Stickley and Woolf Take Wins In Mini Modified Shootout

The special race for the Hose Shop of Verona Mini Modified division was rained out on its original date and Saturday night at Eastside was the make up race on one of the warmest days of the year. The race was set up as two 15-lap sprint style races that would promote fast & furious action to get to the front in the shortened lap races.

The Dixie Gas & Oil qualifying was up after hot laps with The Hose Shop Mini Modifieds getting a session due to the special race. Fourteen cars took a single lap each with Chip Glass taking the fast lap with a 22.974. The Cintas Sportsman cars then took a lap each with Mike Dudley taking the award posting a 20.112 second lap. The Delmars Body Shops Late Models each took the 2 laps reserved for them and waiting to the end was Greg Roberson to take the fast lap with a 19.116 second lap.

The Open Wheel Modifieds kicked things off with heat racing and in heat number one it was Russell Erwin taking the win with Tony Garber second and JB Breeden third. The second heat race saw Brandi Breeden take the checkers for the win with Eric Erwin in second and BJ Mongold running third.

The first of the two special fifteen lap sprint races for the Hose Shop Mini Modifieds took the track with AR Keys and David Wimer filling the front row and Keys taking the green flag as the leader. David Wimer took the top spot by the end of lap one with Patrick Shiflett in second and Daniel Stickley third. Patrick Shiflett then took over for lap two with Stickley getting by to lead lap three. A quick caution came out when Shiflett spun in turn four and soon after they went back to green flag racing. For the next six laps it was Stickley leading with Wimer second and AR Keys third. Tim Schulte took the third spot a few laps later until Chip Glass passed Schulte bringing Vincent Rexrode with him. Glass went to second on lap ten for a few laps until experiencing mechanical issues and pulling low on the track at the same time that Jim VanGutten saw a motor expire. At the restart it was Stickley, Rexrode and Russ Wolf in the top three spots and when the first checkers flew it would remain Stickley with the win, Rexrode second, Woolf third, David Wimer fourth and Gary Stiteler Jr fifth.

A little while later the Mini Mods returned for feature number two and Gary Stiteler Jr on the pole. With the green flag waving, Stiteler wasted no time taking an advantage pulling a couple car lengths on Keys in second. Russ Woolf would pass Keys on lap five as the two headed down the backstretch. Woolf then looked for leader Gary Stiteler Jr and found him two laps later as the two entered turn three. Woolf took the lead at the strip with Stiteler Jr now in second. Daniel Stickley briefly took over third until his car shut off forcing him to the infield. Chip Glass worked thru the pack and took third from Keys. Leader Woolf watched as Glass worked on Stiteler Jr for second but as the checkered flag was flying it was Woolf taking the win with Stiteler Jr holding for second. Chip Glass would finish third, AR Keys fourth and Dave Woolf fifth.

The Cintas Sportsman division started its feature race Bud Stinson as the polesitter with Jacob Wimer to his outside. Heading into turn two, Stinson got loose and Wimer, Bruce Jamerson and Derrick Rankin all slid by putting Stinson fourth. Wimer held the lead for the next few laps until a quick caution came for Stinson smoking in turn three. The restart saw Jamerson take over as leader with Rankin moving into second. Jamerson would hold off Rankin until lap twenty when Rankin looked low in turn one and completed the pass down the backstretch. Mike Bryant looked at Jamerson for second but Jamerson would fight him off each lap. At the checkers it was Derrick Rankin picking up his first win of the season with Jamerson second, Bryant third, Daniel Sipe fourth and Tony Knicely fifth.

The Delmars Body Shops Late Models saw fast qualifier Roberson starting fourth with Junior Humphreys and Jon Painter making up the front row. It was Painter taking the lap one lead with Roberson following in second and Humphreys third. Joey Leavell and CS Fitzgerald began marching thru the field from the middle of the pack and soon both drivers were running just behind Humphreys who was third. It wasn’t until four laps later that Leavell was able to take over the third spot from Humphreys at the same time that Greg Roberson was passing Painter for the lead.  Lap fourteen saw Leavell move to second with Fitzgerald following him to third. A yellow flag slowed the field and at the restart it was Leavell looking under Roberson coming out of two. Roberson held and Leavell settled back into second. Three laps later Leavell took another look and this time was able to complete the pass for the lead as the two exited turn four. Leavell would go on to his third win of the year with point leader Roberson second. CS Fitzgerald would hold third, Jon Painter was fourth and David Caywood fifth.

The Country Estate Housing Super Stocks took the track and TJ Kidd took over the lead by lap one. Kidd left the battle behind him as Patrick Wilt battled for second with Randy Hunter and others. Eric Shifflett and Eddie Moran moved up positions as they worked toward the front. Randy Hunter and Eric Shifflett touched entering turn one sending Shifflett spinning and bringing out the caution. TJ Kidd remained the leader with Patrick Wilt second and Eddie Moran third. Another spin by Shifflet a few lap later brought out another caution. As the green flag waved it was leader TJ Kidd exiting turn four and getting loose sending his car up on the frontstretch guardrail clipping the light pole. The lights on the pole shattered and the entire frontstretch went dark. It took about fifteen minutes to restore lighting to the track and then it was back to racing. Patrick Wilt took the green and then just three laps later took the checkers with Tracy Goolsby getting second, Eric Shifflett third, Ronnie VanDevander fourth and Eddie Moran fifth.

The Federated Open Wheel feature saw lap one start with Brandi Breeden loosing her driveshaft down the frontstretch. Russell Erwin took the restart green with Tony Garber running second and JB Breeden in third spot. The group would race to the checkers will almost no changes in the order from there with Erwin taking the win, Garber second, JB Breeden third, BJ Mongold fourth and the seven car fifth.

The Papa Johns U-Car feature saw Jason Woods shoot out to the early lead with David Rhoades running second. The two started on the front row and avoided the five car wide racing behind them. Rhoades took a look at Woods on lap five for the lead and completed the pass down the backstretch. Jeremy Woods would look to pass Jason Woods a number of times but would have to settle into third. PJ Louk and Troy Breeden battled for fourth and fifth for many laps at the same time that leader Rhoades was checking out on the field. Rhoades would hold on to gather up his first U-Car win with Jason Woods remaining second. Jeremy Woods was third with PJ Louk fourth and Troy Breeden fifth.

Next Saturday is the first of two consecutive 2-track challenge races with July 31st as the Waste Management Night of Racing. Natural Bridge racers will invade Eastside for the very popular series between the two tracks. Gates will open at 5pm Saturday. For more information you can visit www.eastsidespeedway.com or call 943-9336.