Budds Creek, MD- A staple in the Mid-Atlantic region for nearly a half-century, Maryland’s Potomac Speedway will swing into action with their scheduled March 26th season opener. In all, 19 dates occupy the track’s schedule with 10 different classes seeing track time through the course of the season.
The Late Models will be on hand for 7 events. Last year Jamie Lathroum took one win and scored his second career division crown with Kyle Hardy and Jason Covert each taking two wins with Jason Miller capturing one main event. The Limited Late Models will see action 11 times. Brandon Long’s career season saw him taking his first-ever feature win and his first Potomac title. Three-time champion Derick Quade lead the way with 5 feature wins, former champion Kyle Lear clicked for a pair of victories with North Carolina’s Willie Milliken and Pennsylvania veteran Andy Fries each taking their initial Potomac successes.
The RUSH Crate Late Models will be on hand for 15 events. Jeremy Pilkerton racked up 7 wins and took his second consecutive championship. The feel-good story of last season was Megan Mann as she collected two wins and a Hagerstown triumph in her first-ever track start. Former champion Chuck Bowie also scored twice with solo victories going to Ben Bowie and Kyle Hardy. The resurgent Street Stock class Will be on the schedule for all 19 events. PJ Hatcher rolled to nine feature wins and his second career track championship. Deuce Wright was the only other multiple feature winner of the season scoring two victories. Mike Latham only made One start during the season but it was big as it was his 54th career feature win putting him on top of the all-time win list. Other winners included Ben Pirner, Mike Grady Jr., and Walter Crouch.
The hobby stocks will dot The Potomac schedule 18 times. Mikey Latham drove to five feature wins and his third championship in the past four seasons. Colin Long was a three-time winner, With Wyatt Hanson and Austin Lathroum each posting two victories. Single event winners were Greg Morgan, Mason Hanson, and Buddy Dunagan.
The strict stocks will be on hand for 17 events. Despite not scoring a win, Casey Sheckles would take the division title. Eventual point runner-up Justin Hatcher collected a division-leading eight feature wins, former track champion Greg Mattingly was a seven-time winner with Nabil Guffey scoring once. The U Cars Will be on hand for 11 dates. Dominic King lead the way with six feature wins and his first career division championship. Seth Hood scored two wins on the season, with singles going to Jason Penn, Justin Knight, and Kelly Crouse.
The second-year roadster division will occupy eight dates. Jason Jarvis became the new division’s first track champion. His first-ever feature win on the final point night would also propel him to the track title. Justin Bottorf collected three feature wins, Pa’s Terry Hartlaub won twice with Tim Steele taking one victory.
The E Mods will see action twice during the season as they will make their annual Labor Day and Memorial Day weekend stops. After their scheduled show was scrubbed last year to rain, the Central Pennsylvania legends will also join the memorial day program.
Notes-
Former three-time U Car Champion Savannah Windsor Will make her return to the speedway after a nearly three-year hiatus. She will compete with the street stocks as her new car is being ready in the team’s garage…Matt Tarbox, A former hobby Stock Titleist at the track, Will also be joining the street stocks this season. After acquiring a former Marty Hanbury Machine, Matt has virtually rebuilt the car from the ground up as he seeks his first division feature win.
Greg Mattingly has purchased Casey Sheckles title-winning strictly stock and will have the machine ready for the season opener…U Car Champion Dominic King has sold all of his equipment and will join the Hobby stocks for 2022.
Deuce Wright and car owner Troy Kassiris Will are not competing with street stocks this season. Troy stated that he may pilot the car some throughout the season, as the ongoing price to maintain a top-notch car continues to rise. Wright, however, has secured a ride in Kevin Murphy’s hobby stock and should be a major contender for the track title.
Tyler Emory has become a second driver for the potent Cameron/Mann Late Model operation. Emory, a former three-time Limited Late Model champion, Will join forces with Pennsylvania ace Jason Covert. Both will have Rocket/Cornett Prepared machines at their disposal with Emory steering the familiar no.72 and Covert sporting a no.15 on his car which was his number when he started racing in the old four-cylinder class at Pennsylvania’s Path valley speedway.
Potomac’s most prolific feature winner David Williams is also set to make a return to the speedway. Williams will pilot the Joe Adams and Wayne Quade-owned Rocket no.23, which was Emory’s ride for the past several seasons. Williams made a personal achievement of 100 overall feature wins back in 2017, and now has his sights set on getting to the century mark at Potomac, as he has amassed 94 feature wins entering the 2022 campaign. Congrats to Tyler Emory and Megan Mann as they have recently announced their engagement.
In closing, sending out well wishes and a speedy recovery to Jeff Pilkerton who recently underwent heart transplant surgery. According to Jeff’s son, Jeremy, the operation was a success, and should be out of the hospital in a few days.