Jon Henry became the third different UMP Late Model feature winner of the year at Oakshade Raceway on Saturday with an impressive win over defending track champion Rusty Schlenk.
Josh Scott held the early lead in the Leo’s Metal & Wood UMP Late Model feature until Henry took command of the race on lap five. Schlenk climbed up to second on lap seven which knocked Scott back to third. Craig Dippman spun on lap eight to bring out the yellow flag which allowed Schlenk to restart alongside Henry on the double-file restart. After a few laps, Henry was able to dispose of Schlenk and went on to an impressive win. Schlenk settled for second after earning a feature win two weeks ago. Brian Ruhlman and Casey Noonan had a great battle going for third much of the race with Noonan taking the spot by the end of the race. Josh Scott held on to finish fifth.
George Lindsey from Adrian, Michigan started on the pole of the UMP Sportsman feature event and led the entire distance on his way to his first feature win of the year. Having won the previous two UMP Sportsman features, Mike Jessen moved up to second on lap four, but could not maintain pressure on Lindsey for the lead. Jessen found himself in a heated battle with Tim Line and Rusty Smith for second near the end of the race and could not hold off Line who wound up finishing second. Jessen was third followed by Rusty Smith and Rich Ruff.
The UMP Bomber A Main had some difficulty getting started, but finally the field was successful at completing a lap after the fourth attempt. Defending track champion in the UMP Bomber division Jim Scout grabbed the early lead. Josh Kehle dropped some fluid on the track on lap six that Joe Heffner ran across and spun to bring out one of the numerous caution periods of the race. Scout led Terry Rushlow back to the green flag and pulled away for his second feature win of the year. Adam Noonan worked his way up to a second place finish with Jeff Foks third. Rushlow slipped back to finish fourth and Tony Tolles was fifth.
“Sparky Marky” Mark Gillingham from Liberty Center, Ohio started on the pole of the Hornet feature race and led the early laps. Last week’s feature winner Taylor Dippman got into William Cundick while battling for second causing both drivers to push up high in turn two. Derek Morris and Drew Smith both scooted by for second and third as Cundick and Dippman continued on. Unfortunately for Dippman, the contact with Cundick cut the right front tire down ending her hopes for a second career feature win. Derek Morris caught Gillingham on lap five and Gillingham went over the turn two hill while trying to fend off Morris. Morris went on to hold off a hard-charging Drew Smith to pick up his first feature win of the year. Smith settled for second followed by Cundick, Brandon Myers and Drew Greene.
The UMP Bomber B Main was another feature event that had some issues getting going with multiple caution flags in the first few laps. Chris Dachenhaus shook out to be the early leader and held the top spot for a few laps until Jesse Moyer and Dan Bleikamp closed in and went three-wide for the lead with Dachenhaus in the middle. Contact was made and Dachenhaus got bounced around and finally spun in turn four to bring out the yellow flag. Moyer was the leader on the restart and held the lead until the white flag flew. Bleikamp made the pass and went on to pick up the checkered flag. Finishing third and fourth behind Moyer was Scott Robertson and John Gamber respectively who both gained 13 positions from their starting positions deep in the field. Donovan Paskin also started near the back and gained 10 positions to finish fifth.
Steve Morris was running second behind Marty Bloomer in the UMP Bomber C Main when he spun on the front stretch on lap two. Morris continued on, but dropped to the back of the pack. Bloomer continued to lead as Morris worked his way back up to the front and Morris took the lead away on lap five. He went on to pick up the easy victory over Bloomer, Mike Grames, Ron Travelbee and Jeff Goodman.
Another full weekend of racing is on tap at Oakshade Raceway this upcoming weekend with Wallace Racing Products sponsoring a full show of UMP Late Models, UMP Sportsmen, UMP Bombers and Hornets on Saturday night. Gates open at 4pm with racing at 7pm. Then on Sunday afternoon, a 200-lap/2 hour Enduro race is scheduled to start at 2pm with gates opening at 12pm. General admission for the Enduro is just $3.
