Hornikel becomes first two-time late model winner at Hilltop
By Mike SwangerAnother big crowd packed into Hilltop Speedway to watch a season-high 113 cars put on a sizzling show on Tim Hawkins Logging and Susans Footwear & Fashion night that also honored all past and present military personnel on hand.Mansfields Dave Hornikel went side-by-side with dash winner Jeremy Canada for the first six laps of the Super Late Model feature, and using the high groove, was able to take control at that point and open up a two-car length lead over Canada.Behind them was a three-way battle for third with Jason Flory, Ryan Markham, and Wayne Maffett Jr., using every inch of the track for position. Just past the halfway mark, Flory worked his way past Canada for second and closed in on Hornikel. A caution with two laps to go for Doug Eaton bunched the field together and on the restart, Flory made one last dive to the bottom to swipe the lead away but came up short as the Imperial Truck Refinishing, Deschners Pizza & Drive Thru, and Fultz Fabrication No. 71 of Hornikel held him off and became the first Super Late Model driver to win two features this year at Hilltop.Canada held on to third as Maffett Jr. edged past Markham at the finish line for fourth. Brad Moore won the last chance race with points leader Charlie Duncan, Maffett Jr., and Wes Hutchinson scoring heat wins.Pulling into the pits with a brand new Diamond race car, seven-time winner Kevin Morehouse didnt miss a beat as the Hanover driver led all the way in the caution-filled Snyder Brothers Tri-State Modified main for his eighth win of the year and 22nd win at Hilltop.Starting beside points leader and dash winner George Lee, Morehouse and his Morehouse Logging, Roberts Excavating, and Sams Used Cars No. 28 would build up a four-car length lead on Lee, who had Hilton Eppley putting the pressure on for the second spot all race long. Randy Gray and Matt Samples both had top five runs going but each caused a caution late in the race that would allow Rick Mardis, who was in the mix of things for top five to finish fourth. After being charged with an opening lap caution, fast qualifier Gary Clark came from 18th to grab fifth. Brandon Russell topped the last chance race with Gray, Mardis and Ryan West claiming the heat wins.Brandon Gardner withstood the early charge of Kenny Daugherty Jr. and then cruised away in the Perrysville-based Maibach Ford and L&L Motors No. 27g for his second Street Stock win this season and 25th overall at Hilltop. Daugherty Jr. spent the whole race battling off Donna Canode, points leader Todd Swim and Darrell Mayer to finish a season-best second. Mayer picked off Swim on lap 10 for fourth and then moved past Canode with three to go for third. Last chance winner, Jose Marsh started 16th and finished sixth as heat winners were Daugherty Jr., Gardner, and Canode.By winning the heat races, it was an all-Adkins front row starting positions for the Holmes Tire Mini Stock feature, and when the checkered flag flew, Killbucks Terry Adkins put the No. 49a into the victory circle for the first time this season as he beat Jerry Adkins by a straightaway. Jerry had to wheel and deal with points leader Jordan James and Mike Rose all race long, as those three would finish in that order with another Adkins, Brett, filling out the top five.After starting the season out with two wins, Galenas Rolly Heyder returned to victory lane in the Circle Track Mini Truck feature. It may have been a little motivation for the driver of the Jack Maxton Parts, All City Auto Wrecking, and Rader Collision No. 10 as his mother watched for the first time ever. Tom Garlick gave Heyder some competition early on as Jerry Gardner would replace Garlick in second on lap seven. Garlick would drop another spot on the next circuit to John Large. Kevin Potts and Scott Gray would take Garlick out of the top five with three laps to go as they finished in that order. Posting the heat wins were Heyder and Gardner.Making his first visit to Hilltop, Londonberrys Joel Richendollar and his Custom Machine and Sports Plus No. 02 Mini Wedge edged out two-time winner Dakota Wyer at the line for the win. Cole Lillibridge, Melanie Bryan, and Triston Lillibridge rounded out the top five.All divisions will be in action on Saturday, July 10, with the Mini Truck Invitational being the featured class.
