Hard rains and low temperatures caused great concern about the heavy racing surface
and track crews made several attempts to keep up with conditions but attrition was still high as many cars fell out of competition during the night, however many charged on for great results. George Lee shattered the previous track record of 13.858 seconds set earlier this year by
Corey Conley with a time if 13.533 seconds around the high banked 1/3 mile. Lee went on to win the fast dash to earn the pole starting position in the feature. Unfortunately this is where the story gets ugly for the 2007 Hilltop Speedway track champion with seven feature wins on the year. Lee powered high into turn three when the right rear wheel dug into the soft clay sending the car flipping violently airborne and into the highest part of the catch fence before crashing down on top of the guardrail. The car a total loss, safety workers credited
a well designed racing seat and harness with preventing great harm to the driver who walked away very sore but ready to race again another day. The intensity was extremely high and building just before the red lights for this crash came on with action everywhere as
Clint Coffman got the jump on Zach Dohm, Rick Aukland, Andy Bond, Rohn Moon, and
Len Dobrosielski were four wide in turn two and Rich Gardner and Dave Hornikel went full throttle slugging it out down the backstretch. After a lengthy cleanup the cars were realigned and turned loose once again, this time with Eric "Spud" Myers battling door to door with
Ryan Markham for several laps followed by Clint Coffman, Zach Dohm, Rohn Moon, and
Rick Aukland. With about a dozen laps in track conditions began to take a toll and competitors began to fall, including the front running Markham. With Markham out of the way Myers soon opened a healty lead over the field and Coffman running smooth and steady, the C4 machine
of Freddie Carpenter had worked his way past Corey Conley, Jason Montgomery, Rich Gardner, then Dave Hornikel to join the top five and a three way battle with Moon and Aukland before claiming the third spot for keeps. A caution flag brought the field back together that allowed Carpenter to get a nose past second running Coffman just as Corey Conley slowed on the race track and another yellow waved for the final time. Back to green and the race nearing the end Aukland picks up the pace and clears "Fast Freddie" for third and Coffman pulls alongside Myers in an attempt for the lead but even the slightest slip in turn two was all it took for "Spud" to pull away and Aukland to capitalize on the mistake and move into second with Carpenter also right there to take advantage and reclaim third. Rich Gardner was smooth as silk all evening to complete the top five followed by Rohn Moon and Zach Dohm under pressure by
Jeff Esbenshade at the checkers. Corey Conley and Mark Gardiner struggled to complete the race and made the top ten. This was Myers third win at Hilltop Speedway on the year and he proudly carries sponsorship from CRM Colored Mulch, Advance Cylinder of Ashland,
Malcuit Racing Engines, Cyco Custom Products, and Base Racing Fuels.
