ONA, WV-It was another picture perfect day for racing at the Ona Speedway on Saturday, June 5th for Throwback Night. 69 race cars from 5 different states invaded the pit area for an exciting night of racing. Many different things took place for Throwback Night including a special flag ceremony from Steve Chapman honoring former racers Paul Martin, Junior Spencer, and Jim Stover. Some familiar faces from the past made their way to the track as well with former track announcer Spencer Adkins announcing with current track announcer T. J. Layne, the return of former Ms. Ona Speedway Deena Racer, the return of former pace car driver Sam Jenkins, and the national anthem sung by former track announcer Hal Furrow.
The first race to hit the track was the 15 lap Greg Chandler Frame & Body Sport Mod feature. Marty Powers stormed to the lead at the start with Rick Watson right on his bumper in second. The two stayed nose to tail in a battle for the lead for the first half of the race but as the laps wore on Powers would pull away to come across the checkered flag and take his first win of the season. Watson finished second with Jacob Parsons in third. The Sport Mod class has now had four different winners in four races this season.
The next race to hit the track was the 20 lap Chandler Auto Performance Crazy Compact feature. Kassidee Bush took the lead at the start with Tyler Bailey quickly moving into the second position and catching Bush to battle for the lead. For the first half of the race, the two battled nose to tail for the lead with Bush running a slightly higher line than Bailey. With the leaders battling nose to tail, weaving through lap traffic, the caution would fly on lap 14 to setup a 6 lap dash to the checkers. On the restart, Bush and Bailey would battle side by side for the lead with Bush able to clear Bailey after a lap of side by side racing. 11th place starter Evan Proctor moved up to third and joined the battle for the lead before breaking on lap 16 and having to pull off. As the final laps wore on, Bush finally began to put some distance between her and Bailey. Bush, who is only 21 years old, would come across the checkered flag to take her first career win, joining her mother Donna Bush in what might be the only mother-daughter combo to win at Ona Speedway in the track’s 57 year history. Bailey finished second with Stacie Watson third, Dustin Higginbotham fourth, and Rex Burton rounding out the top five in fifth.
Kenny Parsons and Brad Coons battled side by side for the lead for the first two laps of the nights 25 lap Keaton’s Collision Center Late Model feature with Coons clearing Parsons on lap three. Points leader Jake Keaton was the early race charger from his sixth place starting position as he quickly passed Parsons for third and Bell for second to begin chasing down Coons. By lap 8, Keaton was right on the bumper of Coons in a battle for the lead. Keaton would put his #14 machine to the high side and after a couple laps of battling side by side with Coons would take the lead on lap 10. While Keaton starting pulling away out front, the most dramatic moment of the race came on lap 15 when Coons and Jacob Bell split the lapped car of Mike Burcham, going three wide through turns 3 and 4 with Bell making the pass for second. Keaton would come across the checkers to take his fourth Late Model win of the season with Bell in second, Coons third, Parsons fourth, and John Morton in fifth.
Polesitter Thomas Bailey took the lead at the start of the nights 20 lap Keaton’s Collision Center INEX Legends Car Semi-Pro feature and would lead the opening lap. On lap 2, Matthew Martin would make the pass underneath of Bailey and take the lead. While Martin led, the action through the pack was intense with comers and goers as Newton Moore moved into second after a great battle with Bailey. On lap 11, the races most dramatic moment would happen as Martin spun in turns one and two from the lead. This would inherit the lead to Newton Moore. On the restart, Bailey would spin from second while battling with Moore and have to go to the tail. Moore would continue to lead on the next restart while Bailey charged through the field. Bailey got back up to second and set his sights on Moore with a few laps to go. Bailey closed in within a few car lengths but wouldn’t have enough to catch Moore as Newton Moore came across the checkers to get his first career win! Bailey finished second with Zach Steele third, Jay Dunlap charging to fourth after an early race spin, and Dale Garrett fifth.
Jamie Womack and Andy Booten battled side by side for the lead for the first 3 laps of the nights 30 lap McCam Builders Modified feature with Womack clearing Booten for the lead. Booten would tuck right behind Womack while third place runner Jake Keaton was tucked in behind Booten in a three car, nose to tail battle for the lead. For the first half of the race, the front three stayed bunched up battling for the lead with Jeremy Cooper in fourth and an intense three car battle for fifth between Hubie Hatfield, Steve Hass, Jason Garrett, and Marty Powers. After 17 laps of green flag running, the races first caution flew on lap 17 for debris. That caution changed the entire complexion of the rest of the race.
On the restart, Womack continued with the lead while a caution flew for contact with Marty Powers and Steve Hass with Powers charged with the caution. On the following restart, Jason Garrett and Hubie Hatfield would make contact with Hatfield spinning and Garrett charged with the caution. Under caution, Hatfield made contact with Garrett, running him into the infield grass, resulting in Hatfield disqualified for the rest of the race for intentional contact under caution. On the next restart, Womack and Booten would once again battle side by side for the lead with Booten making the highside pass through turns 3 and 4 to take the lead on lap 19. Another caution would fly for a scary wreck between Jake Keaton and Jeremy Cooper that sent Keaton spinning into the turn one guardrail. Both cars would be able to continue on, but the lap would get completed, making Booten the new race leader on the restart. On the restart, Booten would hold off Womack to lead the remaining laps and take his second win in a row. Womack finished second with Garrett third, Cooper fourth, and Hass in fifth.
Corey Steinbrecher took the lead to start the nights 20 lap Southern Ohio Speed INEX Legends Car Pro feature while fast qualifier Steve Swann quickly moved into second and set his sights on Steinbrecher. By lap five, Swann had caught Steinbrecher as the two battled for the lead. Steinbrecher and Swann would stay nose to tail in an intense battle for the lead for the next 6 laps with Swann passing Steinbrecher to take the lead on lap 12. Swann would go on to lead the remaining laps to take his second win of the season with Steinbrecher in second. A great late race battle took place for third with Thomas Crabtree making the last lap pass to take the final spot on the podium. Tyler Martin finished fourth with Tyler Scott rounding out the top 5 in fifth. The race went 20 laps caution free.
The final race of the night was the 30 lap Contempo Trophy & Awards U Car feature. Keith Watson took the lead at the start with Tim Cassidy moving into second. For the first half of the race, the two battled close for the lead with Watson’s lead only a few car lengths for most of the laps. The early race hard charger was 13th place starter Chris Deskins as he methodically worked his way up to move into fourth. As the laps wore on, Watson’s lead began to get bigger as he would lead every lap in a caution free race to take his first win of the season. Cassidy would finish second with Jay Workman third, Chris Deskins fourth, and Reuben Fetty rounding out the top five in fifth.
The Ona Speedway will be off on June 12th and 19th but will return to action for a big two day show on Friday, June 25th and Saturday, June 26th for the J. R.’s Frame & Body Firecracker Extravaganza! Friday night’s general admission will only be $5 while Saturday will feature a big fireworks show. For more information visit www.onaspeedway.com.
Complete Results
Keaton’s Collision Center Late Models
25 lap Feature-Jake Keaton, Jacob Bell, Brad Coons, Kenny Parsons, John Morton, Mike Burcham, Chris Cremeans
Lap Leaders-Brad Coons (1-9), Jake Keaton (10-25)
Car Count-7
McCam Builders Modifieds
Fast Qualifier-Andy Booten, 18.295
30 lap Feature-Andy Booten, Jamie Womack, Jason Garrett, Jeremy Cooper, Steve Hass, Jake Keaton, Wes Smith, Marty Powers, Roger Dilley, Hubie Hatfield (DQ)
Lap Leaders-Jamie Womack (1-18), Andy Booten (19-30)
Car Count-10
Greg Chandler Frame & Body Sport Mods
15 lap Feature-Marty Powers, Rick Watson, Jacob Parsons
Lap Leaders-Marty Powers (1-15)
Car Count-3
Contempo Trophy & Awards U Cars
30 lap Feature-Keith Watson, Tim Cassidy, Jay Workman, Chris Deskins, Reuben Fetty, J. R. Adkins, David Adkins, Marcus Esch, Doug Harvey, Lexi Jividen, Nick Fowler, Chris Wheeler, Jason Price (DNS: John Trimble)
Lap Leaders-Keith Watson (1-30)
Car Count-14
Southern Ohio Speed INEX Legends Car Pro
Fast Qualifier-Steve Swann, 19,837
20 lap Feature-Steve Swann, Corey Steinbrecher, Thomas Crabtree, Tyler Martin, Tyler Scott, Joe Workman, Scott Martin, Jared Soards, Mike Bias (DNS: Cameron Gue, Evan Proctor)
Lap Leaders-Corey Steinbrecher (1-11), Steve Swann (12-20)
Car Count-11
Keaton’s Collision Center INEX Legends Car Semi-Pro
Fast Qualifier-Zach Steele, 20.609
20 lap Feature-Newton Moore, Thomas Bailey, Zach Steele, Jay Dunlap, Dale Garrett, Matthew Martin, Aaron Auffant, Brad Bowen, Aiden Coons, Devyn Marcum, Will Geer, Chad Watson
Lap Leaders-Thomas Bailey (1), Matthew Martin (2-11), Newton Moore (12-20)
Car Count-12
Chandler Auto Performance Crazy Compacts
20 lap Feature-Kassidee Bush, Tyler Bailey, Stacie Watson, Dustin Higginbotham, Rex Burton, James Saylor, Preston Hysell, Tony Fletcher, Tommy Ross, Evan Proctor, Billy Arthur, Cassie Saylor
Lap Leaders-Kassidee Bush (1-20)
Car Count-12
