Shane Yoder won his first feature of the year at Oakshade Raceway in a wild night of racing Saturday night. Sixty-four late models showed up to try to make it in to the 21-car starting field late model feature.
A spectacular crash delayed the evening’s program slightly as the first of three late model consolation races took the green flag. Steve Rowe and Larry Kingseed started on the front row and made contact coming off turn four. Kingseed’s car got sideways and then airborne. He began flipping and got into the catch fence above the concrete wall just past the flag stand.
The other 15 cars behind him all took evasive maneuvers with cars ending up everywhere on the front stretch and Larry Kingseed’s car coming to rest on its roof.
Kingseed emerged from his destroyed automobile and gave a wave to the crowd.
Later in the late model feature, Shane Yoder got the lucky draw to start on the pole alongside Rick Delong. Yoder grabbed the lead at the start and never looked back.
Zac Davis brought out the first and only yellow with a spin in turns three and four on lap two.
Yoder pulled away from Ron Miller who was second on the restart. Miller fell back through the running order while Delong, Justin Paxton, Kris Patterson, Aaron Scott and Rusty Schlenk battled for positions second through sixth.
Yoder went on to pick up the easy victory with Schlenk finishing a distant second. Aaron Scott finished third with Delong and Patterson rounding out the top five.
Brian Fisher jumped out to an early lead in the sportsman main event. Tim Fisher quickly closed in while running in second.
Dale Cole and Evan Myers both spun on lap eight to bring out the first yellow flag. Rich Noonan spun a couple laps later to for the second yellow.
The Fishers battled each other for the lead with Tim taking the top spot just before a caution for debris would slow things down and reverting to the last completed lap allowed Brian Fisher to maintain the lead.
Finally on lap 16, Tim Fisher got to the inside of Brian Fisher and took the lead for good. Tim went on to pick up his second consecutive sportsman feature win and the third of the year. Brian Fisher held on to finish second ahead of Jeremy Grover, Brian Przepiora and Brian Roop.
Randy Roseman gave up his starting position in the bomber A Main to take the Racer’s Connection sponsored Tail Start Challenge for a chance to win $700 if he could win after starting on the tail. Unfortunately for him, he would not be a major factor in the race.
Dan Bliekamp got turned around in turn two on the first lap and was drilled by Chuck Leininger who had nowhere to go. Gene Zollner also spun at the same time on the backstretch resulting in a complete restart.
Josh Steinacker led a three car break away early with Jake Rendel and Bill Couts in tow.
The second caution flag flew on lap three after Dan Drummond, Craig Dippman and Gene Potridge got together in turn four.
On the ensuing restart, the second place car of Jake Rendel lost a wheel. Billy Ruff found that wheel rolling down the front stretch when he hit it and was launched up into the air.
In the end, Steinacker went on to win his second consecutive bomber A Main followed by Couts, Gary Domoe, Bob Gregory and Jim Scout. Randy Roseman mustered a tenth place finish.
Joe Smith led from flag to flag in the bomber B Main holding off Randy Murday for the victory. It was Smith’s first feature win of the year.
Kyle Light finished third behind Randy Murday with Matt Shipley ending up fourth.
Rob Price was back in action in the bomber C Main and took the lead from Chris Williams after a lap two restart after a caution.
Ron Tolles closed in quickly on Price. The two battled side by side for a couple laps until Tolles made contact with Price coming off turn four to take the white flag.
Tolles went on to take the checkered flag finishing ahead of Price, Williams and Bill Reeves Jr.
Season Championship Night for the late model division is Saturday, August 28. There will also be a special Race of Champions featuring past Oakshade Raceway late model champions. The sportsman and bomber divisions will also be in action that night as well.
