Groves makes history

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Groves makes history, McGill, Thomas, use cautions to win.

(Kerens, W.V. 6-16-12) It was Aarons kids night at the Elkins Raceway Friday night. Another fine crowd saw some side by side racing not common over the last few seasons, and witnessed history. In the Jenkins Ford Super Late Models, Tim Senic won the first heat while Paul Wilmoth Jr. got nod after nine door to door laps with Billy Holbert. With the twist of the winner from the previous race starting eighth, (Holbert) Senic and Wilmoth started on the front row. Senic blasted to the point and began to build a hug cushion. Wilmoth, Cody hardesty, Steve Booth and Butch McGill quickly filled out the top five. By lap six, Senic enjoyed a full straight away buffer. As Senic dominated the field, McGill slowly worked his way to the front. At the half way mark he was third. On lap 18 the “Doddridge County Terror” passed into second. Senic was still in command, but lapped traffic began to slow his pace. McGill used Holbert’s high line from last week and began to reel in Senic. McGill closed the gap, just as a yellow on lap 22 put McGill on the deck lid of Senic. With the white flag waving McGill pulled even with Senic and drove on by. It was the veteran’s first win at Elkins this season in his 45th anniversary year of racing. McGill placed the Jenkins Ford / J & M Graffix #1MC across the stripe ahead of Senic, Wilmoth, Charlie George and Holbert.

In the Budweiser crate Late Models Chad Green grabbed the lead from his inside pole spot with Duane Moreland, Kyle Thomas, Daniel Hill and Shane Hitt in tow. Moreland pressured Green the first few circuits, with Green getting the advantage. Moreland then had to contend with Thomas, by lap eight the duo roared door to door. At the half way mark, Thomas motored to second and began to turn up the heat on Green. On the restart of lap 13, Thomas pulled to the door of Green, as the two battled for the spot. With five go rounds to go, Thomas made his move a snared the spot. Thomas would put his W G Motorsports / Paint by Grover #32 into victory lane for the first time in 2012. Green blew a right rear tire on the final circuit letting Robert Cossell IV (from eighth) to slip by for second. Green had to settle for third. Moreland was fourth and Hill finished fifth.

History was made in the Miller’s Used Cars Modifieds as Deana Groves became the first female to win a feature in the class. Groves won her heat in the Tri Valley Equipment / Melvin’s Automatic Transmission #GRS 2 and lead flag to flag in the finale. Groves was unchallenged as she bested Mike Murphy, Brent Trimble, JR Payne, and Phil Jeffries.

After changing almost everything on the car after the heat race, Randy Bohan took command of the Valley Supply Street Stock feature on lap three and never looked back. Bohan was never pressured enrounte to his first checkerboard of the season. Ronnie Tincher climbed from eleventh to finish second. James Nelson, Dusty Swecker and J T Tallman filled out the top five.

Donnie Wamsley out ran Mike Frazier, Justin Hornick and Scott Crutchfield to win his third 4 cylinder feature.

Trey Watson held off Logan Hitt to notch his second Mini Wedge checkerboard. Paige Bragg, and Elliot Newlon were third through fifth.





Super Late Model (14); Butch McGill, Tim Senic, Paul Wilmoth Jr., Charlie George, Billy Holbert, Cody Hardesty, Skip Hare, Steve Booth, Dusty hamrick, Derek Doll, Shaun Poling, Jamie McCloud. DNS; Bob Gordon, James Crites. Heats; Senic, Wilmoth.

Crate Late Model (11); Kyle Thomas, Robert Cossell IV, Chad Green, Duane Moreland, Daniel Hill, Shane Hitt, Matt Lopez, Derek Rogers, Bob Norman, Louie Krushansky, Mike Thorne, Heats; Green, Moreland.

Modified (11); Deana Groves, Mike Murphy, Brent Trimble, JR Payne, Phil Jeffries, Matt Chenoweth, Robert Smith, Josh Revels, Brandon Kerr, Michael Cromer, Kenny Harris, Vic Vandergrift. Heats; Groves, Trimble.

Street Stock (15); Randy Bohan, Ronnie Tincher, James Nelson, Dusty Swecker, J P Tallman, Jamie Keene, Bill Deem, Jason Mullens, Rick Isner, Ryan Watson, Josh Mullenax, Rick Knicley, Kenny Vest. DNS; D. Isner. Heats; Swecker, Tallman