STUHLER AND HEARN OPEN 2004 SEASON AT HAGERSTOWN WITH WINS
The Hagerstown Speedway opened the 2004 season on Sunday with two familiar names in Victory Lane. The 2003 late model champion Gary Stuhler of Greencastle, PA led all the way to win the 35-lap feature and Brett Hearn of Sussex, NJ held off Matt Sheppard to win the 35-lap modified feature for his 15th career win. For Stuhler, it was his 112th career win at Hagerstown and now only needs two wins to tie the leader, Rodney Franklin.
After two attempts to get the late model feature underway, Gary Stuhler jumped out in front from the pole as Scott Rhodes and Jason Covert followed. By the 5th lap, Stuhler had opened a large lead as Frankie Plessinger worked his way into fifth after starting 11th. Plessinger moved past Covert for third on the 12th lap and five laps later Stuhler was putting the slower cars a lap down. While Stuhler was setting the pace, Plessinger and Covert were waging a torrid battle for the runner-up position. With three laps remaining, Plessinger finally took sole possession of second, but was unable to track down the leader as Stuhler opened the season the same way he ended last year, with a win.
Covert finished third with 13th starting Kirk Ryan fourth. Kenny Pettyjohn, who lost the handle in the first restart, came back through the 26 car field to round out the top five. Completing the top ten were Dan Stone, Dave Hess Jr., Doug Eck, George Lee and David Pettyjohn. Heat winners for the 39 cars were K. Pettyjohn, Stuhler, Rhodes and Stone. Larry Baer and Jason Flory won the consolation events.
"We started out front and that helped a lot" said Stuhler. "I was a little worried on restarts that someone was going to get me but when we got going the car was better. We haven’t really put a game plan together as to what we are going to do but we hope to get the other two wins here this season," added Stuhler when asked about closing in on the career win record.
Brett Hearn started on the pole in the modified feature and quickly pulled away to a commanding lead as Raymond Bliss, Kyle Strickler, Alan Johnson and Matt Sheppard tried to keep pace. Ninth starting Shepard moved into second on lap six as Hearn’s heated pace had the back of the field going a lap down by the ninth lap. A caution on lap 10 wiped out Hearn’s large lead, but the leader was able to open another large lead by lap 20. As Hearn entered heavy traffic with five laps remaining, Sheppard was able to close in on the leader’s bumper, but Hearn was able to open up some breathing space at the end to win by six car lengths over Sheppard. Bliss and A.J. Romano were next with Ricky Elliott coming from 12th to round out the top five. Strickler, Billy Pauch, Mike Colsten, Jamie Mills and J.R. Heffner finished out the top ten. Romano, Del Rougeux and Keith Hoffman were the heat winners for the 31 modifieds and Butch Tittle won the consolation.
"We had a good set-up and the car was good, but we had a little trouble there at the end in close traffic. I wished this was the Octoberfest Qualifier," said Hearn referring to next week’s race.
Next Sunday, March 7th, the big block modifieds will share the double-header program with the late models. The winner in each 30-lap feature will receive a guarantee starting spot in the Octoberfest 350 the end of October. Race time is 1:30 with gates opening at 11 A.M. Warm-ups begin at 1 P.M.
RESULTS : 35-LAP LATE MODEL FEATURE: 39 Cars (Lap Leaders: Stuhler 1-35) 1. Gary Stuhler; 2. Frankie Plessinger; 3. Jason Covert; 4. Kirk Ryan; 5. Kenny Pettyjohn; 6. Dan Stone; 7. Dave Hess Jr.; 8. Doug Eck; 9. George Lee; 10. David Pettyjohn; 11. J.T. Spence; 12. Devin Friese; 13. Tim Wilson; 14. Larry Baer; 15. Josh Richards; 16. Jason Flory; 17. Al Shawver Sr.; 18. Paul Crowl; 19. Greg Robinson; 20. Jerry Fifield; 21. Dave Rice Jr.; 22. Mike Lupfer; 23. Alan Sagi; 24. Scott Rhodes; 25. Jason Montgomery; 26. Matt Parks. DNQ: Bobby Stokes; Randy Stoudt; Chris Hackett; Gary Gellner; Rick Todorow; Mitch Hack. DNS: Eddie Drury; Drew Koteles; Jeremy Stone; Jeff Kress; Ron Davies; Jerry Foster; Billy Wampler.
35-LAP MODIFIED FEATURE: 31 Cars (Lap Leaders: Hearn 1-35) 1. Brett Hearn; 2. Matt Sheppard; 3. Alan Johnson; 4. A. J. Romano; 5. Ricky Elliott; 6. Kyle Strickler; 7. Billy Pauch; 9. Mike Colsten; 9. Jamie Mills; 10. J.R. Heffner; 11. Keith Hoffman; 12. Kevin Hirthler; 13. Butch Tittle; 14. Kevin Bolland; 15. Richie Pratt Jr.; 16. Jared Schultz; 17. Scott Flammer; 18. Norman Short; 19. Bobby Watkins; 20. Kenny Brightbill; 21. Rick Laubach; 22. Shawm Reimert; 23. Del Rougeuz; 24. Raymond Bliss. DNQ: Billy Pauch Jr. Vince Gagliwivo; Randy Chronister; Jason Hamilton. DNS: Doug Rose; Ray Swinehart.