ONA, WV-After an off weekend for Memorial Day, the Ona Speedway will return to action on Saturday, June 5th for Throwback Night featuring a full 7 division racing program. Here is your event preview:
Throwback Night Celebrates Ona Speedway’s Rich History
There are few tracks in the country with the storied history that Ona Speedway has. Throwback Night will celebrate the tracks history with some different activities. The first will be the unveiling of some special flags to be placed at the speedway by Steve Chapman. The track is also encouraging everybody in attendance to wear a throwback/vintage racing shirt. Several Ona Speedway history items will also be talked about over the PA during the night.
Keaton’s Collision Center Late Model Preview
Jake Keaton has been dominate so far in the Keaton’s Collision Center Late Model division, winning all 3 feature races that have been held up to this point. Jacob Bell has came on strong with two consecutive second place finishes and looks to be Keaton’s top rival in the chase for the championship. Keaton currently holds an 8 point lead over Bell. With points hard to make up, Bell knows that he will need to outduel Keaton in order to make up points and not allow Keaton to get too far ahead. For Keaton, a fourth feature win in a row on June 5th would put his points lead in double digits and give him a strong cushion heading into the summer months. Behind Keaton and Bell, defending track champion Kenny Parsons, Mike Burcham, and John Morton are in a dogfight for the third position in points. These three know that one off night by Keaton and Bell could have them right back in the thick of the championship hunt.
McCam Builders Modifieds Preview
Through two points races for the McCam Builders Modifieds, one thing has been made clear, and that is that any driver can win on any single night in this class. The field this year in this class is stacked on top of each other in lap times with lots of good drivers and equipment. Jake Keaton and Andy Booten have taken the two race wins this year as the two are neck-and-neck in the battle for the track championship with Booten holding a slim 2 point lead over Keaton. Last race, Jason Garrett and Hubie Hatfield, two veteran drivers who recently made their return to racing at Ona Speedway, posted their best finishes since their return with a second and third. It is expected to be another wild night of racing in the Modified division as it’s anyone’s guess who will take the feature win on June 5th in this ultra-competitive class.
Greg Chandler Frame & Body Sport Mod Preview
Last season the Greg Chandler Frame & Body Sport Mods had the most parity of any class with 7 different winners in 8 races. The class is continuing that theme in 2021 with three different winners (Rick Sibila, Rick Watson, Chad Bailey) in three races. Through the first three races, Rick Watson, Chad Bailey, and Marty Powers have all been in the thick of the battle for the race win and look to establish themselves as the main contenders in the class. Chris Smith and Jacob Parsons are right behind them though, picking up speed each race. Powers currently holds a slim 2 point lead over Watson. Will we have a fourth different winner on June 5th?
Contempo Trophy & Awards U Cars Preview
The Contempo Trophy & Awards U Cars have ironically been the only class this season that has saw every race won from the pole position. Tim Cassidy took the Yes Chevrolet/Yes Ford Cabin Fever Bash win while Chris Deskins won on K&J Demolition & Excavation Night. The points battle is tight in this class with Cassidy holding a slim 1 point lead over David Adkins in second. The U Cars at Ona Speedway always feature one of the most competitive races of the night as drivers will be chasing after the third checkered flag of 2021. Will we see a third different winner or will Cassidy & Deskins be the classes first repeat winner of the year on June 5th? The intensity in this class will pick up each week as points battles thicken and drivers race closer to the prestigious Freedom Used Autos Fly By 40 with the VORES Compact Touring Series on August 21st.
Southern Ohio Speed INEX Legends Car Pro Preview
For the first time since his return to racing at Ona Speedway last season, a driver was able to outrun Steve Swann for the race win as veteran driver Jerry Graley won on Southern Ohio Speed Night on May 22nd. Graley will look to reach victory lane again and cut into Swann’s slim 4 point advantage over him while Swann will be looking to return to familiar territory in victory lane. Corey Steinbrecher has two consecutive third place finishes in his first two Legends Cars races as he also sits only 4 points behind Swann. Another veteran driver, Thomas Crabtree, only sits 5 points behind Swann in the battle for the track championship. With such strong competition, every lap of every single race matters as drivers look to stay alive in the early tight battle for the track championship. While Swann, Graley, Steinbrecher, and Crabtree sit in the top 4 positions in points, every driver in this class is fast and could win on any night. Expect to see another wild show in the Southern Ohio Speed INEX Legends Car Pro class on June 5th!
Keaton’s Collision Center INEX Legends Car Semi-Pro Preview
The tracks plan of splitting the Legends Cars into two classes has worked great through two races with two equally competitive classes. Last race, Matthew Martin joined Will Geer as a winner in the Keaton’s Collision Center INEX Legends Car Semi-Pro class while Geer charged from a bad starting position to finish in the top 5 and maintain his points lead. Newton Moore, one of a handful of drivers who competed in the Legends Car class last season, keeps edging closer to that first career win as he finished a career best second last week. A fast field of rookies such as Zach Steele, Thomas Bailey, Dale Garrett, and Aaron Auffant get faster each race and will be looking for their first wins in the class. It is sure to be another unpredictable, wild 20 lap feature in this class on June 5th!
Chandler Auto Performance Crazy Compact Preview
Thomas Bailey has been the story of the Chandler Auto Performance Crazy Compact class the past two seasons. After several years out of the sport, Bailey returned to racing last year and has won every single Crazy Compact feature he has competed in. The field this season has seemingly caught up to Bailey however as Kassidee Bush matched Bailey’s fastest lap the first race of the season while Evan Proctor was right on Bailey’s bumper in the closing laps of the May 15th feature. Will Bailey stay perfect or will we see somebody new visit victory lane in the class on June 5th?
Times and Admission Prices
The Ona Speedway will return back to it’s normal start times on June 5th as gates will open at 2:00 pm with practice until 5:00 pm, qualifying at 6:00 pm, and racing at 7:00 pm. General admission is only $10 for ages 15 and up, $5 for ages 11-14, and free for ages 10 and under. Pit passes are $30 for ages 15 and up, $15 for ages 11-14, and free for ages 10 and under.
Thursday Practice
The track will host an open practice on Thursday, June 3rd from 5:00 pm until dark. Pit passes are only $5 while the cost to practice a race car is only $20.
For more information visit www.onaspeedway.com.
