Hartman First to the Hilltop
by Ken Cunningham

 

Millersburg Oh. June 16 - Jess Hartmans third visit to Hilltop Speedway worked like a charm as he lead the distance to capture Friday nights Modified Mayhem featured event. Many came from behind to challenge but all were turned away during the 25 lap race at the Holmes County dirt oval. A few yellow flags kept a field of twenty cars racing close. Early action saw Kevin Morehouse giving chase to Hartman while Dave Liles and Norm Aronhalt bounced off each other for third which gave seventh starter Allan Baker an opportunity to close in. With just a moment for drivers and fans to catch their breath, yellows for broken driveshafts and suspension parts would eliminate Eric Smitley and Liles from action. Under the green Morehouse could sometimes pull alongside Hartman but was most often busy trying to hold off Baker and Aronhalt while further back Kyle Brown, Tom Conley, and Rory Reed were waging their own war. A yellow flag waved as Took Wiles stopped on the track missing his front tire and Brown retired infield with mechanical woes. When action resumed it was Hartman hard on the gas with Aronhalt, Morehouse, Baker, and Larry Kugel under a blanket in turn four. At the checkered flag it was Aronhalt pressuring Hartman for the lead, Baker and Morehouse back and forth with Kugel trying for both. Hartman is sponsored by EBT Construction, Harpers Auto Body, Go Clean Cleaners, and a lot of great fans who really enjoyed the show.

 

 

A walk thru the pits and seeing the Late Model teams prepare for action gave a sure hint this was going to be a hard earned win and one that would go to who wanted it the most. Ryan Markham was there and in desparate need of a win, fast qualifier Thomas Baker tasted victory in last weeks Limited class now wanting more, Eric Myers who fired off some incredible laps during his heat race, and there's more, over the high banked corner rolled Dash winner Ty Myers alongside Markham to complete the front row. Mark Gardiner and Thomas Baker right behind and both on their game and when the green flag dropped they all wanted to lead the first lap of 25, somehow Baker got out front. Further back and already three wide Scott Peltz, Eric Myers, and Clint Coffman waged their own battle as Markham stepped in front of Baker. It seemed to take no time at all before the front half of the field caught the back half of the field and three distinct groups of front runners sliced and diced through traffic. In one swoop Eric Myers passed lapped cars pursued by Scott Peltz and Ty Myers. A collision in turn two involves Jeff Gress and Blaine Aber, and eliminates Keith Berner. Quickly back to green and at a frantic pace Markham and Baker were neck and neck as Eric Myers overtakes Gardiner and a three way battle still between Peltz, Coffman, and Ty Myers. Fast approaching Norm Aronhalt and Eric Smitley also close behind and with one mistake it could be anybodys race but these professionals would have none of that. Markham won a deserving race with help from Dor Lo Pizza, Stu's Place, Advance Cylinder, Innovative Graphics, and Biscottis Restaurant.

 

 

As soon as the Holmes Tire Mini Stocks were turned loose the action got red hot when Don Lehman got turned sideways in front of the entire pack and miraculously never got wrecked. That situation was quickly settled and the great racing that Hilltop Speedway is becoming well known for soon followed. Team work prevailed as Team EZ 1 split the Adkins Family Racing with Terry Adkins first, EZ1 Andy Parks second, Mark Adkins third, EZ3 driven by Chaney Beagle fourth, and captain of Team Ogle, Tom Ogle fifth.
Fred Snyders three race win streak came to an end when his Ford Thunderbird cut down a tire while leading the event.
The bright green and yellow metalflake # 79 Chevy Camaro of Verne Siegrist was challenging for the lead and was relieved when Snyder retired from action, carrying on to claim a career first Pure Stock Feature Win.
His dad in attendance this victory was the perfect Fathers Day gift.

 

RESULTS:

MODIFIEDS
1st Heat - Allan Baker, Larry Kugel, Tom Conley
2nd Heat - Jesse Wisecarver, Kevin Morehouse, Dave Liles
Dash - Jess Hartman, Kevin Morehouse, Dave Liles, Norm Aronhalt, Kyle Brown, Eric Smitley
FEATURE - Jess Hartman, Norm Aronhalt, Allan Baker, Kevin Morehouse, Larry Kugel, Tom Conley, Jesse Wisecarver,
Rory Reed, Brandon Morrow, Matt Bee Aber, Jason Graham, Ernie Scott, Gary McGregor, Kyle Brown, Took Wiles,
Scott Smith, Dave Liles, Tim Everhart, Justin Morey, Eric Smitley

LATE MODELS
Fast Qualifyer -Thomas Baker @ 15.269
1st Heat - Norm Aronhalt, Clint Coffman, Keith Berner
2nd Heat - Eric Myers, Blaine Aber, Eric Smitley
Dash - Ty Myers, Ryan Markham, Mark Gardiner, Thomas Baker, Scott Peltz, Rocky Owens
Consolation - Larry Smith, Chuck Russell, Josh McMorrow, Kelly Kaufman
FEATURE - Ryan Markham, Baker, Eric Myers, Gardiner, Peltz, Coffman, Ty Myers, Aronhalt, Smitley, Owens,
Aber, Jeff Gress, Smith, Berner, Kaufman, Wes Morrison, McMorrow, Russell

HOLMES TIRE MINI STOCKS
1st Heat - Ed Ray, Mark Adkins, Dee Adkins
2nd Heat - Jason St. John, Andy Parks, Tom Ogle
3rd. Heat - Don Lehman, Terry Adkins, Stan White
FEATURE - Terry Adkins, Parks, Mark Adkins, Chaney Beagle, Ogel, Rick Maffett, Jeremy Lucas, Jason Rowe,
Chad Young, Dee Adkins, Charlie Ray, Jerry Adkins, Willard Yarnell, Josh Morrow, Ed Ray, Stan White, Lehman, St. John

PURE STOCKS
1st Heat - Fred Snyder, Todd Swim, Denny Shear
2nd Heat - Tim Myers, Donna Canode, Dave Haven Sr.
FEATURE - Verne Siegrist, Canode, Haven, Shaun Cains, Snyder, Brian Lillibridge, Aaron Harris, Tom Fultz, Cody Smith,
Bob Chilcote, Kenny Duncan, Denny Shear, Tim Myers, Todd Swim, Keith Tish