Oakshade Raceway hosted its third American Late Model Series event of the year on Saturday night that featured a group of nearly 50 UMP Late Models competing for the big $2000 check going to the winner. Casey Noonan was the recipient of that check after a great run in the feature.
Ronnie Perrine Jr. started on the pole and held off Rick Delong to lead the first lap, but Delong managed to get by to take the lead by lap two.
Brian Ruhlman closed in and got by Delong on the outside on lap six of the 30-lap event. He then proceeded to open up his lead until Rick Green and Justin Paxton spun just in front of Ruhlman bringing out the third yellow flag of the race.
Ruhlman seemed to have the car to beat as he continued to open up big leads even after a couple caution periods tightened up the field behind him. That is until lap 20 when Ruhlman appeared to have a motor let go as he exited turn four.
That turned the lead back over to Rick Delong with Casey Noonan hot on his heels. Noonan jumped to the inside of Delong and two laps later took the lead for good.
Noonan continued to hug the inside through the corners and went on to the checkered flag uncontested.
Rusty Schlenk and Dusty Moore got by Delong and had a pretty heated battle for second that wasn’t settled until the final lap with Schlenk taking the position.
Todd Schroyer came out of retirement to finish fourth ahead of Rick Delong who fell back to finish fifth.
Ryan Gorey made things exciting on the first lap of the UMP Sportsman Feature as he got loose coming off turn four and spun in front of a bunch of cars causing a big crash on the front stretch. Ky Harper, Rob Anderzack and Bob Gregory were also involved, but Gorey’s car suffered the most damage and could not continue.
Joe Derbeck tried to hold off Josh Steinacker and last week’s feature winner Tim Fisher for the lead early on. The three drivers raced three-wide with Fisher leading by lap three. Steinacker took over the lead for good one lap later.
Steinacker went on to add to his UMP Sportsman points lead with another feature victory over Tim Fisher who fended off Brian Fisher for second. Rob Liaeff and Chris Smith were the rest of the top five finishers.
Last week’s UMP Bomber A Main winner Chris Henry took advantage of starting on the pole this week and led the entire distance to pick up his second consecutive A Main victory.
Behind him Chris Howard slid up in front of B.J. Gregory in a battle for second coming off turn four which began an interesting chain of events. Gregory checked up to keep from getting into the rear of Howard and Dan Dippman who was directly behind Gregory got into the rear of Gregory and lifted the rear of his car off the ground. That contact sheered the hood pins off the front of Dippman’s car causing his hood to fold back blocking his view from inside the car. Dippman slowed and the caution eventually came out.
Henry went on to the easy victory over Oakshade Raceway Bomber points leader Tom Ordway, Jim Scout and Garry Domoe. Chris Howard fell back to finish fifth.
The UMP Bomber B Main got off to an ugly start after Ron Bloomfield got turned around on the first lap in turn two after starting on the pole. Bloomfield’s spin caused a big wreck involving Todd Smitley, Chuck Faller, and Ron Tolles that resulted in a complete restart.
Bob Rendel took command of the race and opened up a big lead early, but multiple cautions kept tightening up the field. Rendel went on to pick up the victory with Joe Overymyer and Rob Kast finishing second and third respectively. Ron Leonard blew out a left rear tire that took him out of his heat race earlier in the night, but managed a fourth place finish in the B Main. Jody Burton was fifth.
Paul Leonard was the early leader in a caution filled UMP Bomber C Main with Gregg Detray close in pursuit.
Eric Potridge got loose in turn two and almost had it saved, but eventually lost it coming off the corner and ended up facing oncoming traffic. Justin Gamber had nowhere to go and smacked Potridge head on ending both drivers nights.
Detray took the lead from Leonard on lap five and held off Leonard in a one-lap shoot out at the finish to win his first feature of the year. Jason Deshler wound up third followed by Brad Brehm and Roscoe Stetton.
Get $2 off adult general admission tickets to Oakshade Raceway on Saturday, August 11 thanks to Leo’s Metal and Wood and check out some great UMP Late Model, UMP Sportsman and UMP Bomber racing. Gates open at 4pm with racing at 7pm.
