By: Ron Burt
I have some breaking news; Zach Wigal will be running some test laps in a Chad Boat Industries National Midget. This took place Friday night (July 14) at Ohio Valley Speedway, during intermission and at the conclusion of the racing program. He started at the age of seven racing mini wedges at several tracks throughout Mid-Ohio Valley. Then he raced quarter midgets for four years. Zach raced nationally with the USAC National Quarter Midget Series and collected 188 wins. Last spring, Zach connected with Chad Boat, USAC National Midget Owner and former driver, and began racing micro sprints. Zach races under the direction of Mike Bliss, a NASCAR competitor and 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion. In December, Zach participated in the Tulsa Shootout and finished 11th out of over 1,600 entries. Keep this young driver on your radar!
Mother nature played games over the 4th of July weekend. All Friday and Monday night events went on schedule, but Saturday and Sunday had some tracks canceled because of rain. At Attica Raceway Park, Zeth “Howdy” Sabo showed off his racing talent Friday night to get his first feature win at Attica in his 410 Sprint. He took the lead on lap 2 and had several challenges from rookie Bryce Lucius during the remaining 28 laps. The win, put the icing on the cake for a great week. On Wednesday at Sharon Speedway, he drove from 13th to third-place finish in Rich Farmer’s sprint car. Rounding out the top 5 at Attica was 2nd Bryce Lucius, 3rd TJ Michael, 4th Tyler Gunn and 5th Cap Henry. Ryan Markham picked up his first late model win of the year at Attica with a last corner pass on the last lap to pass Kyle Moore. Devin Shiels was 3rd. It was Markham’s 22nd of his career victory at the track. The 305 Sprint feature was won by Kasey Jedrzejek. He stormed from his fifth starting spot into the lead when the green flag waved to start the race. His car was dialed in, and no one could catch him. It’s the second win of the year for Jedrzejek at Attica and the third of his career at the track. Dustin Stroup was 2nd and JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr. placed 3rd. Remember Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Tuesday, July 11 for the 35th Annual Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by Racing Optics featuring the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. There are less than 150 reserved seats still available as of July 4th. Contact the track for seats.
Monday July 3rd Waynesfield Raceway Park hosted the Jack Hewitt Classic open wheel show. In the Great Lakes Traditional (Non-wing) Sprints, Ricky Lewis won the 14th Annual Jack Hewitt Feature Race and took home $4000. The Great Lakes Super Sprint victory went to Mike Keegan. This was his 2nd feature win of the season and earned him 2K. Luke Hall raced to his second USAC Midwest Thunder SpeeD2 Midget feature victory in his last three starts.
Brady Bacon is in the club! Monday night he won the 40-lap 9th Annual Bill Gardner Sprintacular at Lincoln Park Speedway, earned himself $10,000. and he became the third driver ever to reach 50 career USAC AMSOIL INC, National Sprint Car feature victories. He joins two other sprint car greats, Tom Bigelow, who reached 50 wins at Winchester Speedway in 1980 and finished his career with 52. Dave Darland is still racing, was the most recent to hit 50 at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track in 2014. Darland currently has 62 feature wins. Bacon’s performance during the ninth annual Bill Gardner Sprintacular was his best and most dominant of the season on the USAC Sprint trail. From beginning to end, Bacon was never challenged, leading all 40-laps.
Until next week, keep your wheels on the track. Ron Out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
