Justin Litton wins family battle to claim Hicks Memorial title
PUTNAMVILLE – The second running of the “Baily Hicks Memorial” race for the bomber division had a fitting winner on Saturday night at Lincoln Park Speedway.
One of Hicks’s closest friends, Justin Litton, pulled away from his brother Josh over the final five laps to claim the 25-lap feature win. There were 36 bombers on hand for the special event remembering Hicks, who passed away a couple of years ago. Joseph Raber and Tom Cox started on the front row with Justin Litton lining up on the outside of the third row to start the A-main.
Raber held down the point through the first five laps with Cox and Justin Litton battling side-by-side for the second position. Behind those three drivers, Josh Litton was running the low line underneath Jeff Allen, who started 12th. On the eighth lap, Justin Litton was able to take over the lead coming out of turn four and by lap 10, it was a sibling rivalry out front with both Litton’s wheel-to-wheel for the lead.
With 10 laps to go, the Littons were still duking it out as Josh Litton would nose underneath Justin lap-after-lap but could not make a pass for the top spot. However, on lap 18, Josh would actually cross the finish line with an edge after getting a strong run out of the fourth corner. By turns one and two however, Justin and re-taken the lead by carrying strong momentum into the corner. Once he had gotten back out front, Justin Litton began to open up the lead by running the high line. Jeff Allen would eventually make his way up to the third spot at the finish line as Raber came home fourth ahead of Tom Cox.
In the UMP Modified feature, Jake Leitzman and James Walters started on the front row and would eventually hold down those positions for the duration of the 20-lap feature.
Walters was a rocketship running the cushion to perfection and pulled away late after a challenge Jordan Wever during the middle stages of the race.
At the midway point of the feature, Wever had closed within striking distance briefly as Tim Prince ran third. Leitzman and Rob Brickert were in a tussle for the fourth spot side-by-side ahead of Tyler Loughmiller and Cody Wright.
Down the stretch, Walters pulled out to a solid lead over the final five laps as Leitzman eventually resumed his spot in second at the checkered flag. Brickert finished third ahead of Wever and Jeff Deckard.
The UMP Super Stock feature was a battle of Greencastle natives to the finish line.
Daniel Norman held off a serious challenge from Josh Boller after a re-start with a couple of laps remaining. Boller nosed under Norman on the final lap, but Norman would deny Boller another victory. For Norman, the win was his first career UMP Super Stock victory.
Norman worked through some late lapped traffic flawlessly as Boller gave chase ahead of Jack Campbell as Larry Raines of Brazil and Chris Hillman worked for the fourth spot.
After the final caution flag came out, Norman got a good restart and he maintained his momentum to pick up the win over Boller, Campbell, Raines and Hillman.
The Race Saver 305 Series was also on hand as Texas native Anton Hernandez claimed the win. The hornet class victory went to Owen Cosman.
UMP Modified feature
1. James Walters, 2. Jake Leitzman, 3. Rob Brickert, 4. Jordan Wever, 5. Jeff Deckard, 6. Tyler Loughmiller, 7. Jerry Bland Jr., 8. Carlos Bumgardner, 9. Michael Kettnich, 10. Nathan Voorhies, 11. Will Bennett, 12. James Grider, 13. John Grenier Jr., 14. Michael Fish, 15. Jason Clark, 16. John Warner, 17. RT Gamble, 18. Cody Wright, 19. Tim Prince
UMP Super Stock feature
1. Daniel Norman, 2. Josh Boller, 3. Jack Cambpell, 4. Larry Raines, 5. Chris Hillman, 6. Chris Bennett, 7. Bryce Shidler, 8. Randy Brawley, 9. Cullen Goodman, 10. Austin Phelps, 11. Justin Massie, 12. William Jeffery, 13. Wes McClara, 14. Chad Casassa, 15. Jonny Newgent, 16. Travis Heramb, 17. Kyle Johnson, 18. David Wallen, 19. Matt Jordan, 20. Kris Starks
Bomber feature
‘Baily Hicks Memorial Race’
1. Justin Litton, 2. Josh Litton, 3. Jeff Allen, 4. Joseph Raber, 5. Tom Cox, 6. Ben Daniel, 7. Barry Hicks, 8. Andrew Pollock, 9. Kyle Prince, 10. Jacob Ham, 11. Ethan Litton, 12. Joey Cox, 13. Jeremy Tate, 14. Greg Caldwell, 15. David Bumgardner, 16. Devin Wallen, 17. Jason Horvath, 18., Matthew Cooley, 19. Bob Farris, 20. Glen Ogden