05/13/23 Franklin County Speedway

Race Results for Franklin County Speedway

05/13/23

The two-winner theme continues for the Grand National Super Series presented by Engineered Components Company. The high banked bullring of Franklin County Speedway is known for its heart pounding, door to door racing. This past weekend did not disappoint. Twelve cars made it out for the event, including local favorite Thomas Hensley. Series regulars Larry Wilcox and Marc Jones were unable to attend for various reasons. Practice kicked off at 5 p.m. and it was quickly A.J. Henriksen at the top of the charts. He was closely followed by Jeremy Mayfield, Joe Wilder, Jason McDowell, and Jason Kitzmiller. Qualifying would be cancelled due to the possibility of weather. The field for race one would be set by pill draw.

Jason Kitzmiller who was coming off of a hot run at Dominion Raceway where he scored his first GNSS victory would start on the front row alongside the B.A.C.K. 77 of Kevin Kromer. When the green dropped Kitzmiller in the 97 A.L.L. Construction machine took off. On lap two the caution came out when Thomas Hensley and Jason McDowell were racing hard and got together. McDowell went around on the front stretch but was miraculously able to save it. When the green came back out Kitzmiller and Mayfield were door to door coming around, but Mayfield would prevail. The two battled for several laps but Kitzmiller would never get quite enough of a run to make the pass. Behind the battle for the lead Joe Wilder was quietly making his way to the front setting his sights on the 77 of Kevin Kromer.

The competition caution came out on lap twenty-two and would be very brief. The green would fall for the last time and Mayfield would take off out front and stay there. Wilder would be able to make it around Kromer on the final restart. Mayfield would go onto win with Kitzmiller second and Wilder third.

For the second race it would be points leader A.J. Henriksen in the 79 Engineered Components Company hot rod and Kevin Kromer in the 77. Henriksen would quickly pull ahead. The field began to shakeout and Wilder would quickly close in on the back bumper of Kromer. The caution came out when the 57 of Donnie Doster went around in turns one and two. There was no damage to the 57 machine and Doster was able to continue the race. The green came out again and Henriksen took off again. Wilder was able to make his way around the 77 putting the 79 in his sights. The caution would fall again when the 38 of Cody Dennison experienced throttle issues sending him into the 3 of Jason Schue. Both drivers were unharmed, but their race was over. It was go time when the green came back out. Joe Wilder was on the outside of Henriksen on the restart and made the highline work to his advantage. Wilder made his way around Henriksen and began to pull away.

Wilder's car had been very good on long runs and once out front he was able to work that bottom groove. There would be no time for Henriksen to catch his breath as he had a mirror full of Jeremy Mayfield. Mayfield was able to work his way around Henriksen after a few laps, but it would be short lived. Henriksen battled his way back around Mayfield man handling the car. Though he would be able to work his way back to second Wilder had checked out. Mayfield fell back to third, but Kitzmiller was biding his time to make his move. After a few laps Kitzmiller set Mayfield up and made his way around the NASCAR veteran. Wilder went on to win followed by Henriksen, and Kitzmiller. "Places like this really suit my driving style. I love high banked short tracks!" Joe Wilder said in victory lane as he captured his second GNSS victory and his second at Franklin County. "This is my favorite type of track. The high banked bullrings are my absolute favorite!" Car owner Jody Cash who owns the Cash Motorsports Mopar Mafia cars of Joe Wilder, Jason McDowell, and Cody Dennison said after the race, The Grand National Super Series presented by Engineered Components Company will take a few weeks off then continue the tour at Caraway Speedway in Sophia North Carolina on June 3rd then head down to Montgomery Motor Speedway in Montgomery Alabama on June 16th.

GNSS would like to thank all the people who make this happen; Engineered Components Company, Howe Racing Enterprises, Chalew Performance, Dave Jensen Enterprises, Circle Track Warehouse, and Versalift East.

Race one results

1. Jeremy Mayfield

2. Jason Kitzmiller

3. Joe Wilder

4. Kevin Kromer

5. A.J. Henriksen

6. Jason McDowell

7. Donnie Doster

8. Cody Dennison

9. Jason Schue

10. Dusty Silvers

11. Eric Barber

12. Thomas Hensley

Race two results

1. Joe Wilder

2. A.J. Henriksen

3. Jason Kitzmiller

4. Jeremy Mayfield

5. Kevin Kromer