WAUSEON, OH – Oakshade Raceway wrapped up the 2023 race season with a big $1,200 to win Showdown Series event that pitted the Oakshade Dominator Super Stocks against the Fremont Speedway Dirt Trucks that attracted 70 competitors. In this first of two series events, Adam Lantz held off Craig Dippman in the 25-lap main event to take top honors.
The first few laps of the Showdown Series feature event was plagued by multiple caution flags with Jarrett Rendel the early race leader. Adam Lantz got by Rendel on lap three after a series of three caution periods. A few laps later, Rendel’s top five run came to an end when he spun to bring out another yellow flag.
Once a string of consecutive green flag laps could be put together, Lantz began to pull away from Keith Sorg and the rest of the field.
Craig Dippman was caught up in one of those early cautions and had to restart at the tail of the field. Dippman had his 99-car hooked up on the outside and steadily drove up through the field. He closed in on Lantz on lap 19 and was able to get alongside for the race lead.
Just as Dippman began to pressure the Wauseon, Ohio driver for the lead, the caution flag would fly once again for a Jarrod Klay spin with five laps remaining.
Lantz turned up the wick a bit and was able to get some separation between himself and Dippman in the final handful of laps. He went on to pick up the $1,200 victory. Dippman settled for second with Sorg ending up third. Josh Robertson and Shawn Valenti started deep in the field and finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The UMP Late Models went topless for the final night of competition with the roofs removed from the cars. Rusty Schlenk from McClure, Ohio, passed B.J. Gregory for the lead on a lap two restart after a caution and never looked back.
Casey Noonan followed Schlenk into the second position and was able to keep Schlenk within his sights, but could not catch the 91-car as Schlenk went on to pick up his sixth Oakshade Raceway win of the year.
Devin Shiels made a late charge toward the front after starting tenth and ended up finishing third behind Noonan. Terry Rushlow and Brad Wade were the rest of the top five finishers.
Josh Robertson got by Mike Jessen on the third lap of the 20-lap UMP Sportsman feature to become the feature race leader.
“The Outlaw” Jesse Jones had a fast car and worked his way up to second. On a lap 14 restart, he tried to get to the outside of Robertson but had to check up to keep from getting squeezed into the front stretch wall. That allowed Jessen to get back around Jones for second.
Robertson, out of Defiance, Ohio, went on to pick up the checkered flag. Jessen finished second and Donnie Ringman finished third as Jones faded back to finish fourth. Matt Ringger was the fifth-place finisher.
Brandon Paskan opened up a big lead early in the Compact A Main over Brett Ireland and Eric Carr. Carr got by Ireland for second on lap four and then started challenging Paskan for the lead. The two drivers battled hard with Paskan hanging on until the caution flag flew on lap six. While under the caution period, Paskan dropped out of line and fell off the pace ending his night early. Carr assumed the lead and the Wauseon, Ohio, driver went up to pick the feature win. Ryan Okuley, Maria Wells, Brian Barber and Megan Elliott were the rest of the top five finishers.
The final race of the season was the Compact B Main that featured a last lap pass for the win. Gage Rushlow led the first 7 laps, but Detroit, Michigan’s James Stamper made a move to take the lead on the white flag lap and went on to pick his first feature win of the season.
Austin Gray also got by Rushlow on the final lap to finish second. Aaron Barrick finished fourth behind Rushlow with Wesley Belkofer fifth.
The Oakshade Raceway Swap Meet will take place on Saturday, October 14th at 9am. Follow Oakshade Raceway on social media for visit oakshaderaceway.com for more information. The Showdown Series moves to Fremont Speedway this Friday night once again pitting the Oakshade Raceway Dominator Super Stocks against the Fremont Dirt Trucks.
