Jeff Matthews Wins Race 1 of the Modified Summer Shootout
By Tera Gunter
a battle scarred Jeff Matthews (#33)and Roger Crouse (#32). Kyle Owen is in the (#F1).
Mother Nature may have rained on Putnam's parade, but that didn't stop the action Saturday night as 92 racers showed up to entertain packed grandstands. The weather made for a slick as glass racing surface and attrition claimed quite a few cars through multiple cautions as some tempers flew as high as the humidity.
Open-wheeled modifieds had the main event tonight as 23 modifieds thundered onto the speedway with P. J. Wiggins of Callahan and Jason Lowe of St. Augustine on the front row. Wiggins took the lead with Lowe and Roger Crouse determined to wrest it from him as all three flew into turn 2 nearly three wide. Momentum took Lowe too high into turn 4, allowing Crouse the opportunity to slip past him before several racers tangled between turns 1-2. The restart placed Lowe back in the lead and Wiggins snatching it from him. This time, Wiggins sailed too high into turn 2, allowing Lowe to take the lead over Wiggins once again before Wiggins spun out one lap later. The restart found Jamie Carter taking second from Jamie Burrows and Lowe leading before Lowe looped his car in turn 2. Carter took the lead at the restart with Dave Schmauss in second as Jeff Matthews pressured Schmauss before taking second on the front stretch. Matthews and Schmauss dueled for second with Schmauss pulling out before a caution placed him back behind Matthews. Schmauss saw his chances for a victory fade a few laps later as Crouse and Matthews dueled for the right to take Carter's lead position. Matthews won that battle as he overtook Carter and point leader Kyle Owen pulled behind Crouse. By the end of the race, Owen fell out of contention and Crouse overtook Carter as Matthews led Crouse, Carter, Burrows, and David Boerner under the checkered.
Billy Costello took the lead in the late model feature and handed a spanking to the rest of the field, including former late model champion, J. O. Nobles. Nobles and Jason Pipkins dueled for second with Nobles winning the right to challenge Costello. Costello and Nobles gained a good lead over the field with Richard Ferry in third. The restart after a caution tightened the field back up with Nobles and Ferry running side by side before tangling in turn 2. With both Nobles and Ferry at the rear of the field, David Crews moved up to challenge Costello, a chance he wouldn't have for long as Nobles worked back up into contention. Nobles and Crews entertained fans as they dueled for second with Nobles winning the battle. Nobles then proceeded to try to shake Costello down, but Nobles had nothing for young Costello as Costello took the checkered flag over Nobles, Crews, Richard Kessinger, and J. R. Prather, Jr.
Ron Frank took the lead in the hobby stock feature with Michael Tovet challenging him before Frank spun and Tovet, with nowhere to go, hit Frank. David Miller, Jr. took the lead at the restart with William Martin Jr., Robert Hicks, and David Dowling Jr. behind him. Running three wide in turn 2 with Jacob Crank and George Bosley, Frank began moving back through the field. Miller gained a good lead as Dowling and Hicks entertained the crowd for several laps in a battle for second. Dowling won the battle as Miller led Dowling, Hicks, Frank, and former track regular, Scott Booth, to victory lane.
Seventeen mini stocks thoroughly entertained as Keith Briggs took the lead, leaving Blake Spencer and Jake Hartley to duel behind him. Spencer pitted on lap four just before a caution came out for Joe Lawson and Brian Bales, who spun on the front stretch, and Randy Strehle in turn 4. All were able to line back up and Spencer was back out before the restart. As the race resumed, it became the Briggs and Vogel Show as Vogel dispatched Hartley to take second behind Briggs. Briggs and Vogel totally entertained the fans as they challenged one another. Vogel took the lead out of turn four and as cautions tightened the field back up, Briggs placed multiple challenges on Vogel. Vogel took the checkered over Briggs, Hartley, Jay Farris, and Stanton Mills.
Marc Kinley took the lead in the street stocks as Grady Christian and Richard Adams made their presence known. Kevin Mills dispatched Adams and set off after Christian. Kinley exited for a flat tire and returned to the rear. Christian held onto his lead before Mills snatched it from him. A spin by Christian placed him behind Kinley and the fans were totally entertained as these two racers worked back through the field. Mills gained a good lead on the field over Adams as Christian placed hard challenges on Adams. Both Christian and Kinley passed Adams and set off after the race leader. The race was Mills until he flew too high coming out of turn 4 late in the race, handing the lead back to Christian. Christian led Mills, Kinley, Adams, and Sonny Thompson to the checkered flag.
Justin Dean took the initial lead in the box stocks before Shawn Pawlak moved to overtake Dean. Lonnie Magruder and Dean dueled for position. A caution handed Dean the moment he needed as he challenged Pawlak for the lead at the restart. Both ran side by side in their usual entertaining match-up before Dean regained the lead. Dean gained a good lead as Magruder challenged Pawlak, ultimately taking second from Pawlak. Dean led Magruder, Pawlak, James Smith, and Wayne Pawlak to victory lane.
Racing resumes Saturday at 7:30pm with the regular show plus a Mini Stock 75 lap $1200 to win race on the card and dune buggy practice.
