PRP Press Release

For the third time in as many weeks, over 100 race teams were on hand at Portsmouth Raceway Park Saturday, as the Coleman-Family owned facility hosted the Sixth Annual Boone Coleman Memorial Gator 50.
Late Model racer Brandon Fouts, Devin Gilpin in the Modifieds, longtime Limited Late Model competitor Joe Whitt, and Sport Mod driver Derek Richmond all picked up victories in their respective divisions.
Fouts was dominant from the onset driving a Swartz by Boggs Chassis.  The Kite, Ky., driver set fast time, won his heat, started on the pole of the Boone Coleman Memorial Gator 50, and led every lap of Saturday evening’s showcase event.
Fouts, evening started off strong as he set quick time in the Impact Race Gear Late Model Time Trials, which earned him $250 from Lemley Motorsports, $100 from Lee Floyd in memory of “Big H” Harold Floyd, and a $50 gift card from Impact Race Gear.
Fouts’ night would only get better.  The 26-year-old was untouchable in The Gator 50, as he became the third different Giovanni’s Pizza Late Model Feature winner in PRP’s first three races this season.  Fouts credited Audie Swartz and Jackie Boggs with helping get him to winner’s circle.  Both Swartz and Boggs were two of the first in line to congratulate Fouts in victory lane.
This weekend’s victory supplied Fouts with $5,000 as well as a provisional starting spot in this October’s Dirt Track World Championship.
The top four finishers in Saturday’s Late Model A-Main represented four different states.  Salt Rock, WV’s Eddie Carrier Jr. finished as the runner-up. Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN., placed third.  Wheelersburg’s R.J. Conley, who went back and forth with both Carrier and Casebolt at various points in the race, finished fourth. Kenny Christy of Vanceburg, Ky., rounded out the top five.
Devin Gilpin, Stephen Breeding, Ben Adkins, Josh Bocook, and Lee Logan made up the remainder of the top 10.
While Gilpin and Adkins both scored solid finishes in the Late Model Feature, their performances were even better in The R.W. Rental and Supply Modifieds.
Gilpin — of Columbus, IN. — captured the victory in the $1,000-to-win Modified Feature, while West Portsmouth’s Ben Adkins placed second and set quick time in the Dynamic Shock Service Time Trials.
Gilpin climbed six spots from sixth to take the win and also earn Markwest Ranger Pipeline Hard Charger honors.
Pole-sitter Jeremy Rayburn would lead the first 14 laps before Gilpin made the pass for the lead.  Rayburn wound up third.  Nathon Loney, who won the first two PRP Modified Features to start the season, placed fourth.  Jody Puckett rounded out the top five.  Completing the top 10 were Michael Howard, Justin Cooper, Jason Bilyeu, Justin Jacobs, and Mike Learman.
Minford’s Joe Whitt was class of the field in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Lates winning his heat and dominating the feature.  Mike Meyers, Cameron Logan, Randy Ross, Billy Staker, Chris Lockhart, John Melvin, Kevin Terry, Ronnie Whitt, and Charlie Mullett rounded out the top 10.
Lockhart earned Limited Late Model Hard Charger recognition from the Dillow family which annually presents the Fred Dillow Memorial Race at Portsmouth Raceway Park.
Stout’s Derek Richmond grabbed the victory in the M & M Inflatables Sport Mods.  Luke Jordan, Billy Baldridge,  Rick Neace, and Emily Jordan made up the rest of the top five.  The next five were Alan Gulley, Jason Spillman, Derek Spencer, Mitchell Fields, and Sam Hobbs.
In total, there were 103 race teams present at PRP Saturday.  Every race this season has had over 100 cars.
Portsmouth Raceway Park will be in action this coming Saturday featuring Late Models, Modifieds, Limited Lates, Sports Mods, and The Ohio Valley Roofers Legends Cars Series.  It will be Kids Night.  All children ages 12 and under will receive free general admission.