DeGRAFF — Shady Bowl Speedway honored the memory of the founders of Shady Bowl Speedway Saturday night.
The Speedway dedicated the night’s action to the Scherer family. The Scherers built the current speedway in the early 1950s after first building a tiny dirt oval that hosted stock cars and the roaring roadsters. It was also “Rick Hensel Night,” as the Shady Bowl staff hosted a 30-lap pure stock feature to honor the longtime employee. Hensel did just about every job at the track. He served as a flagman, pit steward, grounds keeper and all-around maintenance man. He passed away two years ago.
The modified feature saw 19 cars take the green flag for the 30-lap feature. Mike Carroll of Kettering led the field into turn one from his inside front row starting spot. Carroll put his KEG Racecars out front as the field fought for position behind him. The pace was slowed by several spins and crashes before settling down and racing hard. Fast qualifier Greg Stapleton was putting on a driving clinic of passing on the tiny three-tenths mile oval after being sent to the rear of the field after a skirmish with another car. Carroll had smooth sailing out front until 10 laps to go, when Stapleton finally ran him down. The stage was set for another epic race by the two veteran drivers. The final laps had the fans standing and cheering for their favorite driver. Carroll was able to hold off every challenge Stapleton tried. In post-race interviews, both drivers spoke of the trust they share for each other as they ran side by side and bumper to bumper and never made contact. In victory lane, Carroll dedicated the win to crew member John “Peewee” Goins and Katrina Goins, who both recently passed away. Logan McPherson ran a great race to finish third, with Ross Klingelhofer fourth and Shane Shirk fifth. The dash was won by Brian Brandyberry with Daniel McPherson and Mike Schaeffer taking heat wins. The Ohlinger Automotive Hard Charger Award went to Daniel McPherson.
The Coyote Truck series made its first-ever appearance with eight trucks on hand. Marysville driver Shawn Szep pulled off a clean sweep, as he set fast time and won the 50-lap feature. Szep, powered by his Pro Signs Designs backed truck, went around early leader Jeremy Wiggins on lap 13. Szep went on to claim the win and kept his hot streak going. The 2016 champ has won three of four races this year. Wiggens, Brian Taylor, Josh Cahill and Stan Maitlen rounded out the top five.
Jim Lewis, Jr. of Fairborn led every lap of the street stock feature to put his family-owned Camaro in victory lane. The win was the second of the season for Lewis in his Performance Paint sponsored stocker. Josh Sage of Piqua was all over Lewis but was unable to overtake him, stopping Sage’s two race win streak. Rodney Roush was third, after being sent to the rear of the field for a crash. Josh Longstreth was fourth, with dash winner Chad Small II fifth. The race was red-flagged near the halfway point when Nic Burnside hit the front chute wall hard. Burnside was uninjured but the car suffered heavy damage. Rob Schaeff was the heat winner.
The 30-lap “Rick Hensel 30” for the pure stocks took to the oval next. Lane Crabtree led lap one before giving way to John Eastman.
Eastman led through lap eight, when Zack Brandyberry took over the lead. Brandyberry led until New Carlisle’s Zack Doolin put his Wholesale Auto Parts Cutlass out front. Doolin went on to his seventh feature win of the season. Brandyberry held on for second, with Ryan Tamburro third, Eastman fourth and fast qualifier Jason Purtee fifth.
The 20-lap compact main saw Medway’s Josh Foltz pass Mike Wintrow on lap eight and go on to claim his sixth feature win of the season in his Vapor Royals backed Neon. Jimmy McElfresh was second, followed by Wintrow, Ryan Tamburro and Cody Wynn. McElfresh won the dash with T.J. Gregory taking the heat checkered.
The spectator drag race was won by Bob Brown over Chad Owens.
This Saturday, Shady Bowl will honor the memory of car builder Denny Shatto. Shatto always had great cars driven by some the top drivers in the Midwest. Don Gregory, Sr. and Don Gregory, Jr. strapped into his cars as well as Wayne Watercutter. The list of drivers is long who piloted his stockers. The late models will run twin 55-lap features with each paying $1,000 to win. There is a $1,000 bonus if a driver wins both 55 lappers. The street stocks, compacts, super compact series and spectator drag cars will round out the program.
Racing will start at 7 p.m.
