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Clanton Claims K-C Classic Cash
Blair takes title in O'Reilly LM Series
Conley grabs Lemaster Classic

By Scott Wolfe
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO- Locust Grove, Georgia's Shane Clanton, an Outlaw veteran, rode into Jeff and Vicki Schrader's K-C Raceway Saturday night and stole the show along the winner's share of the $171,000 purse in the $20,000 to win O'Reilly All-Star Circuit of Champions Late Model crowning event. But Clanton's job description required a torrid late-race battle with Salt Rock, WV driver Eddie Carrier, Jr.--a battle that energized the crowd in the spirit of a successful inaugural run of the Dirt Track World Cup Classic. Kevin Morehouse claimed the $3000 modified portion of the program and Delmas Conley won the Late Model Non-qualifier of $3,000 to win in the Bob Lemaster Classic.
"I would like to thank the fans and drivers who turned out for our inaugural event," said K-C promoter Jeff Schrader. "The weather didn't help us Friday, but we survived. We want to grow this race each and every year. We didn't get rich, but fans can expect the second annual "Classic" about the same time next year. Thanks for making this event a success."
If the atmosphere around the event wasn't eventful enough, the racing put the icing on the cake. Although Clanton's run looked like a cake walk, the Georgia driver said, "Man, that's the hardest I've had to race all year." And after a somewhat sluggish 2009 Clanton has had a break-out run the last two weekends with a pair of $20,000 wins in the Ronnie Dobbins #25.
Brandon Kinzer and Rob Blair paced the 26 car field to the waving green of starter Daryl Owen. Neither driver accepted the "Back-to-the-front" Pole Challenge, but the move paid off for Blair who ended up with a six point win over Boom Briggs in the final O'Reilly All-Star Circuit of Champions point’s standings. That came after Boom Briggs, led nearly the entire All-Star season.
Shane Clanton, Duane Chamberlain, and Eddie Carrier, Jr. made quick passes of outside pole sitter Robbie Blair. Tim Dohm in the Seymour 17 then dogged Blair for fifth for the next ten laps. By lap 12 Kinzer was in lapped traffic with Clanton locked to his quarters.
Kinzer got locked behind the back-markers while Chamberlain tried Clanton with Carrier close in tow. Lap 18 went three wide as a 1-2-3-4 drama unfolded in typical K-C style. No run-aways here; just pure action.
By lap 22 Kinzer broke through the lapped traffic and jumped two lengths ahead. The same lap Coleby Frye popped a tire to bring out the first caution. The first case of anxiety wretched the leading driver's minds as thoughts of tire glazing raced to the cerebellums.
The double-file restart produced a wealth of action. Clanton took the lead on the restart and Chamberlain followed in second. Carrier was next as Kinzer shuffled all the way back to fourth. The army of cars marched three-wide in the multi-groove avenues. Kinzer regrouped to fend off Dohm for the next 18 markers, when the action took a break from the torrid cage fight.
Clanton resumed the march on the restart following a Boom Briggs mechanical failure. A lap later Jared Hawkins went pit side and out of the race. Chamberlain tried Clanton this time but Clanton won the shootout. Bart Hartman joined Showtime Steve Shaver in working on Robbie Blair. The next stoppage was a heartbreak for 12th place car Josh McGuire the overall fast-timer for the 1st annual Classic.
By lap 43 Steve Casebolt, Jr. had rocketed from his 22nd place start to tenth place. The game of leap-frog was a masterful work for the Indiana driver who had overcome the likes of Donnie Moran, Rod Conley, Jason Montgomery, Audie Swartz, and Rick Aukland among others.
On lap 45 with Clanton separating himself from Chamberlain, Showtime Shaver blasted by Blair. Two laps later as Hartman tried the maneuver, his right rear burst to bring out a lap 47 caution.
Clanton began a mid-race blitz that went from ten car lengths to five in one lap as he closed in on traffic circa lap 60. As Clanton battled Aukland for position Chamberlain, and Carrier climbed back onto the hunt. An excuse-me bump-and-run resulted in an Aukland caution. Casebolt moved into seventh ahead of Blair, R.J.Conley, and Jonathan Davenport up from 19th to 10th.
Shaver moved into fifth on lap 65 and a lap later Casebolt made the pass of Dohm for sixth. Meanwhile, Clanton was on a rail when he had clear track ahead of him. By lap 73 Clanton again was in traffic and averted disaster as Audie Swartz tagged the wall but continued. Carrier bagged Chamberlain on lap 79 as announcer Bruce Hines said it is "go time" for the Salt Rock Express.
Carrier seemed to set off the afterburners as he dove under Clanton on lap 82. Lap-after-lap Carrier rode the inside of Clanton. Like a game of cat-and-mouse, Carrier appeared playful in taunting Smith for the top spot.
Nose-to-tail, Carrier tried Clanton at the flag stand, only to have Clanton slam the door shut. Kinzer also teased Chamberlain for a pass of third as multi-car battles unfolded on the track.
On lap 93 Kinzer took third as Carrier moved high to try Clanton after the failure of his low riding attempts. Carrier had the crowd on its feet by lap 95. Carrier scrubbed off some speed behind a lapped car the next circuit, setting up a two-lap shootout. Carrier put his Grover Motorsports Ford mount high against the rail, but Clanton's recovery in his Custom Race Engines/Rocket Chassis rewarded him with a huge $20,000 pay off.
"I saw Eddie up their in turn four and I thought I need to get a little lower. He made me get up on the wheel and push it a little harder. But he raced me clean and I hope it made a great race for the fans.
"We've struggled just a little bit all year, but the last couple weeks have made up for it. My crew, these two guys here, have stuck with me and we've worked hard to get here. It's great to win this first Dirt Cup Classic here at K-C. It was a little cool for the fans, but we appreciate Jeff (Schrader) and the fans giving us a chance to race for this type of money deal."
2009 O'Reilly All-Star Late Model Champion, the Titusville terror, Robbie Blair claimed the overall season crown. Jonathan Davenport in the Barry Wright House car blitzed the field in the first B-Main. Jared Hawkins came from 14th to fifth and pressured Clint Smith, but ran out of time and had to take a provisional. In the second B-main Steve Casebolt blitzed to a big lead, but Donnie Moran started to hunt him down by lap seven, while Boom Briggs blitzed from 12th to third. Briggs and Conley battled for the final transfer, however, Briggs made the cut and Conley went to the non-qualifying race. A lot of passing in all races made the night a night to remember.
Bob Lemaster the honorary starter of the non-qualifying race and the man recognized for all of his contributions to K-C Raceway history said, "Back in the early 1960's a guy helped me when I needed it and I won the state motorcycle championship. From that time on I made it a point to help other people and other racers."
The Bob Lemaster Classic non-qualifiers race was a huge success in honor of one of the area's longtime contributors to local racing. Lemaster owned cars that won eight Atomic/K-C Championships. It worked out for all the drivers since everyone went home with B-main money and the $200 start money that made the KC weekend a great choice for them.
The main beneficiary was Delmas Conley who rubbed doors with Wayne Chinn early then ran off and hid in the first-ever Lemaster Classic. The thirty lap event was run in just over 13 minutes in high-flying style. The non-qualifier was much like an all-star feature. Clint Smith and Chris Carpenter followed as Corey Conley and Chris Wilson competed for the fifth position. Clint Smith pressed hard under Chinn through laps 4-6 as the leaders put Matt Pistole a lap down. Lapped traffic began to get deep through lap nine as Conley and Chinn worked through traffic car by car. Finally, Conley broke away for what proved to be an emotional win with old friend Lemaster in victory lane.
Both K-C Raceway and the O'Reilly All-Stars are done for the season.
The Summary:

O'Reilly All-Star Late Model "The Classic" Qualifying at K-C Raceway
# Driver Hometown Qualifying time
41 JOSH McGUIRE GRAYSON, KY 14.396
17T TIM DOHM CROSS LANES, WV 14.667
1* CHUB FRANK BEAR LAKE, OH 14.726
W11 ROB BLAIR TITUSVILLE, PA 14.771
12 RICK AUKLAND ZANESVILLE, OH 14.774
25 SHANE CLANTON CONLEY, GA 14.789
71C R J CONLEY WHEELERSBURG,OH 14.836
28 EDDIE CARRIER, JR. SALT ROCK, WV 14.85
1 VIC HILL MOSHEIN, TN 14.884
25 ZACK DOHM CROSS LANES, WV 14.887
18K BRANDON KINZER ALLEN, KY 14.918
1 DUANE CHAMBERLAIN RICHMOND, IN 14.92
49 JONATHAN DAVENPORT BLAIRSVILL, GA 14.924
75 BART HARTMAN ZANESVILLE, OH 14.936
96F KEITH BERNER MILLERSBURG, OH 14.962
30 STEVE SHAVER VIENNA, WV 14.979
C9 STEVE CASEBOLT RICHMOND, IN 14.995
71 DELMAS CONLEY WHEELERSBURG,OH 15.017
H1 JARED MILEY SOUTH PARK, PA 15.019
44 CLINT SMITH SENOIA, GA 15.038
37 JARED HAWKINS FAIRMONT, WV 15.057
99 DONNIE MORAN DRESDEN, OH 15.082
18 CHRIS CARPENTER PARKERSBURG, WV 15.123
79 DOUG DROWN WOOSTER, OH 15.124
1 AUDIE SWARTZ MINFORD, OH 15.198
1W WAYNE CHINN TIPP CITY, OH 15.207
99H JEFF HOUSER CHILLICOTHE, OH 15.216
F1 COLBY FRYE DOVER, PA 15.223
11H RICK COMBS BETHEL, OH 15.243
14 COREY CONLEY WELLSBURG, WV 15.275
21H JASON MONTGOMERY JACKSON, OH 15.305
5 CHRIS WILSON LOUISA, KY 15.313
81F BRANDON FOUTS KILE, KY 15.333
99B BOOM BRIGGS BEAR LAKE, PA 15.352
"01 ANDY BOND COOLVILLE, OH 15.353
11 BILLY GUILLON WAVERLY, OH 15.354
17 SHANON THORNSBERRY MARTIN, KY 15.383
71R ROD CONLEY WHEELERSBURG,OH 15.487
45 RUSS FROHNAPFEL GROVEPORT, OH 15.52
67 ERENIE HOSCHAR BELPRE, OH 15.729
19S CHAD SMITH CONNERVILLE, OH 15.767
Y4 ANTHONY HUBER VIENNA, WV 15.773
1DJ DJ MILLER WOOSTER, OH 15.865
64 MARSHALL WIBLIN CHARLESTON, WV 15.901
3S KENNY SPENCER HILLSBORO, OH 16.378
11B DEAN BOYD WILLAMSBURG, OH 16.572
12M WAYNE MILLER MONTPELIER, OH 16.785
"00 MATT PISTOL PORTSMOUTH, OH 17.437
72M JOHN MASON MILLERSBURG, OH 99.9

Qualifying Heats:
(Three Transfer)
Heat One- Brandon Kinzer, Josh McGuire, Vic Hill, Jonathan Davenport, Rick Aukland, Chris Carpenter, Shannon Thornsberry, Bill Gullion, Anthony Huber

Heat Two-Eddie Carrier, Jr., Tim Dohm, Jason Montgomery, Jared Miley, Corey Conley, Russ Fronaphel, Ernie Hoschar, Jared Hawkins

Heat Three-Duane Chamberlain, Zach Dohm, Rod Conley, Clint Smith, Jeff Houser, Kenny Spencer, Wayne Miller, John Mason

Heat Four-Shane Clanton,Keith Berner, Chub Frank, Marshall Wiblin, Wayne Chinn, Coleby Frye, D.J. Miller, Rick Combs

Heat Five-Robbie Blair, Steve Shaver, Doug Drown, Donnie Moran, Chris Wilson, Andy Bond, Matt Pistole, Chad Smith

Heat Six-R.J. Conley, Bart Hartman, Audie Swartz, Steve Casebolt, Delmas Conley, Brandon Fouts, Boom Briggs, Dean Boyd

B-Main 1: Jonathan Davenport, Jared Miley, Rick Aukland, Clint Smith, Jared Hawkins, Chris Carpenter, Corey Conley, Russ Fronaphel, Shannon Thornsberry, Anthony Huber, Kenny Spencer, Wayne Miller, Jeff Houser, Ernie Hoschar, Billy Gullion, John Mason

B-Main 2: Donnie Moran, Steve Casebolt, Boom Briggs, Delmas Conley, Coleby Frye, Andy Bond, Brandon Fouts , Chris Wilson, Dee Jay Miller, Dean Boyd, Matt Pistole, Wayne Chinn, Rick Combs Chad Smith, Marshall Wiblin

Bob Lemaster Classic Non-qualifier
Delmas Conley, Clint Smith, Chris Carpenter, Wayne Chinn, Corey Conley, Brandon Fouts, Shannon Thornberry, Andy Bond, Chris Wilson, Anthony Huber, Jeff Houser, DJ Miller, Dean Boyd, Billy Gullion, Kenny Spencer, Wayne Miller, Ernie Hoschar, Russ Frohnapfel, and Matt Pistole, John Mason, Marshall Wiblin

Dirt Track World Cup Late Model Classic: (100 laps)
Shane Clanton, Eddie Carrier JR, Brandon Kinzer, Steve Shaver, Steve Casebolt, Duane Chamberlain, Tim Dohm, Jonathan Davenport, Chub Frank, Robbie Blair, Doug Brown, RJ Conley, Jared Miley, Vic Hill, Rod Conley, Donnie Moran, Keith Berner, Jason Montgomery, Rick Briggs, Zack Dohm, Audie Swartz, Josh McGuire, Rick Aukland, Bart Hartman, Jared Hawkins, Coleby Frye

Lap Leaders Brandon Kinzer 1-22
Shane Clanton 23-100

Caution: Coleby Frye Lap 22
Boom Briggs 35
Jared Hawkins 36
Josh McGuire 43
Bart Hartman 47
Rick Aukland 63

Prelims in Sprints to Blaney, Classic Mods to Morehouse
K-C Classic Inaugural Run to Shane Clanton

By Scott Wolfe

CHILLICOTHE,OHIO-Despite a rainy Friday, the first annual Dirt Track World cup Late Model Classic went down in the books as a huge success with Conley, GA driver Shane Clanton taking the $20,000 victory in the competitive Late Model main. Dale Blaney, Hartford, Ohio claimed the 410 sprint main, while Kevin Morehouse of Newark, OH took the Advanced Services Modifies sanctioned by the Tri-State Modified Association.
The modified feature was a doozy! The well-scripted event saw great racing and late race drama with side by side racing throughout the pack. Pacing the field to the line were pole sitters Kevin Morehouse and Ben Adkins, West Portsmouth, Ohio. 2008 K-C Late Model Champion Ben Adkins put his #53 on the point and was likely going to ride off into the sunset. Instead the Newark Tornado Kevin Morehouse, the pole sitter, stormed back into the picture and after a lap 22 restart, got the jump on the high flying Adkins. How quickly Adkins' dominance had changed from winning shoe-in to battle royal.
Morehouse made it stick as Adkins' mount fluttered on the high side, then the chase resumed in reverse order with Adkins now in the catbird seat. The Newark, Ohio driver put his Bob Pierce race car back in overdrive and pounded the K-C turf to the tune of his 22nd win in 2009 all in the same machine.
Although he would have liked a win, Mark Dickson was pleased with the hard-charging honors. Dickson of Gallipolis, the 2009 Tyler County Speedway Champion, came from 26th to twelfth after starting as the Tri-State Modified provisional starter.
Battling early for second was David McWilliams and Jess Hartman with the Jason Montgomery/Dave Rollins/Chi-town Community car #X bolting into the mix. The biggest race was a few rows back for the 8th position between J.P. Roberts, Bobby Kitchen and Keith Burner, which lead to a caution just two laps later when Kitchen and Berner made contact in turn four.
For twenty of the thirty laps Jason Montgomery and Chris Stotts went side-by-side. The competitive action was hard-nosed old-style racing. Likewise, Rick Aukland and Jess Hartman really hammered out a gentlemanly battle. When the cream came to the top Morehouse brought home the win over Ben Adkins, Rick Aukland, Jess Hartman, Jason Montgomery, Chris Stotts, Keith Berner, Rob Stambaugh, Michael Davis, and David McWilliams. Seventy-two modifieds and 22 sprints were in the house as the support divisions for a huge K-C Tri-fecta of first class racing.
Veteran Jim Nier and second generation driver Dallas Hewitt paced the field to the start of the 410 sprint green flag. Nier jumped out to a lead with Blaney on his tail. Blaney and Nier sparred side by side for the initial laps, then Blaney nearly made a pass for #1 on lap five. Two laps later the veteran of the World of Outlaws and former All-Star Champ made it stick on lap seven.
On lap eight Keith Baxter was making a pass, but lost his front axle and got into the wall, then went off the track on the hook ending a great run for the talented racer.
On the restart, Blaney, often a K-C low-rider, put his George Fisher mount on the high side and blitzed to a 5-car lead over Nier. Josh Davis took evasive action and was called for the stop two laps further into the game, but his mount was disabled.
Aaron Higgins and Cale Conley battled hard for fourth after the restart and Nier was able to stay somewhat within striking distance though lap 15 when Blaney again stretched it out.
As the front of the pack stretched away from inner-city congestion, fireworks flew within the 5-9 positions of Wilson, Hewitt, Linder, Duncan, and Dickson. Duncan pressured Linder for 7th from every angle as the leaders approached lapped traffic on lap 16. At the end it was Blaney's Maxim with George Fisher power over Jim Nier, Cale Conley, Aaron Higgins, Greg Wilson, Mike Linder, Cole Duncan, Dallas Hewitt, Dave Dickson, and Bryce Dickson.
"Jimmy is awful good here and is hard to beat. He beat me here on the All-Star Race, so I knew it would be a challenge," said Blaney. "We didn't fair well at Eldora last week, so we kind of redeemed ourselves. It's always good to have a race the next week after you've had a hard week. Tonight was our night."
"I give all the credit to George Fisher and this TI22 team. They are the ones that make it work. This is a new car that George built this week."
K-C has concluded it's racing season and is anxious to release an early 2010 Race schedule soon.
The Summary: K-C October 2 and 3

Advanced Services Modifieds
Heat One-Kevin Moorehouse,Rick Aukland, Michael Davis, David Pinkerton, J.E. Stalder, Bruce Tackach, Bob Crace, Jr., Sam Lovejoy, Jake Keaton, Gary Richard, Philip Bapst, Ricky Neace, Shane Newman

Heat Two-Ben Adkins, Clint Keenan, J.P. Roberts, Robert Garnes, Bud Frazier, Fred Hittle, David Grass, Lonnie Kidd, Jamie Adams, Brian Whiteman, Eddie Harmon, Brent Hole

Heat Three- Jason Montgomery, Bobby Kitchen, Doug Adkins, Mike Gross, Norm Aronhalt, Greg Thompson, Dave Jamison, Bobby Tackett, Mark Luning, Robin Dustin,Jeff Conrad, Joe Crytser

Heat Four- Chris Stotts, Keith Berner, Adam Jordan, Greg Anderson, Mark Dickson, Kenny Johnson, Sean Schobeloch,Jason Cottrill,Randy Anderson, Joe Hamon, Fred Hardbarger, Louis Krushansky

Heat Five-Dave McWilliams, Rob Stambaugh,Mike Long, Doug Betts, Craig Christian, Rick Walker, Will Rowe, Nick Katterhenry, Scott Bowersock, Roger Shadwick, Tommy McClain, Josh Brickey

Heat Six-Jess Hartman, Josh Edmisten, Todd Robinson, Anthony Slusher, Jason Hall, Cliff Crank, Miles Cook, Donnie Ferguson, Mitchell Sharp, Brandon Morrow, Mike Matney

B-Main One

Sam Lovejoy, Brian Whiteman, Dave Pinkerton, Eddie Harmon, Robert Garnes, Jamie Adams, David Grass, Shane Newman, Ricky Neace, Dale Lyons, Fred Hittle, Lonnie Kidd, Jake Keaton, J.E. Stalder, Bruce Tackach, Bob Crace, Jr., Bud Frazier, Philip Bapst, Gary Richard, Brent Hole

B-Main Two

Mike Gross, Greg Anderson, Robin Dustin, Mark Dickson, Louis Krushansky, Norm Aronhalt, Mark Luning, Dave Jamison, Joe Hamon, Jason Cottrill, Fred Hardbarger, Jeff Conrad, Kenny Johnson, Bobby Tackett, Greg Thompson, Sean Schobeloch, Randy Anderson, Joe Cryster

B-Main Three

Doug Betts, Craig Christian, Jason Hall, Cliff Crank, Scott Bowersock, Nick Katterhenry, Roger Shadwick, Will Rowe, Tommy McClain, Anthony Slusher, Josh Brickey, Miles Cook, Mitchell Sharp, Donnie Ferguson, Eric Arledge, Rick Walker, Brandon Morrow, Mike Matney

Top Ten Qualifying in Modifieds
Car# Driver Hometown Qualifying time

53 BEN ADKINS W. PORTSMOUTH, OH 15.711
7 DOUG ADKINS W. PORTSMOUTH, OH 15.923
1* BOBBY KITCHEN GROVE CITY, OHIO 16.131
X JASON MONTGOMERY JACKSON, OH 16.265
5 JESS HARTMAN ZANESVILLE, OH 16.288
8 DAVE PINKERTON WAVERLY, OH 16.295
0 MARK DICKSON GALLIPOLIS, OH 16.301
18 KEITH BERNER MILLERSBURG, OH 16.301
67 ROBBIE STANBAUGH SUNBURY, OH 16.324
28 KEVIN MOREHOUSE NEWARK, OH 16.335

Modified Feature:
Kevin Morehouse, Ben Adkins, Rick Aukland, Jess Hartman, Jason Montgomery, Chris Stotts, Keith Berner, Rob Stambaugh, Michael Davis, David McWilliams, Brian Whiteman, Doug Adkins, Mark ****son, Mike Gross, Same Lovejoy, Mike Long, Todd Robinson, Josh Edminsten, JP Roberts, Dave Pinkerton, Doug Betts, Clint Keenan, Bobby Kitchen, Craig Christian, Jordan Adam and Greg Anderson

Sprints
Fast time: Pill draw
Heat One-Dallas Hewitt, Cale Conley, Keith Baxter, Dave Dickson, Josh Davis, Kory Crabtree, Rick Fraley, Charlie Fisher

Heat Two-Jimmy Nier, Brandy Bower, Alec Martin, Greg Wilson, Eddie Slone, Nick Naber,Jimmy Stinson

Heat Three-Dale Blaney, Aaron Higgins, Mike Linder, Cole Duncan, Bryce Dickson, Randy Fink, Todd Kane (DNS)

Feature-Dale Blaney, Jim Nier, Cale Conley, Aaron Higgins, Greg Wilson, Mike Linder, Cole Duncan, Dallas Hewitt, Dave Dickson, Bryce Dickson, Alec Martin, Brandy Bower, Kory Crabtree, Eddie Slone, Rick Fraley, Charlie Fisher, Randy Fink, Josh Davis, Keith Baxter, Todd Kane, Jimmy Stinson, Nick Naber

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