Plymouth Speedway features Fuel Summer schedule

[rebelracewriter]

Plymouth Speedway Features Fuel Summer Schedule

 

By: Anita Goodan

(Plymouth, IN) Racing is highly unpredictable. Fans never know what to expect when they sit down to watch the features at Plymouth Speedway. Saturday night’s racing didn’t disappoint those in the stands.

 

It was a race to the end for podium spots in the Shepherd Firearms Pro Sprints Feature. Kevin Atkins, of Warsaw, continued where he left off last week in the feature with another win. Zane DeVault, of Plymouth, held off Atkins from the pole position for two laps before relinquishing the lead to Atkins. Garrett Saunders, of Lakeville, began the feature in fifth and ran along the high side of the track to get by competitors. Saunders found himself side-by-side with DeVault for second going into turn three on the last lap. DeVault slid up the track in turn four and Saunders was able to get the spot to finish second. DeVault claimed third place.

 

The Swan Lake Resort UMP Modified Feature was also a close one to call. Jamie Lomax, of Lake Village, took over the lead on lap two while Dan Hamstra, of Wheatfield, and Frank Marshall, of Valparaiso, traded track space for second before Marshall earned the place. Marshall then went after Lomax for the lead before a late-race caution was called and Lomax went to the front of the field. Randy Lines, of Marion, started after Hamstra’s third place running position and the pair were side-by-side with two laps to go. Marshall was also hunting down Lomax for the lead. With the white flag in the air, Marshall was able to sneak by Lomax for the win before the last turn of the feature while Lines and Hamstra crossed the line in a dead heat for third. Scoring and timing had Lines with third place by one one-hundredth of a second.

 

There was a first-time winner this season in the WTCA Super Streets Feature. Starting sixth and moving his way through traffic, Bob Bourff, of Sharpsville, found himself at the front of the pack as a time-shortened race was called under a checkered/caution situation. David Short, of Winamac, had been out front for a majority of the race, but the engine in his car let go with only a few laps remaining in the contest. This moved Bourff, Bob McLean, and Preston Oberle to the top three. McLean had been defending second place from a charging Bourff, but Bourff was able to get the position before the caution was called for Short’s engine issue. The field was reset with Bourff as the leader, McLean, of Hobart, in second and Oberle, of Battleground, in third. When the race resumed, a three-car pile-up in turn one occurred and the race finished under caution due to a time limit. Bourff won the race with McLean in the runner-up position and Oberle with the last spot on the podium.

 

Lapped traffic played a factor in the finish of the Dickies Restaurant 600 Open Sprints Feature. Chad Hartzell, of Granger, took the early lead with Dylan Woodling, of Warsaw, next in line followed by Eric Saunders, of Lakeville. Woodling moved on the inside by Hartzell for the lead by lap six. The top three were static until lapped traffic came into play in the closing laps of the race. Woodling had to slow for the competitors which allowed Hartzell to close the gap on the leader with Saunders finding room to race Hartzell side-by-side. Saunders was able to pass Hartzell and then Woodling for the lead on the next lap - the last lap. Saunders got the win with Woodling in second and Hartzell in third.

 

The Walmart Thunder Stocks Feature began with a fire under the hood of the pole-sitter’s car. Shane Sanders exited the car safely with the speedway’s safety crew quickly to the car. Racing continued with John Rhoads, of Mentone, assuming the lead. Sheldon Oberle took over the second place position with Austin Hunter in third. Bryan Banta, of South Bend, moved up the field after Hunter experienced an issue with his race car. Banta and Oberle went door-to-door on lap 16 and Oberle went up the race track as a result of contact. Oberle fell back through the field after a caution. Banta retained second with Tom Grall moving up a position to third after starting ninth. Rhoads was able to claim another victory while Banta was in second and Grall in third.

 

The Summer Nationals Hell Tour, presented by Sweet Manufacturing, will invade Plymouth Speedway on Tuesday, July 12. UMP Super Late Model and UMP Modified drivers will present a night of racing excitement. Tickets are on sale online at www.plymouthspeedway.net. On Saturday, July 16, it’s another Saturday night special with the Swan Lake Resort UMP Modifieds, WTCA Super Streets, Walmart Thunder Stocks, Dickies Restaurant 600 Open Sprints, and Shepherd Firearms Pro Sprints. Racing begins at 7 p.m. ET both nights.