time trial, starting from the rear of the heat, winning the B Main from seventh and then driving from 17th to first in the 30th Annual Conococheague 50-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event, John Blankenship not only posted his career first Lucas triumph but also his first ever victory at Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday evening. Following two consecutive second place finishes earlier in the week, Blankenship, 30, from Williamson, WV, took the lead from pole sitter Jared Landers on the 29th lap and later collected the $10,000 triumph by 4.015 seconds over current Lucas Series point leader, Jimmy Owens.
“The race track was great,” Blankenship said. “I have to thank the American Racer guys for helping me pick the right rubber. I’m glad to be up here. I’ve been trying to win one of these for three years now. I hope it’s not the only time this year.”
Eddie McClellan of Winchester, VA was awarded the Ernie D’s pure stock victory following a post race inspection which resulted in the disqualification of Tony Catlett who led the entire 15-lap feature.
Landers, who occupied the front row with Don O’Neal, pulled to the front as third starting Owens quickly grabbed the runner up spot from O’Neal by lap two.
Landers was out front 1.7 seconds when the first caution was displayed on lap eight for sixth starting Tyler Hershey who came up lame in the fourth turn. Two laps later, Blankenship entered the top ten. Tyler Reddick, who started on the rear with a provisional position, stopped on lap 14 for the next yellow flag.
Another yellow waved four laps later when two time series champion Scott Bloomquist, who was fading backwards, headed pit side for a change of rubber. Speeding through the pits, he attempted to enter the track in turn one but the green flag had already put the field in motion but he then entered the track and spun out to cause yet another caution as officials sent him pit side.
Blankenship was to fifth for the lap 19 restart and continued his assault, passing O’Neal and then Austin Hubbard before setting his sights on Owens at the halfway mark and then Landers, whom he got under for the lead on the 29th lap.
As the laps ticked away, Blankenship continued to get better and by the time he started working rear traffic on lap 36, he was 3.25 seconds ahead of Owens who had just passed Landers.
By the 42nd lap, Blankenship had stuck three rear cars between himself and Owens and was still not missing a beat. He continued on to capture the biggest win of his career by 4.015 seconds over Owens while it was another 3.546 seconds back to Hubbard. Thirteenth starter, Earl Pearson Jr. and Jamie Lathroum, from 15th, completed the top five.
“I felt like we were really good in the consy and it seemed like the race track was going to be racy, at least early on and it turned out it was,” Blankenship said. “You could really run all over the place. It was a lot of fun coming to the front and it wouldn’t have been quite as fun to start up here.”
Steve Francis from eighth, Steve Shaver (11th), Josh Richards, Ray Cook (from 23rd provisional) and Rick Eckert (14th) completed the top ten. Landers, who was first on the track for the 44 entries ended the Red Buck Cigars fast timer of the evening with a lap of 18.469 seconds around the Maryland oval. Landers, O’Neal, Owens and Bloomquist won the heats while Blankenship and Jeremy Miller split the B Mains.
In the pure stock feature, Catlett, who won the previous race held, was aboard another race car he purchased in the time period and quickly shot to the front from third as Kevin Koontz was into second by the second lap. Ninth starter, McClellan passed Koontz on the fifth lap and slowly reeled Catlett in and was within three lengths by a single 12th lap caution. Following the restart, Catlett held his line for the final three laps but McClellan, who was on his bumper at the checkered, was awarded the win, his career second when Catlett’s motor failed the inspection of the top five finishers. Koontz ended second followed by Wayne Hawbaker, from 12th, Kenny Dillon and Drew Fitzsimmons.
Racing resumes Saturday, August 6th with the Buck-a-Butt Night featuring the Ernie D’s Pure Stock Special and Hobby Stock Cruiser Special. Only ($1) one dollar admission .
Hagerstown Speedway Results
30th Annual Conococheague, Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Dirt Series, 50 laps, 44 entries, (Lap Leader – Jared Landers 1-28, John Blankenship 29-50) 1.John Blankenship, 2.Jimmy Owens, 3.Austin Hubbard, 4.Earl Pearson Jr., 5.Jamie Lathroum, 6.Steve Francis, 7.Steve Shaver, 8.Josh Richards, 9.Ray Cook, 10.Rick Eckert, 11.J. T. Spence, 12.Dan Stone, 13.Don O’Neal, 14.Brad Neat, 15.Eric Wells, 16.Nick Dickson, 17.Bo Feathers, 18.Bub McCool, 19.Frank Heckenast Jr., 20.Jared Landers, 21.Kyle Lear, 22.Gary Stuhler, 23.Scott Bloomquist, 24.Roy Deese Jr., 25.Tyler Reddick, DNQ – Clint Smith, Duane Harbaugh, Alan Sagi, Rusty Sites, Brent Smith, Ashley Barrett, Jason Miller, Frankie Plessinger, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Matt Murphy, Al Shawver, Jr., D. J. Myers, Marvin Winters, DNS – Jason Covert, Tim Murphy, Ricky Elliott, Jim Bernheisel
Ernie D’s Pure Stocks, 15 laps, 15 entries (Lap Leader – Tony Catlett 1-15): 1.Eddie McClellan, 2.Kevin Koontz, 3.Wayne Hawbaker (Turner Bowling Centers Hard Charger), 4.Kenny Dillon, 5.Drew Fitzsimmons, 6.Dave Stouffer, 7.Billy Ecton Jr., 8.Mike Kratovil, 9.Kenny Day, 10.Charlie Shearer, 11.Billy Ecton Sr., 12.Keith Koontz, 13.Steve Lowery, DSQ- Tony Catlett, DNS – Charlie Pensinger
Article Credit: Bob Vores
Submitted By: Josh Fries