“Big Money Sommey Takes Third Straight Rhode Memorial”
By Doug Watson
Budds Creek, MD- Clements Maryland’s Sommey Lacey scored his first limited late model feature win of the season in last Friday night’s 35-lap,$1000-to-win, Jay Rhode Memorial at the Potomac speedway.
This would be Lacey’s third straight win in this event and fourth overall as he took the win in the inaugural event back in 2003.
Paul Cursey and Derrick Quade led the field to the green flag. Cursey got a good jump at the start as he would lead the event for the first 9-circuits. Meanwhile, seventh starting Kyle Lear had worked his way into second by the fifth lap and would then take the lead from Cursey on lap-10. Lear appeared to have the car to beat until mechanical problems forced him from the event on lap-23. Bruce Kane then inherited the top spot and would lead for 2-laps until sixth starting Sommey Lacey made the winning pass on lap-26. Lacey would then control the remainder of the event to post his 33rd career Potomac limited late model feature win.
“I knew we had a good enough car to win.” Lacey Stated. “It was just a matter of staying out of trouble and making it to the end.” Track conditions aided Lacey in his winning run. “The car seemed to work the best20up top and once we got to the front the car seemed to get a little better. I can’t thank all the guy’s on the crew enough for all their hard work.” Point leader Tommy Wagner Jr. came on strong late in the event to post second, early leader Paul Cursey was third, PJ Hatcher came from 14th to collect fourth and Dave Adams posted his career best LLM finish taking fifth. Heats for the 15 cars on hand went to Wagner and Lacey.
In the 16-lap street stock feature Walt Homberg made his season debut and scored a flag-to-flag feature win. Homberg took the lead on lap-one and then held off Kyle Nelson for the remainder of the event to post the win. Ben Bowie took third, Barry Williams Sr. was fourth and Barry Williams Jr. completed the top-five. Heats went to Homberg and Bowie.
In other action Darrin Henderson scored his first-ever Potomac feature win in the 20-lap crate late model event, Sam Archer took his first win of the season in the 15-lap Hobby stock feature and defending champion Greg Gunter collected his second four-cylinder triumph of the season.
Limited Late Models 35-laps (Lap Leaders Paul Cursey 1-9, Kyle Lear 10-23, Bruce Kane 24 & 25, Sommey Lacey 26-35)
1. Sommey Lacey 2. Tommy Wagner Jr. 3. Paul Cursey 4. PJ Hatcher 5. Dave Adams 6. Ed Pope 7. Chuck Cox 8. Mark Jones 9. Glen Buckler 10. Mike Latham 11. Kyle Lear 12. Bruce Kane 13. Derrick Quade 14. Alan Canter 15. Stevie Long (DNS)
1. Walt Homberg 2. Kyle Nelson 3. Ben Bowie 4. Barry Williams Sr. 5. Barry Williams Jr. 6. Kevin Cooke 7. Troy Kassiris 8. Scott Wilson 9. Kurt Zimmerman 10. Wendy Jessmer 11. Jason Murphy 12. Josh Gass 13. Stephen Quade 14. Country Prince 15. Donnie Smith (DQ
