Hagerstown, MD — By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

There are no slouches on the alltime winner’s list of the ‘Conococheague 50’ at Hagerstown Speedway.

Simply put, it’s a ‘Who’s Who’ of national and regional dirt Late Model stars.

And it’s likely that another big name will be added to that select group this Saturday night (June 2) when the World of Outlaws Late Model Series sanctions the 26th annual ‘Conococheague’ event at Frank Plessinger’s well-known half-mile oval.

This will be the second consecutive year and third time in the last four seasons that the ‘Conococheague 50’ will be part of the WoO LMS, which has contested at least one event at Hagerstown in every season of its existence (1988-89, 2004-2007).

“The ‘Conococheague’ is one of the most prestigious shows of the season at Hagerstown and we think having it sanctioned by the World of Outlaws is a perfect fit,” said Steve Crumbacker, the track’s director of competition. “It just adds to the excitement level when the big boys of dirt Late Model racing come in here to race for that trophy.”

Named for the Conococheague Creek that flows just beyond Hagerstown Speedway’s backstretch wall, the ‘Conococheague 50’ has been won by 18 different drivers since its inception in 1982. Only three drivers have been able to win it more than once.

The acknowledged ‘King of the Conococheague 50’ is Gary Stuhler of Greencastle, Pa., who has captured the event an unprecedented five times. He won it for the first time in 1987, then again in 1993 and consecutively from 1996-98.

Stuhler, a 52-year-old celebrating his 30th season of dirt-track racing, is Hagerstown’s alltime winningest dirt Late Model driver and a victor in WoO LMS competition at Hagerstown on May 7, 1989. A three-time Hagerstown winner already in 2007, Stuhler will be a serious threat in Saturday’s $10,000-to-win A-Main driving Glen Nininger’s familiar No. 90.

The only other repeat winners of the ‘Conococheague 50,’ which was run over the 100-lap distance until its recent shortening to 50 circuits, are hometown favorite Nathan Durboraw (1989 and 1992) and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla. (2001 and 2002).

A glance at the one-time winners of the event is loaded with well-known names. There’s national stars like current WoO LMS regulars Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (2004 under WoO sanction) and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (2006 under WoO sanction), as well as Rodney Combs (the inaugural event victor in 1982), Larry Moore and the late Jack Boggs. Some of the best regional racers have also been ‘Conococheague 50’ champions, including Buddy Armel, Bob Wearing Sr., Rodney Franklin, the late Ronnie McBee, Tom Peck, Bart Hartman, Todd Andrews, Davey Johnson and Robbie Blair.

The competition for this year’s ‘Conococheague 50’ title will be heated, with Francis, Eckert and Smith leading the WoO LMS contingent into battle. Other ‘Outlaws’ expected include points leader Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., reigning tour champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., top rookie contender Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.

Hagerstown Speedway’s pit gates will open at 4 p.m. this Saturday and the spectator gates will be unlocked at 5 p.m. On-track action is set to begin at 7 p.m.

General admission is $30, with children 12-and-under admitted free. Reserved seats are available for $35, and pit passes are also $35.

For more information, visit www.hagerstownspeedway.com or call the track office at 301-582-0640.

Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Alltime ‘Conococheague’ Event Winners:

1982 - Rodney Combs
1983 - Buddy Armel
1984 - Bob Wearing Sr.
1985 - Rodney Franklin
1986 - Ronnie McBee
1987 - Gary Stuhler
1988 - Tom Peck
1989 - Nathan Durboraw
1990 - Larry Moore
1991 - Jack Boggs
1992 - Nathan Durboraw
1993 - Gary Stuhler
1995 - Bart Hartman
1996 - Steve Francis
1997 - Gary Stuhler
1998 - Gary Stuhler
1999 - Gary Stuhler
2000 - Todd Andrews
2001 - Earl Pearson Jr.
2002 - Earl Pearson Jr.
2003 - Davey Johnson
2004 - Rick Eckert (WoO LMS)
2005 - Robbie Blair
2006 - Clint Smith (WoO LMS)