The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
Saturday, June 21st, the Outlaw Figure 8 cars took to the famous high banks of Anderson Speedway. A strong field of 16 competitors marked the return of the Outlaw’s for the first time since 2019 to compete in the 50 lap Community Hospital’s Summer Solstice Showdown. This event soon turned into the Dalton Conner show. Conner set fast time during qualifying. The top 10 drivers were separated by less than a second around the high-banked oval with Mason Hadley getting edged out by Conner with Mark, Jesse and Ben Tunny claiming the next three positions in qualifying. When it came time for the feature most of the fans knew Dalton Conner’s car was set up perfect for Anderson Speedway.
Conner started on the pole, took the lead and never looked back. The field bunched up on lap 15 when the caution flag waved, because Mike Riddle spun off the fourth corner and, on the restart, Robbie Greenwell made contact with the turn three retaining wall. The final caution flag waved on lap 37 when Doug Riddle spun on the front straight. On the restart Mark Tunny was able to get inside of Hadley entering turn one and started to close on Conner. But with less than ten laps remaining Tunny had to lock up his car in the cross-over to avoid making contact with a lapped car. Conner went on to win by 2.8-seconds over Mark Tunny with Jesse Tunny claiming the third spot. Drivers and fans would like this race to be an annual event for Anderson Speedway. Three other classes also raced at Anderson. These 3 drivers found victory lane USSA Kenyon Midget Series Dameron Taylor,Baby Grands Kent Baledge, Knapp Supply Ford Division Collin Grissom.
On June 21st, Rusty Schlenk made it two feature wins in a row at Oak Shade Raceway, He took the lead on lap 1 of the 25-lap DIRTcar UMP Late Model feature event at Oakshade Raceway and drove away for his second consecutive feature win. The “Outlaw” Jessie Jones won his 3rd consecutive Late Model Sportsman win. Adam Lantz has had back-to-back feature wins in the Dominator Super Stocks. Jeff Wells picked up his first feature win of 2025 in the Sport Compacts.
Angola Motorsport Speedway ran their normal Fab 4 show on Saturday night but added the Crown Vic’s. Feature winners were Jason Timmerman Late Model, Al Berry Modified, Lee Reed Street Stock, Larry Henderson Hornets and Sam Helton Crown Vis’s.
Flat Rock Speedway had a packed house. The fans saw Billy Vanmeter set a new track record 11.952 during the ASA, CRA/JEGGS All Star Tour. Chase Pinsonneault won the feature. Greg Studt found the victory lane in his Street Stock and Travis Earley won the Figure 8 feature.
In closing, Ohio Sprint Week 2025 just wrapped up. Mother Nature won several nights but Danny Dietrich put the icing on the cake for the overall championship winning the final night at Atomic Speedway, $26,554.00 the 9th annual Dean Knittel Memorial. USAC Thunder Midget driver, Zach Wigal earlier in the evening set a new track record, then ran away with the feature for the win.
There will be lots of racing during the week of the 4th, Safe travels to all of you. Ron out!