‘The Bullring’ added 4 new names to the ’09 winners list as the 140 car field bulged the pits, treating fans to an outstanding night of action. With four weeks of racing in the books, the Late Model, FASTRAK & TSMA modified classes have yet to see a repeat winner to date.

The Midcap Land & Timber Late Models required four heat races and a B-main to set the 18-car starting field. The 25 lap feature was literally as good as racing gets, with Joe Loudin grabbing the initial lead. Loudin was immediately pressured by Dan Morrison, and the duo ran side by side until Morrison completed the pass on Lap 5.

One lap later Butch McGill scooted past Loudin and went to work on by-passing Morrison. Meanwhile 9th starting Paul Wilmoth Jr. was making progress towards the front, as three- and sometimes four-wide racing was creating some frantic positional battles.

McGill wrestled the lead from Morrison after a three lap side by side battle on the 8th circuit, with Wilmoth following suit, taking second on Lap 11.

Also on the move was Chris Garnes, clawing his way forward from his 11th starting position, aided by the ability to use the entire track’s width.

The only cautions of the event came on laps 17 and 18, and tightened the field. With 17 cars still on track, McGill put his foot in the carburetor when flagman Todd Gorrell waved the green flag for the final dash to the checkered flag. The battle for second was nothing short of intense, as Garnes wheeled inside of Wilmoth, the pair racing wheel to wheel. This allowed McGill the slimmest of margins, all the veteran needed to score his first ‘Bullring’ feature in two years.

“There’s not too many of these Fords running up front locally nowadays,” said a jubilant McGill.

“I can’t say enough about Tim Liggett and the crew. This is a really good team, and they take a lot of the load off me.”

West Union native McGill’s ‘Jenkins Ford/KFC No. 1MC’ was closely followed by to the stripe by defending track champion Paul Wilmoth Jr. who narrowly turned back the equally hard charging Chris Garnes.

Sixth-starting Chris Carpenter fell back through the field, regrouped, then roared back to post a fine fourth place finish in his first appearance of the season, and early leader Dan Morrision completed the top five finishers.

Morrison, Loudin, McGill and Marshall Wiblin were the heat winners, with Scott Peltz taking the B-main honors.

The third annual ‘Tammy Clegg Memorial’ for the ‘WXCR Classic Rock’ Pure Stock division initially looked as if the race’s inaugural winner Brian Shaffer would notch his second title.

As opening night winner Jeff Fornash squeezed past second running Randy Bohan on Lap 5, Shaffer had ‘Lady Luck’ scorn him while leading for the second time this season. When Shaffer’s mount pulled up lame, Fornash vaulted two positions and took a lead he would never relinquish.

The most impressive run was that of Danny Thomas, whose opening lap spin relegated him to 18th position on the restart.

Aided by only two early cautions, Thomas hustled through the field, grabbing second from Bohan on the final circuit, as both could do nothing but watch Salem’s Fornash flash under the checkered flag, scoring his second win of the season in his ‘Glotfelty Tire/Bykota Inc. No. 99’.

Thomas and Bohan followed with Roland Bell and Cody Henthorn rounding out the top five. Shaffer, Thomas and Bohan were the prelim winners.

Young guns Kyle Thomas and Daniel Hill made the ‘Litman Excavating’ Fastrak Late Model feature a two-horse race early, but were joined by opening night winner Gary Knollinger Jr. at the midway point of the 20 lap feature.

Try as he might, Knollinger couldn’t rattle either, as Pennsboro’s Thomas went on to win his career first Late Model main in his ‘ASCL/Joy’s Disposal No. 57’. Daniel Hill turned in his best effort to date with a solid second place finish ahead of Knollinger. Seventh-starting Joel Prosser was fourth, and 10th starter Shane Hitt was fifth.

Hill and Thomas scored the heat wins.

Gallipolis, Ohio’s Mark Dickson led flag to flag, besting a strong field of TSMA modifieds in the 20 lap ‘Sistersville Center Genesis Healthcare’ modified main event. Darren Glover stayed glued to Dickson’s bumper, but couldn’t find the speed needed to take the point.

An incredible battle raged just off Glover’s spoiler for positions 3-8, just like in the Late Model main, drivers used every inch of the high banks, often fanning out four-wide trying to gain an advantage.

Dickson’s ‘Fannin Farms/ Mike’s Auto Body No. 0’ scored his first win of the season, and strengthened his lead in the Tri-State Modified Association point standings.

Glover was again strong with his runner-up finish, with defending track champion Brian Probst, Randy Gray and Mike Wilson completing the top 5 finishers. Dickson, Glover and Probst took the prelims, with Donnie Nething taking the B-main.

Cambridge, Ohio’s Glenn Underwood turned his first laps ever in a Hot Mod, and made them count by taking the win in the ‘Sigler Fabrication’ Hot Mod feature.

As the class continues to grow, so does the level of competition, as Underwood had to fend off opening night winner Travis Dickson and Greg Conger the entire distance. The trio flew in close formation to the checkered flag with Luke Fairburn and Bob Long finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

Underwood and Conger took heat race wins.

New Martinsville’s Mitch Herrick turned back a trio of challengers in the ‘Wayside Furniture’ Mod Lite main. Tony Tatgenhorst, Bobby Kimball and finally Jamie Watson all took a turn attempting to dislodge Herrick to no avail, as Herrick screamed to his second feature win of the season in the ‘Valley Tire No. B4’.

Jamie Watson was second, as George Englert, Jacob Lash and Chris Kincaid completed the top five. Herrick & Tatgenhorst were the heat winners.

St Marys’ Joey Price narrowly edged Donnie Wamsley and John Sinnett in winning his second ‘Custom Engraving’ JunkYard Warrior main of the ’09 season, while Anastasia Jones continued her dominance in the ‘Bridgeport Equipment and Tool’ MWRA Mini-Wedges, taking the win in their National Championship race.

This Saturday will see ‘the Bullring’ host “Race Fan Bailout Plan Night”, with general admission discounted to a fan friendly $8 and giveaways galore on a night that BDS Promotions says “Thank You” to the fans.

Also don’t forget open practice is slated for the bullring this tonight from 5 to 9.

Results:

Midcap Land & Timber Late Models: Butch McGill, Paul Wilmoth Jr., Chris Garnes, Chris Carpenter, Dan Morrison, Steve Wilmoth, Greg Baumberger, Steve Weigle, Richard Frazier, Scott Irvin, Marshall Wiblin, Joe Loudin, Scott Peltz, Dave Gorrell, Donnie Dotson, Josh Coffman, Ron Clevenger, Nick Corbitt. (dnq) Freddy Carpenter, Robbie Thomas, Carl Byers, P.J. Corbitt, Chad Todd, Bobby Finley.

Litman Excavating Fastrak Late Models: Kyle Thomas, Daniel Hill, Gary Knollinger Jr., Joel Prosser, Shane Hitt, Mike Allen, Derek Doll, Brian Rush, Jim Quaigg, John Watson, Chad Green, Michael Griffin, Shawn Jett.

Sistersville Center Genesis Healthcare TSMA Modifieds: Mark Dickson, Darren Glover, Brian Probst, Randy Gray, Mike Wilson, Doug Hall, Donnie Nething, Louie Krushansky, Thomas Sigler, Darren Smith, Kacy Campbell, Lou Ennis, Cliff Crank, Steve Higgins, Jason Schott, Del Cunningham, Robert Garnes, Joe Haman. (dnq) Brian Blake, Mitchell Sharp, Ted Beaver.

WXCR Classic Rock: Jeff Fornash, Danny Thomas, Randy Bohan, Roland Bell, Cody Henthorn, Donnie Dotson III, Mike Mason, Derek Travis, Justin Hart, Jamie Thomas, Brad Thomas, Zach Travis, Brian Shaffer, Chris Ice, Dustin Sprouse, Mel Ferguson, Jon Vermillion, Scott Meeker, Kevin Dotson.

Sigler Fabrication Hot Mods: Glenn Underwood, Travis Dickson, Greg Conger, Luke Fairburn, Bob Long, Travis Thomas, Kenny Isner (dns) Devin Verardi, Mike Lauer.

Wayside Furniture Mod Lites: Mitch Herrick, Jamie Watson, George Englert, Jacob Lash, Chris Kincaid, Lynn Bartlett, Kyle Gist, Jim Ruckman, Matt Kimball, Steve Weekly, Tony Tatgenhorst, Bobby Kimball, Dusty Haas.

Custom Engraving JunkYard Warriors: Joey Price, Donnie Wamsley, John Sinnett, Rod Nething, Jesse Wilson, Daryl Highley, Josh Golden, Jamie Sigler, Jonathon Sheets, Bill Doll, Brandon Doll, Ivan Wamsley, Josh Fulks, Shayne Brown, (dq) Jay Siglinger, (dns) Lee Morgan.