Purdham captures first late model victory

In the first Late Model feature of the night Bush, after qualifying on the pole led the first lap with Sergio Pena, Sparky Staton and Purdham all ready to pounce if he made the slightest mistake On lap 2.

Pena dove to the inside of Bush going into turn 1 and took the lead coming out of turn 2 and started to ease away. Pena looked mistake free and bullet proof until lap 17 when his engine exploded going into turn 3, leaving the first year driver without a ride for the second feature of the evening. 

Bush took over the top spot but Purdham kept the pressure on for the remaining 23 laps as several times he would move to the inside of Bush but could not find the grip to pass him. 

Bush picked up his 3rd win of the season with Purdham, Staton, John Skelly and Jeff Abbott rounding out the top five. 

In the second feature the fans voted for an entire field invert which left Bush and Purdham starting in the rear of the field and only 20 laps to get to the front. 

"Rookie" driver Brandon Comer making his first ever late model start spun on the 2nd lap bringing out the first of 2 caution periods. On lap13 the #21 car of Tyler Sandmeyer and now being driven by Sergio Pena got a tap coming out of turn 2 and shot into the #44 car of Wes Branner. The two cars continued down the backstretch with Pena never lifting his foot off the gas and driving straight through Branner sending both cars spinning wildly into the wall. 

Pena's car was done for the evening but Branner was able to continue and salvage a 6th place finish. 

Brian Purdham was able to hold off hard charging Zion's Crossroad driver Sparky Staton and Bush for his first ever Late Model win with John Skelly and Jeff Abbott rounding out the top five. 

WHSV TV3 sponsored the nights events at the speedway and along with the track gave away over $3,000 worth of merchandise, tickets and prizes, but the big event of the night was the bicycle race between the celebrities on hand. 

Bob Corso captured the win in the bicycle with Damon Dillman in second and George Heishmann in 3rd 

Sportsman & Street Stock classes each ran twin features and Jr Wright started on the pole and led flag to flag to win the 20 lap shootout.

In the second feature the selected fan drew a lucky #7 out of the hat and the top 7 cars were inverted. That put the #83 car of Glen Heatwole on the pole with Billy Keyes of Waynesboro on the outside. 

As the field entered turn 1, David Turner in the #39 car dove to the inside of Heatwole making contact and sending Heatwole up over the left front fender and hood of the Keyes machine, ripping all the front sheet metal.

 Keyes was able to restart but spun later in the race and finish 4th. 

Jr Wright had been working his way to the front and passed Deryle Lawson with 5 laps to go to claim his second win off the night. Lawson finished 2nd with Larry Wood picking up third in his first visit to the track. 

Sparky Staton picked up the win in the Street Stock with David Turner and Keith Griffith in second and third respectively. 

The VMCRA Mini Cups had their 50 lap event cut in half due to time constraints, but that didn't damper their enthusiasm for some exciting and competitive racing. With the Mini Cup track record holder Justin LaDuke on the pole and veteran driver Kevin Berkstresser along side on the front row, rookie driver Hunter Koschara in third and David Williams starting 4th. 

It didn't take long for the action to begin as Berkstresser and LaDuke started the side by side racing and passing. Koschara joined in and took the lead early in the event but got severely loose coming out of turn but making a remarkable save, kept the car pointed in the right direction and only lost two postions. 

Meanwhile the #5 car of Ben Roudabush had brought out the 1st of his 2 cautions for the night due to spins had bunched the field back up for the restart and there was plenty of "rubbin' and racin" action back in the pack. 

When the checkered flag flew, the youngster Koschara had earned his first ever Mini Cup victory with Berkstresser, LaDuke, Williams and Amanda Forney rounding out the top five. 

Racing action resumes on Saturday, July 18th with half off ticket prices for all Albemarle County residents (and towns and cities therein).   Scheduled racing action in 6 classes, pit gates open at 2 p.m., main gates open at 5 p.m. with racing action at 7 p.m. 

For more info call the speedway office at 540-652-1108 or check out the web at www.shenandoahspeedway.com