BUDDS CREEK, MD – Severna Park native Kyle Lear marked a significant win in Potomac Speedway’s storied history, capturing the 30-lap “Kevin Cooke Memorial” race on Saturday, the final event under the promotional guidance of Ronnie and Denise Hollidge. Lear, who also claimed the 2024 Limited Late Model championship, guided his Rocket No. 151 to his third victory of the season, pocketing $2,222.
Lear, a seasoned competitor, overtook Sam Archer with a daring outside maneuver on turn two during lap three and never looked back. While he maintained a comfortable lead, ninth-place starter Kenny Moreland managed to rise to second by the sixth lap but failed to close the gap significantly, allowing Lear to take home his 29th career division feature win.
“This win is special,” Lear said in victory lane. “We let one get away last night, but we were determined to get this one tonight. Ronnie and Denise have given us a great place to race all these years, and they feel like family to us. We had a lot of motivation to win here tonight.”
Tire selection played a crucial role in Lear’s success. “We went with the hardest tire we could find, and although they started wearing down toward the end, we had enough to secure the win,” Lear added.
Trailing behind Moreland in third was Derick Quade, followed by Keith Jackson in fourth. Kyle Hardy rounded out the top five after recovering from an early pit stop. Heat race victories in the 31-car field went to Jeremy Pilkerton, Derick Quade, Kyle Lear, and Sam Archer, with Cody Lear taking the B-main win.
In another highlight of the evening, Kyle Hardy captured his third Potomac victory in the 25-lap Crate Late Model feature, securing his 12th career division win and a $2,000 prize. Hardy’s Rocket No. 99 car overtook early race leader Corey Almond on lap 14 with an outside move off turn four, holding off Almond to win by five car lengths at the checkered flag.
“Corey was racing me hard, and I knew he would be tough to get around,” Hardy said after the race. “He really made me work for it. It’s special to win here on the last night. This is where I got my first-ever win, and it will always hold a special place for me.”
Ed Pope Jr. finished third in the Crate Late Model feature, with Gregory Carrico and Trevor Collins completing the top five. Heat race wins in the 22-car field went to Corey Almond, Trevor Collins, and Kyle Hardy.
The evening also saw Mason Hanson claim victory in the $1,556-to-win “Dale Reamy Sr Memorial” Street Stock event, marking his second Potomac win of the season. Hanson crossed the finish line ahead of Scotty Nelson, Dylan Rutherford, PJ Hatcher, and Tommy Wagner Jr.
In the 20-lap Jim Gardner Sr Hobby Stock event, Eric Hanson grabbed his first win of the season, earning a $750 prize. Hanson outpaced Brian Hubbard, Mason Hanson, Kristopher Hutton, and Colin Long to claim victory.
The weekend’s events wrapped up with Justin Hatcher sweeping the weekend’s Strictly Stock features, winning Saturday’s 20-lap race. In the Roadster division, Alan Griffith Jr. took his second consecutive national victory, triumphing in the 20-lap feature event.
Race Results:
Limited Late Models (30 laps):
- Kyle Lear
- Kenny Moreland
- Derick Quade
- Keith Jackson
- Kyle Hardy
- Sam Archer
- Justin Williams
- Devin Frey
- Wayne Bryant
- Andy Fries
Crate Late Models (25 laps):
- Kyle Hardy
- Corey Almond
- Ed Pope Jr.
- Gregory Carrico
- Trevor Collins
Street Stocks (25 laps):
- Mason Hanson
- Scotty Nelson
- Dylan Rutherford
- PJ Hatcher
- Tommy Wagner Jr.
Hobby Stocks (20 laps):
- Eric Hanson
- Brian Hubbard
- Mason Hanson
- Kristopher Hutton
- Colin Long
Roadsters (20 laps):
- Alan Griffith Jr.
- Justin Bottorf
- Stephen Suite
- Cody Bottorf
- Larry Lamb
Strictly Stocks (20 laps):
- Justin Hatcher
- Nabil Guffey
- Larry Fuchs
- Ricky Sexton
- Jayden Hatcher
