4/12/2014
Kears Speed Shop
Danny Smith Celebrates 40th Year in Racing
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-Chillicothe, Ohio's Danny Smith celebrated his 40th year in racing with a win in the Pine Tree Towing 410 Sprint cars, and Wheelersburg, Ohio's R.J. Conley 'rocketed' to victory in the Gullion Ent. AMRA Late Models Saturday night in a star-studded racing event at McCown's Atomic Speedway. Dave "Fireball" Pinkerton claimed the Advanced Services AMRA Modified main before yet another large crowd, while Harley Martin, Jackson, Ohio won the Sport Mods and Tim Cutler claimed the Street Stock Main. Overall, 87 cars were in the pits.
The 410 Sprint car main was a drama-filled event. Ryan Broughton got the jump on heat winner and fast-timer Trey Gustin with a hard charging Danny Smith in tow. Broughton led the first five laps with intense pressure from Smith. Smith took over on the 6th circuit and led to lap 17 while another great battle developed among the chargers of Broughton, Jimmy Stinson, Josh Davis and Mark Imler.
Coming to the lap 18 mark Stinson and Broughton had performed masterful passes on one another with Stinson anchoring second upon the third turn entry. A lapped car split the two and on the turn four exit Stinson and Broughton touched spiraling a disabled Broughton mount spinning in front of the field. All cars cleared the "what could have been a disaster" with Broughton's fine run coming to a close. Stinson dropped back to fourth later, but exited just after a red flag for the flipping up-and-coming Nate Reeser.
Chillicothe youngster Nathan Skaggs, recovering from several broken bones accrued during a motocross accident had one the B-Main and started 16th. By lap five he was tenth and on the move, then by lap twelve had charged to fourth place.
Skaggs bagged Stinson and Davis on a restart then set his sights on Smith. Skaggs pulled alongside with great forward bite coming off the turns, but the crafty Smith rode the momentum off the high side. Coming around for the last lap Skaggs looked to have Smith trapped behind a lapped car, but Smith saw a vacancy and blitzed to the narrow win.
"Thanks to Brad McCown for getting these gates back open (at Atomic)," Smith said to much applause. "I knew Skaggs was right there and I thought a lapped car might make a difference, but the Nuckles boy did a good job and gave us room and we were able to race to the finish."
"I Dedicate this race to the Coors Light Gang, who has had some adversity this week and want to keep them in our prayers. This is the 40th Anniversary Year for me and now we have won one every year that I have raced. I told myself when I quit winning, I would quit, so it looks like I am good for another year!"
The hard charger of the race was Nathan Skaggs who blasted from 16th to second place. Davis secured a solid third ahead of a late storming Dallas Hewitt who took fourth ahead of Mark Imler, Wes McGlumphey, Trey Gustin, Hud Horton, Todd Kane, and Sam Ashworth.
Submitted By: ANN TUSING
