ONA, WV-The Late Model division at Ona Speedway is on the rise heading into the 2021 season. More Late Models are registered to compete at Ona in 2021 than in several years. Let’s take a look at the storylines heading into the season for the Late Model division.
2020’s top three look for another big season
Last year’s championship battle between Kenny Parsons and Joe Fihe will be remembered as one of the most exciting championship battles in Ona Speedway history. Parsons came out on top in a battle that came down to the final lap of the season and will be back to defend his title in the Greg Chandler Motorsports #45 entry. The Fihe brothers, Joe and Bobby, have been hard at work over the offseason as they look to battle for a championship once again this season.
Kenny Parsons, Joe Fihe, and Bobby Fihe are among the smoothest, most consistent drivers at Ona Speedway. Consistency wins championships. There is no doubt these three drivers will be in contention for the track championship and race wins all season long.
Coons & Keaton set for championship run
Brad Coons and Jake Keaton were among the fastest Late Models last season as Coons visited victory lane twice and Keaton once. Coons, from Bellefontaine, Ohio, won the season opening Cabin Fever Bash and was set for a championship run until a blown motor in a race at Shady Bowl Speedway caused him to miss some points races. Coons never finished worse than 3rd last season.
Jake Keaton was one of the most successful drivers at Ona in the 2000’s, winning several races and track championships. Keaton took several years off from competition at Ona to race Dirt Late Models and Modifieds but returned to action at Ona last August. Keaton was fast from the get-go and took the race win on October 3rd.
We saw some great battles between these two drivers last fall, was that a preview for what we will see all year this season? Coons and Keaton will no doubt be in contention for race wins and the track championship this season.
Familiar names look to put bad luck behind
There’s no doubt that most of America was excited when 2021 came so we could put 2020 behind us. At Ona Speedway, nobody was more excited to put 2020 behind and move forward to 2021 than Jacob Bell, Anthony Thompson, Greg Sigler, and Rob Dunlap. These four were favorites to compete for the track championship in 2020 but had bad luck plague them.
Jacob Bell went into 2020 as his first season in a Late Model. The veteran of the U Car division showed speed from the start and was in contention to win every race he competed in. However, mechanical problems and being caught up in a wreck resulted in a DNF in every race he entered. Bell has been hard at work all offseason and looks to come out of the gate strong for 2021 with all of the bad luck behind him.
Rush, KY’s Anthony Thompson has been a fixture in the Late Model division at Ona with several strong finishes. Thompson’s season in his Late Model came to an end in race #2 last season when he was involved in a heavy accident while battling for the lead. The accident sidelined his Late Model for the year but Thompson was fortunately able to compete in the Street Stock division the rest of the year. Thompson will look to rebound with a strong season this year.
Greg Sigler, a former Ona Speedway Late Model track champion, was plagued with bad luck for much of the season. Due to work schedules, Sigler had to miss several races and then suffered engine trouble in one of his later starts. Sigler recently announced on Facebook that he struck a deal to put him back in a Late Model for the 2021 season. The Russell, KY driver will look for big things this year.
Ona, WV’s Rob Dunlap competed in several races in 2020 and had a strong 6th place points finish. If it weren’t for mechanical problems causing him to miss some races, Dunlap would of likely been in contention for the track championship. Dunlap is looking for a big season in 2021 as he will be debuting a new car that previously won a track championship at Ona.
Hamlin, WV’s Shane Koontz is another driver that did not get to compete much in 2020 due to work schedules. In his lone start of the year, Koontz finished second. Koontz is another driver who will be a strong contender in the class in the races he is able to enter.
New teams set to compete
In a sign of growth, two new Late Model teams are set to tackle the historic 7/16ths mile oval in 2021. John Morton, an Ona Speedway veteran who has competed in several different classes, will be back behind the wheel in 2021 racing in the Late Model division. Barboursville, WV driver Mike Burcham will also be a new comer to the class, purchasing the car piloted by Rob Dunlap last season. The track welcomes these two new teams.
Out-of-town drivers look to steal the show
The Ona Speedway is very fortunate to have some fast out of town cars that enjoy coming to race at the track for a partial schedule. Last season out-of -town drivers won three of the eight races with former ARCA/CRA Super Series champion Logan Runyon winning two races and Mooresville, NC’s Jerick Johnson winning one. Having these out-of-town drivers come in adds an interesting twist to the shows as you never know who is going to show up in the pits on any given Saturday to compete.
For 2021, former NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Truck Series, and ARCA Series driver Jerick Johnson has registered. Johnson has won races for the past several years in a row at Ona. Barbourville, Kentucky’s Terry Smith usually makes a few appearances at the track each season and is registered once again in 2021. Bridgeport, WV’s Scott Stern, who competes often at Pennsylvania tracks such as Jennerstown Speedway, is registered for 2021 as well.
2021 proves to be one of the most competitive seasons in many years for the Late Model class at Ona Speedway. For several years the class only competed at the track once a month. Since the track has been operated by TK Promotions, the class has been a weekly fixture and has grown each year. Don’t miss any of the action with the Late Models this season. They will open the season up on Saturday, May 1st during night #2 of the 2nd Annual Cabin Fever Bash.
2021 Ona Speedway Registered Late Models
- Bobby Fihe
- Rob Dunlap
- Joe Fihe
- Jacob Bell
- Terry Smith
- John Morton
- Greg Sigler
- Mike Burcham
- Kenny Parsons
- Jake Keaton
- Jerick Johnson
- Anthony Thompson
- Shane Koontz
- Brad Coons
- Scott Stern
*This is a list only of drivers who have pre-registered. More cars that are not pre-registered could compete in 2021.
