By: Ron Burt
Hail to the King! Last week 410 Sprint Car and World of Outlaw driver Brent Marks won the prestigious Kings Royal at Eldora. Two nights before, he won the Historical Big 1 at the same track. Both victories earned him $275,000.00 The sweep puts him in rare company to become only the eighth drive to accomplish this. He put the Sprint Car world on notice the night of the Historical Big1, that he would be the driver to beat during the week. The week started off with the $10,000.00 to win Jokers Wild on Wednesday. This feature event went to Watertown CT. negative David Gravel, who had a dry spell from victory lane of 110 days and 26 consecutive losses. It was a flag-to-flag win and his 4th career victory at the Big E. Carson Macedo of Lemoore, CA came in 2nd and six-time World of Outlaw winner Brian Brown of Higginsville, MO finished 3rd. The next race up was the Historical Big 1, Brent Marks of Myerstown, PA earned the richest win of his World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series career, scoring $100,000 for rocketing from 14th-to-1st by lap 15. Finishing second and third as the most dejected individuals on the night was Tyler Courtney and Rico Abreu who both challenged Marks during the 40-lap feature. In contrast to Thursday’s win from 14th, Brent Marks won Saturday’s 40-lap grand finale from the sixth spot. Marks had driven forward to third by Lap 3, worked into second around Kerry Madsen on Lap 8, and then drove by Brian Brown to assume command on Lap 22 of the feature event. He then held off late charges by Carson Macedo and Donny Schatz to score the biggest win of his life. Finishing behind Marks was Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart and Kyle Larson. In a fitting traditional ceremony, King Jac XV returned to Eldora as the Royal Sovereign and officially crowned him “King Brent the 39th.”
In Wauseon Ohio, Oakshade Raceway hosted a UMP Dirt Late Model and UMP Modified Summer National, attracting drivers from several states and Canada. In the Late Model feature, a late-race caution set up an exciting finish as Devin Moran outdueled Oakshade regular and six-time track champion Rusty Schlenk at the 24th annual Birthday Race Saturday night at Oakshade Raceway in the annual stop for both divisions. Colin Shipley started on the pole and led the first five laps before being overtaken by Moran, who charged forward from the third spot. Moran held off the field for multiple restarts. The car of Brad Eitniear went over the nose of Rob Anderzack and ended upside down, which brought out the red flag. Schlenk was able to move to second once the race restarted. Current Summer Nationals point leader Bobby Pierce had an outstanding move to shoot the gap between Payton Freeman and Devin Shiels to move to third on the restart. Pierce ended third, with Freeman and Shiels rounding out the top five. Devin Moran took home $10,000. and joined his father, Donnie, as the second father and son winners of the Oakshade birthday race. In the 25-lap Summer National modified feature, Chad Bauer and Brian Ruhlman put on a show over the final five laps with Bauer besting the former Oakshade late model track champion for the win.
The Supermodifieds took to the asphalt high banks of Berlin Speedways big 7/16 mile and didn’t disappoint to race fans in the two-night, co-sanctioned event with the MSS and IMSA Modifieds. Bartlett, Tennessee driver Kyle Edwards, took the checker in Friday’s feature with Trent Stephens, and AJ Lesiecki behind him. The 60-lap feature on Saturday night went to Mike Ordway who also set a new track record for the speedway at 13.021. He recently set the track record at Oswego NY on July 9th. Finishing behind the winner on Saturday was Trent Stephens and Kyle Edwards.
USAC Indiana Sprint Week, starts this week and I will have coverage here. For more racing information and track updates visit the Ohio Sports Blitz on Facebook. I can be reached at ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com. Until next week, keep your tires down. Ron out!
