COAL GROVE — The largest race of the 2010 season at RTR took place on Friday with the running of the $5,000 to win “Les Boggs 50.”

Some of the most notable names in the sport of Dirt Late Model racing were in attendance with Late Models from Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, and New York in attendance. A near record crowd was also in attendance.

Steve Casebolt Jr. and Wayne Chinn battled side-by-side for the lead to start the Late Model feature event.

Casebolt led the opening lap while Chinn took the lead on lap two. The two drivers continued battling side-by-side until a caution flag flew on lap 12.

During the caution period, the complexity of the race changed as race leader Chinn pulled off the track with mechanical problems.

Chinn’s problems allowed Casebolt to inherit the lead with Eddie Carrier Jr. running in second. When the race went back green, Casebolt stretched out a pretty big lead on Carrier for the next 12 laps.

As the leaders approached lapped traffic, Carrier began to reel in Casebolt and was on his bumper when a caution flew on lap 30.

When the race resumed, Casebolt and Carrier had an incredible battle for the lead with both cars running low in turns one and two and Casebolt up high in three and four with Carrier running down low.

Carrier would get along side of Casebolt in the middle of turns three and four each lap, but high side momentum would keep Casebolt in the lead off of the turn.

As the race reached its final six laps, Carrier took a hard charge on the outside into turn one. Coming off of the turn, Carrier’s machine went a little too high as he tapped the guardrail. The little bit of contact with the guardrail was enough to hurt Carrier’s momentum as Casebolt increased his lead to come across the checkers to win.

Carrier finished second with 18th place starter Victor Lee third, Justin Ratliff fourth, and R. J. Conley fifth. Vic Coffey, Chinn, and Jeep VanWormer won heat races while defending track champion Jackie Boggs won the B-Main.

Mark Noel took the lead to start the nights 15-lap Mod-Lite A-Main. Noel led the first seven laps until last week’s feature winner Tony Sites took the lead on lap eight.

Sites appeared destined for victory until the caution flag flew with three laps to go. On the restart, Sites’ car would not fire as Noel got around Sites to lead the final three laps and take his first feature win of the season.

Aaron Pendleton finished second with Brock Morris third, Harold Kuhn fourth and Sites in fifth. Noel and Pendleton won heat races.

A nine-car crash marred the start of the “Les Boggs 30” $1,000 to win AMRA Modified A-Main. After about a 20-minute red flag, the race resumed with Doug Adkins and Todd Robinson battling for the lead.

With Adkins leading on lap four, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour hit the speedway, resulting in the race being called. The race will resume after Hot Laps on Friday with the running order the same as it was on lap four. The Bomber A-Main was also rained out and will be run Friday.

Coming to RTR Friday will be the “Tri-State Challenge” featuring a full racing program of Late Models, AMRA Modifieds, Bombers, and Mod Lites.

Drivers in the Late Model, AMRA Modified, and Bomber divisions will be racing to earn points for their state to see whether Ohio, Kentucky, or West Virginia will win the “Tri-State Challenge.”

In addition to the “Tri-State Challenge,” fans will get to see the final 26 laps of the “Les Boggs 30” AMRA Modified A-Main and complete double features for the Bombers. A vintage flat track motorcycle exhibition will also take place during intermission.

General admission for this action packed night is $12 with kids (7-12) general admission $2, kids six and under free, and pit passes $25. Gates open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps at 7:30. For more information visit www.rockytopraceway.net.

Les Boggs 50 Results

(Position/Name/Hometown)

1. Steve Casebolt Jr. (Richmond, IN)

2. Eddie Carrier Jr. (Salt Rock, WV)

3. Victor Lee (Stanford, KY)

4. Justin Ratliff (Campbellsville, KY)

5. R. J. Conley (Wheelersburg, OH)

6. Rod Conley (Wheelersburg, OH)

7. Kenny Christy (Vanceburg, KY)

8. Zack Dohm (Cross Lanes, WV)

9. Rick Combs (Bethel, OH)

10. Delmas Conley (Wheelersburg, OH)

11. D. J. Wells (Wooten, KY)

12. Billy Gullion (Waverly, OH)

13. Greggie Oliver (Jackson, OH)

14. Josh McGuire (Grayson, KY)

15. Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH)

16. Nick Bocook (Wheelersburg, OH)

17. Jackie Boggs (Grayson, KY)

18. Shannon Thornsberry (Martin, KY)

19. Vic Coffey (Caledonia, NY)

20. Jeep VanWormer (Pinconning, MI)