Markham King of the Hill
by Ken Cunningham


Millersburg OH - Sept. 15 - Ryan Markham of Ashland Ohio turned in an impressive performance to claim Friday nights feature win by driving his Biscottis Restaurant, Thrifty Muffler, and Dor Lo Pizza sponsored dirt Late Model from his fourth starting position to wrestle the lead from Larry Moran. This was Markhams fourth feature win of the year and only has to show up to win Hilltop Speedways inaugural championship title on Sept 22. Once again the Modified feature came down to the last lap, after leading the entire event Kevin Morehouse was passed in the final corner by Charlie Duncan for a career first Modified feature win. It was business as usual for Troy Anderson in a flag to flag Pure Stock feature win. Since mid season Josh Morrow has been on a tear with his Mighty M0 Mini Stock and won a third main event at Hilltop. Jeff Funk picked up a fourth feature win in the Mini truck division and closely trails Tim Jensen in points.

 

 

Its the Late Models that pack the house at Hilltop and this weeks race was just another reason why. Charlie Duncan couldn't be touched on his way to a heat win and Larry Moran paid a visit to Hilltops Victory Lane via fastest of six and began the main event front row inside next to Lance Elson. When the green flag dropped Ryan was definately "Flyin" with Shane McLoughlin in tow. Markham quickly picked off Elson to set up a side by side battle with Moran that would last several laps. Close behind an old favorite and the rising star were putting on a whale of a show as Rick Bond and Trevor Phillips raced door to door. With Markham finally in control of the lead the rest of the field set their sights on Moran with McLoughlin soon around followed by Charlie Duncan. Next in line was Mark Gardiner but despite trying high and low and at one time a nose ahead Moran held his position to finish fourth.


 

While the stars may shine above the Modifieds always raise a little from below. With heat wins going to Kyle Brown and Rory Reed the night got off to a great start for Kevin Morehouse as he collected a 20th career checkered flag by winning the fast dash. The feature lined up with Morehouse on the pole next to Charlie Duncan and thats how they stayed right up to the final corner when Duncan made a bold move and into the lead for the win. "Chargin' Charlie" Duncan adds a first Modified feature win to a long list of Late Model titles and was behind the wheel of Tom Conleys number 27c. In the Pure Stocks Troy Anderson added another win to his long list and only faced one challenge by Paul Holmes who nearly completed the pass when a yellow flag negated the move. Donna Canode, John Frame, and Fred Snyder filled the top five with Anderson, Frame, and Canode taking heat wins.


 

There was no stopping Josh Morrow as he led the distance to win his third Mini Stock feature event at Hilltop. While Morrow gained a stretch length the rest of the field mixed it up with Mitchell Randolph gaining the upper hand on Terry Adkins and Dustin Hostetler from deep to pass Roy Halsey for fourth. Jeff Funk was all smiles after he won the Mini Truck main over an always strong running Tim Jensen and Dale Mong. The final points race of the season is next at Hilltop with double points on the line. It was just announced that $2500 is offered to the winner of the October 28th Halloween Havoc Late Model special event that also features Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Trucks.


 

Results

Late Model
1st Heat - Charlie Duncan, Rick Bond, Rocky Owens
Dash - Larry Moran, Lance Elson, Mark Gardiner, Ryan Markham, J. R. Gentry, Shane McLoughlin
Feature - Markham, McLoughlin, Duncan, Moran, Gardiner, Blaine Aber, Rick Bond, Ty Myers,
Jeremy Canada, Roger Eveland, Trevor Phillips, Brandon Russell, Gentry, Dave Wolfe, Owens, Elson

Modifieds
Heat 1 - Kyle Brown, Gary McGregor, Jesse Wardell
Heat 2 - Rory Reed, Nick Smith, David Hittle
Dash - Kevin Morehouse, Charlie Duncan, Brandon Morrow, Mitchell Lam, Kevin Potts, Allan Baker
Feature - Duncan, Morehouse, Morrow, Rory Reed, Smith, Lam, Potts, Wardell, Kurt Waller,
Steve Reed, Kevin Doyle, Jason Graham, Tim Everhart, Baker, McGregor, Vernon Mardis, Hittle, Brown

Pure Stocks
Heat 1 - Troy Anderson, Paul Homes, Tom Fultz
Heat 2 - John Frame, John Holmes, Denny Shear
Heat 3 - Donna Canode, Fred Snyder, Keith Tish
Feature - Anderson, Paul Holmes, Canode, Frame, Snyder, Tish, Randy Nisley, John Holmes, Shear, Fultz,
Steve Cunningham, Mike Duncan, Willy Coblentz, Aaron Harris, Nisley, Dave haven Sr., Frank Oriti, Bob Clantz

Mini Stocks
Heat 1 - Roger Hunt, Joe Yoder, Dan Yoder
Heat 2 - Josh Morrow, Brett Adkins, Terry Adkins
Feature - Morrow, Mitchell Randolph, Terry Adkins, Dustin Hostetler, Roy Halsey, Jim Hudson,
Joe Yoder, Dan YoderMark Adkins, Trevor Ridenbaugh, Lewis McConnell, Kevin Lint, Brett Adkins

Mini Trucks
Heat 1 - Jesse Combs, Chaz Odell, Bill Kutz
Heat 2 - Tim Jensen, Jeff Funk, Dale Mong
Feature - Funk, Tim Jensen, Mong, ODell, Rick Jensen, Tiffany Combs, Tim McCloskey, Gail Wallace, Kutz


ABOVE IMAGES ARE THUMBNAILS - CLICK TO SEE FULL SIZE

all photos and material (C) K-RaCe Photo / Ken Cunningham