DeGRAFF – Shady Bowl Speedway was in full song Saturday as stock cars took to the oval. Track owner Rick Young added a 40-lap compact feature called the Bonanza 40. The race was a test of possible rule changes for the 2018 season.
Tyler Sage took the lead at the drop of the green and led until lap 13 when Jordon Sage took command. Jordon led until lap 31 when he was involved in an incident that put his car in the pits. Kettering driver Nick Barrett then put his Barrett Tool and Technology backed racer out front. Barrett led the balance of the race to finish out front. Dylan Troyer, Jimmy Devuono, Eddie Kemp and fast qualifier Cody Wynn rounded out the top five. Troyer took the dash checkered, with Jordon Sage taking the heat race.
In late model action, it was Quincy’s Josh Smith in victory lane in his Jamie Hunt Motorsports sponsored ride. It was the 5th win of the season for Smith who has run a limited schedule this year. The win also marked the 50th career win for Smith. Smith has raced nearly every class of car over his career and has won in all of them. Smith took the lead on lap 13 from Jim Lewis Jr. and never looked back. Don Mahaffey Jr., John Stroble and Brian Reeser finished third through fifth. Stroble was the dash winner, with Reeser and Joe Pequignot winning heat races. Smith was fast qualifier.
The modifieds were led to the checkered by Brad Yelton in the Redskin Motorsports/Seeger Trucking openwheeler. It was the fourth win of the season for Yelton. Mike Carroll and Scott Drake took turns leading the first 30 laps before Yelton motored by. Ross Klingelhofer came from the rear of the field to finish second, with Drake third, Dillon Andrix fourth and Andy Bohn fifth. Klingelhofer won the DeGraff Service Center hard charger award. The race was red-flagged on lap 36 when the newly crowned track champion Shane Shirk had what looked to be a mechanical issue as he hit the turn four wall and caught fire. Thanks to the track crew and fireman on hand he quickly was out of the car. Shirk was transported to a local hospital for a check-up. Chris Parker won the dash, with Shawn McNeely and Rob Dutra winning heats. Smith was fast qualifier.
The street stock feature had a unique twist, as only drivers who had not won a feature were eligible to race. Josh Longstreth led the early laps, before he and Chad Small II made contact. The melee put Small out for the event and sent Longstreth to the rear of the field. The moves allowed Ryan Burch of Jackson Center to power his way to the checkered to claim his first-ever feature in his DeGraff Service Center Camaro. Longstreth came back to finish second, with John Hicks, John Bennett and Jacob Heckman finishing third through fifth. Matt Wilson was the dash winner, with Hicks winning the eight lap heat race. Dave Sage was fast qualifier.
Zach Doolin of New Carlisle powered his way to the checkered in the pure stock main. It was the ninth win of the season in his Whiteline Design Oldsmobile. Justin Pope was second, with Don Hall third.
This Saturday will see the modifieds headlining with a 40-lap feature paying $1,000 to win. The late models, pure stocks and compacts will also be on hand. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.
