Conley and Baker in Hilltop Doubleheader
by Ken Cunningham

Millersburg OH - June 9 - Hilltop Speedway assembled an action packed night of full fendered racing and with $1200 up for grabs it was the Super Late Models who recieved top billing and big bucks attracted many quality machines. Running for a $700 winners take the Limited Late Models were second billed but gave the packed grandstands a first class show. It wouldn't be a
complete show without Pure Stocks and Mini Stocks as these two divisions always perform
and entertain with wide open non stop action. What a great bunch of hard core racers.

Qualifying was the first order of business and with any new speedway the track records will be broken but an unusual circumstance arose when two names were added to the Late Model record books. Rick Aukland and Rick Bond both blistered the 5/16ths mile oval turning in identical times of 14.976 seconds. Two intense heats and a fast dash followed with last lap position changes in all. DJ Cline won the first heat followed by Clint Coffman while Norm Aronhalt came back from an early tangle to nip Dave Hornikel for third.
Scott Peltz took command of the second heat with the real battle between J.R. Gentry and Blaine Aber both racing for third. Under the white flag this duo caught second running Charlie Duncan and by checkers a blanket finish saw Peltz first, Gentry second, Duncan third, and Aber the final fourth. The fast dash had its share of thrills and spills with Corey Conley under the checkers first followed by Rick Bond and Eric Myers finishing third after his car was tossed
airborne during a run in with Randy Scott.

Thomas Bakers night got off to a great start after a heated battle with Eric Smitley for the first Limited heat win. Charlie Duncan cruised to victory in the second heat followed by the # 02 machine wheeled by Kristen Flory. Pure Stock heats were won by Fred Snyder and Frank Oriti while Terry and Mark Adkins made it a family affair by winning the two Mini Stock heats. Excitement filled the air as the main event rolled onto the track paced by Rick Bond outside of polesitter Corey Conley and a top quality field of Late Models behind. At the drop of the green it was obvious Conley was on his game and immediately moved out front. All eyes moved to Ryan Markham and Rick Aukland as the two raced side by side until a caution waved for Scott Peltz, Charlie Duncan, and Blaine Aber all blocking turn 2. Peltz retired from action and green flag racing resumed with Dave Hornikel, Norm Aronhalt, and Rick Armstrong racing three wide when a rare slip by Markham brought out another yellow. The field quickly reassembled with the 5m on the tail and racing continued, in no time at all Markham was once again 3 wide making forward progress. With Conley firmly in the lead Eric Myers challenged Rick Bond on the inside and took the second position which cleared a path for D.J. Cline who followed Myers through. The action mid pack every bit as exciting when Clint Coffman turned up the wick overtaking Aukland, then Cline, and before the white flag passing Myers for the second spot. It may have been a different ending if there were one more lap, but Corey Conley was not to be denied a big Hilltop Speedway feature win. Corey Conley, Clint Coffman, Eric Myers,
Rick Aukland, and D. J. Cline the final top five.

For the third time Fred Snyder roared his #7 Ford Taurus into victory lane over the hard charging team of Dave Haven and Donna Conode. Frank Oriti paid Hilltop a first ever visit in front of Tim Myers and his Fine '55 filling the top 5. The Mini Stock feature rolled along at a very fast pace and saw Mark Adkins and Terry Adkins battle the entire event to see which family member was the fastest. Both would often slide along the corner guardrails but neither would lift, at the checkers the elder Mark Adkins was first. Cody Rinard kept his distance from the family fued to finish third. Next were Rick Maffett and Dee Adkins completing the top five.