April 25, Lancaster Speedway Racing Report

By Mark Huey

A NEW WINNER TO BEGIN: THE FINALE - Last week, I started the race recap by mentioning that the first win for any driver is always the one that means the most. Finally, this Saturday, as compared to last week, Brandon Blackmon now knows that feeling of being a winner. His eager fans had to wait through massive delays, such as watering the track after heat races, a kids activity, and seven other main events. Brandon led flag-to-flag, en route to the win. He was given an inaugural winner’s mud bath. His fans and race crew really got him good! Congrats to Brandon on this memorable win. Andrew Yandle was second, Andrew Blackwood was third, with Josh Langley fourth, and Nathan Geist fifth.

In the Stock 4 Cylinder division � Ray Adams has raced for many years at Lancaster Speedway, from Modified Six Cylinders to now the Stock Four Cylinder division. Ray’s family and friends are always cheering from behind the flag stand and on this night, they he had everything going his way. Starting from the front row, Ray went on to lead the first three laps. He was to collect $250 in bonuses from his crew. However, on lap three, a fuse was lit � on both the Red Rocket of Jeffrey McGuirt and on a bitter time bomb waiting to explode between Chase Wilson and Blake Rallings. Rallings and Wilson made contact off turn two, with Wilson spinning around. On the restart, McGuirt made the pass on Adams, but the bomb exploded on the exit of turn four, when Chase Wilson made contact with Rallings, sending Rallings into a disastrous collision with the inside wall, nearly up into the pit area. After order was restored, the racing resumed and Jeffrey McGuirt collected the win. Adams was second, Evan Thomas third, Chase Wilson fourth, and Mike Snipes fifth.

The NDRA Crate Late Models were somewhat delayed in getting on track. However, they got there. Brandy Baker and Timbo Mangum started on the front row. Mangum led the first three laps before a caution was waved when Brandy Baker spun exiting turn one. When the race resumed, Mangum raced his way into another zip code by putting considerable distance between himself and the second place car of Ray Dockery. Baker would race back to third, Andy Hodges fourth, and Bryan Crook fifth. John Brown was involved in a scary crash near the exact place Rallings crashed later in the night, leaving considerable damage to the front of the #19H racer.

Rivalries are a part of every sport, be it Steelers-Cowboys, Earnhardt-Waltrip, even Brownell and Taylor - the fuses that feed the passions of our sport were lit several years ago, no wait, several decades ago, especially when racing first got underway in 1954 at Lancaster. Yet, 55 years later, it continues, where racers’ frustrations can often lead to tempers out of control. After the Pure Street Main Event, we are now in the healing process and must find a way to move on. After leading the race for three laps, Joe Johnson, Jr. spun out in turn two in a battle for the lead with Frankie McGuire � we had ourselves a race! On lap seven, fifth-place Randy Greene made contact with Jason Starnes, sending Starnes spinning. Starnes returned to his position in third. Frankie McGuire, also in the top three battles, pitted unexpectedly and was finished for the night. Then, the bomb exploded - a crash in turn three one the final lap with Chris Fincher and Randy Greene sent tempers to a level of volatility, resulting in a massive conflict. Jason Starnes went on to win the race, followed by Steve Hinson, Jesse Carson, Randy Greene, and Joe Johnson, Jr. 

In the Limited Late Models, Andy Blackwood and Mike Huey started on the front row. It did not take long for these two warriors to get side-by-side. They would do that for 14 laps, to the delight of the crowd. Then, on a bid for the lead, Mike Huey passed beneath Blackwood, while something happened to the #57 machine. Blackwood pitted. Later, Chad Paxton crashed hard with Steve Davis in turn two. David Yandle was second, Jason Burroughs was third, Robbie Jordan fourth, and Steve Davis fifth, with the car heavily damaged.

Now, from the beginning of the main events in which fans waited for over an hour to begin racing, since dry conditions had the race track in bad need for a drink of water, race fans were ready to settle in for eight great divisions of main events.

In the Sportsman Crate division, Dustin Sweatt already knows the feeling of winning in this class. He already has one win at Lancaster Speedway and was ready to claim win #2. However, the race track was very slick, after the water was applied. They tried for MANY laps to get the right feeling, but the drivers were a little hesitant to start. They finally started. Fearing what was to come in the first set of corners, Sweatt slid sideways and made contact with the other front row car, Travis Payne, another former winner. The two were snagged together by the framing of the cars, resulting in another big delay. Everyone waited as the track crews patiently and carefully tried to disconnect the cars. The race would restart and Dustin Sweatt carefully sped his way to his second win. Travis Payne was second, Shaun Medlin third, Chris Bell fourth, and Chuck Hinson fifth.

The second and in my view BEST race of the night featured the “Vintage Classics.” Chris Fincher in the number seven had everyone on their feet watching his battle with Ben Helms. After several opening lap spins and cautions, the race finally settled in. Kenneth Deese crashed the Big Show in turn two a few laps in to the main event. With the white flag in the air, Ben Helms dove to the bottom of Chris Fincher, while Fincher slammed the wall entering turn four. Helms spun around at the entrance to the front stretch, opening the outside lane for Jerry White � who decided to go to the bottom, right into the car of Ben Helms. So, with a right front smashed in, flat tire, and screaming fans, Chris Fincher limped back across the finish line to win, followed by Jeff Medlin, Steve Helms, Jerry White, and Ben Helms.

A NEW WINNER TO CONCLUDE: The third division of racing was the Super Street. Last week I mentioned that Jody Bigham was a pleasant surprise to see on the front row. Again this week, it was a surprise, with usual front row starters Jeff Langley and Brandy Baker in row two. There were many wild attempts at starting the race, but many cars would have problems on the track, either with spin-outs or mechanical failures. Jody Bigham powered his way to his first win. Jeff Langley was second, Benki Kee was third, Brandy Baker fourth, and Daniel Whitesides fifth.

Racing with all divisions under the lights will resume next Saturday night. The track is located off US Highway 521 and Shiloh-Unity Road. www.lancasterspeedway.net