It’s official. Paul Wilmoth Jr is on a hot streak.

The Clarksburg hotshoe mastered the highbanks of the Tyler County Speedway, turning back a star studded field to become the first 3 time winner of the nation’s second oldest topless late model event.

With 116 cars packing the pit area, including 32 super late models, the event took an interesting turn when mini-wedge feature winner Steven West threw a six on the inversion die for the super lates and AMRA modifieds.

Wilmoth hustled from a mid-pack start to win the opening heat, earning the feature pole starting position with 2nd heat winner Steve Weigle alongside.

Fellow heat winners Mike Balzano and Jared Hawkins lined up in row two, as the star studded field roared to life.

Wilmoth and Balzano bolted off the low line to lead the pack, as the entire 18 car field scrambled for position, using all of the finely groomed quarter mile to advance their positions. Weigle fought back to second on lap three, only to see the hard charging Tim Dohm come from his 6th starting spot to take the runner-up position on lap four.

The wild action for the second spot allowed Wilmoth some breathing room, as ‘the Gambler’ sped toward the back of the field, beginning to lap cars by the 14th circuit.

Balzano found an opening on lap 16, scooting back around Dohm to retake second, as those two were harassed by Hawkins, Doug Horton, Weigle and defending winner Mark Banal.

The lone caution came on lap 33, as Kentucky visitor Josh McGuire came to a stop after glancing off the turn one guardrail.

Balzano had been closing the gap prior to the caution, and now sat at the gate to the lead as Wilmoth again led the field to the green.

As the lead duo used two distinctly different lines, Balzano would appear to have an advantage entering the turns, only to see Wilmoth power off to retain his slim advantage.

With two laps remaining, and a pair of lapped cars just ahead, everyone in attendance knew the final act in the play would determine the outcome.

Wilmoth deftly dispatched both cars with a single move entering turn one, then sped away from the frustrated Balzano to become the first three-time winner of this Mountain State spring classic.

Wilmoth’s ‘Braden Drilling/Midcap Land & Timber/ DKM Hauling/ NAPA’ sponsored No. B1 cashed a $4,000 winner’s check, and led a lead trio that included runner-up Mike Balzano and Tim Dohm for the podium finish positions. Eddie Carrier Jr and Doug Horton rounded out a top five parade of West Virginia drivers to the pay-off window. Mark Banal, Jared Hakins, Joe Loudin, Steve Weigle and fast qualifier Andy Bond rounded out the top 10.

‘How can you explain this?’ Wilmoth exclaimed when asked about his current win streak in the victory lane interview. ‘I’ve been blessed, it just means so much to be the first 3 time winner of this race, especially when you have the opportunity to race with guys like Balzano, Dohm and Carrier.’

Andy Bond and Butch McGill were the two B-main event winners.

Donnie Nething of Hannibal, Ohio was flawless in earning his first ‘Sistersville Center Genesis Health Care’ AMRA modified feature of the season.

The father/son team turned back a stout top five in the 20-lap event that saw only a pair of cautions. Past AMRA champions Louie Krushansky and Mike Wilson ran side by side just inches off Nethings spoiler in a nail biting three-car lead battle, but Nething never faltered, bringing his unsponsored No. 21 Lightning Chassis home ahead of Wilson and Vic Vandergrift, who charged from fifth to third in the final four laps. Brian Propst and Mark Dickson completed the top five.

Nething and Krushansky were the heat winners.

New Martinsville’s Joel Prosser was dominant in winning the Litman Excavating KoM feature event.

Prosser’s ‘Dutch Pantry Restaurant/ Amsoil’ sponsored No. 77 ran away from a entertaining three-car battle for second that saw Zack Dohm narrowly edge Sonny Conley and Freddy Carpenter for the spot. Michael Griffin rounded out the top five in a feature slowed only twice for cautions.

Dohm and Prosser took prelim honors.

Cairo Brian Shaffer showed the field he will be the man to beat, as he repeated his opening night feat by winning the ‘WXCR 92.3 Classic Rock’ Pure Stock main event. Brad Thomas stayed glued to Shaffer, looking for an opening that never materialized, as only a lap one caution slowed the action.

Shaffer’s ‘Barker’s Marathon/ Davis Bros. Photography/ Perkins Supply’ sponsored No. 44 led Bad Thomas, David Kile, Danny Thomas and Jeff Fornash made up the ultra-competitive top five.

Shaffer, Brad & Danny Thomas were the heat winners.

Middlebourne’s Jacob Lash benefited by a late race leaders accident to win on opening night, but needed no help to pick up his second in as many nights as he dominated the ‘Wayside Furniture’ Mod-Lite feature event.

Lash half tracked the competition, as Tony Tatgenhorst, Jamie Watson, Zack Watson and Bobby Kimball trailed at the checkers. Lash won the lone heat race.

The ‘Custom Engraving & Awards’ Junkyard Warrior twin features were taken by Mitch Eddy and first time winner Josh Fulks. Eddy turned back Dave Wamsley and John Sinnett, while Fulks sped home ahead of Ivan Wamsley Jr and Brandon Doll.

The MWRA mini-wedge main went to Steven West ahead of Anastasia Jones and Caleb Thomas.

RESULTS:

Midcap Land & Timber Late Models:

Topless 50 - Paul Wilmoth Jr, Mike Balzano, Tim Dohm, Eddie Carrier Jr, Doug Horton, Mark Banal, Jared Hawkins, Joe Loudin, Steve Weigle, Andy Bond, Tim Senic, Dusty Hamrick, Butch McGill, Josh McGuire, Doug Eaton, Steve Wilmoth, Gary Midcap Jr, Ricky Williams.

Sistersville Center Genesis Health Care AMRA Modifieds:

Donnie Nething, Mike Wilson, Vic Vandergrift, Brian Propst, Mark Dickson, Louie Krushansky, Tom Sigler, Dusty Boley, Robin Ours, J.P. Roberts, Darren Glover.

Litman Excavating KoM Crate Late Models:

Joel Prosser, Zack Dohm, Sonny Conley, Freddy Carpenter, Michael Griffin, James Cochran, Jim Quaigg, Daniel Hill, Randy Gibson, Mike Cochran, Brian Rush.

WXCR 9.3 Pure Stocks:

Brian Shaffer, Brad Thomas, David Kile, Danny Thomas, Jeff Fornash, John Watson, Greg Conger, Cody Henthorne, Al Wagner, Jason Maisey, Steven Dotson, Chris Ice, Mel Furgeson, Curtis Bradford, Tim Furgeson, Robby Archer, (dns) Mike Mason, Travis Thomas & Scott Forrestor.