“Coffey Brews Winning Run in Speedweek Opener at Potomac”
By Doug Watson
Budds Creek, MD- Caledonia New York’s Vic Coffey was triumphant in last Friday nights 40-lap Appalachian Mountain late Model Speedweek series opener at Potomac Speedway. The win for Coffey, worth $5000, was his first-career Speedweek and Potomac Late Model feature win.
JT Spence and David Williams shared the front-row for the start of the event. When the green was displayed, Spence darted into the race lead as the mob raced into turn-one. Spence lead until a flat tire sent him pit side on lap-6. Jamie Lathroum, who was second at the time, inherited the top-spot as Spence was in the pits for fresh rubber. Lathroum and third-starting Vic Coffey waged hand-to-hand combat over the next 22-laps until Lathroum’s bid for the win came up short as he slowed to a stop in turn-four on lap-28, handing the lead to Coffey. Even though Coffey would lead the final 12-circuits, a lap-38 caution gave the field one last shot at Coffey, but he would hold tough to score the popular win. “When Jamie (Lathroum) got the lead I was just trying to follow him.” Coffey stated in Potomac’s victory lane. “Jamie is pretty tough down here and I was just trying to race where he wasn’t, and when he came to a stop in four up there I was pretty surprised.” Coffey fought mechanical issues with his Rocket no.32C over the last half of the race, but fortunately the car stayed together. “I’m not sure if we dropped a valve or were running on seven cylinders.” Coffey stated. “I’m just glad it held together because there’s no better way to start speedweeks than with a win.” Kenny Moreland came home second, eleventh-starting Dan Stone was third, ninth-starting Jason Covert was fourth with Kenny Pettyjohn rounding out the top-five. Kenny Pettyjohn set fast time in time trials over the 23-car field with heat race wins going to JT Spence, Jason Covert and Coffey.
Late Model feature finish
1. Vic Coffey 2. Kenny Moreland 3. Dan Stone 4. Jason Covert 5. Kenny Pettyjohn 6. JT Spence 7. Nick Dickson 8. Jamie Lathroum 9. Mason Zeigler 10. Danny Snyder 11. Gregg Satterlee 12. Dale Hollidge 13. Austin Hubbard 14. Stevie Long 15. Deane Guy 16. DJ Myers 17. Kyle Hardy 18. Ryan Hackett 19. Mike Altobelli Jr. 20. Jeremy Miller 21. Ron Delano 22. Ricky Elliott 23. David Williams
DRIVER CAR # POINTS
1 Vic Coffey 32C 175
2 Kenny Pettyjohn 38 151
3 Kenny Moreland 24 145
4 Jason Covert 43A 138
5 Dan Stone 21D 134
6 JT Spence 91 126
7 Jamie Lathroum 6 116
8 Nick Dickson 17 110
9 Mason Zeigler 25Z 100
10 Greg Satterlee 22 97
11 Austin Hubbard 11 89
12 Dale Hollidge 0 89
13 Danny Snyder 4S 89
14 Stevie Long 44L 85
15 DJ Myers 70J 68
16 Deane Guy 44 67
17 Kyle Hardy 18 57
18 Ryan Hackett 76 56
19 David Williams 72 49
20 Mike Altobelli Jr 79 46
21 Ricky Elliott 88 42
22 Jeremy Miller 1M 42
23 Ron Delano Jr 0D 33