The DIRTcar Summer Nationals rolled into town for the first of two great nights of racing at Oakshade Raceway Friday evening which saw Zack Dohm capture the 40-lap late model feature win and Taylor Cook repeated his performance from one year ago with the modified win.
It was Rusty Schlenk and Matt Miller duking it out early in the $5,000 to win late model feature with Miller taking command by lap three. Australian Paul Stubber spun just after going a lap down on lap 14 causing the second and third place cars to take evasive action. Once back under green, Schlenk closed back up on Miller and recaptured the lead on lap 25 with Zack Dohm following him into second. Dohm got to the inside of Schlenk and took the lead on lap 29. the Cross Lanes, West Virginia driver went on to lead the final 11 laps and pick up the victory in his first ever visit to Oakshade Raceway. Schlenk held off Summer Nationals point leader Brian Shirley to finish second. Frank Heckenast Jr. and Billy Moyer were the rest of the top five finishers.
Bobby Stremme started off the 25-lap modified feature strong and opened up a big lead. A couple of cautions on lap nine tightened up the field with Stanley, North Carolina’s Taylor Cook restarting in second. It didn’t take long for the third generation driver to get by Stremme for the lead. Cook went on to take the checkered flag just as he did a year ago in the Friday Summit Racing Modified Nationals feature event at Oakshade Raceway. Stremme held on to finish second followed by Jamie Lomax, Zachary Schroeder and Collin Thirlby.
Racing action heats up even more Saturday with the $10,000 to win 20th Annual Birthday Race/DIRTcar Summer Nationals finale and the Summit Modified Nationals plus Compacts. Gates open at 10am and the pits will be open for everyone until 4pm. After 4pm a pit pass will be required to remain pit side. Hot laps and qualifying will begin at 6pm with racing starting at 7:30pm.