Oakshade Raceway hosted double features for the UMP Late Model Division with Kris Patterson and Jeep Van Wormer taking top honors.
First up was the Season Championship UMP Late Model make-up feature from last week’s rain out that had Devin Shiels and Kris Patterson battling early for the lead.
Once Patterson disposed of Shiels, it was easy sailing for the St. Johns, Michigan driver. Patterson pulled away from the rest of the field to win his first UMP Late Model Feature of the year at Oakshade Raceway after a rather off season for the veteran.
Rody Schroyer moved up from his ninth starting position to eclipse Justin Paxton for second. Dusty Moore slipped back after starting on the outside of the front row, but rebounded to finish fourth with Rick Delong fifth. Rusty Schlenk, the unofficial points champion, finished sixth.
Later on in the evening, the 30-lap American Late Model Series Feature took to the track after a field of 50 cars was narrowed down to the 23-car starting line up.
Zack Olger, Rusty Schlenk and Kevin Reeve raced three-wide for the lead on the first lap with Olger having a slight advantage. Eventually Reeve slipped back leaving Olger and Schlenk to battle with the 55 car of Jeep Van Wormer closing in.
By lap seven, Schlenk took over the lead and then tried to fend off Van Wormer. After a restart after a caution for Ky Harper on lap 11, Van Wormer got to the inside of Schlenk and took the lead for good.
Van Wormer opened up a huge advantage and carried it all the way to the checkered flag, earning himself the big check for $2,000 and the ALMS win. Schlenk settled for second with Kevin Reeve recovering to finish a respectable third. Rick Delong posted his second top five of the night, finishing in fourth ahead of Ronnie Perrine, Jr.
Mike Jessen took command of the UMP Sportsman Feature at the drop of the green flag after starting on the pole.
Chris Smith started on the outside of the front row and had a top five run going until his car slowed on lap nine and he parked it in the infield.
Jessen meanwhile had opened up a big lead over the second place battle between Josh Steinacker and Rusty Schlenk. The two drivers swapped the second position several times as they tried to close the gap on the race leader.
Jessen’s lead turned out to be insurmountable as he won his first Sportsman Feature of the year, putting an end to Steinacker’s winning streak at seven wins.
Steinacker got into the back of Schlenk going into turn three, just before taking the white flag. The contact turned Schlenk sideways and allowed Steinacker to get by on the hide side and finish second. Schlenk held on and did not spin and settled for a third place finish.
Brian Fisher ended up fourth and Joe Smith was fifth.
Rob Anderzack was leading the Bomber A Main until he spun coming off turn four on the very first lap bringing out the yellow flag and forcing Anderzack to the tail for the restart.
That turned the lead over to Jake Rendel who never looked back and went on to win the caution plagued Bomber A Main. Craig Dippman held off Tom Ordway to finish second. Brett Miller and Ron Tolles rounded out the rest of the top five finishers.
Jim Scout took the early lead in the Bomber B Main after starting on the outside of the front row.
Brice Luttrell made some contact getting into turn one and slammed into Jerry Signor ending both drivers’ nights.
Garry Domoe began to put the pressure on Scout for the lead and each time it looked like Domoe was going to take over, his efforts were thwarted by the caution flag.
Scout and Domoe were racing side by side for the lead in the closing stages of the race when Scout got held up behind a lapped car and had to check up allowing Domoe to take the lead and the win. Toxic Moe finished third behind Scout with Bob Rendel fourth and Dean Thompson fifth.
Rich Ruff made it look easy in the Bomber C Main after pulling away once he took the lead early. Ruff picked up the easy win over Ted Hill who had contact with Eric Potridge just before the finish sending Potridge spinning as the two battled for second. Potridge held on to finish third followed by Billy Garland and Ron Leonard.
David Goben took the lead from Joe Heffner on the second lap of the Bomber D Main. A short time later Heffner spun while running in the second position.
Jeff Foks made the pass to the inside on Goben get to the front and went on to win the D Main with Fred Burtch finishing second after restarting at the tail earlier in the race. Goben fell back to finish third and Joe Heffner came back to take fourth. Bill Vorce was fifth.
It will be Season Championship Night for the Sportsman and Bomber Divisions on Saturday, September 9 with double features for both classes to make up for the rain out on August 26.
