By: Ron Burt
The 2022 Knoxville Nationals didn’t disappoint race fans that took their annual pilgrimage to the Hawkeye state. Future National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Donny Schatz had to work every lap to get the victory over David Gravel, the 2019 event champion that finished 2nd, after Schatz passed him with 6 laps remaining. Logan Schuchart rounded out the podium with his drive from the 17th-starting position. During the race Kyle Larson and Carson Macedo were in contention until each had flat tires. Larson who started in 6th was able to come from the back of the field and finish in 6th where he started but Macedo could only work his way back to 17th. Other top World of Outlaw drivers finishing in the top ten, Sheldon Haudenschild 8th and Brad Sweet 9th. Haudenschild started 23rd but just ran out of time fighting his way through lapped traffic. It’s been five years but add another Knoxville Nationals title to Donny Schatz’s resume. He’s now the 11-time champ of The Granddaddy of Them All.
Racing fans on the west side on Indiana claim they have the Action Track but ask anyone that attends Gas City I-69 Speedway, and they’ll beg to differ. The quarter mile dirt oval has seen seven different Non-Wing Sprint feature winner’s this season. Last Friday night Matt Westfall of Pleasant Hill Ohio found himself taking the checkered flag. It was one of the most competitive Sprint car races of the summer at the track. Four drivers battled for the lead during the 25-lap event, but Matt Westfall wasn’t going to be beat. The defending track champion Scotty Weir came in a close 2nd, Tye Mihocko 3rd and Anton Hernandez 4th. Michael Magic from Winder Georgia won the USAC SpeeD2 Midwest Thunder Midget event. Convoy Ohio’s Andy King took the Dirt Truck Series feature.
Despite threatening skies and an ominous forecast in Northern Ohio, Fremont Speedway officials decided to race on Aug. 13. Three classes were on hand, the Winged 410 sprints, the Buckeye Outlaw Non-Wing Sprint Series, and the Dirt Trucks. Bowling Green, Ohio’s Travis Philo, who has been on a great streak lately, lead the non-stop 30-lap 410 Sprint feature from start to finish to claim his first ever Fremont Speedway victory. In the BOSS Sprints, it was two wins, two nights in a row for Matt Westfall, a former BOSS champion. This was his second career Fremont win in a rain-shortened 16 lap feature. The Burmeister Trophy Dirt Trucks still have a B-main and A-main to run and track officials are looking into dates for those make-up races.
On the pavement at Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night the program was shortened with the threat of rain in the forecast and only features were run. Current point leader Eric Lee moved from his 4th starting spot, took the lead from Steve Hawes on lap 4 and zipped to his third win in a row in the 50 lap ARCA Outlaw Super Late Model feature. Dennis Strickland, Paul Pelletier, Chris Benson, Stan Yee Jr., Hawes, George Rangel, and Derrick Sheppar completed the finishing order.
Oakshade and several other tracks didn’t race because of the weather. For complete racing coverage and high school football, go to the Ohio Sports Blitz on Facebook.
This weekend the Great Lakes Super Sprint Series will return the Butler Motor Speedway along with UMP Modifieds. At Lorain Raceway Park the Midwest Supermodifieds will have their season championship and then finish the year at tracks outside Ohio. The USAC Silver Crown Cars will make their annual trip to the Illinois State Fair Speedway for the Benttenhausen 100. All our area tracks should be racing this weekend. Keep your wheels down. Ron out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
