Michael Walls wasn’t exactly dealt the best hand for his Limited Late Models heat race at BAPS Motor Speedway last weekend.
But Walls played that hand — an eighth-starting position — like a pro, and the St. Thomas driver carried his momentum all the way to Victory Lane. He was chased to the finish line by runner-up Scott Palmer of Greencastle.
Walls kicked off his afternoon by starting near the back of the pack for an eight-lap heat race. He covered a lot of a ground in a hurry, moving up five spots for a third-place finish. That effort set the stage for the 20-lap feature, a race which saw Walls draw the second-starting position. Walls took over the lead in the feature, and held on for victory over the field of 18 drivers.
It was also a good day at the office for Palmer, who won his heat race, before moving from sixth to second in the main event.
Hagerstown Speedway kicked off its season last weekend with its “Winter Thaw” event, and area drivers shined in the opener. Hagerstown’s Keith Reed surged to the top spot in the Pure Stocks feature, and also won his heat race. Fellow Hagerstown driver Brady Neff finished third in the Semi Late Models feature.
The Late Model Sportsman feature at Hagerstown Speedway saw two Greencastle drivers – Brian Booze and D.J. Myers – finish in the Top 10. Booze moved from sixth to third in the 20-lap feature, while Myers cruised from 10th to fifth. Mason Booze, also of Greencastle, competed in the Crate Late Models feature and finished in eighth place.
Finally, two legendary Franklin County drivers – Fayetteville’s Lance Dewease and Greencastle’s Gary Stuhler – put on a show at Port Royal Speedway last weekend.
The 59-year-old Dewease, a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, made lemonade out of lemons after finishing seventh in his 410 Sprints heat race. Dewease, the “Fayetteville Flyer,” locked in after the heat race, moving from seventh to second in the B-Main to qualify for the 25-lap feature, where he would do his best racing.
Starting 22nd in the field of 24, Dewease blasted ahead 14 spots to secure eighth place and the Hard Charger Award.
Stuhler, who has been cruising the local auto racing circuit since the mid-1970s and turns 70 next month, showcased his driving skills in the Super Late Models race program. After finishing fourth in his heat race, Stuhler moved from 12th to eighth in the feature.
Racing at Williams Grove and Lincoln Speedways was canceled last weekend due to high winds.
Action resumes this weekend at Hagerstown, BAPS, Port Royal, Williams Grove and Lincoln Speedway. Path Valley Speedway will host a practice session this weekend before putting on the Claybreaker Season Opener on April 5.
Below is a speedway-by-speedway, feature-by-feature look at races from last weekend that included drivers from the Local.News1 coverage area:
Feature results
Hagerstown Speedway
Saturday, March 22
Late Model Sportsman: 1. Kyle Lear (Severna Park, Md.), 2. Ryan Zook (Mifflintown), 3. Brian Booze (Greencastle), 4. Codey Breeden (Fairplay, Md.), 5. DJ Myers (Greencastle), 6. Jaxton Garman (Elliottsburg), 7. Dan Zechman (Littlestown), 8. Clinton Hersh (Somerset), 9. Kenny Yoder (Allensville), 10. Taylor Farlling (Newville), 11. Danny Atherton (Three Springs), 12. Eric Cronise (Boonsboro, Md.), 13. Pat McNeal (Essex, Md.).
Crate Late Models: 1. Devin Brannon (Winchester, Va.), 2. Trevor Collins (Seaford, Del.), 3. Brayden Anderson (Bunker Hill, W.Va.), 4. Jacob Whitt (Stephens City, Va.), 5. Scott Sweeney Jr. (Stephens City, Va.), 6. Jarrett Edwards (Mechanicsville, Md.), 7. Dylan High (Winchester, Va.), 8. Mason Booze (Greencastle), 9. Treyton Lee (Mercersburg), 10. Noah Brunell (New Alexandria), 11. Cuyler Upperman (Greencastle), 12. Nick Hausenfluck (Winchester, Va.), 13. James McBee (Gettysburg), 14. Dylan Pryor (Williamsport, Md.), 15. Josh Dotson (Hollywood, Md.), 16. Chuck Bowie (Welcome, Md.), 17. Roy Deese Jr. (Laurel, Md.).
Semi Late Models: 1. Allen Brannon (Winchester, Va.), 2. Rick Potter (Everett), 3. Brady Neff (Hagerstown, Md.), 4. Steve Kent (Woodsboro, Md.), 5. Josh Bumbarger (Petersburg), 6. Shane McQuay (Sykesville, Md.), 7. Danny Walters (Abingdon, Md.), 8. Evan Foust (Knoxville, Md.), 9. Dillon Wilson (Cassville).
Pure Stocks: 1. Keith Reed (Hagerstown, Md.), 2. Nathaniel Younker (Berkeley Springs, W.Va.), 3. Randy Linaburg (Winchester, Va.), 4. Tyler Fisher (Fairplay, Md.), 5. Dylan Beavers (Hedgesville, W.Va.), 6. Robert Wilson (Clear Brook, Va.), 7. Bryson Fogle (Myersville, Md.), 8. Bradley Benton (Duncansville).
BAPS Motor Speedway
Saturday, March 22
Limited Late Models: 1. Michael Walls (St. Thomas), 2. Scott Palmer (Greencastle), 3. Jared Miller (Palmyra), 4. Sammy Rial (Etters), 5. Wayne Pfeil (Elverson), 6. Zach Kauffman (York Haven), 7. Travis Mease (Harrisburg), 8. Lucas Adams (New Cumberland), 9. Tommy Slanker (York), 10. Kyle Moser (East Berlin), 11. Trent Merkel (Boyertown), 12. Ross Leinbach (Mohnton), 13. Skylar Taschek (Duncannon), 14. Darrel Henry (Elliottsburg), 15. Chad Smith (Duncannon) DNF, 16. Travis Horan (Dover) DNF, 17. Cole Slanker (Strinestown) DNF, 18. Justin Williams (Duncannon) DNF.
Port Royal Speedway
Saturday, March 22
410 Sprints: 1. Anthony Macri (Dillsburg), 2. Brock Zearfoss (Jonestown), 3. Chase Dietz (York), 4. Steve Buckwalter (Royersford), 5. Justin Whittall (Vincentown, N.J.), 6. Troy Wagaman Jr. (Hanover), 7. Jeff Halligan (Ephrata), 8. Lance Dewease (Fayetteville), 9. Gerard McIntyre Jr. (New Oxford), 10. Michael Walter (Selinsgrove), 11. Blane Heimbach (Selinsgrove), 12. Logan Wagner (Harrisonville), 13. TJ Stutts (Liverpool), 14. Kody Lehman (Enola), 15. Lucas Wolfe (Mechanicsburg), 16. Cameron Smith (Spring Grove), 17. Ricky Peterson (Rawson, Ohio), 18. Kelby Watt (Adel, Iowa), 19. Doug Hammaker (Grantville), 20. Mike Wagner (Harrisonville), 21. Austin Bishop (Morgantown), 22. Lynton Jeffrey (Prairie City, Iowa), 23. Danny Dietrich (Gettysburg), 24. Freddie Rahmer (Salfordville).
410 Sprints (B-Main): 1. Mike Wagner (Harrisonville), 2. Lance Dewease (Fayetteville), 3. TJ Stutts (Liverpool), 4. Lynton Jeffrey (Prairie City, Iowa), 5. Mike Thompson (Newtown), 6. Matt Farnham (Tonawanda, N.Y.), 7. JJ Loss (Hanover), 8. Domenic Melair (Warrington), 9. John Jerich (Worthington), 10. Kassidy Kreitz (Sinking Spring), 11. Dave Grube (Denver), 12. JT Ferry (Drums), 13. Tyler Ross (Lincoln University), 14. Ryan Smith (Kunkletown).
Super Late Models: 1. Rick Eckert (York), 2. Gregg Satterlee (Indiana), 3. Dylan Yoder (Middleburg), 4. Justin Weaver (Clear Spring, Md.), 5. Login Zarin (Hookstown), 6. Gene Knaub (Dover), 7. Trever Feathers (Winchester, Va.), 8. Gary Stuhler (Greencastle), 9. Colton Flinner (Allison Park), 10. Dillan Stake (Mapleton Depot), 11. Hayes Mattern (Beavertown), 12. Tim Smith Jr. (McVeytown), 13. Chad Myers (Hampstead, Md.), 14. Jason Schmidt (Lewistown), 15. Scott Flickinger (Elliottsburg), 16. Mike Lupfer (Shermans Dale), 17. Drew Weisser (Reading), 18. Lane Snook (Mifflintown), 19. Chris Casner (Mifflintown), 20. Danny Snyder (Green Lane), 21. JT Spence (Winchester, Va.), 22. Shaun Jones (Shermans Dale), 23. Kody Lyter (Lewistown), 24. Andrew Yoder (Middleburg).
