Rusty Schlenk picked up his fourth Late Model Feature win of the year at Oakshade Raceway in Saturday night’s Sunoco American Late Model Series sanctioned event.
Schlenk started on the outside of the front row alongside Kevin Mack and quickly assumed the lead of the 30-lap ALMS Feature.
The only caution came out on lap two after Kevin Reeve got turned around in turn four.
Once the green flag waved again, Schlenk began to pull away from Jerry Bowersock and Rick Delong.
Josh Steinacker looked to be strong, working his way up to third before falling off the pace a bit and retiring to the pits midway through the race.
Two other drivers with fast cars were Jeep Van Wormer and Hillard Miller who started 16th and 17th. By lap 19, they had moved in to the second and third positions and appeared to be slowly chipping away at the substantial lead Schlenk had opened up.
Without the help of any more caution periods, Van Wormer and Miller could only close in to about a straightaway behind Schlenk who went on to pick up the easy victory and the check for $2,000 for the ALMS win. Rick Delong finished fourth behind Van Wormer and Miller with Aaron Scott taking a fifth place finish.
The Sportsman Feature started out with multiple lead changes in the first five laps with Jason Smith leading the initial lap.
Brian Fisher took control by the second lap and on lap five Ray Klawitter became the third leader of the race.
Brian Fisher and Chris Keller put on a heated battle for second behind Klawitter for a few laps until Keller eventually began to fall back through the running order.
Klawitter went on to unchallenged victory in the caution free Sportsman Feature with Brian Fisher hanging on to finish second ahead of Tim Fisher, Rusty Schlenk and Chris Keller.
The Bomber division once again provided for one of the most exciting finishes in the A Main, the first of four Bomber Features of the night.
Matt Shipley assumed the lead after starting on the pole and led all the way until just before the end of the race.
A few caution flags kept the field tight with Craig Dippman, Jeff Foks, Jr. and Jim Scout in a tight pack just behind Shipley.
Just after taking the white flag, Shipley lost his driveshaft which potentially cost him the win. The rest of the field scattered to get by Shipley’s slowing car on the final lap.
Jeff Foks, Jr. and Jim Scout found themselves battling side by side for the lead down the backstretch and through the final two corners all the way to the checkered flag with Scout just edging out the victory by the nose of his car.
Craig Dippman finished third ahead of Dan Dippman and Tom Ordway.
Adam Bokor led the first three laps of the Bomber B Main until Ron Tolles got by on lap four.
Bokor slowed on the backstretch with just over a lap remaining giving up the second position.
Tolles coasted to victory in the 25 car with Jarrett Rendell claiming second. Bob Rendell was third followed by Josh Montague and Shane Stuckey.
Jeff Foks did some fancy driving on the first lap of the Bomber C Main. He was running second just behind Kevin Cole and did a 360, managed not to get hit and continued on with no caution.
Scott Mills was not as fortunate as he spun on lap three in turn four to bring out the caution flag which sent him to the tail for the restart after running up in third.
Curt Lancaster began to mount a charge on Cole for the lead after the restart and on lap six, Cole was held up just enough by a slower car to allow Lancaster to sneak by on the inside to take the lead which he kept all the way until the checkered flag.
Kevin Cole finished second and Jeff Foks recovered to a third place finish. Tommy Huff and Hugh Snell rounded out the top five finishers.
Karl Spoores led the entire distance of the Bomber D Main.
Ian Lewis tried to put the pressure on Spoores, but spun right after the restart for a caution on lap three. He managed to keep his car going and the green flag remained out, but Lewis spun again on the next lap and this time did bring out the caution.
Another late caution set up a two-lap shootout to the finish which Spoores had no trouble with holding off Rick Dippman and Ron Leonard. Bobby Zuver finished fourth and Ian Lewis worked his way back up to and impressive fifth place finish after restarting at the tail earlier in the race.
Bomber fans will get an extra treat this Saturday, August 13 at Oakshade Raceway with double features for the Bomber division. B&P Wrecking Night will start off with three Bomber Features that were rained out last month and then continue on with a regular racing program featuring the UMP Late Model, Sportman and Bomber divisions.
