Ron Lawson wins at Wythe Raceway

Lawson Picks Up Win

By JUSTIN GREER/Correspondent

The air may have been cool, but the racing action heated up at the 1/2 mile super speedway in Rural Retreat. The Fastrak touring series made its first appearance this past Saturday for a $2000 to win 40 lap main event. All other weekly divisions were also in action.
The Ucars started the night off with a 15 lap feature.  Cody Dutton of Chilhowie, who took the victory last week, went back to victory lane this week. Dutton had to fight off Jake Eaton of Bland and Josh Forrest of Mount Airy, N.C. A caution on lap 13 bunched the field up for a green, white, and checkered finish. Dutton held off Eaton who would end up second and Forrest who finished third.
The Cook’s Clean Center Super Street class put on another excellent race. Guy England of Max Meadows and Jimmy Buchanan of Wytheville led the field to the green. After the completion of the first lap England spun in turn 1. Three other cars were collected in the accident. England would later retire from the event. Up front another side-by-side battle between Eddie Bentley of Sugar Grove and Rural Retreat’s Teddy Tate waged on.
For several laps the two were neck and neck. Bentley would take the upper hand and pull out to a good-sized lead. Mike Keith of Rural Retreat, who had experienced mechanical problems in the past few weeks, finally hit a weekend of good luck. Keith pulled up to Tate in the closing laps and made the pass, landing him in second place. Tate held on for a third place finish over Jimmy Tate, Wytheville, and Keith Griffitts, Sugar Grove.  Bentley took the checkers for the second time this season. He is also the current points leader.
The Open Wheel Modifieds took to the track after the Super Streets for a 20 lap feature. The feature itself was slowed nine times. Each was for a spin or multiple spins. Ron Lawson of Austinville battled his way through the pack over the course of the race putting himself behind Michael Davis, Atkins, on the final lap. It looked as if Davis had the race in the bag, but Lawson, who waited patiently, took the lead on the white flag lap. This was Lawson’s first feature win in 2008. Davis ended up second and last week’s winner Troy Loomis of Sherills Ford, N.C., was third.
The Fastrak Series drivers each took two laps of qualifying. At the end Scott Agee of Radford set the fast time. This did not guarantee him the pole starting spot. The Fastrak series holds a draw before the race. The top six drivers pull out a pill, which tells where they start. David Watts of Buchanan pulled out the lucky number 1. Agee pulled out the number 4.
The race saw a caution on the first lap going into turn one. A multi car pile up involving eight cars started with a single car spin. Two cars were unable to continue. The race stated green until lap 13 when a caution waved for wreck in turn 1.
Vic Chandler of Weaverville, N.C., slid backwards into the turn 1 wall. He was unable to continue the race. Three more cautions waved throughout the race for spins. Watts led every lap of the 40 lap feature. Lee Cooper of Greer, S.C. pulled up beside him on each restart, but Watts was able to keep him behind. Phil Gann of Mayodan, N.C., was right behind Cooper. If he would have slipped, Gann was there. Cooper held on for the second place finish, Gann held on for third.
The Pro Mini Division saw some intense racing between Doug Monday, Max Meadows, and Randy Kincer, Rural Retreat. The two have been up front each week battling for the lead. Monday held off Kincer for his third win of the 2008 season. Kincer, who took the win in the season opener, held on for second. R.K. Dix of Rural Retreat held on for another third place finish.
The night concluded with the Pepsi Hornets. Trevor Cregger of Christiansburg held on for his third win of the 2008 season. Cody Umberger of Rural Retreat held the lead until Cregger passed him on the last lap. Last week’s winner Cole Dutton of Chilhowie held on this week for a third place finish.
This Saturday’s action features all weekly divisions as well as the Children’s Gold Rush. All children will be admitted free for the Kids Gold Rush. 10,000 coins will be spread across the front stretch and the kids will rush for the gold. More information on upcoming events as well as results and points can be found online at WytheRaceWay.com

Wythe Raceway results for May 24:

Dirt Modified – Feature
(Drivers listed in order of finish)
Driver Hometown
Ron Lawson Austinville
Michael Davis Atkins
Troy Loomis Sherills Ford, NC
R K Dix Rural Retreat
Fred Riley Rural Retreat
Will Ferguson Wytheville
Randy Wright Max Meadows
Lance Reynolds Wytheville
Roby Orr Glade Spring
Willie Gibson Abingdon
Taylor Hayes Marion
Mike Johnson Marion
Justin Blevins Marion
Tim Widener Marion
Gator Cornett Sugar Grove

Hornet - Feature
Driver Hometown
Trevor Cregger Christiansburg
Cody Umberger Rural Retreat
Cole Dutton Chilhowie
Michelle McMahan Marion
Cameron Kirk Marion
Jon Keyes Sugar Grove
Clark Cooper Rural Retreat
Morgan Widener Marion
Jonathan Gray Max Meadows

Late Model - Feature
Driver Hometown
David Watts Buchanan
Lee Cooper Greer, SC
Phil Gann Mayodan, NC
John Llewellyn Knoxville, TN
Scott Agee Radford
Dale Ball Johnson City, TN
Brandon Umberger Rural Retreat
Jason Lawrence Pilot
Randy Taylor Troutdale
Ron Parker Lawndolt, NC
Matt Parks Wytheville
Trevor Agee Christiansburg
David Peeples Rural Retreat
Randy Kinder Radford
Justin Hirt Tigerton, WI
Colt Smith Woodruff, SC
Gary Ball Summerville, GA
Erik McKinney Felton, DE
Jackie Cook Radford
Chris Chandler Weaverville, NC
Justin White Marion
Victor Chandler Weaverville, NC
David Wikle Dublin
Clinton Cook Radford
Steve Adkins Hinton, WV
Jesse Helton Rogersville, TN

Pro Mini - Feature
Driver Hometown
Doug Monday Max Meadows
Randy Kincer Rural Retreat
R K Dix Rural Retreat
John Hickman Abingdon
Everett Cox Austinville
Brandon Farris Marion
Jerry Dillow Bluewell, WV
Andy Jolliffe Chilhowie
Cody Hottinger Rural Retreat
Ron Jackson Marion
Chris Martin Troutdale
Gary Rudolph Fries
Jon Buchanan Wytheville
Ronnie Bowers Galax
Travis Lefler Rural Retreat
Dustin Dowell Atkins
Jason Powers Marion
Tim Everson Bland
Aaron Hopkins Chilhowie
J.R. Davis Crockett

Super Street - Feature
Driver Hometown
Eddie Bentley Sugar Grove
Mike Keith Rural Retreat
Teddy Tate Rural Retreat
Jimmy Tate Wytheville
Keith Griffitts Sugar Grove
Tim Robinson Marion
Steven Quillen Marion
Michael Deskins Tazewell
Michael Hedrick Wytheville
Brandon Broyles N Tazewell
Jimmy Buchanan Wytheville
Rodney Surber Sugar Grove
Guy England Max Meadows
Chad Hale Wytheville
Matthew Taylor Max Meadows

UCar - Feature
Driver Hometown
Cody Dutton Chilhowie
Jake Eaton Bland
Josh Forest Mt Airy, NC
Tim Widener Marion
Michelle McMahan Marion
Dakota Wilson Rural Retreat
Cody Umberger Rural Retreat
John Tate Atkins
Jonathan Ensor Marion
Michelle Justus Wytheville
Paul Jones Max Meadows