Feathers Finds Victory Lane, First Lee Stultz Memorial 4-Time Winner

Feathers didn’t waste any time showing he was ready to go after the trophy Saturday night.  He set quick time in his group with a 15.164-second trip around the 3/8-oval.  

He kept the momentum rolling in his heat race.  Starting from the pole, he took command from the drop of the green and never looked back, building a 5.5-second advantage by the end of the 10-lap qualifying event.

A “Climb to the Pole” event for the super late models pitted the top six qualifiers against each other, two at a time for two laps.  If a driver could continue to advance and win the final segment, they would earn the pole for the main event.  Feathers came away with the 3rd starting spot for the 40-lap finale.

Feathers claimed 2nd by lap two and went to work on cutting into the one-second lead Keith Jackson had quickly established.  By lap six he had reeled in the leader and was all over his rear bumper.

On lap nine the Winchester, VA native powered his way into the lead.  Feathers probably has more career laps at Winchester Speedway than anywhere, so he knew he couldn’t let up.  Things can change quickly.  When the checkered flag waived on the race, he crossed the line with a 3.425-second advantage.

“It’s good to finally get to victory lane this year, especially in a Team Zero Race Car the day after we lost Scott.”, Feathers commented, referring to the death of dirt late model hall of fame driver and legend in the sport, Scott Bloomquist, who died the day before in a plane crash on the Bloomquist family farm in Tennessee.

For those unfamiliar, Team Zero Race Cars is a Dirt Late Model chassis manufacturer owned by Bloomquist.

“Scott was a great racer but an even better person.  We were lucky enough to spend some time with him.  I wish everyone would have had the opportunity we did.  You come away with a different perspective on life.  We will miss him greatly.  The sport will miss him greatly.”

Feathers said he knew he had a really good car by lap three.  His No.27 would turn left off the cushion extremely well, giving him a good run off the corners.

“It means a lot to be the first four-time winner of this event.  I’ve known David Stultz my whole life.  My dad’s uncle raced one of his cars a while back.”

Feather’s father, Bo, has also won the event twice, which has been around since the 1980s.

“It’s been a tough year for us.  We have run well, led several races, but seem to have something happen that keeps us from finishing up front in the money.  I kept wondering what was going to happen this time.  Last week we finished second but then found oil pump issues after we got home, so it’s been an expensive year.  We’ve been running American Racer tires all year and that has helped save us enough money to be able to be here tonight.”