11/18/2024
Tri-County Speedway
Last race of the year
October 2nd marked the end of the regular track season for Tri County Speedway. Due to the rain event of the 2nd, the races for that date were completed on the afternoon of October 9th.
The afternoon’s events started off with the Late Model Division. Blayne Harrison, #7, captured the pole with a speed of 15.635, 92.101 mph. The top 5 were inverted which allowed Mitch Walker, #15, to bring the field to green. The only caution waved was for Thomas Beane, #01, when he had ignition problems and couldn’t make it back to the pits. Walker took full advantage of the invert and won the event. He was followed by Annabeth Crum, #12, in second and Darren Krantz Jr, #77, in third.
The Renegade Division was next on the track. Steve Smart, #16, had a qualifying time of 19.518, 73.778 mph. He had to hand over the top spot to Gary Willard, #54, via the invert. One yellow was waved on lap 17 when Michael Waldrop, #22, looped his car on the backstretch. The race ran green from that point. Klint Townsend, #9, took the win. He was followed by Smart in second and Willard came home third.
The Street Stock Division was up next. Marlin Yoder, #08, with a lap time of 17.063, 84.393 mph was fastest in qualifying. An invert of the top 5 allowed Johnny Reynolds, #55, to start P1. The race ran caution free. Yoder came back from the invert and claimed the win. Reynolds followed in second and Davey Smart, #14, was third.
The final race to finish up the previous weeks schedule was the Limited Late Model Division. Matt Leicht, #55, won the pole with a speed of 16.064, 89.641 mph. The top 6 were inverted for this race which placed Aiden King, #5, on the pole. The first of 3 cautions was waved on lap 1. Derike Weldon, #5W, spun off turn 4 and hit the inside wall. Yellow #2 was on lap 16 when William Aldred, #9, and Chase Pollard, #98, came together. Lap 35 saw the last caution. Don Carlton, #14, was passing a lapped car off turn 4 and was clipped by it. This spun Carlton’s car in front of the field since he was leading. Austin Harris, #59, and Owen Wilson Jr, #42, were close behind and were collected in the wreck. All 3 cars were heavily damaged in the wreck and could not continue. Leicht came back to collect the win. Taylor Reimer, #25, was second. King followed in third.
This concluded the races that were previously postponed from the preceding week. A short practice and qualifying session was held to start the regular Saturday night show at this point.
First race after the break was the Front Wheel Drive Division. Skylar Brown, #2, captured the pole with a speed of 19.230, 74.882 mph. No cautions were displayed during the race. Brown came home the winner. Jason Garwood, #46, was second and Mahlon Borkholder, #19, was third. Garwood was declared track champion at the conclusion of the race.
The Crown Vic series was up next. Logan Beacham, #71, won the pole with a lap time of 20.314, 70.887 mph. The top 5 were inverted which placed Blake Walker, #0G, on the inside front row. This race also ran caution free. Beacham appeared to win the race. However, in postrace inspection, he was dq’d along with Jacob Hayes, #0. This allowed Kyle Dubeau, #12, to win the race. He also claimed the track title of Crown Vic champion for the year.
The Outlaw Division was race 3 after the break. Andrew Patterson, #7, was fastest man in qualifying with a speed of 15.639, 92.077 mph. Lee Tissot, #27, started from the pole via the invert. The race was without incident and Tissot held on for the win. Patterson followed in second and newly crowned track champion, Sheflon Clay, #15, was third.
The Bowman Gray Division visited Tri County for the first time this year. Austin Jones, #24, was the pole sitter with a lap time of 17.031, 84.551 mph. The only caution of the race was on lap 1. Isaiah Shupe, #88, took a spin down the backstretch. Jones went on to win the race. He was followed by Kevin Gilbert, #13, in second and Jonathan Southern, #17, placed third.
Carolina Mini Stocks were next to take to the track. Tim Canipe won the pole with a speed of 17.960, 80.178 mph. An invert of the top 8 allowed Terry Torrence, #50, to bring the field to green. This race was also caution free. Curtis Pardue, #17P, claimed the victory. Canipe placed second and won the track championship. Jason Garwood, #46, was third.
The Late Model Division was up next. Brandon Setzer, driving for Dillon Houser, #11S, was fast man in time trials with a speed of 15.608, 92.260 mph. However, Graham Hollar, #25, was recipient of the invert and started first. Caution #1 was on lap 17, when Alex Meggs, #18, spun off turn 4. Caution #2 waved on lap 33 when Mitch Walker, #15, and Zachary Dabbs, 33, had an incident in turn 4 together. Darren Krantz, #77, and Thomas Beane, #01, had an intense battle for the win. They raced side by side for lap upon lap. Krantz emerged the winner and Beane was second. Brady Monahan, #17, was third. Krantz also claimed the 2024 track championship at the conclusion of the night.
Renegade Division rolled off next. A lap time of 19.421, 74.146 mph gave Klint Townsend the pole. An invert of the top 4 allowed Gary Aldrich, #34, to start first. No cautions were displayed and Townsend recovered from the invert to take the win. Steve Smart, #15, was second and Aldrich followed in third. Smart also took home the track championship trophy for 2024.
The Street Stock Division was next on the docket. Johnny Reynolds claimed the pole with a lap time of 17.404, 82.739 mph. A top 5 invert allowed Devin Kelley, #00, to start first. A lap wasn’t completed when Davey Smart, #14, Kevin Eby, #03, Scott Bumgarner, #24, and Reynolds, all were involved in an incident in turn 4. Caution #2 was waved on lap 26 when Smart rolled to a stop on the backstretch. Marlin Yoder, #08, rolled to the win and he was followed by Kelley in second. Jacob Hayes, #3, who was subbing for Kayla Eby came home 3rd. Mike Hatton, #12, was track champion for 2024.
The last race of the night and of the year was Limited Late Model Division. William Aldred, #9, was the pole sitter with a lap time of 16.023, 89.859 mph before the invert. This allowed Dennis Trivette, #28, to start P1. Zack Franks, #1, rolled to a stop on the backstretch to bring out the night’s only caution. Aldred appeared to win but was disqualified in postrace inspection. Hudson Sharp, #15, claimed the win. Austin Harris, #59, claimed second and the track championship for 2024. Taylor Reimer, #25R was third.
Tonight ends our 2024 racing season for Tri County Speedway. We hope all race fans have enjoyed the food at Tri County Speedway along with all the racing entertainment in all the many divisions. We look forward to the 2025 racing season. Please check our website for the upcoming 2024 racing banquet time and location. We hope you have a blessed holiday season!
Article Credit: Debbie Setzer
Submitted By: Chris Lesondak