The Left Turn

It was another weekend where everyone was looking at cell phones for weather updates. Unfortunately, several tracks had to be cancelled. The big racing events were able to get in between and after rain showers. Kicking off the Easter weekend on Thursday, April 17th was the annual 500 Sprint Car Tour drivers at Anderson Speedway for the prestigious Glen Niebel Classic. Dakoda Armstrong took the win in the Sprints, and Dameron Taylor won the Mel Kenyon Midget Dick Jordan Classic. The next big race for Anderson Speedway will be the historic Little 500 on May 24th, and it sells out fast.

On Friday, April 18th. local Dirt Late Model ace, Rusty Schlenk won his 3rd straight feature at Attica Raceway Park. Todd Brennan led the first lap with JR Gentry taking over the top spot a lap later. Schlenk, who started 3rd, took the lead on lap 6 and only a couple of back-to-back cautions on laps seven and eight kept the field close. The race went the final 17 laps caution-free and Schlenk, a three time national UMP champion, built up a nearly five second lead late in the race and cruised to his 46th career win at Attica over defending track champion Kyle Moore, Gentry, Devin Shiels and Brennan.

Scotty Thiel led all 30 laps of the 410 A-main at Attica Raceway Park Friday, April 18. Unfortunately, a post-race inspection showed he had a two-inch wicker bill on his top wing which is against the track’s rules. Devon Borden, who had passed Thiel right before a caution flew with two laps to go, negating the lead pass, was declared the winner, his first ever at Attica. Rounding out the top 5, Cap Henry, Kalib Henry, Bryce Lucius, and Craig Mintz

Kasey Ziebold led the first five laps of the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints A-main before Tyler Shullick took over. Jamie Miller, the defending track champion, drove under Shullick for the top spot on lap 10.

Shullick stayed close to Miller, but Miller’s car was just too good in lapped traffic as he took his third straight feature win at Attica, the 48th of his career at the track. A wild battle for second on the last lap had Shullick get by Blayne Keckler with 15th starter Matt Foos and Dustin Stroup rounding out the top five.

Saturday, April 19th, it was the Twin 100’s at Toledo Speedway. First up was the USAC Siver Crown (Champ Cars) Rollie Beale Classic. Justin Grant started outside row 2, took the lead and stayed out front all 100 laps and set a new track record for the half mile oval. Grant’s time for the distance of 26:38.254 (112.623 mph average), breaking the former mark of 27:07.40 by nearly half a minute, which was set by Jerry Coons Jr. in 2012. It was Grant’s 100th Silver Crown start and eighth victory of his USAC Silver Crown career, tying Chris Windom for 16th place all-time. Known primarily for his dirt success, Grant’s score was his second in USAC Silver Crown competition on pavement. Back in 2021, he captured a win at Indiana’s Winchester Speedway. Kody Swanson, winner of the past six USAC Silver Crown main events at Toledo dating back to 2018 again set fast time and started on the pole. Swanson owns eight Silver Crown wins at Toledo, and in qualifying, he added his ninth pole position at Toledo, the 55th overall of his career. A lot of race fans were wondering if his Toledo wins streak would continue but all good things come to an end. Finishing behind your leader Tyler Roahrig, Dakota Armstrong, Kody Swanson, and C.J. Leary. Floridian Colton Bettis, meanwhile, became the youngest driver ever to compete in a USAC Silver Crown event at the age of 15 years old. Bettis was running eighth on lap 37 when a fuel cable snapped, ending his series debut early.

The second half of the Twin 100’s was the first points season opener for the CRA/JEGS Late Models. The race started with Kyle Crump redrawing in the top spot. Crump was quickest in both practice sessions, qualifying, and pulling the top spot in the redraw. Once the race started, the defending JEGS Tour Champion, Blake Rowe, found his way into the second position, passing Albert Francis and Chase Pinsonneault. Caution was thrown with 79 laps to go as Avery Demland caught the grass in turns 3 and 4, beaching her car. The field was set for a restart as Blake Rowe powered off the outside lane to take the lead. While third on back continued to shuffle for position, Kyle Crump slowly started closing on back, taking the lead with 40 to go. Both Rowe and Crump exchanged blows fighting for position until the caution came out again. Will Sahutke spun in turns 1 and 2, resulting in a restart with 39 laps to go. The action continued with Blake Rowe and Kyle Crump going back and forth for the lead, but a yellow flew once more for Jeff Vrsek and Brian Campbell collecting each other on the front straightaway.

The stage was set for a 23-lap run to the finish, as the leaders went through the restart zone, Blake Rowe fired before the box, a restart violation, prompting caution and sending him to the rear. This time Albert Francis lined up outside of Crump, but by the time the leaders got to turn 2, Crump was gone. Kyle Crump ended up winning the Hemelgarn Super Fitness 100 at Toledo Speedway, marking his third point paying race win in a row. The Factory Stock feature was won by 2023 champion Josh Bunting. Until next week, keep your wheels down!

Ron out!