The Buckeye Speedweek Late Model Show that rained out on June 11 was made up on July 24 at Moler Raceway Park, and it was a night full of exciting action with lots of cars.
In the Late Model division, it was Jackson’s Jason Montgomery setting fast time and a new track record of 12.469 in his brand new Rocket Chassis machine.
In the dash event for top six qualifiers, it was Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Indiana taking the win over Jason Jamison with Wheelersburg’s RJ Conley, Zach Dohm, Jackie Boggs, and Montgomery completing the running order and setting the first three rows of the feature event. In heat race one, it was Devin Moran of Dresden over Duane Chamberlain of Richmond, Indiana.
In heat race two, it was West Virginia’s Steve Lucas out front at the green flag, but Edinburgh, Indiana’s Chad Stapleton would drive past him on lap seven and go on to take the checkered flag.
In the third and final heat race, it was John Whitney from Clarksville out to the lead at the green flag, but Pleasant Plain’s Matt Westfall would get around Whitney and go on to take the win.
The final preliminary event would see Chris Shannon win the B-main event and complete the starting lineup for the 30 lap feature event. At the drop of the green flag, it was Gilpin to the lead but it was 3rd starting RJ Conley who would lead lap one. Lap three would see Gilpin take the top spot but contact between Gilpin and Conley would allow Jackie Boggs to sneak by and take over the top spot. The Grayson, KY driver would lead from lap four through lap 13, when Jamison would get the top working and drive by and take over the lead. Gilpin quickly followed and it appeared as those two might get away but a mechanical failure on lap 22 would end Gilpin’s night and bring out the event’s first caution. On the restart it, was Jamison out front but it was Conley and Moran who would put on a show by trading the second position back and forth while Boggs sat in fourth spot.
At the end, it was Jamison taking the win with RJ Conley, Devin Moran, Jackie Boggs, and Matt Westfall completing the top five spots.
In the Matt’s Graphics UMP Modified division, it was more of the same as Devin Gilpin would claim his fifth feature win on the season at MRP in only his fifth start. It wasn’t easy for the Vallery Chevrolet, Mike Shell Race Engines, Impressive Racecars sponsored machine. Matt Hamilton would come home second with Adam Stricker, Larry Pickelheimer Jr, and Pete Holt completing the top five positions. Gilpin, Joe Godsey, and Stricker were the heat race winners while the Bmain was won by David McWilliams.
In the DRC.net Crazy Compacts, it was Jerry Gibson III taking his first win on the season as he would lead from start to finish. It was far from easy as first Justin Dalton and then Jason Borgenmenke would challenge for the race lead. Borgenmenke would come home in second spot with Dalton, Willie Butler (who started on the tail after a driver switch following the heat race) and Carson Freeman would complete the top five spots. Dalton and Gibson won the two heat races.
The Ohio Valley Roofers Legend Car Series put on a great show in their only appearance of the season at MRP. John Gutman would lead the first 14 laps but unfortunately for hims it was a 15 lap race as his second car being driven by Steve Duderstadt would make the pass on the final lap and take the win. Josh Francis would come home in third spot with Derek Minshew and Steven Partin rounding out the top five spots. The race was marred by a lap five double-flip involving multiple cars including Cole DeMint and Tom Partin, all drivers were uninjured in the scary looking accident that would see Partin go end over end. Partin and Tyler McFarland were winners of the two heat races.
In the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Sport Mod division, it was Andy Trout out front looking for his 3rd feature win on the season but it was not to be as Derek Richmond would drive around Trout on lap 12 to take the top spot and the victory. Trout would come home in second with Bert Crawford, Eric Berry, and Tony Whitt completing the top five spots. Trout and Richmond were winners in the heat races.
The final event of the evening would see the Tarvin Auto Service Freedom 4’s take to the track and it was first time winner Dustyn Fisher taking his 1st Feature Win in the 15 lap race that went without cautions. Kyle Tarvin would come home in second place with Eric Weaver, Sean Jones, and Mike Clark completing the top five spots. Fisher made it a clean sweep as he was the winner of the heat race event, as well.