Michael Duritsky is Third Different Winner in $2000 to Win Ralph Davis Jr. Memorial at Latrobe Speedway; Dayton Hazlett Wins $1200 In Career First Stone & Co. Modified 4 Cylinders.

The pressure was on Anthony Monteparte as he started on the pole for the 12-lap Joe’s Body Shop Pure Stock feature. Monteparte was up for the challenge as he sped into the leadership role with Justin Ruff on his tail. Yellows slowed his progress on laps four and nine but he drove away on each restart. Seventh starting Stephen Hazlett took over the third spot on lap eight and closed on Ruff for second. Ruff and Hazlett battled for the runner-up spot as Monteparte pulled away. On the final lap Hazlett got into Ruff spinning him in turn four. Hazlett was penalized for the incident. John Cain was moved up to second ahead of Dakota Hixon, EJ Rozak, Corey Faris, Jim Zufall, Timmy Weiner, Joey Koteles, Ron Ramsey and Mike Peters. Hazlett and Monteparte were the heat winners.

 

If you’re going to win your career first feature, one paying $1200 to win is a good one to do it and that is just what Latrobe’s Dayton Hazlett did in the 15-lap Stone & Co. Modified 4 Cylinders. Asphalt convert Evan Nibert led the first two laps before Hazlett blew past him on lap three. Hazlett brought two-time winner Paul Koffler III with him. Koffler led the chase which saw Hazlett pull away lap after lap. Hazlett drove off to a convincing win over Koffler. Nibert was third over Colton McNaney, Dale Grubbs. Tylar Huffman, Brandon Myers, Andrew Jones, Mark Krivjanik and Alex Starcher. Colton McNaney, Dayton Hazlett and Paul Koffler III were the three heat winners.

 

The K2 Engineering Crate Late Models were up next in the 20-lap Ralph Davis Jr. Memorial. Michael Duritsky used his outside front row starting spot to quickly grabbed the lead on the start. Polesitter Clate Copeman took up the chase. Copeman could only hang with Duritsky for a few laps before he opened up his lead. However, six cautions gave Copeman numerous attempts to take the top spot away. Each time Copeman would dive low in turn one and pull along side Duritsky only to see him power back to the lead down the backstretch. On a lap 18 restart Copeman got a good start and drove to the lead in turn one only to see the yellow fly again. Duritsky would not give him a second chance and lead the final two laps to score his fifth win and second in a row. Completing the top ten were Clate Copeman, Jeff Ferguson, Troy Shields, Michael Ott, Joe Zulisky, Vince Masi, Jay McCracken, Tanner Hauger and Joey Zambotti. Copeman and Masi won qualifying heats for the 16 car field.

 

Sam Eichelberger and Brett Hutira put on a show for the fans in the 16-lap Special T Metals Pro Stocks. The front row starters were racing clean and hard fighting for the number one spot. Brandon Doland was patiently watching in the third spot with Marty Spade behind him. Out front Eichelberger and Hutira ran side by side at times. On lap 14 Hutira and Eichelberger made contact down the back straight and Hutira had to back off. Doland had nowhere to go and slammed into the rear of Hutira shooting his car into the air and over turn three. Doland was done for the night with heavy damage while Hutira drove to the pits and came back out. Eichelberger was charged for the wreck and sent to rear handing the lead over to Marty Spade. Spade was able to hold off Tommy Dembowski the final two laps for his second straight win. Dembowski finished second with Hutira coming back for third over Jacob Weyer, Sam Eichelberger and Jeremy Fama. The lone heat went to Tommy Dembowski.

 

There is no doubt Joe Jacobs is the man to beat in the Seal Tite Strictly Stock 4 Cylinders. Jacobs won for the seventh time this season but had a little help. Dave Holdsworth looked like he was going to defeat Jacobs leading the first three laps. Holdsworth went high and this alowed Jacobs to pounce leading the final nine laps with Holdsworth on his tail. Late in the race Holdsworth slowed and Jacobs roared off to the win. Holdsworth held on to second over Sadie Lancashire, Joe Huffman, Justin Connors, Kaitlyn Spangler and Shelby Lynn DiCriscio. Jacobs and Spangler were the heat winners.

 

Special T Metals Pro Stocks (8) – Marty Spade, Tommy Dembowski, Brett Hutira, Jacob Weyer, Sam Eichelberger, Jeremy Fama, Brandon Doland, Joe Kelley.

 

Joe’s Body Shop Pure Stocks (15) – Anthony Monteparte, John Cain, Dakota Hixon, EJ Rozak, Corey Faris, Jim Zufall, Timmy Weiner, Joey Koteles, Ron Ramsey, Mike Peters, Tim Neiderhiser, Justin Ruff, Stephen Hazlett, DNS – Cody Behanna, Bob McNaney.

 

Stone & Co. Modified 4 Cylinders (21) – Dayton Hazlett, Paul Koffler III, Evan Nibert, Colton McNaney, Dale Grubbs. Tylar Huffman, Brandon Myers, Andrew Jones, Mark Krivjanik, Alex Starcher, Dante Boggio, Shawn Ghrist, Tiffany McElhouse, Brad Vargovich, Brian Noel, Cody Bates, Joe Jacobs, Wyatt Piper, Brian Spangler, Jeremy Grubbs, DNS – Mike Pavlak.

 

Seal Tite Strictly Stock 4 Cylinders (9) – Joe Jacobs, Dave Holdsworth, Sadie Lancashire, Joe Huffman, Justin Connors, Kaitlyn Spangler, Shelby Lynn DiCriscio, DNS – Matt Underwood, Emily Moyer.