Dietz Earns First Career Victory; AJ Hicks Christmas Gift from Santa was a Trip to AAS Victory Lane!
A doubleheader weekend was on tap for the AAS! The first night included a stop at Beckley Motor Speedway for the C. Adam Toney Tire Pros 40. Though weather moved through track owner, Randy Kinder, remained committed to the $3,000 to win event and was awarded with a full field of America's Best Pro Late Models and a great event.
Dillon Brown would set a new track record in BHR Fabrication Qualifications with a time of 13.792. Josh Dietz, would go second quick turning a time of 14.027 while Henry Hornsby III held it up for the local competitors with a time of 14.045. Shane Greco, another very successful local competitor went fourth quick with a time of 14.118 while Logan Roberson went fifth quick at a 14.209.
Dillon Brown would take the victory in the Race Track Connection Dash over Josh Dietz and Henry Hornsby III. Dirt2Meida Heat One was won by Jesse Lowe over Baillie Lowe and Logan Walls. Outside Groove Heat Two was won by Zach Sise over Brent Trimble and Duke Lowe.
The field was now set for the C. Adam Toney 40. Dillon Brown led the field to the green flag, but as the competitors were cross under to take the green flag Duke Lowe had a part failure that caused him to lose a wheel and tire on the outside. This caused a pileup with the majority of the back half of the starting field taking some fast cars out of contention early in the night. We lined back up and began the race after a long delay to clear the track. Dillon Brown jumped out to the lead with Dietz in pursuit in the meantime Greco worked his way into third position. On the next caution Dietz chose to take the inside line which did not work out and let Greco take over the second spot. As the competitors came to lapped traffic Brown made slight contact with his right front to the outside wall. In the meantime Dietz was working on Greco and trying to get back around him which he would do for second. Another caution came out and Dietz was ready to pounce. Brown missed the corner ever so slightly and Dietz powered to the front. Brown ran him down and stayed with him for a time before a couple more competitors worked his way by him. Dietz was rolling and Brown pulled to the infield. With two to go a caution would fly and Hornsby had worked his way to second ready to give Dietz one last run. Hornsby had found the low line just like he did in the super week a few weeks prior. Hornsby would get beside Dietz, but was unable to make the pass. Dietz would go on to grab his first career AAS win and grab the points lead back from Jesse Lowe. Henry Hornsby III would grab second with one of the hottest drivers in the series currently, Zach Sise taking third. Jesse Lowe would run fourth while Baillie Lowe grabbed his best career series finish of fifth. Eddie Hambrick who had damage from the initial incident would bring his hotrod home sixth with Logan Walls taking seventh. Brent Trimble, Shane Greco, and Logan Roberson would round out the top ten.
For night two it was Christmas at Willard Speedway! Krady Lady Kabins Presented Christmas in July in an event that included Santa and the Grinch both on hand! Eighteen of America's Best Pro Late Models were on hand for racing action at the beautiful Willard Speedway.
BHR Qualifications started with AJ Hicks doing what AJ Hicks does at Willard setting the fast time of a 13.393. Zack Dohm, in the Jimmy Adams owned #32, went second quick with a time of 13.427 while Zach Sise went third with a time of 13.488. Jordan Hedger took fourth with a time of 13.525 while Logan Walls turned a 13.549 for the fifth fastest time of the night.
AJ Hicks would take the win in the Race Track Connection Dash with Zack Dohm taking second and Zach Sise taking third. Dirt2Media Heat One was won by Josh Dietz over Dillon Brown and Harlan Ferguson. Outside Groove Heat Two went to Jesse Lowe over Sylvan Schuette and Bailllie Lowe.
The field was set and Santa was on the flagstand to wave the green flag. A caution light issue called back the first start. Once the issue was solved AJ Hicks lead the field to green and jumped to the lead with Dohm and Sise in pursuit. A couple of early cautions flew and would bring the field back together. It was interesting to note though many competitors were running the bottom Dohm would choose to restart on the outside for second each time and it worked. A long green flag run ended the night. Hicks got into lapped traffic with Dohm catching him as he was working through them. Deeper in the field Dillon Brown found the high side and started making some moves and great racing took place toward the end of the race between Gunner Johnson, Josh Dietz, Logan Walls, Dillon Brown, and Jesse Lowe who all five mixed it up for position. Hicks meanwhile caught Brandon Urban who was running fast enough to stay on the lead lap. Dohm used the opportunity to size Hicks up coming to the white flag in turns three and four Dohm decided to go for the high side, but it was to little to late and Hicks would go on to get his first touring win of the season and the $3,200 Christmas gift from Santa. Dohm got second and said post race he wished he would have moved to the high side on lap sooner while Zach Sise continued high hot streak taking third again. Jordan Hedger would take fourth with Gunner Johnson taking fifth. Josh Dietz rolled home in the sixth position with Logan Walls finishing seventh. Jesse Lowe, Sylvan Schuette, and Dillon Brown would round out the top ten.
The AAS would like to thank everyone at Beckley Motor Speedway and Willard Speedway for making the weekend a success!
We'd also like to thank all the partners who make it possible: Dirt2Media, PPM Racing Products, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Chevrolet Performance: Vehicles, Parts, Racing, Pro Fabrication "Official Header of the AAS," Mahle, Super Clean "Official Cleaner of the AAS," Outside Groove, FMS Rapid Graphix, Race Track Connection, Beckley Motor Speedway, O'Reilly Auto Parts "Official Auto Parts Store of the AAS," Smash-It by BWR, American Racer, Wieland "Official Aluminum of the AAS," BHR Fabrication and Double Nickle Race Cars, Fast Lane Fabrication, Warrior Race Cars, WV Fireworks Outlet, TNT Race Cars, KRC Power Steering, Peeping Dragon Photography, Terror Race Cars, ATC Bolts and Fasteners, PopBit, MD3, Hyperco, Burgess Consulting, ML Performance Midwest, Massey Powersports, Pro-Built Motorsports, East TN Racers Recovery and Fast Fab. We'd also like to thank weekend race sponsors: C. Adam Toney Tire Pros, Krazy Lady Kabins, and Racers in Christ!