Oakshade Raceway closed out the 2006 racing season with a full weekend of racing on the 3/8 mile oval with the Bomber Spectacular and Sportsmen running on Saturday and the Sunday afternoon Enduro Race.
Saturday night’s racing was highlighted by the Seventh Annual Bomber Spectacular sponsored by Tax Pro Filers, Automotive Repair Service in Toledo, OH, Ron Miller Race Cars, Racers Connection and Wallace Racing Products.
Todd Silvey was the early leader in the 30-lap Bomber Spectacular that would pay $1,000 to the winner.
The first caution flag flew on lap four after Chris Henry spun in turn two while battling for the third position.
A couple laps later, Tom Ordway got to the inside of Jeff Foks Jr. and Todd Silvey making a three-wide battle for the lead. Ordway quickly got the best of Foks and Silvey and assumed the race lead.
A slew of caution periods kept Ordway from getting away from the rest of the competitors the first 20 laps of the race. Jeff Foks Jr. bounced off the front stretch wall a couple time and then drew a caution flag of his own on lap 11 after he came to a stop in turn two giving up the third position.
With Jim Scout in second, Ordway, the unofficial 2006 Bomber Track Champion, pulled away after each caution with the race lead and eventually went on to become the sixth different driver to win the Bomber Spectacular.
Scout held on to finish second ahead of two-time Spectacular winner Garry Domoe. Rob Anderzack was fourth and fast qualifier Brian Przepiora came home fifth.
The final Sportsman Feature of the year showcased some great racing action with Rob Liaeff, Billy Ruff and Joe Smith racing three-wide for the lead on the very first lap.
Curt Inks spun in turn four on the fourth lap just as the caution was coming out for Billy Garland’s stopped automobile at the pit entrance. Matt Dornan plowed into Inks ending his night.
One lap after the restart, Tim Fisher, who originally started ninth, dove under Rob Liaeff and took the lead away for good.
Brad Mills lost control of his car on the front stretch and Jackie Sheldrick slammed hard into the side of Mills bringing out the yellow flag on lap eight.
Tim Fisher pulled away in the closing laps of the race giving the veteran driver his first Sportsman Feature win of the season. Liaeff held off Joe Derbeck to take third with Billy Ruff and Mike Jessen filling out the rest of the top five finishers.
A gorgeous, sunny early fall Sunday afternoon greeted the Enduro racers, scorers and spectators.
The fun started early as the field came on to the heavily watered racing surface with everyone struggling to keep their cars pointed in the right direction. The car of Chris Williams made almost a whole lap around the track in reverse after he had spun around early in the race.
Jeremy Grover occupied the lead position for much of the race until he pitted shortly after the halfway point in the race.
John Brooks then took over the lead and held on to it until his day ended shortly after the 150 lap mark when he came off of turn two and slammed into the backstretch wall.
Grover eventually reassumed the lead and went on to pick up the victory in the Enduro as the two-hour time limit expired after Grover had completed 193 laps.
Jacob Dick ran among the top three in the first half of the race and then slipped back to seventh at lap 100, but recovered nicely to finish in second, completing 190 laps.
Richard Patton finished third, four laps behind Dick with Ryan Muehlfeld fourth completing 178 laps. Matt Koerner was fifth with 175 laps complete.
The racing season may be over at Oakshade Raceway, but there is still plenty going on in the month of October. Saturday, October 14, is the Oakshade Raceway Swap Meet starting at 8am with no spot fee, just $5 admission. Also, the Oakshade Raceway Haunted Hay rides are back every Friday and Saturday night throughout the month of October with 45 minute hay rides around the track and then off through the field and the haunted woods for only $5 for ages 6 and up. Check out oakshaderaceway.com for updates and more details.