Grundy, VA(September 5, 2012) — Ryan Stiltner has had a great rookie season in Late Models at Lonesome Pine Raceway, but Saturday night he put the icing on the cake with his first career victory.

Stiltner grew up racing in the shadow of his father, Keith Stiltner, who was a very successful racer throughout Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee for the last decade. The younger Stiltner however has put his own stamp on the Stiltner Racing family legacy in recent years, winning the Charger division championship at Lonesome Pine Raceway in 2011. He’s also become one of the drivers to contend with in the Late Model division in just his second season.

On Saturday night, September 1st, the 19 year-old Grundy Senior High School graduate added another accomplishment to his list as he drove the famous #22 Late Model Stock Car to victory lane for the first time. However, his path to victory wasn’t an easy one as he posted just the eighth fastest time in qualifying and had his work cut out for him. From the drop of the green flag, Stiltner knew that his car was hooked up as he passed three cars on the outside before the first caution on lap eight.

When the green flag waved again, Stiltner was trapped behind two cars racing hard for position, so instead of burning up his equipment, he chose to ride and be ready for the end of the race. As he was riding, calamity struck the front part of the field as several cars including the leader got together in a big wreck. Stiltner narrowily avoided the accident and would line up in second with just 17-laps to go.

Stiltner knew that he would have a chance to compete for the win at the end of this race as he was so close he could taste victory and soon after the green flag waved, the leader developed problems. Stiltner would inherit the lead from there, but by no means was the race for the win over as a new challenger was giving him all he could stand from the second position. However, Stiltner wasn’t about to be denied the victory and hung on for the win.

“That was a wild race,” said Stiltner in victory lane. “A lot of things happened there in the course of 60-laps with the first leader getting taken out in a wreck and then another one cutting a tire. I knew once we got the lead, we just had to hold on to the position. It was too good of an opportunity for a win to let it slip by.”

Stiltner’s team led by another very accomplished racer, Kirby Gobble had given Stiltner a car that despite the qualifying effort, he knew was good enough to contend for the win.

“Qualifying eighth was a real disappointment,” continued Stiltner. “I knew that Kirby (Gobble) had this car way better than that and when the green flag dropped, I think we showed how good the car was making passes on the outside. A lot of work goes into winning one of these races, but you’ve also got to have a lot of luck on your side and tonight we had that.”

Stiltner is also excited to announce the launch of his new website www.RyanStiltner.com. The new website developed by Bad Fast Media will help to keep fans of Stiltner Racing up to date on the teams youngest driver as he makes his way up the racing ladder. You can check out his full schedule from this season including qualifying and race results from every race as well as a full photo gallery, a bio on Ryan, so that you can learn more about him and so much more.

Stiltner is supported by Patriot Mining, Clark Signs & Graphics, Triple K Trucking, Race Coal, Hedgecock Racing Enterprises and Kowalsky Racing Engines. For more information on Ryan Stiltner check out his new website www.RyanStiltner.com, which includes a complete list of upcoming races as well as results from this past season, a bio on Ryan, photos from recent races and much more.