Hagerstown Finally Beats the Weather, Weaver Late Model Sportsman Star”
“Troutman Scores in Mid Atlantic Mod Contest”
By Doug Watson
Hagerstown, MD (4/15/23)- It was sort of homecoming for Williamsport Maryland Justin Weaver last Saturday night at Hagerstown Speedway. With the schedule being pushed around by weather, the tracks season opener finally took place and Weaver would reign supreme in the 25-lap Late Model Sportsman feature. The win for Weaver, aboard his trusty Rocket no.2J, would be the 33rd of his Hagerstown career.
Danny Zechman paced the field to green and would burst into the race lead as a field drove off turn number two. Zechman’s lead would be short lived as defending track champion Cody Kershner took over on lap three and set sail with Justin Weaver the new runner up. Kershner’s Night with suddenly and as his car quit on lap seven, Handing the lead to Weaver. Despite the repeated efforts of first Kyle Lear and then Trent Brenneman, Weaver would take the win with 21 laps completed of the time shortened event. “This track was phenomenal tonight.” Weaver stated. “Brian Jones and his crew do an amazing job.” After a fourth place finish in the late model feature Friday at Bedford, Weaver and his crew decided to swap engines and enter at Hagerstown. “Our original plan was to go to Bulls Gap Tennessee after Bedford, but with the length of the trip and low on options we just decided to swap motors in one car and keep it local.” Brenneman held tough for second, 12th starting Devin Hart took third with Danny Zechman and Levi Crowl completing the top five. Weaver said fast time in qualifying with a one lap time of 19.805 over the 30 car field as time trials locked in the top 20 with the balance of the field qualifying through a B-Main which was taken by Shawn Lawton.
In the 25-lap Mid Atlantic Modified main it was Hyndman Pa’s Drake Troutman scoring the win in his Jerry Foster owned Longhorn no.5.It would be a weekend sweep for the youthful pilot as he would also take the E-Mod victory Friday night at Bedford. Troutman took the lead from race long leader George Dixon on the 12th lap and would then hold off a charging Mike Altobelli Jr to take the checkered flag. Dixon settled for third, Ray Kable was fourth with Justin Cullum rounding out the top five. The field of 20 was set by time trials with Dixon turning the fastest lap of 20.259.
In support class action, Jason Stoner had a career night as he set fast time in time trials and would take both 20-lap Semi-Late features, ending his win drought that dated back to 2021. The Pure Stocks also ran twin features with Keith Reed collecting the win in the first 20-lap feature, but unfortunately rain interrupted the second event with four laps complete. The final 16 laps of this event will be spun off in next Saturday’s program.
Late Model Sportsman feature finish
Justin Weaver, Trent Brenneman, Devin Hart, Danny Zechman, Levi Crowl, Taylor Farlling, Andy Fries, Shaun Miller, Sam Archer, Rodney Walls, Matt Adams, Aaron Drummond, Jonathan Raley, Eddie Cornett, Brad Benton, Kyle Lear, Austin Warrenfeltz, Shaun Lawton, Wes Hurd, Cody Kershner, Michael Walls, Wesley Bonebrake, Jonathan DeHaven DNQ-Randy Schaeffer, Elwood Sord, Scott Palmer, Matt Murphy, Chase Bowsman
Mid Atlantic Modified feature finish
Drake Troutman, Mike Altobelli Jr, George Dixon, Ray Kable, Justin Cullum, DJ Myers, Cody Oliver, Ridge Bookwalter, TJ DeHaven, Kirk Baker, Jacob Marker, Ryan Dolan, Donnie Farlling, Brandon Inglish, Scott Heath, Frank DiBella, Cole Nagle, Brady Daniels, Roy Clower DNS-Doug Stine
Semi Late feature finish (1)
Jason Stoner, Jasen Geesaman, Chuckie Johnson, Greg Diehl, Steve Kent, Rob Nichols, Ryan Smith, Dwayne Snyder, Shane McQuay, Deakon Snyder, Kenneth Wolfe, Jeremy Mills, Dillon Wilson, Isaiah Miller, Josh Gustaf DNS-Don Woodruff
Semi Late feature finish (2)
Jason Stoner, Dillon Wilson, Jasen Geesaman, Chuckie Johnson, Rob Nichols, Josh Gustaf, Greg Diehl, Steve Kent, Shane McQuay, Jeremy Mills, Kenneth Wolfe, Dwayne Snyder, Deakon Snyder DNS-Ryan Smith, Isaiah Miller
Pure Stock feature finish (1)
Keith Reed, Nick Fogle, Dylan Beavers, Tom Caravello, Tyler Fisher, Randy Linaburg, Lincoln Sutphin, Billy Ecton Jr, Jamie Speelman, Devin Thomas, Bill Ecton Sr, Zach Frost, Carter Shank, Jeff Bosley, John Catlett, Nathaniel Younker, Blake Reed, Charles Noblitt, Brandon Murphy, Glen Grimm DNS- Sam Hoffman, Robert Thompson, Brian Shingleton, Jasper Drengler, Doug Deimler Jr