ONA, WV-The 2021 race season at the Ona Speedway officially got underway on Friday, April 30th with night one of the 2nd Annual Yes Chevrolet/Yes Ford Cabin Fever Bash. The day started with practice all afternoon long for all divisions with around 20 Midwest Modifieds Tour cars in attendance for their practice day. The nights racing program featured much excitement in what was a quick ran show as track officials pushed the show through due to cooler temperatures. The entire night of racing was complete by 8:40 pm.
The night started with the 25 lap Rocky Top’s Pizza Street Stock feature. Outside pole sitter Clinton Thompson took the lead at the start with Clark Perry in second. Fast qualifier J. R. Webb quickly moved through the field and into second to challenge Thompson for the lead. Thompson and Webb battled nose to tail for several laps until a caution flew for a Mike Moses spin on lap 7. On the restart, Webb used highside momentum starting beside Thompson to take the lead on lap 8. A caution flag then flew for Chris Jividen who spun but the lap had been completed, giving Webb the lead. On the restart, Thompson stuck right with Webb as the two engaged in another thrilling battle for the lead. On lap 13, Thompson made a great move to get under Webb and take the lead. The next lap, bad luck struck Webb as a flat tire forced him to retire to the infield.
This allowed Clark Perry to move back into the second spot with James Jones in third. Perry and Jones quickly caught Thompson as they had an intense three car battle for the lead! At one point, the three were literally bumper to bumper going through turns one and two. Perry fought hard trying to find a way around Thompson, giving a few bumps to try to loosen him up. Thompson held his line though and maintained the lead under immense pressure from Perry and Jones. On the final lap, going into turn three, Thompson still led but Perry drove in hard giving it one last ditch effort. Off of four Perry got to Thompsons bumper but Perry got extremely loose and slid sideways, smoking the tires down the frontstretch as Thompson drove across the checkers to claim his first feature win since 2019! Perry finished second with Jones third, Chris Jividen fourth, and Tommy Rowe fifth.
Fast qualifier Will Hass stormed to the lead to start the night’s 20 lap McCam Builders Classic Car feature. With Hass leading, Kenny McCallister moved into the second spot with an intense battle for third between defending track champion Cam McKinney and Tyler Brown. As the two battled side by side for the position, Brown got loose off of turn 2 and spun, bringing out the caution on lap 5. On the restart, Hass continued with the lead while Brown made his charge from the tail of the field. Brown quickly moved into third and quickly got to the back of McCallister. Brown put his machine to the high side and engaged in an intense side by side battle with McCallister. As Hass continued to grow his lead, McCallister and Brown thrilled the crowd with an intense battle that lasted lap after lap.
On the final lap, with Hass ahead by over 7 seconds, all eyes were on the battle between McCallister and Brown that was still side by side! Hass came to the checkers to claim the 6th feature win of his young career. Off of turn four coming to the checkers in the battle for second, Brown got sideways and spun toward the inside guardrail, making light contact. McCallister finished second but the spin allowed Cam McKinney to get by him to finish third and Brad Cooper fourth. With a never give up mentality, Brown backed the car up to finish the race in fifth in true “Ricky Bobby” style.
Marty Powers and Rick Sibila engaged in an intense battle for the lead for the first half of the nights 25 lap Greg Chandler Frame & Body Sport Mod feature. Powers, the defending track champion, jumped out to the lead with Sibila right on this tail. The two battled nose to tail, even making some slight contact, with Powers able to hold off Sibila until on lap 12 Powers slipped high, allowing Sibila to pass him for the lead. Sibila then checked out to a one second lead while Rick Watson and Chad Bailey, who were engaged in a battle for third place, began to catch Powers. With two laps to go and Sibila still up front by a second, Watson and Bailey caught Powers in a three car battle for second. On the final lap, Sibila came across the checkers to win while Powers finished second. In the battle for third, Watson got loose on the backstretch, allowing Bailey to pass him to finish third. Watson finished fourth with Jacob Bell in his first Sport Mod start in fifth. The race went all 25 laps caution free.
The final race of the night was the 30 lap Contempo Trophy & Award U Car feature. Polesitter Tim Cassidy took the lead at the start with David Adkins moving into second. While Cassidy maintained a 2-3 car length lead over Adkins, Jacob Bell began moving his way through the field to get up into third while 8th place starter Keith Watson followed behind Bell to move into 4th. Watson would later run into mechanical problems and be forced to retire from the race. Adkins stalked Cassidy for the remainder of the race, staying between 3-5 car lengths behind him, but would never be able to make the pass as Cassidy came across the checkered flag to take the feature win! Adkins finished second with Bell in third. A great battle ensued the final 10 laps for the fourth position with Kenny Fletcher taking that position and Reuben Fetty finishing fifth. The race went all 30 laps caution free.
The Ona Speedway will be back in action for night two of the 2nd Annual Yes Chevrolet/Yes Ford Cabin Fever Bash on Saturday, May 1st. The jam packed racing card will feature the Yes Chevrolet/Yes Ford Cabin Fever 50 for the Midwest Modifieds Tour, Keaton’s Collision Center Late Models, Southern Ohio Speed Legends Car Pro, Keaton’s Collision Center Legends Car Semi-Pro, and Chandler Auto Performance Crazy Compacts. Pit gates will open at 10:00 am with practice from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. General admission gates open at 4:00 pm with qualifying at 5:00 pm and racing at 6:00 pm. General admission is only $15 for ages 15 and up, $10 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. For more information visit www.onaspeedway.com.
Complete Results
Greg Chandler Frame & Body Sport Mods
Fast Qualifier-Rick Sibila, 18.197
25 lap Feature-Rick Sibila, Marty Powers, Chad Bailey, Rick Watson, Jacob Bell, Chris Smith, Jacob Parsons
Lap Leaders-Marty Powers (1-11), Rick Sibila (12-25)
Car Count-7
Rocky Top’s Pizza Street Stocks
Fast Qualifier-J. R. Webb, 19.172
25 lap Feature-Clinton Thompson, Clark Perry, James Jones, Chris Jividen, Tommy Rowe, Mike Moses, Jason Thompson, J. R. Webb (DNS: Jamie Womack)
Lap Leaders-Clinton Thompson (1-7), J. R. Webb (8-12), Clinton Thompson (13-25)
Car Count-9
McCam Builders Classic Cars
Fast Qualifier-Will Hass, 20.100
20 lap Feature-Will Hass, Kenny McCallister, Cam McKinney, Brad Cooper, Tyler Brown
Lap Leaders-Will Hass (1-20)
Car Count-5
Contempo Trophy & Awards U Cars
Fast Qualifier-Kenny Fletcher, 20.231
30 lap Feature-Tim Cassidy, David Adkins, Jacob Bell, Kenny Fletcher, Reuben Fetty, Kenny Parsons, Stephen Kuhn, Marcus Esch, Nick Fowler, Keith Watson, Jason Price, Chris Wheeler, Chris Deskins, Jay Workman (DNS: Erik Johnson, Danny Keyser)
Lap Leaders-Tim Cassidy (1-30)
Car Count-16
