Championship Night Ends the Season with Multiple Thrillers – September 1st, 2018
Championship Night Ends the Season with Multiple Thrillers
9/1/2018
WAYNESFIELD, OH (9/1/2018)- As the lights have shut off for the final time at Waynesfield Raceway Park in 2018, the season ended the only way possible, seeing three and four wide racing as the points battles came to a close. Despite heavy rain late in the afternoon, officials were able to prepare the track for what became an epic night of fast racing. Dallas Hewitt, Shane O’Conner, Chuck Weigt, Brad Racer, and Ryan Okuley each became victorious in their respected classes, winning the final feature events of the season. The points championships also came to a close seeing Hewitt picking up his second Non Wing track championship, Brent Hole picking up his first in the UMP Modified class, Brad Strunk winning his second championship and going back to back years in the AMSA Mini Sprints, Chris Hicks also going back to back winning his fifth track championship in the Tough Trucks, and Robbie Tuttle winning his first ever championship in the Compact class.
With a field of 16 cars strong, the current points leader entering the night Dallas Hewitt would manage to draw the starting pole position for the Quest Federal Credit Union Non-Wing Sprint car feature event. Hewitt remained fast all night long winning his heat race and finding himself up front for the entire 25 lap A-main event. Heading into the feature, he held just an 11-point lead over Lee Underwood, and Drew Rader would sit just 17 points back in third. A lot needed to happen for Underwood or Rader to put themselves in that top spot, neither of which were able to find any success in the final event of 2018. Hewitt would pull himself away from the rest of the field within the opening laps, but forth starting Matt Westfall wouldn’t let Hewitt walk away easily. Westfall had his hands full with sixth starting Paul Dues, but once around he put his eyes on the tail tank of Dallas Hewitt. Just as Westfall (who finished with three wins on the season at WRP) was attempting to pass for the lead, the caution flag would come out on lap 15 for Lee Underwood. This left clean air for leader Dallas Hewitt, and it wasn’t until the final five laps that Westfall would once again begin his hunt. Coming to the white flag Hewitt and Westfall raced side by side for the lead, but Hewitt showed why he was winning the points championship, as he drove his number 18 car back into victory lane, earning back to back victories for the final two events of the season. Westfall would finish in second, Paul Dues, Travis Hery, and Luke Hall the remaining top five. Hewitt earned his second track championship at Waynesfield Raceway Park, his first coming in 2013.
The division seeing the largest car count of the season was the Satellite Connections UMP Modified’s, ending their season with nearly 60 cars competing in 2018. The points battle coming into the night separated Brent Hole out front from Scottie Williams in second by just 12 points. Those two were the cars to watch as the night went on, but a late charge in the season from Shane O’Conner saw himself winning the final two races of 2018. O’Conner and Williams had a battle in the heat race, with O’Conner besting the Cat Fish by just .009 seconds at the line. O’Conner remaining fast all night long managed to draw and start fourth the in 20 lap feature event. Williams able to pick up the pole starting position, had to finish six spots ahead of points leader Brent Hole in order to take the championship. But as Hole would start in the top four, that left little room for change entering the feature event. A three-car battle out front left O’Conner, Williams, and 7th starting Jerry Bowersock to battle for the top position. Bowersock would manage to pass Williams for second, but O’Conner found something on the race track no one else would and pulled away for his second victory of the season. Bowersock, Williams, Hole, and Tom Treon would round of the top five. Hole able to finish where he started securing the 2018 Modified track championship, and moving himself into the history books, picking up his first track championship.
A class that was once considered to be a startup division for young racers, now has found itself to be one of the top tier classes around the 1/3rd mile. The Performance Powder Coating AMSA Mini Sprints averaged nearly 20 or more cars a night, seeing multiple first-time drivers and veteran drivers competing against each other. Brad Racer and Adam Schmenk would pace the field up front, Racer in the top five in points entering the feature event. Racer able to pull himself away from the rest of the field, would end his final laps battling with forth starting Ryan Barr, and current points leader Brad Strunk. Strunk started seventh in the feature event, holding a 23-point lead over Jac Nickles. Racer would never have a problem though once in clean air, driving through lap traffic and fighting off a late charge from Barr. Racer in victory lane was proceeded by Barr, Strunk, Daugherty, and Powell. Powell started 11th and managed to work his way into the top five. One person that knows his way around the 1/3rd mile, was current points leader Brad Strunk, who was able to hold his top spot position, and picked up his second track championship, going back to back years.
Another division that remained strong all season was the Block Insurance Tough Trucks. That was no different this Saturday, as the field was almost 20 strong and the top four in points all starting in the first three rows. Kevin Knittle and Chris Bitters would lead the lead, set to go fifteen laps around the 1/3rd mile. Knittle would begin to drop back in the field, as the C4 of Chuck Weigt, Frankie Weigt his brother, and Chris Hicks all began their trek towards the front of the field. Chris Bitters would lead for the first 12 laps as forth starting Chuck Weigt was able to make a pass for the lead as the trucks came out of turns three and four. Chuck able to hold on for the final few laps despite Bitters and Hicks closing in, and he would drive his C4 machine into victory lane for the first time this season. Chuck Weigt was proceeded in victory lane by Bitters, Hicks, Knittle, and Frankie Weigt. Entering the race Hicks held a nine-point lead over Frankie Weigt and Chuck Weigt in third 13 points back. Despite winning the race, Chuck was unable to take the points lead, but did manage to pass his brother to finish second in points. Hicks not only wins back to back championships but is also now a five-time Waynesfield track champion.
The final A-main of the night ended in Waynesfield fashion, racing three and four wide for the Indian Lake Outfitters Compacts. Entering this final feature, Robbie Tuttle the current points leader managed to find himself starting on the pole position, and leading Justin Durflinger by just nine points. Durflinger started seventh, and was unable to move his car forward, but a fantastic battle brewed up front. Fifteen laps and each lap saw a four-car battle between Tuttle, Brandon McDaries, Rylan Okuley, and Austin Scott. Those cars would pace behind Tuttle for most of the race, even though several cautions managed to create multiple restarts. The final lap was one of the craziest ever seen around the 1/3rd mile, as Tuttle and McDaries raced side by side coming out of turn four. Those cars would get together coming to the finish line, opening the gate for Ryan Okuley to pass and pick up his first ever victory. Okuley finished ahead of McDaries, Tuttle, Scott, and Justin Durflinger. Although he managed to finish third in the feature, that locked in the championship for Robbie Tuttle, picking up his first ever championship at Waynesfield.
Those five feature events wrap up the season at The Field. The 2018 banquet date is still being determined and will be released once decided.
Get the latest Waynesfield Raceway Park information anytime online at www.waynesfieldracewaypark.net, on Facebook by liking Waynesfield Raceway Park, or on Twitter by following @OfficialWRP.
Be the first to know on all things Waynesfield Raceway Park by signing up for the WRP mailing list. Click here to subscribe today.
Race Results
Tough Trucks – Block Insurance
Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
C4-Chuck Weigt[4] ; 2. 2X-Chris Bitters[2] ; 3. 24F-Frankie Weigt[1] ; 4. 37J-Roy Miller[5] ; 5. 70-Terry Klopfenstein[7] ; 6. 11-Darrin Reed[6] ; 7. 316-Ben Hower[3]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps)
71-Chris Hicks[6] ; 2. 99K-Kevin Knittle[2] ; 3. 20K-Bill Keeler[4] ; 4. 99C-Jonathan Coffey[5] ; 5. 22-Dustin Ratliff[1] ; 6. 67-Kyle Fields[3] ; 7. 0-John Sanford[7]
A-Main 1 – (15 Laps)
C4-Chuck Weigt[4] ; 2. 2X-Chris Bitters[2] ; 3. 71-Chris Hicks[3] ; 4. 99K-Kevin Knittle[1] ; 5. 24F-Frankie Weigt[5] ; 6. 37J-Roy Miller[7] ; 7. 20K-Bill Keeler[6] ; 8. 99C-Jonathan Coffey[8] ; 9. 11-Darrin Reed[11] ; 10. 316-Ben Hower[13] ; 11. 22-Dustin Ratliff[10] ; 12. 0-John Sanford[14]
AMSA Mini Sprints – Performance Powder Coating
Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
31-Jac Nickles[1] ; 2. 21B-Ryan Barr[2] ; 3. 22B-Brad Racer[4] ; 4. 23S-Brad Strunk[7] ; 5. 65-Chris Bounds[6] ; 6. 17P-Austin Powell[5] ; 7. 6-Jerry Inbody[3] ; 8. 11J-James Moore[8]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps)
81H-Anthony Haas[3] ; 2. 14D-Nick Daugherty [4] ; 3. 6X-Adam Schmenk[2] ; 4. 22K-Justin Kirk[6] ; 5. 17-Keith Inbody[5] ; 6. 5-Jody Paul[8] ; 7. 49-Aaron Dunham[7] ; 8. 4-Andrew Heitkamp[1]
A-Main 1 – (20 Laps)
22B-Brad Racer[2] ; 2. 21B-Ryan Barr[4] ; 3. 23S-Brad Strunk[7] ; 4. 14D-Nick Daugherty [3] ; 5. 17P-Austin Powell[11] ; 6. 31-Jac Nickles[6] ; 7. 65-Chris Bounds[9] ; 8. 22K-Justin Kirk[8] ; 9. 81H-Anthony Haas[5] ; 10. 6-Jerry Inbody[13] ; 11. 11J-James Moore[15] ; 12. 17-Keith Inbody[10] ; 13. 49-Aaron Dunham[14] ; 14. 6X-Adam Schmenk[1]
Non Wings – Quest Federal Credit Union
Qualifying
1.2DI-Dustin Ingle, 12.112; 2.33M-Matt Westfall, 12.318; 3.21-Travis Hery, 12.337; 4.74-Drew Rader, 12.469; 5.18-Dallas Hewitt, 12.472; 6.87-Paul Dues, 12.484; 7.9N-Luke Hall, 12.489; 8.24L-Lee Underwood, 12.492; 9.82-Mike Miller, 12.514; 10.6W-Scotty Weir, 12.541; 11.53-Steve Little, 12.646; 12.42-Ty Tilton, 12.783; 13.5A-Toby Alfrey, 12.879; 14.69R-Korbyn Hayslett, 13.148; 15.71C-Barney Craig, 13.206; 16.51-Curtis Muhlenkamp, 14.748;
Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps)
18-Dallas Hewitt[1] ; 2. 33M-Matt Westfall[3] ; 3. 74-Drew Rader[2] ; 4. 2DI-Dustin Ingle[4] ; 5. 53-Steve Little[5] ; 6. 5A-Toby Alfrey[6] ; 7. 69R-Korbyn Hayslett[7] ; 8. 51-Curtis Muhlenkamp[8]
Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps)
24L-Lee Underwood[1] ; 2. 9N-Luke Hall[2] ; 3. 87-Paul Dues[3] ; 4. 6W-Scotty Weir[6] ; 5. 21-Travis Hery[4] ; 6. 42-Ty Tilton[7] ; 7. 82-Mike Miller[5] ; 8. 71C-Barney Craig[8]
A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
18-Dallas Hewitt[1] ; 2. 33M-Matt Westfall[4] ; 3. 87-Paul Dues[6] ; 4. 21-Travis Hery[10] ; 5. 9N-Luke Hall[2] ; 6. 2DI-Dustin Ingle[7] ; 7. 6W-Scotty Weir[8] ; 8. 53-Steve Little[9] ; 9. 42-Ty Tilton[12] ; 10. 82-Mike Miller[14] ; 11. 74-Drew Rader[5] ; 12. 24L-Lee Underwood[3] ; 13. 51-Curtis Muhlenkamp[15] ; 14. 71C-Barney Craig[16] ; 15. 5A-Toby Alfrey[11]
Compacts – Indian Lake Outfitters
Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
XS-Austin Scott[2] ; 2. 96-Ryan Okuley[4] ; 3. 7-Brandon Weigt[9] ; 4. 17-Justin Durflinger[8] ; 5. 31A-Audrie Twining[5] ; 6. 1H-Jeff Zwiebel[3] ; 7. 0-Cameron Tusing[7] ; 8. 19-Jeremy Niswonger[6] ; 9. Lil316-Devon Hower[1]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps)
92-Brandon McDaries[4] ; 2. 96H-Tony Heath[1] ; 3. 27X-Robbie Tuttle[8] ; 4. 85-Nick Glasgow[3] ; 5. 69-Kenny Poling[5] ; 6. 518-Jordan Iiams[9] ; 7. 82T-Eddie Tucker[2] ; 8. 1A-Alison Butler[6] ; 9. 18K-Kelsi Twining[7]
A-Main 1 – (15 Laps)
96-Ryan Okuley[4] ; 2. 92-Brandon McDaries[5] ; 3. 27X-Robbie Tuttle[1] ; 4. XS-Austin Scott[6] ; 5. 17-Justin Durflinger[7] ; 6. 7-Brandon Weigt[2] ; 7. 85-Nick Glasgow[8] ; 8. 518-Jordan Iiams[12] ; 9. 31A-Audrie Twining[9] ; 10. 82T-Eddie Tucker[14] ; 11. 1H-Jeff Zwiebel[11] ; 12. 18K-Kelsi Twining[18] ; 13. 0-Cameron Tusing[13] ; 14. 19-Jeremy Niswonger[15] ; 15. 69-Kenny Poling[10] ; 16. 96H-Tony Heath[3] ; 17. 1A-Alison Butler[16] ; 18. Lil316-Devon Hower[17]
UMP Modifieds – Satellite Connections
Qualifying
1.34X-Shane O’Conner, 13.642; 2.95J-Jerry Bowersock, 13.728; 3.16-Jeff Koz, 13.820; 4.36-Brandon Vaughan, 13.936; 5.1W-Scottie Williams, 13.952; 6.4G-Bill Griffith, 14.051; 7.7-Jordan Conover, 14.169; 8.112-Chris Ullery, 14.217; 9.24-Terry Grilliot, 14.224; 10.21T-Tom Treon, 14.227; 11.ZERO-Brent Hole, 14.246; 12.20K-Bill Keeler, 14.321; 13.M1G-Matt Twining, 14.334; 14.9C-Troy Cattarene, 14.355; 15.17R-Nick Rosselit, 14.477; 16.52-Weasel Phlipot, 14.500; 17.4J-David Treon, Jr., 14.554; 18.11-Kevin Grilliot, 14.754; 19.5H-Brian Hogan, 14.838; 20.8-Adam Lantz, 15.028; 21.1X-JJ Butler, 15.241; 22.55A-Brandon Archey, 15.241; 23.71-Chris Hicks, 15.320;
Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps)
M1G-Matt Twining[1] ; 2. ZERO-Brent Hole[2] ; 3. 95J-Jerry Bowersock[4] ; 4. 24-Terry Grilliot[3] ; 5. 4J-David Treon, Jr.[7] ; 6. 9C-Troy Cattarene[5] ; 7. 71-Chris Hicks[8] ; 8. 17R-Nick Rosselit[6]
Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps)
21T-Tom Treon[1] ; 2. 4G-Bill Griffith[3] ; 3. 52-Weasel Phlipot[6] ; 4. 20K-Bill Keeler[5] ; 5. 55A-Brandon Archey[8] ; 6. 1X-JJ Butler[7] ; 7. 112-Chris Ullery[2] ; 8. 16-Jeff Koz[4]
Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps)
34X-Shane O’Conner[4] ; 2. 1W-Scottie Williams[2] ; 3. 7-Jordan Conover[1] ; 4. 36-Brandon Vaughan[3] ; 5. 11-Kevin Grilliot[5] ; 6. 5H-Brian Hogan[6] ; 7. 8-Adam Lantz[7]
A-Main 1 – (20 Laps)
34X-Shane O’Conner[3] ; 2. 95J-Jerry Bowersock[7] ; 3. 1W-Scottie Williams[1] ; 4. ZERO-Brent Hole[4] ; 5. 21T-Tom Treon[2] ; 6. M1G-Matt Twining[6] ; 7. 4G-Bill Griffith[5] ; 8. 24-Terry Grilliot[10] ; 9. 52-Weasel Phlipot[8] ; 10. 4J-David Treon, Jr.[13] ; 11. 9C-Troy Cattarene[16] ; 12. 71-Chris Hicks[19] ; 13. 17R-Nick Rosselit[20] ; 14. 8-Adam Lantz[21] ; 15. 5H-Brian Hogan[18] ; 16. 11-Kevin Grilliot[15] ; 17. 55A-Brandon Archey[14] ; 18. 20K-Bill Keeler[11] ; 19. 36-Brandon Vaughan[12] ; 20. 1X-JJ Butler[17] ; 21. 7-Jordan Conover[9]
Victory Lane Photos Provided By Skinny Kenny
