By: Ron Burt
The only area dirt track brave enough to race on Saturday, April 22nd was Montpelier Motor Speedway. The quarter mile opened the 2023 season last Saturday night, with a chill in the air and a few snowflakes as cars went around the track. The UMP Modified feature was won by Dillon Nusbaum. Dillon started the feature in second, but it didn’t take him long to get out front and take command. Pole sitter Dylan Woodling finished 2nd followed by Todd Sherman. Cole Sink and Drew Charlson. In the Street Stocks, Travis Nichols started outside row one on the pole and managed to take the lead and keep it. Jeff Hinkley started in 6th but used some great racing moves and worked his way up to 2nd place at the finish. Pole sitter, Ervin Turner was 3rd, followed by Kaleb Hinkley and Jeff Nelson. The Super Stock A-main was won by Jarrod Klay who started the feature outside row #2 and had to work his way to the lead and fight off challenges the entire race. Rounding out the top 5 was Tony Anderson, Ervin Turner, Jeff Matheny, and Dan Wooten. Nineteen cars started the feature for the Affordable Hornets. Matthew Freeman took the checker getting his first ever feature win, followed by Brain Henderson, Jesse Arenas, Dalton Smith, and Tracey Runion. Three cars came out for the first running of the new Crown Vic’s class. This is a new affordable class that tracks are starting to run this year on area dirt and asphalt tracks. Jeremy Jones took the first feature win. May 6th, the Midwest USAC Thunder Midgets return to Montpelier Motor Speedway along with their five weekly classes.
Many area racing fans attended or watched FloRacing Night in America, Tuesday, April 18th at Eldora Speedway. Mike Marlar had some help winning the Dirt Car Late Model Feature. He had built a 5 second lead over Hudson O’Neal, late in the race. O’Neal fought through traffic to take the lead from Marlar but a flat tire on O’Neal’s car with a few laps remaining, helped Mike Marlar get the victory and a check for $23,023.00. The rest of the top 5 included Tim McCreadie, Tanner English, Jonathan Davenport, and Brandon Sheppard. The talent and racing skills of NASCAR champion Kyle Larson amazes me. He put on a show at Eldora racing a Dirt Modified for the first time and winning the feature after he qualified 7th. He made the win look easy as he was never challenged by the veteran drivers of the Modified class. Larson now has victories in seven different classes of cars at Eldora Speedway. Finishing behind Larson, Tyler Nicely, Trevor Neville, Drake Troutman, and Michael Altobelli. The Super Stock feature was won by Earnie Woodard.
The High Limit Sprint Car Series comes to Kokomo, Tuesday, May 2nd featuring some of the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers. This is the first full year for this new series featuring stars from the All Stars, USAC and WoO. Saturday, May 13th Oakshade Raceway will feature the Attica/Oakshade Late Model Series for the first time this year plus their full show. Asphalt fans. Plymouth Motor Speedway is now open for 2023. It’s just a short drive west of Fort Wayne. The Doctor JR Roahrig and many others have been on the track for test and tune and are ready to go with their Outlaw Late Models. This is a great time of the year. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
