Oberle, Lines win sixth race each in Thunder Stocks, Modifieds
PLYMOUTH (JULY 22, 2017) – It was a night of giving Saturday at Plymouth Speedway for its Christmas in July special events, as the track teamed up with Plymouth FOP Lodge #195 to help raise money to assist less fortunate kids have a great Christmas – part of the annual “Shop with a Cop and Emergency Services” program. Four more children will be able to shop this year, thanks to the generous donations of the speedway and its fans. Hundreds are helped annually in the Marshall County community.
Following bike races for kids at intermission, racing got underway. Quite a few laps were run under yellow for the Super Streets at the Playground of Power. Gary’s Shaun Wiltjer battled Lowell’s Ron Wilkes for second for about three laps, until he finally moved past Wilkes on lap 9. Leading the pair was Calvin Peek, Jr. of Hobart. Continuous yellow flags led to a yellow/checkered finish. “Don’t want to win like that, we’d rather win under green,” Peek said, of his first-place win. Wiltjer was second with Wilkes third.
Next up was the Thunder Stocks. “Superman” Sheldon Oberle led all laps, taking the win. Second place went to Chris Joseph of Kewanna and third was South Bend’s Shane Sanders.
Complete with red cape and Superman shirt under his firesuit, Battleground’s Oberle won his second race in as many weeks, his sixth of the season total. “I didn’t want any of those cautions,” Oberle said. “Felt the 57 right behind me and worked out for us I guess.”
Last year’s track champion Sanders was on the winner’s podium for the first time this year, and said, “We missed set up and just couldn’t get a run.”
Warsaw’s Dylan Woodling led the Modifieds until lap 8, when Lake Village’s Jamie Lomax stole the top spot. Lomax looked to be in good shape for the win, until the last lap – actually about the last quarter of a lap – when Marion’s Randy Lines stole the show on a last second pass in a photo finish for the win.
Lines, who came from ninth starting position on 25 green flag laps, had to ask who won the race when he exited his car. “I really didn’t know who won the race. I was paying attention to lapped traffic and didn’t even know what lap we were on.”
Lomax was second and Woodling finished third. This was Lines’ fifth win in a row and sixth of the season, as well. Only Garrett Saunders of Lakeville in the Pro Sprints has more wins, with seven.
The last race of the evening saw many familiar faces from the Pro Sprints series taking part in the 600 Open, since the Pro Sprints had the night off. Lakeville’s Eric Saunders and Plymouth’s Zane DeVault started in the first and fourth positions, with Nappanee’s Kevin Hapner in second and Warsaw’s Trey Johnson in third. During a caution, Saunders pitted and started at the tail end of the lead lap.
Johnson, who earned his first track win last week, found the lead again and took the checkers for the second time. Second place was Hapner and third was Granger’s Chad Hartzell.
“This really means a lot, we needed a couple wins here,” Johnson said.
Earlier in the night, the Mini Wedge race was won by Justin White of Stevensville, Mich. with Ryin Zelmer of Eau Claire, Mich. in second and Ben Fultz of West Lafayette in third.
Next Saturday night is autograph night at Plymouth Speedway, with all classes: Modifieds, 600 Open, Thunder Stocks, Super Streets, Pro Sprints and Mini Wedge. Gates open at 4 p.m.; heats at 6 and racing at 7. Cost is $12 for adults; children 6-12 $5 and 5 and under free. Pit passes are $30.
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www.plymouthspeedway.net for more. Also visit Plymouth Speedway on Facebook for the latest event information, updates and photos
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