After loaning his son, Shawn Pawlak, his ride a few weeks back when Shawn flipped his own ride, a move that cost the senior Pawlak a big dip in the points, Wayne Pawlak debuted a new ride, took the honors Saturday night at Putnam County Speedway, and saw a boost in points to second behind his son.
Thomas Parker and Joe Kelly lined up on the front stretch with Kelly leaping to the lead at the green flag drop. A rock ‘em, sock ’em feature ensued with much bumping and banging as racers jockeyed for position. The bumper car match became too much for point leader Shawn Pawlak as his ride suffered what appeared to be a broken tie rod.
Kelly took the lead again at the restart with David Harper and Dan Kelly following. Dan Kelly moved up into Harper’s shadow and after dispatching Harper, set off after Joe Kelly. After a pileup on the front stretch, Dan Kelly was able to overcome Joe Kelly before another caution placed him back in second.
Dan Kelly later lost a few positions and Harper snatched the lead from Joe Kelly only to see Wayne Pawlak take the top spot a few laps later. Pawlak took the win ahead of Nicholas Kerr, a recovered Dan Kelly, Matthew Holbrook, and John Stacy.
Street stocks took to the speedway in a feature that boiled down to a battle between Grady Christian, point leader Kevin Mills, and Ricky Land. Mills and Land lined up in the front row and Land rocketed to the lead on the front stretch as Christian pressured Mills.
Mills developed a problem with his ride, which suddenly shut off, leaving Martin Johnson with no time to react. Mills exited the track and Johnson lined back up as Christian set off after Land at the restart and wrested the lead from Land.
Fans cheered as Mills shot back onto the speedway just as a caution flew before a complete lap was down, guaranteeing the lucky racer would remain on the lead lap. Mills worked his way through the field and several laps later, overcame Land to take up second behind Christian. Johnson also moved back into contention and placed hard challenges on Land.
Rena Hurley and Richard Adams entertained fans as both jockeyed for position behind Johnson. Hurley won that battle before she pitted with a flat tire. With Hurley back out at the rear of the field, Christian took the lead once again over Mills with Martin challenging Land. Johnson fell out of contention when his ride failed him and Christian took the checkered over Mills, Land, Adams, and Barry Sheffield.
Steve Bennett took the lead in the Mini stock feature over Blake Spencer. Keith Briggs challenged Spencer for second, passing Spencer on the front stretch.
Spencer didn’t let Briggs rest on his laurels, however, as he kept pressure on Briggs in an effort to regain second. At the restart following a caution, Bennett, Briggs, and Spencer were nose to tail down the front stretch and Spencer once again applied pressure to Briggs.
The rest of the field fell into position behind them and Bennett led the feature wire to wire, taking the checkered over Briggs, Spencer, Travis Staats, and Randy Strehle.
Jason Lowe took the lead over Mike Tripp in the open-wheeled Modified feature. Tripp, a former hobby stock champion, has proven to be a worthy contender in the modified division. Tripp settled into second as Garland Spangler challenged Tripp for his position. Spangler overcame Tripp at one point only to see Tripp snatch it back a ˝ lap later.
Barris ensured Tripp would get a break from Spangler’s attention as Barris passed Spangler and took up position behind Tripp. As each lap ticked down, Barris pressed his ride in an attempt to overcome Tripp and the race leaders ultimately lapped the rear of the field twice. The field froze in position for several laps before Barris began closing in on Tripp.
Tripp spun on the backstretch and took up position at the end of the lead lap, handing third to a consistent Buddy Rohn. Barris set his sights on his pal Lowe much to the delight of the fans in the grandstands. Barris would close in on Lowe in the turns only to find Lowe quicker out of the turns. A lapped car held Barris up on the white flag lap, and that, coupled with a mechanical issue, effectively ended Barris’ chances of catching Lowe. Lowe took the checkered over Barris, Rohn, Tripp, and Tim Smith.
Michael Tovet and David Dowling Jr. lined up ahead of a field of 24 Hobby stocks and Dowling took the lead on the backstretch. As Tovet placed hard charges on Dowling with Mike Donahue holding on to third, Chris Waldron challenged David Miller Jr. for fourth. Alan Peacock overcame Waldron and set off after Miller.
Miller challenged Donahue for third before Donahue shook Miller off, dispatched Dowling, and shot off after Tovet. Gary Flynn pulled into position behind Miller and a restart after a caution handed Flynn the opportunity he wanted as he passed Miller.
Fans were entertained as several battles waged, most notably between Flynn and Dowling and Peacock and Miller. As the field jockeyed for position behind them, Tovet, Donahue, Dowling, Flynn, Miller, and Peacock gained a good lead over the rest of the field. The checkered flag flew with Tovet, Donahue, Dowling, Flynn, and Miller in the top five positions.
Racing resumes Friday and Saturday nights, October 27-28, as the track hosts trick or treating with the racers for the kids Saturday night and full shows in all divisions both nights, with the main feature events the Halloween Hobby 100 qualifying races on Friday, feature event on Saturday, and a 50 lap Late Model show both nights. For more information, visit the speedway’s website at www.putnamcountyspeedway.com, or call 386-649-5210.
