DeGRAFF – Shady Bowl Speedway was the place to be for short track racing fans on Saturday.
Eighteen of the tri-state’s top modifeds took the green flag for the Biggins Smalll Engine Repair 50-lap Ed Tapp Classic. Brian Brandyberry powered his way out front at the drop of the green flag. Brandyberry led the first 27 laps before giving way to Mike Carroll. Carroll set a torrid pace after taking over from Brandyberry. The laps wound down and Carroll looked to be heading for the checkered flag.
Fast qualifier Greg Stapleton was making his way to the front from his 11th place starting spot. Stapleton took advantage of Carroll’s slip-up on lap 43. Stapleton led the balance of the event in his Stapleton Machine and Tool open-wheeler. The win was the first of the season for Stapleton. The 50-lapper went green to checkered and took just over 11 minutes to compete. Carroll was second, with Daniel McPherson third, Brad Yelton fourth and Scott Drake fifth. Chris Parker won the dash, with heat checkereds going to Brandyberry and Scott Jones.
The Buckeye FWD Mini Stocks took to the oval next. Twenty-one cars sped under flagman Charlie Gifford’s green flag to start the event. Eddie Kemp led the first lap before Ethan Pope sped by. The time out front for Pope was short as brother Justin took over the top spot on the next lap. Justin led the rest of the race. He picked up a $100 bonus, set fast time, won the dash and the feature. Pope’s Honda is sponsored by McClintick Home and Lawn. It was his second win of the season. Brother Ethan was second, followed by Ryan Tamburro, Corey Plunkett and Jimmy Huffman. The dash checkered fell to Justin Pope with Plunkett and Austin Eaton carrying the checkered for the heat races.
The thunder from the street stocks was heard next, with 20 cars taking the green flag. Nate Purtee led the first three laps before Fairborn’s Jim Lewis Jr. took over the event. The race settled into a four-car battle for the checkered. Lewis was able to hold off the challenges of Josh Sage who set quick time and won the dash. Rodney Roush was also in the mix, but had to settle for third. Nate Purtee and Chad Small II rounded out the top five. Buck Purtee had been running strong in his Mustang before dropping out on lap 12. Sage won the dash. Lewis and John Hicks picked up heat wins.
This Saturday will be Kids Night at Shady Bowl. The youngsters will compete in Big Wheel races and a penny scramble. There will also be free backpacks with school supplies inside while supplies last. The action on the track will see late models, Biggins Small Engine Repair modifieds, street stocks, Hanger 18 hobby stocks and the Buckeye FWD doing battle. Racing will start at 7 p.m.
