The 2024 NASCAR Advance Auto weekly racing season at the Dominion Raceway concluded on Saturday October 12 on an evening that featured a Dominion Stock Invitational, twin Grand National Super Series races, and the Craig Murto Memorial Late model race.
With several division champions named, the most exciting championship battle came down to
the Dominion Stocks. Defending champion, Richard Powers, entered with a two point lead, in
what was essentially a must-win race, as Todd Ruggles and Mike Lowe were both two points
behind.
Ruggles and Powers started on the front row and the #07 jumped out to an early lead. Ruggles
and Powers would pull away and race within inches of each other for several laps until Ruggles
would lose the lead with 13 to-go. A dive into turn 1 would cause Ruggles to make contact with
Powers and spin him out. Both cars avoided significant damage, but would have to start at the
rear of the field on the restart.
Mike Lowe would be the leader on the restart, but he would be unable to take advantage of
Powers’ and Ruggles’ misfortune, as Skippy Johnson spun Tommy Smith to bring out a
caution. By the time the race restarted, Lowe was already rejoined by Powers and Ruggles.
With 9 to-go Powers passed Lowe and Ruggles would follow. A lap later, Lowe would get the
position back from Ruggles.. With 5 to-go, Lowe slid his car inside of Powers’ and he would
complete the pass in turns 3 and 4.
As Lowe and Powers came up on the lapped car of James Brantley, Powers would capitalize
and trap Lowe behind Brantley. The pick was a race winning move, as Powers was able to win
his second Dominion Raceway Dominion Stock track championship.
“We were real close; it was rough out there, but I had a lot of fun,” said Powers, in Victory Lane.
“I had a mishap with Todd [Ruggles], but I am excited. We locked up a championship.”
For Ruggles, the defeat in the championship race was a bummer, but he was able to earn quite
the consolation prize a few hours later. The Dominion Stock Invitational was an additional 30 lap race, but there was $700 up for grabs. Ruggles dominated the race after making an adjustment to his car in between races.
“In the first race, we missed the set-up. We made changes here and ran away with it,” said
Ruggles. “The championship is what I wanted, but $700 is $700. If I had to lose a Dominion
Stock championship to anyone, I would rather it be Richard [Powers].”
The Grand National Super Series returned to DR to close out their season with twin 50s. Former NASCAR cup driver, Jeremy Mayfield entered the night as the leader for their season’s Driver’s Championship; he simply needed to start the race to clinch it, which he did.
The race was in honor of Kevin Kromer, who recently passed on September 22. In Kromer’s #77 car was a two-time race winner at Dominion, Jake Christman, and he was looking for a third to honor his friend. Christman started from the top spot, and Jason Kitzmiller lurked behind him for the early phase of the race. With 36 to-go, Kitzmiller would make contact with the rear of Christman on the backstretch. After a competition caution, Kitzmiller got the lead after passing Christman on the outside on a restart with 30 to-go.
It looked like the #97 was going to run away with the win, but with 6 laps remaining, Christman
would close the gap. Kitzmiller’s car lost its handling late in the race, and it was the break
Christman needed to get to Victory Lane.
“I got tight towards the end and slipped up in [Turns] 1 and 2,” said Kitzmiller. “Kromer is looking down on that #77 with a big ‘ol smile on his face. Jake is a heck of a racer, and I don’t think Kevin would want anyone else in his car.”
Afterwards, Christman reflected on the emotions of the victory.
“I’m trying to keep it all together- I thought about him a lot the last 10 laps,” said Christman.
In the second race, Kitzmiller would remedy the mistake and proceed to dominate the second
race en route to another win at his “favorite race track.”
Landon Pembelton put the cherry-on-top of his Track Championship season, by leading every
lap of the Craig Murto Memorial Late Model race. Pembelton adds a track championship and a
guitar to his trophy room after his 10-win season.
Some could say it was the “Perfect Storm” in the 8-Cylinder Any Cars this year, as Richard
Storm closed out his 10-win season, as well.
“This [perfection] is what we shoot for - it will never happen again, but it all unfolded for us this
year,” said Storm.
Miles “The Menace” Murray celebrated his first DR Track Championship for the INEX Legends
with an incredible burnout after Tyler Hughes won the final 25 lap contest before Asphalt
Nationals coming to Dominion October 24th-26th.
“Congrats to Miles Murray for his first track championship,” said Hughes in Victory Lane. “He is
a driver who has come a long way.”
“I wish I could have won the race, but I was super loose,” said Murray. “I can’t thank everyone
enough for this amazing season.”
The INEX Bandoleros also saw Eli Van Patten crowned as the 2024 Track champion at Dominion. Next to his American flag wrapped machine in victory lane, Eli recalled his troubles during the season but overall consistency that led to his success down the stretch.
