ONA, WV-The 2023 racing season at Ona Speedway finally got underway on Saturday, June 3rd for Putnam County Bank Throwback Night. In a season that has been plagued by weather, the first race was still interrupted by weather with two weather delays throughout the night. Track officials persevered and a great night of racing took place with a large crowd in attendance.
The night started with a thrilling 20 lap Jeffrey Trucking INEX Legends Car Semi-Pro feature. Jay Dunlap took the lead at the start and had a fierce battle for the lead with brother Rob Dunlap that lasted most of the race. As the race reached it’s closing laps, the battle heated up for second between Rob Dunlap and Adam Jeffrey with Jeffrey making the pass for second with two laps to go! Jeffrey caught Jay Dunlap in a hurry as they were nose to tail for the lead on the final lap! Jeffrey looked high to try to get a run and coming off of turn 4 got that run. Jeffrey closed fast on Dunlap but would fall a bumper short as Jay Dunlap came across the finish line to claim his first career win! Jeffrey finished second with Rob Dunlap third, Randall Cline fourth, and Jeremy Dosier fifth.
Jacob Bell and Jake Keaton battled side by side for the lead start the night’s 30 lap All Seasons Powersports Late Model feature with Bell leading lap one and Keaton taking the lead on lap two. Keaton stretched away from the field while an intense battle for second took place between Bell, Joe Fihe, and Tyler Johnson. Fihe would end up taking that spot as Bell would get forced high and lose several positions. Fihe then had a mirror full of Johnson as those two battled for second. Johnson passed Fihe for second on lap 16 and set his sights on Keaton. Keaton looked to be gone from the field until a caution on lap 6 for contact between Fihe and lapped car Hayden Daniel. On the restart, Hayden chose the outside in the choose rule and started alongside Keaton. On the restart, Keaton took the lead into turn one and stretched away to come to the checkered flag and take the win! Johnson finished second with Bell third, Gregg Carby fourth, and John Morton fifth.
Bradly Workman took the lead to start the 20 lap Gumbo Stop Cafe Crazy Compact feature with Stacie Watson staying 3-4 car lengths behind him for the majority of the race. As the race started reaching it’s final laps, Watson started closing in on Workman and was right on his bumper! On lap 17, Watson looked to the inside of Workman and made the pass to take the race lead. Watson would set sail up front and come to the checkered flag to take the feature win! A few laps after getting passed Workman’s car would slow and he would have to pull off, putting him back to a 5th place finish. Rex Burton finished second to claim his best career finish while K. C. Nease had an impressive debut finishing third while Tommy Ross finished fourth.
Jeremy Cooper took the lead at the start of the 25 lap Patriot Meat Processing Modified feature and held off Wes Smith to claim the feature win! An intense battle for third occurred between Andy Booten and J. R. Adkins that lasted most of the race. Adkins would end up passing Booten to claim the final spot on the podium in third with Booten finishing fourth.
Kenny Chapman took the lead to start the night’s 30 lap Haunted Majestic Street Stock feature with Clinton Thompson in second. A early race restart would see the choose rule come into play as Tommy Rowe was the only driver to go high, allowing him to restart right beside Chapman. On the restart, Chapman continued with the lead while Rowe ducked behind him in second. For most of the race, Chapman held a 0.5-0.6 tenth of a second lead over Rowe. But as the race approached it’s final 4 laps, Rowe started quickly catching Chapman and would get right on his bumper with 2 laps to go! Rowe looked low to try to get a run on Chapman but wouldn’t be able to make it happen. On the final turn, Rowe would get a run off of turn 4 as Chapman and Rowe would drag race to the checkered flag with Chapman winning! Rowe finished second for his best career finish with Mike Christy third, Clinton Thompson fourth, and Melinda Spurlock fifth in her first ever race.
Trouble occurred at the start of the 20 lap Mays Tire & Service Center INEX Legends Car Pro feature as Jason Garrett and Will Geer made contact. Garrett’s first Legends Car race would end before the first lap was completed as he had to pull off the track while Geer would continue on. On the races second attempted start, Tyler Martin and Jake Keaton battled side by side for the lead with Martin taking the lead on lap one. The races second caution would fall on lap 6 when Zach Steele spun. On the restart, Keaton chose the high side and restarted alongside Martin. The two battled side by side on the restart with Martin holding on to the lead with Keaton in second and Geer in third. The trio battled nearly nose to tail the entire rest of the race with Martin hanging on to take the feature win! Keaton finished second with Geer third, Zach Steele fourth, and Scott Martin fifth.
Tim Cassidy took the lead to start the night’s 30 lap Contempo Trophy & Awards UCAR feature. Chaos ensued on lap two as Danny Keyser blew a motor going into turn one and went spinning wildly, collecting Reuben Fetty who had nowhere to go. Both drivers were ok but done for the race. After the red flag for the oil down cleanup, Chris Deskins would choose the high side to start beside Cassidy. On the restart, Deskins would take the lead from Cassidy and lead lap two. Deskins pulled away from there and led the remaining laps to take the feature win! Cassidy finished second with Jay Workman third, Nick Fowler fourth, and David Adkins fifth.
The Ona Speedway will be back in action on Saturday, June 10th for Express Employment Kids Night! A full 7 division racing program will be on tap with all of Ona’s weekly divisions in action. There will be several awesome activities for kids with inflatables, a reptile show and display courtesy of The Reptile House, and giveaways that include bicycles courtesy of Geer Brother’s Body Shop and Workman’s Lawn Care as well as passes from The Foam House. General admission gates will open at 5:00 pm with racing at 6:30 pm. General admission is only $15 for ages 13 and up and free for ages 12 and under. All access pit passes are $35 for ages 13 and up and free for ages 12 and under. For more information visit www.onaspeedway.com.
Complete Results
All Seasons Powersports Late Models
Fast Qualifier: Jake Keaton, 18.068
30 lap Feature: Jake Keaton, Tyler Johnson, Jacob Bell, Gregg Carby, John Morton, Rich Gleason, Joe Fihe, Hayden Daniel, Laci Minton, Mike Burcham
Lap Leaders: Jacob Bell (1), Jake Keaton (2-30)
Car Count-10
Patriot Meat Processing Modifieds
Fast Qualifier: Jeremy Cooper, 18.137
25 lap Feature: Jeremy Cooper, Wes Smith, J. R. Adkins, Andy Booten (DNS: Stephen Kuhn)
Lap Leaders: Jeremy Cooper (1-25)
Car Count-5
Haunted Majestic Street Stocks
Fast Qualifier: Chris Jividen, 19.927
30 lap Feature: Kenny Chapman, Tommy Rowe, Mike Christy, Clinton Thompson, Melinda Spurlock, Joe Erwin, Chris Jividen (DNS: Chris Wheeler, Jason Skeens)
Lap Leaders: Kenny Chapman (1-30)
Car Count-9
Contempo Trophy & Awards UCAR’s
Fast Qualifier: Jay Workman, 19.968
30 lap Feature: Chris Deskins, Tim Cassidy, Jay Workman, Nick Fowler, David Adkins, Ronald Adkins, Reuben Fetty, Danny Keyser (DNS: Keith Watson, Bradly Workman)
Lap Leaders: Tim Cassidy (1), Chris Deskins (2-30)
Car Count-10
Mays Tire & Service Center INEX Legends Car Pro
Fast Qualifier: Tyler Martin, 19.981
20 lap Feature: Tyler Martin, Jake Keaton, Will Geer, Zach Steele, Scott Martin, Dale Garrett, Jason Garrett (DNS: Matthew Martin)
Lap Leaders: Tyler Martin (1-20)
Car Count-8
Jeffrey Trucking INEX Legends Car Semi-Pro
Fast Qualifier: Randall Cline, 21.017
20 lap Feature: Jay Dunlap, Adam Jeffrey, Rob Dunlap, Randall Cline, Jeremy Dosier, Kenny McComas, Dean Brotherton, Elijah Johnson, Teddy Berry
Lap Leaders: Jay Dunlap (1-20)
Car Count-9
Gumbo Stop Cafe Crazy Compacts
Fast Qualifier: Stacie Watson, 21.945
20 lap Feature: Stacie Watson, Rex Burton, K. C. Nease, Tommy Ross, Bradley Workman
Lap Leaders: Bradly Workman (1-16), Stacie Watson (17-20)
Car Count-5
