Umberger and McMahan take first career wins at Wythe

During a special Monday night race at Wythe Raceway, the half mile high banked dirt superspeedway, young Cody Umberger of Rural Retreat captured his first career victory in the Hornet Division and Leon McMahan of Marion scored his first win in the U-Cars.
Umberger is the great grandson of Wythe Raceway co-founder, BC Umberger and the son of current Exit 54 Exxon Late Model point leader and multi time race winner, Brandon Umberger.
Umberger scored his victory over a tough field of cars edging out Trevor Cregger of Christiansburg, Cole Dutton of Chilhowie, Pie Short of Abingdon and Michelle McMahan of Marion. Completing the finishing field for the Hornet Division was Jay Cox of Rural Retreat, Morgan Widener of Marion, Dakota Wilson of Rural Retreat and Jon Keyes of Sugar Grove.
Leon McMahan was the second driver of the night to score his first career victory in the U-Car Division as he was chased to the checkered flag by Josh Forest of Mount Airy, N.C., Travis Lefler of Rural Retreat, Jake Eaton of Bland and Kevin Gentry of Chilhowie. Completing the 11 car starting field was Doug Glisan and Robert Felts both of Wytheville, Morgan Widener of Marion, Donald Wilson and Jay Cox of Rural Retreat and Pie Short of Abingdon.
Another exciting England Automotive Super Street race saw Brian Coake of Max Meadows lose control of his car on the start of the race and take out Mike Hurley of Rural Retreat and Jake Eaton of Bland. Coake would return to the race, but wouldn’t be competitive as Mike Keith of Rural Retreat held off Saturday night race winner, Daniel Moss of Elk Creek. Keith Griffitts of Sugar Grove, Teddy Tate of Rural Retreat and Steven Quillen of Marion rounded out the top five.
For Quillen it was his best career finish. Completing the top 10 were Jimmy Tate and Michael Hedrick, both of Wytheville, Coake, Will Ferguson of Wytheville and Hurley.
The City Cab of Marion Pro Mini Division had another strong field of cars for the Monday night special and again it was Doug Monday of Max Meadows holding off Duke Bare of Meadowview for the victory.
Gator Cornett of Sugar Grove, Jason Powers of Marion, who led the first five laps, and John Hickman of Abingdon rounded out the top five finishers. Brandon Farris of Marion, Andy Jolliffe of Chilhowie, Jimmy Buchanan of Wytheville, Danny Bland of Glade Spring and multi time Exit 54 Exxon Late Model track champion, Randy Taylor of Troutdale completed the top 10 finishers.
Chris Madden of Gaffney, S.C., dominated in the opening race of the Ray Cook’s Southern National Series beating out Benji Cole of Canon, Ga., and fastest qualifier, Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, S.C.
Forty-four cars took time trials to set the 24-car starting field and local driver, Barry Arnold of Max Meadows, qualified seventh, making the field on time and finished a strong 14th. Rounding out the top 10 finishers were Vic Hill of Bulls Gap, Tenn., Tim Dohm of Charleston, W.Va., Todd Morrow of Cleveland, Tenn., Anthony White of Clarksville, Tenn., Eddie Carrier Jr. of Ona, W.Va, Josh McGuire of Grayson, Ky., and Kerry Jones of Bristol, Tenn.
Racing continues this Saturday night, July 21, with the LC Transportation 200 featuring the second leg of the Exit 54 Exxon Road to the Nationals, a $1,000 to WIN Exit 54 Exxon Late Model race and racing in these divisions: England Automotive Super Street, City Cab Pro-Mini, Open Wheel Modifieds, Hornets and U-Cars. For more information, please visit http://www.WytheRaceWay.com or call (276) 228-5235.