“Lear Closes Hollidge Era With Coveted Limited Late Model Triumph”
“Captain Hardy Docks in Crate Late Model Victory Lane”
By Doug Watson
Budds Creek, MD (10/5/24)- Severna Park Maryland’s Kyle Lear closed the promotional era of Ronnie and Denise Hollidge with his victory in the 30-lap “Kevin Cooke Memorial” last Saturday at Potomac Speedway. Lear, the 2024 Limited Late Model champion, steered his iconic Rocket No.151 to his 3rd win of the season and the $2222 pay day that came with it.
Lear took the lead from Sam Archer with a bold outside move off turn number two on the third lap and set sail. While Lear set the pace, 9th starting Kenny Moreland arrived in second by the sixth lap, but would not get close enough to mount a serious challenge as Lear would run off to his 29th career division feature win. Kyle’s when would also be special in the fact that it would be his overall 75th career feature win. “We kind of let one get away last night but we were determined to get this one tonight.” Lear explained in victory Lane. “Ronnie and Denise has given us a great place to race all these years and they’re like family so it gave us a lot of incentive to try and get the win here tonight.” Tire choice was key to Kyle‘s winning drive. “We went with the hardest tire we could find and even though they started going away towards the end, we had enough to get the win.” Derick Quade took third, Keith Jackson was fourth and after recovering from an early race pitstop, Kyle Hardy would complete the top five. Taking heat race victories over the 31 car field were Jeremy Pilkerton, Derick Quade, Kyle Lear and Sam Archer with Cody Lear taking the B main win.
Kyle Hardy also became a 3-time Potomac winner with his victory in the 25 lap Crate Late Model feature. Hardy’s 12th career division win came in his Rocket No.99 and netted him a $2000 winners check.
Corey Almond jumped into the race lead at the drop of the green flag and would hold the top spot until Kyle Hardy arrived with an outside move off turn four to take the lead on the 14th lap. Almond would stay in Hardy’s tire tracks for the remaining laps, but Hardy had his car dialed into perfection, eventually taking the win by five car lengths at the checkered flag.
“Corey was racing me there pretty hard and I knew he was going to be tough to get around but he really made me work for it.” Said Hardy. “It’s really pretty special to get the win down here tonight with it being the last night, I got my first ever win here and this place will always be special to me.” Ed Pope Jr took third with Gregory Carrico and Trevor Collins completing the top five. Heats for the 22 entries went to Corey Almond, Trevor Collins and Kyle Hardy.
Mason Hanson took the $1556 to win “Dale Reamy Sr Memorial” Street Stock event for his 2nd Poromac win of the season over Scotty Nelson, Dylan Rutherford, PJ Hatcher and Tommy Wagner Jr.
Eric Hanson scored his first win of the season in the 20-lap, $750 to win, Jim Gardner Sr Hobby Stock event over Brian Hubbard, Mason Hanson, Kristopher Hutton and Colin Long.
Justin Hatcher made it to clean sweep of the weekend as he won Saturday’s 20 lap strictly stock feature with Alan Griffith Jr scoring his second consecutive nationals win in the 20 lap, Roadster main event.
Limited Late Models (30-laps)
Kyle Lear, Kenny Moreland, Derick Quade, Keith Jackson, Kyle Hardy, Sam Archer, Justin Williams, Devin Frey, Wayne Bryant, Andy Fries, Austin Lathroum, Dale Murphy, DJ Garrett, Kyle Moser, Cody Lear, Jeremy Pilkerton, Trevor Collins, Gunnar Walls, Dale Hollidge, Bryan Benton, Chuck Cox, Jonathan Raley, Brandon Long, Ray Ciccarelli DNQ- Eric Groah, Dylan Brown, Deuce Wright, Chris Fretwell, Lee Zeger, George Dixon Jr, John Moser
Crate Late Models (25-laps)
Kyle Hardy, Corey Almond, Ed Pope Jr, Gregory Carrico, Trevor Collins, Wesley Crump, Ben Bowie, Trae Armel, Tyler Hoy, Ben Scott, Jarrett Edwards, Davis Lipscombe, Mike Raleigh, Scott Sweeney Jr, Tommy Armel, Garrett Donnell, Josh Dotson, Doug Penny, Josh Williams, Ray Ciccarelli, Chase Hardy, Megan Emory
Street Stocks (25-Laps)
Mason Hanson, Scotty Nelson, Dylan Rutherford, PJ Hatcher, Tommy Wagner Jr, Wyatt Hanson, BJ Jenkins, Marty Hanbury, Steve Hilgenburg, Stevie Gingery, Dalton Tankersley, John Cobb, Matt Randall, Brandon Lowery, Matt Tarbox, Ben Pirner, Jason Penn, Gerald Shannon, Adam Breeden, Jonny Oliver, Trent Holmes, Cody Sumption, Kyle Nelson
Hobby Stocks (20-laps)
Eric Hanson, Brian Hubbard, Mason Hanson, Kristopher Hutton, Colin Long, Corey Bradley, Greg Morgan, Connor Cheseldine, Billy Crouse, Mark Wroble, Kenny Ellis, Bud Randall, Richard Inscoe, Brandon Martin, Johnny Hankins, Blake Decker, Robert Martin, Wyatt Hanson, Trent Clemmons, Brad Shannon, Dave Adams, Evan Foust, Mikey Latham, Dave Rutherford, Tommy Dennison DNS-Richie Gibson, Kayce Gordon, Hilton Pickeral, Richard Martin
Roadsters (20-laps)
Allen Griffith Jr, Justin Bottorf, Stephen Suite, Cody Bottorf, Larry Lamb, Jason Jarvis, John Hammett, Brian Skelly, Joey Suite, Robby Strain, Jay Lowman, Brandon Tessitore, Dominic King, Tom Paddock, Garrett Cobb, Danny Cronin, Justin Borman
Strictly Stocks (20-laps)
Justin Hatcher, Nabil Guffey, Larry Fuchs, Ricky Sexton, Jayden Hatcher, Shawn Howsare, Walt Lemon, John Hardesty, Greg Mattingly, Sarah Culver, Greg Mattingly, Johnny Hardesty, Kelly Crouse, Dave Rutherford, Pat Kelly, Bob Todd
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