Mike Benedum Clean Sweeps The Competition & Sets New Track Record

A packed house and overflowing pit area that swelled to the likes of 149 race cars converged on the Tyler County Speedway for the 2 nd leg of the West Virginia State Championship Series, but the story was the "Bristol Bullitt" Mike Benedum from Bristol, WV as the veteran racer won everything but the children's box car race at intermission. Race fans witnessed one of the most dominating performances in the history of Tyler County Speedway as Benedum would start the evening off by setting a new track record of 12.36 seconds on the ultra smooth lightning quick racing surface then proceeded to take the Ritchie Concrete Checkered Flag in both the $2000 to win 2 nd leg of the West Virginia State Championship Series and the $1000 to win Litman Excavating Semi Late Invitational in convincing fashion.

A stout field of 29 high powered Midcap Land & Timber late models would wage war for the 2 nd leg of the West Virginia State Championship series as preliminary heat race victories would go to Mike Benedum, Robbie Scott and Chuck Harper. When the green flag dropped for the 35 lap main event it was Shinnston, WV's Robbie Scott who would skyrocket to the early lead while being pressured by Benedum. Benedum would harass Scott until lap 8 when he would make his winning move. Once out front it wasn't easy as West Union's own Butch McGill and the previous night winner at the Elkins Motor Speedway Chuck Harper aboard the famous 00H would take up chase as the trio would work lap traffic throughout the event but in the end it was all Mike Benedum who would work the lap traffic to perfection to pick up his 3 rd win of the season at the speedway. Following Benedum across the line were McGill, Harper, Tim Dohm, and Steve Wilmoth and rounding out the top ten were Sonny Conley, Keith Barbara, Harold Redman Jr., Henry Hornsby, and Shaun Poling.

In the accompanying Litman Excavating Semi Late Invitational it was once again Mike Benedum doing duty as a hired gun aboard the red and white #8 machine who would flex his muscle once again. Benedum would win in a romp as he was never seriously challenged in the 25 lap main event. A heated battle would ensue behind the race leader between John Tallman, Robbie Scott aboard the Tracy "Root" Sampson ride, and Dusty Hamrick as they would cross the line in that order, completing top ten runs were Dave Hackathorn, Brad Harris, Buck Rine, Billy Brown, Robbie Thomas, and TJ White.

The 18 car Sound Source AMRA Modified division would take the green with front row starters Gerald Deitch and Dave Groves leading the way but contact down the backstretch would send both cars spinning and collecting the majority of the field. When all was said and done the "big one" would eliminate nine cars from the main event. Leaving JR Nolan of St. Clairsville, OH aboard the #13 GRS chassis to lead the pack and set sail on his way to parking his ride in the Allen's Pontiac-GMC-Buick Victory lane. Following Nolan across the stripe were Butch Malone, Darrin Smith, Mark Deitch, and Del Cunningham.

A full field of Wayside Furniture Dwarf cars would take to the track in what appears to be a common theme in the Dwarf car division it was once again Pennsboro, WV's Tyler and Trent Hall finishing 1 st and 2 nd . Third thru tenth were Robert Stackpole, Lynn Knepper, Dave Starcher, Mitch Herrick, Mike Hickman, Lynn Bartlett, Steve Mason, and Jim Ruckman.

In the DM Automotive Pure Stock division it was all Middlebourne's own Mick Baker vaulting from his outside row one starting position to assume control of the race and hold off the hard charges of last week's feature winner and 6 th starting Danny Thomas to park his #47 Monte Carlo in the Allen's Pontiac-GMC-Buick Victory lane once again. Rounding out the top ten were Brian Rush, Kevin Dotson, Chad Dotson, Mike Mason, B. Nolan, Roland Bell, Ted Bier and Tim Ferguson.

The always entertaining and wild Custom Engraving Junkyard Warrior division would see a couple familiar faces grace winners circle as Clarksburg, WV's "Drivin" Ivan Wamsley and Reader, WV's Mitch Eddy would notch another pair of feature wins to their belt.

The Sistersville Center Genesis Health Care Mini Wedge division would kick off the evenings action and it was a familiar face once again in victory lane as young Brandon Fluharty would lead the youngsters across the stripe followed by Brett Benedum, Steven West, Daniel Eddy, and Anastasia Jones.

Tyler County Speedway will be back in action next Saturday Night June 3 rd with the 2 nd Annual Bahama Bash plus "School's Out" Student Night courtesy of the West Virginia Northern Community College, plus a luau party for the kids!