Photo Courtesy PRP Media Relations

Steve Casebolt makes a pass for the lead as he took Saturday’s Late Model Feature in the 18th Annual Fred Dillow Memorial at Portsmouth Raceway Park.

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PRP Press Release

Where did he come from?

That was the question fans at Portsmouth Raceway Park were asking Saturday night when Steve Casebolt charged from 18th to the lead in the closing laps of the Late Model Feature.

Casebolt was just one of many big winners on the night of The 18th Annual Fred Dillow Memorial - an evening filled with bonuses in every division. While Casebolt won the 35-lap Late Model A-Main which paid $5,000 to win, many of the other 137 racers in attendance won in some fashion. Doug Adkins, Audie Swartz, and Shane Pendleton were all feature winners, but many other drivers walked away with incentive-based awards and luck-of-the-draw prizes.

In total, the Dillow family raised roughly $10,000 in cash and prizes that all went back to the drivers and fans who were on hand during the night of the memorial race.

Wheelersburg’s R.J. Conley was tops in the Bozo Bragdon Memorial “Just Give Me One Lap” Late Model Time Trials. Conley set fast time and won $1,077 for his efforts. Jackson’s Jason Montgomery pocketed $233 for winning Sgt. Tim Moore’s Dash For Cash. Josh McGuire, Nick Bocook, Eddie Carrier, Jr., and Chris Wilson all received $83 apiece from Blake Darst & Flat Broke Farms for winning Late Model Heat Races.

In the Late Model feature sponsored by Engines, Inc. & Grover Racing Engines as well as Gary Hoskins, Kathy Miller, Ryan Martin, and Chad Martin - Jackie Boggs won $50 from Deb Mullins for leading the first lap of the feature and earned $100 more from Sounds Familiar Mobile Entertainment by Ryan Potter of Oak Hill for leading at the halfway mark.

Casebolt was the race’s hard charger moving up 17 positions, and as a result, he received $183 from Racers In Christ. For winning the race, Casebolt was awarded a custom-made 18th Annual Fred Dillow Memorial Winner mirror made by Off-The-Wall Kustom T’s, a large cardboard check from Graphic Creations, and a photo poster of himself in victory lane courtesy of Mark’s Photos.

In the Modified A-Main sponsored by Tax Associates of Ironton and Jordan Heating and Air of South Webster, Rick Hensley earned a $50 bonus for leading lap 1 from T.J. Layne of TL Enterprises of Ohio.

Corey McKenzie was the Modified Hard Charger and as a result received $100 from Walker Construction in the memory of the late Linda Walker. McKenzie advanced 13 spots.

In the Limited Late Model Feature sponsored by Giovanni’s Wholesale of Ashland and Pickett Concrete of Coal Grove and Chesapeake, Audie Swartz pocketed a $50 bonus provided by Pickett Concrete for leading the first circuit. Matt Cook moved up six spots to be named the race’s Tri-State Motorsports Swap Meet and Trade Show Hard Charger.

In the Bomber A-Main sponsored by Blaze and Dallas Bradley and Davy Potter, Tim Short Chrysler of Hazard, Ky. provided Conard Newman with $50 for leading the first lap. Corey Lewis earned $50 from Meadows Photos 4 U of Sciotoville for being the race’s Hard Charger.

Scott James, Charlie Floyd, Brandon Conkel, and Jeremy Cassidy all earned “Dangerous Dan Aldridge Tough Break” Awards in their respective divisions valued at $50 apiece.

While a lot of drivers were treated to bonus money, one lucky PRP fan won a recliner from Value City Furniture. Meanwhile, all PRP fans were treated to some outstanding racing.

In the Late Model Division, the fast way around the track was on the top side. Jackie Boggs looked to be the driver to beat early on. He started on the outside pole and wasted no time jumping out to the lead.

Boggs led the first 22 laps before Eddie Carrier, Jr. took the lead on lap 23. Boggs and Carrier got together on Lap 28 while battling for the lead allowing Casebolt to get by both of them. Finishing behind Casebolt were Boggs, McGuire, Montgomery, and Carrier.

Rick Hensley led the first 14 laps of the Modified A-Main before eventual winner Doug Adkins got by. Audie Swartz led every lap of the Limited Late Mode feature. Conard Newman led the first seven laps of the Bomber A-Main before Shane Pendleton got by to lead the last five.

PRP fans were even treated to a couple of exhibition races featuring ¾-Scale Late Models. One of those cars was driven by 1980 World 100 champ Charlie Swartz.

The 137 racecars on hand was by far the highest car count of the season. Fans witnessed a total of 25 races counting all heats, B-mains, features, and exhibition races.

This coming Saturday PRP racing will get under way at 7:30. Late Models, Modifieds, Limited Lates, and Bombers will make up the schedule.