Daugherty sets the stage for exciting night of racing at Hilltop Speedway

With the sun shining, fans filling the stands, and 105 cars in the pits, racing action was sure to excite at the Hill for the street stock invitational at Hilltop Speedway Saturday, June 14.The drivers did not disappoint.The Holmes Pest Control Street Stocks had a field of 21 for the night’s $1,000 to win invitational. Setting fast time was Kyle Moore with a time of 16.854. Picking up each of the two heat wins were Bob Daugherty and Mike Lonas, while the dash win went to Moore, placing him on the pole for the night’s feature event.Bringing the field to the start of the 25-lap feature was Moore with Matt Shroyer on the outside. Jumping out front was Moore, as troubles sent Shroyer pit side, moving Daughtery up to second. As the green dropped once again, Daughtery would make a hard charge at Moore. However, he was unable to make it stick. With Moore out in front, he would blow a left rear tire forcing him pit side to change it and restart tail, placing Daughtery on point for the restart. While Daughtery fended his position, Moore was working his way back through the field up to second. After a final caution that would bunch the field back up, it was Daughtery who would go on to pick up the victory, followed by Moore, Dave Potts, John Wilson, and Bob Chilcote. The JPR Auto & Tire, Winning Edge and A & B Roofing and Construction Mini Wedges had a total of 17 wedges, seven on the small track and 10 on the large track. Picking up the heat race win on the small track was Braxton Wilson, with Chase Settles and Destinie Bates picking up heat race wins on the large track.After a few rough starts on the small track, the green was out and it was Wilson out in front. Able to defend his position through both restarts and challenges from Zoe Stafford, Wilson would go on to win his first feature at Hilltop this year. Rounding out the top five were Stafford, Nick Large, Kyla Dillon and Blake Morris.On the large track, it was Settles starting on the pole with Karyssa Beagle moving up to the outside after issues forced Bates to scratch. As the green dropped it was Settles who bolted to a commanding lead over the rest of the field as he would go on to pick up the win. Rounding out the field was Savanna Uhl, Justin Jessop, Landon Anderson and Logan Duncan.With a six-car field, the Novice Mini Stocks rolled onto the track, with Bryon King and Samantha St. John on the front row. Working his way to the front from the tail was Colten Priebe, who would go on to pick up the win followed by St. John, Blake Morris, King and Dustin Camp. There was a 15-car field for the Barnes Performance Unlimited Mini Stocks with Michael Rose and Blaine Markey picking up wins in the heats, setting the front row for the feature. With Rose leading the field down the backstretch to the green, he would ultimately take the lead and the win with a caution-free, green to checkered finish. Second went to Blaine Markey, third to Kevin Markey, fourth to Jason St. John and fifth to Priebe.Running third in the night’s order was the Holmes Tire Late Models with a 14-car field. Setting fast time for the night was Devin Moran with a 15.463, placing him in the dash, which he would go on to win. Picking up the heat race win was Dave Hornikel. Setting the pace to the green, it was Moran and Matt Irey on the front row. As the green dropped, Moran would jump out to a commanding lead, working his way through lap traffic to pick up his fourth win in four appearances at Hilltop Speedway. Finishing second was Dave Hornikel, third was Rick Mardis, fourth George Lee and fifth went to Ty Myers. Rolling onto the track next was the Barnes Performance Unlimited Modifieds with a 20-car field. Fast qualifier for the night was Chris Basich with a time of 16.474. Heat race one win went to Hilton Eppley with heat two going to Denny Benjamin. Picking up the dash win was Anthony Kinkade. With Kinkade bringing the field to the green, he would take the lead followed by Rory Reed. Caution would come out as Robin Duston would go to the pits to change a flat, placing him on tail for restart. Back under green, Kinkade was still leading the field, as a three way battle between Reed, Chris Basich, and “Stormin” Norman Aronhalt ensued for second. Caution would fly as Basich took over second followed by Aronhalt and Reed. However, tire troubles would also force Aronhalt pitside for a change, restarting tail. Under green once again, it was Kinkade out front, and he went on to pick up his first-ever feature at Hilltop Speedway. Basich picked up second, with third and fourth, after working their way back from the tail, went to Duston and Aronhalt, with fifth going to Reed. The Bugs-R-Gone Trucks rounded out the night with a 12-truck field. Picking up the heat race wins were Roley Heyder and Cole Lillibridge, setting the front row of the night’s feature. Setting the pace was Heyder, who would jump out to the lead. Fending off several challenges by Lillibridge, Heyder would go on to pick up the win. Rounding out the top five was Lillibridge, Kevin Potts, Jerry Gardner and Jim Large.