Drake Troutman celebrates in victory lane at Tyler County Speedway.
What won the race: Earning the biggest victory of his Late Model career, fourth-starting Drake Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., executed an outside move around race-long leader Kyle Thomas of Pennsboro, W.Va., on lap 41 and paced Saturday's final 10 circuits at Tyler County Speedway to win the 28th annual Topless 50 feature and $5,000.
Key notes: With the victory, Troutman becomes the 18th different winner in the 28-year history of the Topless 50. ... After taking the lead in a three-car battle through lapped traffic, Troutman held off a charging Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., who finished 1.951 seconds back. ... After leading the first 40 laps, Thomas settled for third. ... Two-time Topless 50 winner and feature winner at Tyler County a week earlier, Derek Doll of Greensburg, W.Va., finished fourth. ... Defending event winner Shawn Jett of Pennsboro, W.Va., finished ninth. ... After winning Friday's $5,000 weekend opener at Ohio Valley Speedway, Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va., completed only eight laps and finished 19th. ... Saturday's feature, the 28th annual and second-longest running topless Late Model special in the country, was slowed by two cautions and lasted 17 minutes, with 10 competitors completing all 50 laps.
On the move: Mike Benedum of Salem, W.Va., started 13th and finished seventh.
Winner's sponsors: Troutman’s MB Customs Race Car is powered by a LaSalle Racing Engine and sponsored by Smith Transport, RFI Resoures, Shaffer Construction, D&R Trucking, Stone Natural Resources, Thunderhill Trucking, Thomas Cumberland Subaru-Hyundai, Shoe’s Diesel Performance, Glassmere Fuel Service, Rice Tire, Claar’s Notary, Merkel’s and I65 Transport.
Points chase: Tyler County points aren’t available.
Current weather: Clear, 64°F
Car count: 20
Fast qualifier: Kyle Thomas
Time: 12.578 seconds
Polesitter: Kyle Thomas
Heat race winners: Kyle Thomas, Jacob Hawkins, Derek Doll, , , , ,