DeGRAFF — Shady Bowl Speedway saw some of the best racing of the season on Saturday. The pit area and grandstands were both crowded as fans and drivers took advantage of a race night with no rain. The program was dedicated to the memory of Buster and Bussie Blackford of Dayton. The father-son team dominated local racing for over 40 years. Buster drove his familiar #55 until the mid 1980s, when his son Bussie took over the ride. Bussie passed away in 2006 as a result of a highway crash. Buster passed away in 2007 after battling health issues.
The 55-lap feature saw Bud Perry of Edgerton take the lead on lap six. Perry had smooth sailing in the early stages of the race while fast qualifier Josh Smith threaded his way through traffic. Smith ran down Perry and the duo had the fans on their feet as they battled for the win. Perry was subbing for Mike Ward after Ward had health issues. Smith gave Perry the run of his life, but in the end just ran out of laps as Perry took the checkered. Perry was sponsored by Fetz Plumbing. Don Mahaffey, Jr. was third, with John Stroble fourth and Brad Coons fifth. Mahaffey took the dash honors with Jim Lewis, Jr. and Jesse Gade winning heat races. Smith picked up the Amsoil Hard Charger award.
In modified action, Brad Yelton led all 30 laps to take his third win of the season. Mike Carroll made the win anything but easy for Yelton, as he ran right on Yelton’s back bumper, but was unable to get by. Yelton was behind the wheel of the Logan Services/Redskin Motorsports car. Chris Parker, Jerry Stapleton and Logan McPherson rounded out the top five. Shane Shirk set fast time, but luck was not with him in the feature as he hit the wall after contact with another car. Carroll was the dash victor, with Logan McPherson and Rob Dutra notching heat wins. Carl Stapleton won the DeGraff Service Center Hard Charger award.
The VORES Compact Touring Series cars made their second stop of the season with a full field of cars on hand. Tom Gossar set the pace in the early stage of the 30-lap B.J. Body Shop feature. He was then passed by fast qualifier Bo Hoelsher of Riverside in his O’Reilly Auto Parts Honda. Hoelsher was clearly the class of the field as he was never challenged en route to his win. Gary Eaton, Jr., Terry Eaton, Jr., Justin Pope and Austin Eaton finished second through fifth. The heat checkereds were claimed by Terry Eaton, Jr., Zack Morris and B.J. Honious.
Buck Purtee led the first five laps of the street stock feature before giving way to Piqua’s Josh Sage. Sage soon had his hands full as fast qualifier and new track record holder Josh Smith was camped on his rear bumper. The two veteran drivers went at it for the final 15 laps before Sage put his Bob’s Auto stocker in victory lane for the third time this season. Smith was second, with Rob Schaeff , Jim Lewis, Jr. and Josh Longstreth rounding out the top five. Schaeff was the dash winner, Purtee and Longstreth carried the checkered in the heats. Longstreth also won the Ohlinger Automotive Hard Charger award.
The pure stock feature saw DeGraff resident Rob Bryant take the lead at the drop of the green flag. Bryant went on to post his first win of the season in his Bryant Automotive Monte Carlo. Zach Doolin was second, John Eastman third and Ryan Tamburro fourth.
Corey Plunkett held off Bob Brown to win the spectator drag race. The win was his fourth of the season.
The track will host a program of late models, modifieds, street stocks, pure stocks, compacts and spectator drag cars this Saturday. The late models will be running the Waco Wayne 100, a 100-lap late model feature paying $1,900 to win. Please note all classes will be points races except street stocks. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.
On Saturday night, Aug. 12, it will be “Kids Night” at the races. Young fans will be able to take their big wheels on the track and race. There will also be a penny scramble on the front chute. It will also be “Book Bag” night. Youngsters will receive a free book bag stuffed with school supplies (while supplies last). A big thanks to Dwayne and Andrea Swank and Kermit Wilson for their donation. John and Cheryl Stroble of CS & SS LLC stepped up as they donated 70 book bags and a huge quantity of supplies. If you would like to donate book bags, supplies or cash (to purchase more bags and supplies), just stop by the tower.
