ONA, WV-Championships will be decided this Saturday, September 11th at the Ona Speedway in the Greg Chandler Frame & Body Season Championships. 7 of the 9 track championships are still undecided with many of the battles really close heading into the final points race of the season. This will be one of the most dramatic nights of the season as some drivers will live their dream of winning an Ona Speedway championship while others will see their championship dreams come to an end for this season. As we’ve seen in years past, anything and everything can happen on championship night. September 11th will also feature a super show, with all 9 weekly divisions in action for feature races.
Keaton’s Collision Center Late Model Preview
Jake Keaton wrapped up the 2021 Keaton’s Collision Center Late Model track championship back on August 21st but will look to continue his impressive undefeated winning streak this season. After clinching the championship, Keaton competed with the CARS Tour at Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia back on August 28th where he finished 10th against some of the country’s best Super Late Model drivers. In recent races at Ona, Brad Coons has emerged as the top competitor to try to break Keaton’s undefeated streak. Coons actually got the jump ahead of Keaton last race, but it only lasted a lap as Coons had to pull off with mechanical problems. Look for the friendly Keaton vs Coons rivalry that has emerged to take center stage once again on Saturday.
McCam Builders Modified Preview
With a big win back on August 21st, Andy Booten sets himself in a good position to clinch the 2021 McCam Builders Modified track championship on Saturday. All Booten has to do is finish 15th or better to clinch his second consecutive track championship. With car count trends this season, Booten will likely clinch the track championship just by starting the feature. If Booten would run into problems that would keep him from starting, Jamie Womack and Steve Hass are both still mathematically alive for the track championship. The intensity of the racing in the Modified class has been picking up each and every week as the number of opportunities to win this season keep getting smaller. With only 3 Modified races left this season, this intensity will ramp up even more on Saturday as drivers such as Steve Hass, Jeremy Cooper, and Jason Garrett have all found a ton of speed in recent weeks but have yet to win. We’ve seen fireworks in the form of contact battling for the wins the past several races, expect to see more fireworks on Saturday.
Greg Chandler Frame & Body Sport Mod Preview
Rick Watson and Marty Powers have battled each other all season long for the Greg Chandler Frame & Body Sport Mod track championship. Watson holds a slim 2 point advantage over Powers heading into Saturday’s championship race. Watson can clinch the track championship by finishing 2nd or better while Powers will have to win and hope that Watson finishes 3rd or worse to be able to win his second consecutive championship. Both of these drivers will no doubt be going all out to try to clinch a prestigious Ona Speedway track championship.
Rocky Top’s Pizza Street Stock Preview
Clark Perry, Chris Jividen, and Tommy Rowe have stayed in a close battle for the track championship in the Rocky Top’s Pizza Street Stock division all season long. Chris Jividen delivered the last race on August 21st by taking the feature win in a race where he had to make up ground on friend and rival Clark Perry to have a realistic shot at winning the track championship. With Jividen’s win, Perry’s lead is now only 5 points heading into Saturday’s championship race. Perry, a veteran dirt track driver who is only in his second season racing asphalt, can clinch his first career Ona Speedway championship by finishing 4th or better on Saturday. Jividen can clinch the track championship by winning and Perry finishing 5th or worse. If Jividen doesn’t win, he would have to finish 6 positions ahead of Perry to win the title. Tommy Rowe sits in third, 13 points behind Perry and would likely need Perry to not start the feature to remain alive in the championship battle. In what has been a season full of parity, 6 different drivers have won races in the Street Stock class this season. Could there be a 7th different winner on Saturday?
McCam Builders Classic Car Preview
A win back on August 7th for Brad Cooper as well as a DNF from Will Hass that same night puts Cooper in great position to win the track championship on Saturday. Cooper can clinch the track championship by finishing 6th or better on Saturday. Will Hass can clinch the track championship by winning and hoping that Cooper finishes 7th or worse. Cooper and Hass have put on quite the show this season in the class as their championship rivalry has been a battle ever since opening night. The Classic Car division is a class where we have seen some wild, unpredictable things happen. It is sure to be another great race for the class on Saturday with the championship on the line.
Contempo Trophy & Awards U Car Preview
6 drivers are still alive in the battle for the Contempo Trophy & Awards U Car track championship heading into Saturday. Keith Watson, who will be looking to win his 11th career Ona Speedway track championship, has a narrow 5 point lead and can clinch the championship by finishing 4th or better. Chris Deskins, who most would say has been the fastest driver this year but has faced some mechanical difficulties, sits second in points and can clinch the track championship by winning and Watson finishing 5th or worse. With the largest car counts of any class consistently this season, David Adkins, Nick Fowler, and Reuben Fetty are all still alive for the championship and could steal the title away should Watson or Deskins have trouble. In a show of just how fast he has been this season, despite missing one race, Freedom Used Autos Fly By 40 winner Tim Cassidy is still alive for the championship but will have to hope Watson doesn’t start the feature to stay alive in the championship hunt. Everything is on the table for what will be a can’t miss race in this class Saturday.
Southern Ohio Speed INEX Legends Car Pro Preview
Steve Swann clinched the track championship back on August 21st for the Southern Ohio Speed INEX Legends Car Pro class but will look to keep his 2 race winning streak alive. While Swann has clinched the championship, there is a tight race for 2nd and 3rd in points between Tyler Martin, Joe Workman, and Thomas Crabtree. Martin has the second position with a 4 point advantage over Workman and an 8 point advantage over Crabtree. These drivers will all be battling it out to see who can land a prestigious podium points finish. We can also expect to see the resumption of the Swann vs Jake Keaton friendly rivalry in this class as Keaton did not get to start the feature back on August 21st due to mechanical problems.
Keaton’s Collision Center INEX Legends Car Semi-Pro Preview
The closest championship battle on Saturday will take place in the Keaton’s Collision Center INEX Legends Car Semi-Pro class. With two straight wins, Zach Steele has got hot at the right time and closed in on Matthew Martin’s points lead to be tied with Martin heading into the championship race on Saturday. Newton Moore and Dale Garrett are still mathematically alive for the track championship, but will have to hope that both Martin and Steele have trouble for them to be able to steal the track championship. Unless they have trouble, the championship battle in this class will come down to an intense head to head battle between Martin and Steele where whoever finishes ahead of the other driver will win the track championship.
Chandler Auto Performance Crazy Compact Preview
Kassidee Bush has held the points lead in the Chandler Auto Performance Crazy Compacts for much of the season and comes into championship night with a slim 5 point lead over teammate Evan Proctor. Bush can clinch the track championship by finishing 4th or better. Proctor would need to win and hope Bush finishes 5th or worse, or finish 5 positions ahead of Bush if he doesn’t win, in order to win the track championship. Both Stacie Watson and Rex Burton are still alive in the battle for the track championship but would need for Bush and Proctor to have trouble in order to steal the track championship. This class is always wild and unpredictable, expect it to be a frantic race as we will crown a champion on Saturday.
Times and Admission Prices
Earlier start times will be utilized with pit gates opening at noon and practice from 1 pm-4 pm. General admission gates open at 4:00 pm with qualifying at 4:30 pm and racing at 6:00 pm.
General admission is only $10 for ages 15 and up, $5 for ages 11-14, and free for ages 10 and under. All access pit passes are $30 for ages 15 and up, $15 for ages 11-14, and free for ages 10 and under.
Thursday Practice
There will be a practice night on Thursday, September 9th from 5 pm until dark. The cost to practice a race car is only $20 while a pit pass is only $5 on Thursday. Expect a big practice turnout on Saturday as drivers get their cars tuned for Saturday’s big championship race.
For more information visit www.onaspeedway.com.
