RPW Exclusive: Walt Henry Wins Eastern States Street Stock Championship At Orange County

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Walt Henry has had a great season, he has piled up many wins on the OCFS/Accord Speedway circuit.

On Sunday, Walt grabbed his biggest win of his season and possibly his career as he was victorious in the Eastern States Street Stock Championship Race.

And according to a social media post by his wife, Alicia Henry, it’s a childhood dream come true for Walt to win this race, which made it all the more sweet for him.

After Ray Tarantino led the first 2 laps, the lead swapped around for several laps between Bob Sleight, Jimmy Maher and Henry. Eventually, it was Sleight and Henry swapping the lead a few times until it appeared that Sleight might take the win. Sleight slowed after 23 laps, and Henry circled the final 2 laps, uncontested for the win.

Jack Beaumont came on late in the race to finish 2nd. Tarantino was 3rd, Charlie Donald was 4th and JB Morris 5th. Isaiah Guest finished 6th, Gary Ronk 7th, Joe Morris 8th, Wayne Taylor 9th and Thomas Frasco 10th.

“Bob’s such a good driver, everybody is a good driver here, that’s why we all come back to this track,” A jubilant Henry said in Victory Lane. “We always race great, that’s why he’s the champion. I don’t care where we win, every win is big.”

“I was a little off, I was running well until lap 11 when I almost ripped the front end off the car,” said the runner-up, Beaumont. “I don’t know how I finished 2nd, but I did it.”

“It was a battle to come back after losing spots,” said 3rd place Tarantino. “Jack passed me clean and others passed me clean. Finished 3rd, I’ll take it.”