CUMBERLAND, MD – For the first time since 1997, the United Racing Club made it’s way to The Greater Cumberland Raceway in Cumberland, Maryland where Pat Cannon rocketed to the win on May 8, 2021.
It was a beautiful day on the Maryland/West Virginia line where 14 cars showed up to race at The Greater Cumberland Raceway, with a $100 bonus being given to nine teams who competed in both the previous night at Bedford in addition to Saturday. Bordered by the Potomac River, the scenery was almost as good as the racing. With no current members racing at the speedway before it proved to be tricky from the start as corners 1 and 2 seemed much more tight than corners 3 and 4. Some driver’s even compared the speedways size to that of the old Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey. The two heat races went off with only one caution and were won by Josh Weller and Derek Locke, respectfully.
After the redraw, Andy Best and Adam Carberry would lead the field to the green. Best would jump out to an early lead with Carberry, Locke, Weller and the 23 of Pat Cannon in tow. Best would soon hit lapped traffic where he encountered some trouble getting by. Locke soon would slip by Carberry and begin to set his sights on Best. A battle soon began for the third position where Carberry started to feel the heat from Weller and Cannon. Suddenly, Pat Cannon pulled back his wing and set off on a complete tear to the front passing Weller and Carberry with ease, and soon catching Locke. The no. 23 made his way around Locke and with around 10 laps to go was right on Best’s bumper. Cannon flew around the outside of the track and drove around Best and the lapped cars in front of him and soon was out of sight. With the feature going green to checkered no one would get the opportunity to challenge Cannon, and he would go on to record his third career United Racing Club win.
“The track was pretty good – it was more racey than I thought since during the heat races it was a little sketchy up top but it opened up to two grooves,” said Cannon. During the redraw, Pat drew the number 6, the last possible position in the redraw bag but that didn’t stop him in his March to the front, “I think it just took me a little to get some tire heat going and once I got the wing back it gave us options to pass cars.” Putting his wing in the trunk was one of the keys to success for Cannon to get to the front but he will admit “it scared him one time because it was too far back racing with Josh and I about took down the fence.”
Cannon does not race with United Racing Club often, and was all but retired when car owner John Stehman believed in him enough to put him back behind the wheel. “It is neat to come to a new place and have success, it is pretty cool after this big break in my career ito get a win again.” Pat Cannon would like to thank his wife, family, crew and fans, as well as the sponsors for the number 23 machine: Mountain Ridge Metals, Vinagro Hauling, Treyco Heavy Industrial, Matco Tools, and Don Ott Racing Engines.
The United Racing Club will return to action on Friday, May 21st at Big Diamond Speedway, a track that always has great racing action! To follow along during race day be sure to check out My Race Pass and search United Racing Club for our schedule, lineups, results, and more!
Photo Credit: Jesse Carberry
Contingency awards:
KSE Hard Charger – Pat Cannon +5
Ultra Shield last redraw spot – Pat Cannon
ISC Racers Tape – Josh Weller (4th)
Seals-It – Adam Carberry (6th)
Rod End Supply – Kevin Darling (8th)
Ultra Shield – Ryan Stillwaggon (11th)
DMI – Jon Miller (last in feature)
RESULTS – MAY 7, 2021
HEAT 1 (8 LAPS): 1. 63-Josh Weller[1]; 2. 9D-Kevin Darling[2]; 3. 34-Andy Best[5]; 4. 35-Jason Shultz[7]; 5. 66A-Cody Fletcher[3]; 6. 11T-Mike Thompson[6]; 7. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[4]
HEAT 2 (8 LAPS): 1. 77-Derek Locke[1]; 2. 47-Adam Carberry[2]; 3. 23-Pat Cannon[4]; 4. 55-Dallas Schott[3]; 5. 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[6]; 6. 669-Brandon McGough[5]; 7. 9-Jon Miller[7]
A-FEATURE (25 LAPS): 1. 23-Pat Cannon[6]; 2. 34-Andy Best[1]; 3. 77-Derek Locke[3]; 4. 63-Josh Weller[4]; 5. 35-Jason Shultz[7]; 6. 47-Adam Carberry[2]; 7. 55-Dallas Schott[8]; 8. 9D-Kevin Darling[5]; 9. 11T-Mike Thompson[11]; 10. 66A-Cody Fletcher[9]; 11. 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[10]; 12. 669-Brandon McGough[12]; 13. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[13]; 14. (DNF) 9-Jon Miller[14]
TOP 10 URC DRIVERS POINTS (AS OF 5/8/2021)
- Jason Shultz - 555
- Andy Best – 525 (-30)
- Dallas Schott – 474 (-81)
- Adam Carberry – 454 (-101)
- Ryan Stillwaggon – 428 (-127)
- Josh Weller – 385 (-170)
- Derek Locke – 364 (-191)
- Mike Thompson – 362 (-193)
- Ryan Smith – 292 (-263)
- Kevin Darling – 289 (-266)
TOP 10 URC OWNERS POINTS (AS OF 5/8/2021)
- Ritter Racing - 555
- Mark VanVorst – 525 (-30)
- Dallas Schott – 474 (-81)
- Adam Carberry – 454 (-101)
- Robert Stillwaggon – 428 (-127)
- Derek Locke – 385 (-170)
- Lenox Thompson – 364 (-191)
- Brad Nowotarski – 362 (-193)
- Kevin Darling – 292 (-263)
- David McGough – 289 (-266)
- Casey Robicheau on May 10, 2021
- Article Date: 5/10/2021 by Casey Robicheau