“Shocker at Potomac, Lear Collects First-Ever LM Win”
By Doug Watson
Budds Creek, MD- Severn Maryland’s Kyle Lear drove the race of his young career as he scored his first-ever late model feature win in last Friday night’s “Stinger 50” at Southern Maryland’s Potomac Speedway. Lear’s winning run was quite profitable as he collected a cool $5036 for his efforts.
World of Outlaw invader Josh Richards and Austin Hubbard brought the 24-car starting field down to the green flag. Richards wasted little time as he was scored the race leader by the events first circuit. As Richards continued to set a torrid pace, Lear was on the move and had entered the top-five from his 13th starting spot by the 23rd lap. However, Lear was on a mission as he took second by lap-36 and set his sights on leader Richards. Lear made the winning pass on lap-38 and would then lead the remainder of the event to score his first-career Potomac late model feature win.
“This is unbelievable” Lear stated from Potomac’s victory lane. “I wasn’t even sure the checkered flag was for me.” Lear raced and beat some of the best dirt late model drivers in the business. “Josh (Richards) is a great racer and when we came off of turn four I gave him the outside=2 0lane and we raced hard into turn one and we were able to take the lead.” A fresh power plant under the hood of his Ken Festerman owned Rocket gave Lear all the advantage he needed. “This is the first time out with the new Leggett motor in the car and it was absolutely awesome.”
Jim Bernheisel came on strong late in the event to collect second, Defending MACS champion Jason Covert placed third, Early Leader Josh Richards faded to fourth and WoO regular Rick Eckert completed the top five. Setting fast time in time trials over the 33-car field was Kirk Ryan with a one-lap time of 15.833. Heats went to Jeremy Miller, Kirk Ryan, Ricky Elliott and Richards with Harold Dorsey Jr. winning the consolation. Richards would also take the win in the dash which gave him the pole for the feature.
In the 16-lap street stock feature Kurt Zimmerman scored his second win of the season. Fifth-starting Zimmerman took the top-spot from Craig Tankersley on lap-six and would the have to repel the challenges of a pesky Kyle Nelson to preserve the win. Point leader Donnie Smith was third, Kevin Cooke took fourth and two-time winner Ben Bowie completed the top-five. Heats went to Tankersley and Bowie.
In other action defending track champion Brett Hamilton shook off his early season doldrums as he was victorious for the first time this season in the 20-lap modified main and Buddy Dunagan, also a defending class champion, annexed his first win of the season in the 15-lap hornet event.
Late Models 33-enties 50-laps (Lap Leaders Josh Richards 1-36, Kyle Lear 37-50)
1. Kyle Lear 2. Jim Bernheisel 3. Jason Covert 4. Josh Richards 5. Rick Eckert 6. Ricky Elliott 7. Austin Hubbard 8. Ross Robinson 9. Andy Anderson 10. Deane Guy 11. Billy Wampler 12. Dale Hollidge 13. Harold Dorsey Jr. 14. Roland Mann 15. George Moreland 16. Rob Schirmer 17. DJ Myers 18. Jamie Lathroum 19. Ray Kable Jr. 20. Roy Deese Jr. 21. Daryl Hills 22. Greg Roberson 23. Jeremy Miller 24. Bo Feathers DNQ- David Williams, Matt Quade, Alan Sagi, Barry Lear, Rick Hulson, Scott LeBarron, Louie Littlepage, Jeff Plikerton. DNS-Kirk Ryan
