Jul 18, 2020 11:03 AM EDT
THE HURRICANE STEVE PAINE GRABS FIRST OF SEASON AT OUTLAW SPEEDWAY
Matt Sheppard’s run ends at 4 in a row as he succumbs to suspension problems. $1,000 Bounty rolls over.
Story and Results by Kenny Shupp Jr. PR Director
(Dundee, NY) Under perfect weather conditions the Outlaw Speedway was able to record another Super 7 Show. With still no fans in the bleachers the track continues to provide race action via Dirt Track Digest.TV.
In the premier Modified Division sponsored by Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram of nearby Penn Yan, Brady Fultz and Eldon Payne Jr. brought the twenty-six-car field to the opening green flag for their thirty-lap feature. All eyes were on current point leader, Super Matt Sheppard as he was trying to extend his current four race win streak from his customary twelfth starting spot. Kyle Coffey continues to show great speed on the fast 4/10 of a mile clay oval as he asserted himself into the top spot and would lead in the early going. Another track regular, Justin Wright was quick to chase Coffey from his third row starting position and by lap ten was leading the charge followed by Coffey and Sheppard who was moving thru the star-studded field. Several yellow flags slowed the pace on laps thirteen, fourteen and fifteen. However, the caution that made the big difference in the outcome of the event came on lap eighteen when Sheppard suffered front end suspension damage on his potent 9s machine and was hooked from the track and would not return. Steve Paine, who began the race in ninth starting spot was methodically working his way thru traffic and by the time Sheppard had exited the race had cleared everyone but then race leader, Wright. For the next seven laps Paine would dog the high flying Wright who looked poised to win his first feature event at Outlaw Speedway as he continued to lead until lap twenty-five and like Sheppard before him, Wright suffered rear suspension damage and he too would leave the track on the hook. This left the door wide open for The Hurricane as he led the final five laps and cruised to his first win at Outlaw Speedway since he picked up the checkered flag at last year’s Dutch Hoag Memorial. Coffey held on for another second-place finish as his run of top five’s continues as AJ Slideways, Alan Johnson came home for third and wrapped up the final podium finishing spot. The Doctor, Danny Johnson who started fifteenth and track owner, Boss Man, Tyler Siri who started in twenty-first made massive moves thru the field in completing the top five finishers.
With his win, Steve Paine became only the third different winner in 2020 including Alan Johnson and Sheppard, however the $1,000 Bounty that was placed on Super Matt could not be claimed by Paine because Super Matt was not on the track and running at the end of the event.
Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modified heat wins were claimed by Ron Cartwright Jr., Paine, Jordan Siri and Alan Johnson.
The first feature event of the night in the adult class was the Hoosier Tire Crate Sportsman make-up from last Friday’s partial rainout as 2019 Hoosier Tire Track Champion, Will Shields showed his mastery of the Outlaw Speedway by starting fifth, got to the point and would go on for his second feature win of 2020 in the division. Like several other Crate Sportsman competitors, Shields also does double duty in both divisions, the added track time certainly makes a big difference in his success. At the completion of the twenty- five lap make-up Travis Grover was credited with a nice runner-up finish as he was chased across the line by two -time 2020 feature winner, Zach Sobotka who was third. AJ Lloyd had another patented top five finish by claiming fourth while Tommy Collins Jr. who has also visited victory lane twice this season rounded out the top five.
In the Hoosier Tire Crate Sportsman regular feature it was third generation pilot, Alex Payne once again proving that he is most definitely a force to be contended with in either Crate Sportsman Division as he started the event ninth on the grid, mowed the field apart, got to the lead and never looked back in claiming his first win of 2020 on Hoosier Tires and thus ending the Shields, Collins, Sobotka stranglehold on victory lane. Payne was followed across the line by class rivals Tommy Collins Jr., Zach Sobotka with Tony Velez having his best run of the season thus far by finishing fourth while AJ Lloyd continued his strong season by rounding the top five.
Earlier evening heat wins were picked-up by Bryan Rhodes and Will Shields along with Tony Velez who nailed his first ever qualifying heat win.
In the Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Crate Sportsman Division Ajay Potrzebowski became the first three time feature winner in the class as he jumped out into the early lead from his second row starting spot and led all but one lap as on lap nineteen former class champion, Karl Comfort was able to nose ahead, but Potrzebowski was able to get back by on lap twenty and would go on to the win making it back to back feature victories after his opening night win on June 5. Comfort was able to hold on for second at the finish of the twenty-five-lap grind as he was followed across the line by Alex Payne who capped off a great night of racing. Doug Kline had by far his best run of the season as he rode home for fourth at the checkered flag while Kaiden Dgien rounded out the top five.
Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Crate Sportsman heat wins went to Travis Grover, Zach Sobotka and Potrzebowski who capped off a perfect night.
Glen Whritenour once again showed why he has become a master in the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stock Division as he claimed his third win of the season, however it did not come easy. After starting eighth on the opening green flag, GW had to make an unexpected quick trip to the pits on lap five, however on the ensuing restart he stormed thru the field and by lap nine was in front and would cruise to the win over CJ Guererri who was trying desperately to back up his June 12 feature win, but came up short on this night. John Carpenter has been a threat all season long to contend with Whritenour, but a rash of problems have kept him from challenging the top echelon in the class, but on this night Carpenter was able to put it all together and claim the third and final podium spot. Jake Karlnoski again had a strong car as he rode home for fourth while Jared Hill completed the top five. With his win, Whritenour has won three of the last four and looks poised to repeat his 2017 and 2018 Track Championships as the season is now well past the halfway mark with only some half dozen point races remaining.
Stan’s No Tubes heat wins were picked up by Whritenour and Carpenter.
In the IMCA Modified Division it was a new face in victory lane as Kevin Smith was able to put it all together in winning his first feature of the year. Smith, who has challenged to win on numerous occasions was able to put everything together in holding off perennial favorite and four-time feature winner, Rodney Morgan who claimed the runner up position. Like Kevin Smith, Bumps Scutt has also showed great speed all season and rode home for third at the completion of the twenty lap feature as he was chased across the line by one time 2020 feature winner, Brad Smith as Shawn Bruce completed the top five.
IMCA Modified heats went to Scutt and Bruce.
In the companion IMCA Hobby Stock feature it was yet another Wayne Ellison walk in the park as he continues to show his dominance in a class that is littered with good talent and equipment. For Ellison it was his fourth trip to victory lane this season as second place finisher, Marc Minutolo has been the only other driver to stop the high-flying Ellison as Minutolo has two feature wins thus far. Ellison began the feature in the third row as Minutolo was further back in row five. The two stormed thru the field and ran one/two throughout as Jeremy Trank continues to show great poise as he once again claimed a top five by finishing third at the checkered flag. Fourth row starter, Bruce Kinner made some good moves and came home for fourth as pole sitter, Jason Clugstone hung in the lead group all night and claimed fifth.
Hobby Stock heat wins went to Minutolo and Clugstone.
In the Mighty 4 Cylinder Division Scott Lehman Jr. was finally able to put a feature win in the record books as the second generation pilot started along side father, Scott Lehman in row four, took his potent Front Wheel Drive machine to the top of the banking, drove thru the field and came home with the win thus ending the Jeremy Bunn and Bob Doolittle dominance in the division. Lehman Jr. was chased across the finish line by Doolittle who came up just shy of his third feature win of the year as Rich Conte had his best run of the year by nailing down the third spot. Jason Smart led the field to the opening green, ran with the leaders all race long and came home to claim fourth while Scott Lehman rounded the top five, but it will be son Scott Jr. who has the bragging rights for this coming week.
Scott Lehman Jr. capped off a perfect night by also picking up a qualifying heat race win as Jeremy Bunn and former Track Champion, Mike Stone were the other 4 Cylinder heat winners.
In the Winner’s Circle Deli Bandit Division it was yet another new young face visiting victory lane as first time competitor, Abbie Decker was able to take advantage of problems with the race leaders and come home with her first trip to victory lane in 2020.
Congratulations to all competitors.
With the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic and the stringent New York State guidelines which are still in place restricting mass gatherings, the Outlaw Speedway has no other choice but to cancel next weeks 5th Annual Summer Nationals event which was to feature the first appearance of the Patriot 360 Sprint Tour. However, with no fans in the stands the track ownership will go with another Super 7 Show on Friday, July 24, 2020.
For updates leading into the event simply go to www.Facebook.com/OutlawSpeedwayLLC/.
For a current list of the points in all classes log on at www.outlawspeedwayllc.com.
