'Good' night at Shenandoah

The UCAR division doesn't always get the credit and respect that they deserve, but the drivers always show up and put on a great show for the fans. 

Track owner Jeff Vaughan talks with riders before the Big Bike Race.

Saturday night was no exception as the UCARS took to the track lined up five wide in turn 4 and as the flag flew so did the smoke off of the front wheels of several of the cars as they went tearing in to turn 1 with the car of Jeremy Griffith in the lead. 

Racing action was hard and tight until Jeremy Grogg brought out the only caution period while completeing a solo spin and bunching the field back up. For the next 17 laps the cars of Griffith, Chris Grogg and Randy Good would race side by side and bumper to bumper, it's called "rubbin" and "racin" and they showed the other classes that you don't need wrecks and cautions to put on a good show. As the laps wound, Good passed Griffith and Grogg to take the lead, but Grogg gave it one last shot on the last turn of the last lap but came up short as Good picked up his 6th win of the 2009 campaign. 

In Late Model action, the #51 car of Kevin Bush picked up wins in both of the 40 Lap features.

In the first feature Brian Purdham would finish 2nd with Sparky Staton in third. While in the second feature Mark Cook would finsh behind Bush with John Skelly in third. The Late Models will be back in action next week running a 75 Lap event.

VMCRA Mini Cups were the featured class for the evening as they ran a 50 lap main event and would also draw some lucky fan's name who would win a brand new race ready mini cup. Ryan Adams would take the pole with a time of 19.283 and the #19 car of Kevin Berkstresser alongside. The racing action was intense for the first twenty laps but mainly for 2nd position as Adams took off from the field and no one could get close. On lap 21 the #9 car of Darrell Williams got loose, hit the wall and did major damage to the car, but with the driver walking away unhurt. For the remainder of the race there were no incidents as Adams ran away with the win followed by Justin LaDuke in second and Hunter Koschara in third.

INEX Legends racing would have quite a show for the fans as the #9 polesitter Micheal Edwards, #20 Cameron Patrick and #8 of Scotty Edwards would have an early battle for the top spot. However, with the top three battling that left the door open for Addison Rogers, Andy Kirby and Jeff Davis to join in and make it a six-car battle for the lead. Davis spun a few laps later but regained his composure to fall to rear of the field and not getting lapped. In the end, Kilpatrick held on to capture the win followed by Scotty and Micheal Edwards in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The SVSRL had a full field of cars show up for their 50 lap event with Tim Brown Jr. leading the field with a time of18.637 and Steve Teter in at 18.389. The first caution flag would fall on lap 2 as the #3 car of Elbert Curtpatrick would spin coming out of turn 2 and relegating him to the back of the field. The battle would heat up over the next several laps as Brown pulled away with #92 of Matt Custer, Teter and Tyler Staton battling for 2nd. On lap 32 Staton would go around coming out of turn 2 with several other cars spinning to avoid the #1 car. The field would tighten back up as racing action continued and as they finished up with Brown taking the win with Custer and Jody Hensley rounding out the top three.

The BIG race of the evening featured some local children on their bikes in a 2 lap shootout with $100, $75 and $50 Saving Bonds given by Pioneer Bank with all participants receiving trophies.

Racing action continues August 15 with a 75 lap Late Model event, Sportsman, Street Stock, INEX Lend and SVSRL 50 lapper. For more info, contact the track at: 540-652-1108  or check out the web at www.shenandoahspeedway.com