6/24/2006

1991 Late Model Track Champion Matt Miller was the big winner in Oakshade Raceway’s Butch Wildermuth Memorial American Late Model Series event that featured an incredible night of racing excitement.

Oakshade had its largest Late Model car count of the year so far with 61Late Models all vying for a chance at the $3,000 check going to the winner of the 40-lap Butch Wildermuth ALMS feature.

After three consolation events and two provisionals were taken, the 23-car starting line up was set with Rusty Schlenk and Matt Miller occupying the front row.

Miller initially pulled away from Schlenk in the first couple laps, but Schlenk was able to reel in the 7 car of Miller and began to put the pressure on. The two cars continued a battle for the lead with Miller holding off the challenge from Schlenk even after they caught the tail of the field and began to lap slower cars.

The first caution flag came out on lap 18 when Ron Miller spun in turn two as the leaders were closing in. Rick Delong made made some minor contact with Ron Miller’s car, but continued on.

Once again, Matt Miller was better on the restarts and pulled away from Schlenk until Schlenk could build up some heat in his tires. Schlenk then closed back to within striking distance, but could not snatch the lead away from Miller.

Ronnie Perrine Jr. smacked the front stretch wall and ended up wrecked in turn one just as the white flag was about to fly. The yellow flag came out instead setting up a two lap shootout to the finish with Matt Miller leading Rusty Schlenk and Duane Chamberlain.

Miller was once again dominant on the restart and went on to win with Schlenk settling for second.

The biggest mover in the race was Casey Noonan who started 18th and ended up edging out Duane Chamberlain at the finish for third. Illinois driver Ryan Dauber finished fifth.

Brian Fisher has been strong all year in the UMP Sportsman division, but has been plagued with some bad luck. Fisher finally got that monkey off his back by winning his first Sportsman Feature of the year, but not without a little excitement.

Fisher started on the pole and immediately grabbed the lead. He held off challenges from Tim Bernard and then Ray Klawitter in the first handful of laps.

Billy Ruff drew the first caution flag of the race on lap nine after he spun in turn three. Meanwhile, Rusty Schlenk had closed into the second position behind Fisher for the restart.

Fisher and Schlenk went on to put on a great side by side battle for the lead with Schlenk assuming the lead halfway through the feature by just a nose.

Schlenk was slightly ahead of Fisher on the outside as the two came off turn four on lap 13. Contact was made as Fisher either pushed up into Schlenk or as Schlenk came down across Fisher off the corner. The result of the contact sent Schlenk spinning on the front stretch and Fisher had to check up to keep from getting into Schlenk again. Both drivers continued, but Schlenk had cut down a tire in the incident and limped back to the pits.

Schlenk caught somewhat of a break as Amy Bernard spun and brought out the caution on the same lap. That allowed Schlenk enough time to change the tire and rejoin competition, but he had to restart at the tail of the field with only seven laps to go.

Brian Fisher continued to lead to the finish to become only the third different driver to win a Sportsman Feature so far this year. Josh Steinacker finished second followed by Klawitter, Terry Stratton and Nick Fenner.

Tom Ordway started on the pole of the Bomber A Main and was going for his second consecutive A Main win and started off leading the first part of the race.

Jake Rendel closed in on Ordway after starting sixth and made it three wide to take the lead. Ordway was trying to lap Brett Miller who spun but kept going earlier in the race. Rendel squeezed between those two and took over the lead.

Rendel rebounded after a hard crash the previous week to win his third Bomber A Main of the year. Ordway held on to finish second ahead of Dan Shaffer, Kevin Hanford and Gary Domoe.

Chris Henry and Jim Guinn put on a show in the Bomber B Main. Henry took the lead after starting on the outside of the front row.

Guinn started on the outside of row four and quickly closed on Henry for the lead. Guinn took over the lead on lap 3, but Henry battled back.

On lap seven Chris Henry took the lead back from Guinn who seemed to lose the speed he had earlier in the race. Henry went on to win the caution-free race with Guinn settling for second.

Curt Lancaster finished third ahead of Chris Williams and Jeff Foks.

Brad Blonde won the Bomber C Main after starting deep in the field. Blonde ran down Eric Potridge for the lead. The two exchanged the lead several times making contact on a couple of occasions.

Blonde eventually solidified his advantage and went on to win his first feature of the year. Potridge finished in second and Cody Tredway in his first night ever at Oakshade Raceway, finished an impressive third. Joe Hefner was fourth and Justin Woodruff was fifth.

Oakshade Raceway will host the Howard Miller Memorial on July 1 featuring the UMP Late Model, UMP Sportsman and Bomber divisions. Gate open at 4pm and racing at 7pm.